The St. Richard's Altar Guild is dedicated to the maintenance of standards which will enhance the appearance of the Church and its environs to create, foster and promote an atmosphere for worship.

The Guild also assists in any other way possible or as assigned by the Pastor. We encourage Parishioners with a flair for creativity to Join us.

The Caring Team was formed primarily to assist with health care, physical and material needs and to provide counselling and guidance on issues of a social and/or emotional nature. The focus is caring for the physically ill, the disadvantaged and emotionally challenged.

They keep in touch with children of separated parents and where necessary, refer them to counselling.

The programme culminates with the conferring of the Sacrament by the Archbishop at Sunday Mass usually in the month of June at the end of the second year.

The programme is geared towards fourteen-year-old children who have been Baptized and received First Holy Communion.

The Catechists use the Teacher's Manual and Student's Workbook that were produced by and are available from the Pastoral Centre.The Pastor interviews the candidates during the summer at the end of the first year and makes decisions regarding the preparedness of the candidates to go on to the second year and those who need to be referred for counselling.

The Sunday School for Children ministers to children in and out of the St. Richard's parish between the ages of 3 and 14. Children are taught to know God, with the hope that they will come to love Him.

Children are also taught about the Catholic faith and are prepared for Sacraments (specifically Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation).

Classes are held in the St. Richard's Primary School's building between 10:00a.m. and 11:00a.m. every Sunday during the regular school term/year, except where there is a special Mass.

Teachers, conduct lessons using experience and research guided by syllabuses provided by the St. Michael's Catechetical Centre.

Lessons are often supplemented through song, dance, art and drama.

Special projects and activities include Children's masses and services where children from the Sunday School take part by reading and ushering as well as, at times, singing and dancing during the Liturgy.

The Programme is conducted over a two-year period as recommended for the Archdiocese of Kingston.

It is comprised of approximately 30 one and a half hour sessions each year. Typically, each session starts with an opening chorus followed by reading of the Gospel for the day before (Sunday) and reflection on the reading. This is followed by instruction in Catholic doctrine. During the first year, the following topics are discussed:

All Candidates are encouraged to attend the Adult Sunday School and participate in parish activities such as Advent and Lenten Crusades.

Many of the candidates are individuals who were baptized in other denominations but have attended a Catholic Church, usually St. Richard's, over a long period of time. A Sponsor supports each candidate on his/her spiritual journey. Candidates are encouraged to become affiliated with Ministries where feasible and many who have benefited from RCIA programmes throughout the years are now actively involved in the Church community in general

The Adult Sunday School arises out of the increasing need for the instruction and direction of adults in the Catholic way. The major emphasis and direction has been to expose our experience as adults, of how Christ is meeting us in the context of our daily lives as adults in 20th century Jamaica, with an aim of understanding and relating our Catholic faith to life.

The Adult Sunday School provides ongoing catholic education for the post-Confirmation members of the parish. The approach has been holistic, addressing the spiritual and other aspects of our membership's development.The focus has been on the Holy Eucharist.Presentations have taken the form of scripture study, early church traditions, practices and sharing personal experiences of the Holy Eucharist. Topics addressed are spiritual, health, family life and parenting issues.

The presentation team works with the counselling and caring teams to provide Health and Family Life topics. Presenters are also invited from St. Michael's Seminary, Cancer Society, and Diabetes Association.

The Finance Committee is a product of Canon 537 of the code of Canon Law and the Archdiocesan Norms. Its purpose is to help the Pastor in the administration of parish affairs. It exists independently of the parish (Church) council but works in collaboration with it.

The Committee meets on the third (3rd) Wednesday of each month.

The St. Richard's Youth Action is a ministry whose aim is to foster the spiritual and personal development of young people in the parish between the ages of 12 and 20. The group is affiliated to the Catholic Youth Movement. Meetings are held on Friday. The motto is: To know Christ and to make Him known.

Programmes are varied and include, debates and discussions on various topics spiritual, cultural, current affairs, career talks, spiritual exercises and workshops as well as games.

An affiliate of the Catholic Youth Movement the group is invited, from time too time, to participate in exercises which give young people a chance to learn more about their faith and to witness to their peers. A team of adults also guides the Youth Action from the parish.

In responding to the needs of the time, the Basic School was established in 1985 to offer basic education to the children of our immediate neighbours at 130 Red Hills Road, Karl Samuda Boulevard and Donmair Drive.

The Centre is housed in the building that was the first Church, and which was used from the 1920s until the early 1960s as the White Hall All Age School.

The mission of the Catholic Women's League of the Archdiocese of Kingston is to serve God, helping each other to face the challenges of daily life, and inspired by Mary, the Blessed Mother, developing a true Christian spirit in the home, in the church and in their community.

The Society offers one of the best means of expressing the Christian way of life as it calls its membership to live out the charge of feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, comforting the aged and afflicted, bringing solace and hope to the widows and orphans and burying the dead.

They are funded by donations and a special collection taken each fifth Sunday; donations from Twin Conference (Overseas); fundraising (Back-a-yard) once a year; donations from various sources; Church Welfare Fund; and Secret Collection at meetings.

The Society offers financial support to the Ozanam Home and conducts prayer and Communion Services with the residents.

The ministry allows for the church membership to contribute in a tangible way in the moulding of children, who live in the communities adjoining the church, to become productive Christian citizens

Activities include: Arts and Craft; Needlework; Homework assistance; Reading programme (there is a low appreciation for reading and this is reflected in the written work of the children); Football and Volley Ball; Board Games; Debates; Discussions around particular topics of importance to teenagers; Use of the Church's internet facilities; Dancing; Swimming (depending on the availability of a qualified coach).

For the people living in the communities, this outreach programme represents another avenue to shield their children from the negative aspects and influences in their communities. Parents for the most part genuinely desire that their children not repeat the cycle of poverty, early pregnancies and marginalization.

The Eucharist is the Sacrament of unity with Christ as our Head, who draws into one, all the scattered members of His Body. As Special Ministers we are privileged to share in this Sacrament by assisting the Priest in the distribution of Holy Communion during the celebration of Mass and by visiting the sick or shut-ins in their homes or hospitals. In this way, the sick of our parish continue to share in Holy Communion, being in one with Christ and their church community.

This ministry also assists in bringing greater awareness for the importance of our faith in the Eucharist, by engaging in practical demonstrations of the proper ways to receive the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ and the reverence which should be accorded this Sacrament by having reflections on the celebrations of the Eucharist.

The Lectors of St. Richard's Roman Catholic Church are committed to making their lives fully responsive to the liberating influence of the Word of God by reading the Bible regularly and meditating on its truth.

The Society of Altar Servers is engaged in a ministry which is not only challenging but provides a medium for teaching organizational skills as well as responsibilities and inculcating values such as: respect, tolerance, and discipline in a climate of friendship and enjoyment which forms strong bonds and lasting relationships among the servers.

The Society has as its philosophy "We put our trust in our Father and ask that His will be done in all aspirations, as it is through Him and in Him that all things are possible."

This group constitutes people who are called to praise, worship and adore God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord and to love one another through the working of the Holy Spirit so that all who see our faith in love may give glory and thanks to God.

Its mission is expressed in the Bible passage taken from Philippians 3:7

The group meets weekly between 7:00p.m. and 9:00p.m.

The Ushers' Association was formed to ensure that discipline and order is maintained during all services and to provide those courtesies required in mobilizing the congregation and seeing to their general welfare.

To continue to encourage members to become more involved in church activities.

The coordination, promotion and implementation of Evangelization walks to visit people in the vicinity of the Church and to encourage non-Church goers to attend the gathering of St. Richard's

Evangelization was identified a priority area for all parishes during Synod 2003. In order to prepare St. Richard's for the coordination, promotion and implementation of Evangelization walks, the Pastor of St. Richard's declared a year of Evangelization for the parish in February 2004.

An Evangelization Head was appointed and a committee formed. Cell Groups were reactivated and leaders of these communities were appointed with input from the Pastor. Preparatory meetings were held to delineate/specify areas, boundaries, dates for walks and meetings along an annual schedule.

During the Clergy Conference held in September 2004, Archbishop Burke declared Evangelization as a priority area for the Church confirming that the parish of St. Richard's and the Archdiocese were in sync.

To help people to be aware of their gifts from God and how God needs these gifts in the building of the Kingdom of God through the Church. In stewardship language within the Church, all our gifts are expressed in terms of Time, Talent, and Treasure.

The main aim of this committee is to get all the parishioners of St. Richard's committed to being involved in at least one ministry of the church for the greater glory of God.

"ARISE" is a Praise and Worship radio programme sponsored by the St. Richard's Community and aired on Love FM at 6:00a.m. on Saturdays. The programme had its first broadcast on November 11, 1993 and is among the first such programmes broadcast by LOVE FM to Jamaica.