St. Isidore Parish Pastoral Council

October 9, 2003

Members Attending: Glenn Bunnell, Rev. Richard Butler, Rosa Chow, Deacon Charles Cornell, Ann DeChristofaro, Nancy Dome, Mark Douglas, Sharon McCann, Rosario Rizzo, John Sangermano

Members Absent: John Colonna-Romano, Kathleen King, Susan Peabody, Domenique Sexton

Evening Prayer

Minutes: Minutes of September 11th accepted, with correction; Nancy Dome was absent..

Update from the pastor

Brief discussion of the ritual of Evening Prayer

In upcoming meetings, members of the council will be invited to take role of leader and reader.

Priority of the PPC for 2003-04

Brainstorming first reviewed the six potential points considered at last meeting.

Reaching out to welcome back those who have been absent since the scandal
Religious Education
Sunday Eucharist – especially vis-à-vis children and young families
Financial situation of the parish
Ecumenical/ interfaith policies and programs
Civic outreach of the parish to the wider community

As the various elements were discussed, the question of youth ministry was also raised. Enthusiasm seems to have dropped on the youth question. It was noted that the issue is not lack of enthusiasm as much as it is the overwhelming nature of youth activity in suburbia. (an issue not unrelated to the other topics!)

Paradigms of much of our activity do not synchronize easily with much of the paradigms of modern suburbia.

Images of youth ministry in an earlier era in urban centers doesn’t fit today’s suburbia where youth are dependent on parental transport and there is extreme competition for time among the many options of extra-curricular youth options: after school, town sports, dance – music – arts, etc.

Religious ed today tries to accomplish all in a grade level schedule even as we affirm in our priorities the necessity of adult formation.

Liturgy formation and Sunday observance runs into counter cultural abuse of Sunday and, for many, multi-location of Sunday residence with beach cottages and ski lodges competing for attention.

It was noted that the intergenerational approach being test-run in the upcoming activity of religious ed seems to be addressing this overall problem.

Consensus reached that we will explore implications of this especially around religious and liturgical formation of families in the suburbs today.

New Business

Suggestion was raised to renew invitation for parishioners to participate in the Small Faith Groups.

Review of meeting

“good example of consensus”, “positive, constructive”, “good discussion”, “value of adolescents participating liturgically”

Next meeting: Thursday November 13, 2003