MEETING MINUTES

St. Isidore Parish Pastoral Council

November 11, 2004  

Members Attending: Glenn Bunnell, Rev. Richard Butler, Rose Colosi, Deacon Charles Cornell, Mark Douglas, Tim Garvin, Kathleen King, Jeff LaPlante, Susan Peabody, John Sangermano

Members Absent: Rosa Chow, Ann DeCristofaro, Nancy Dome, Kim Tocci

Evening Prayer

Minutes:            Minutes of October 14^th reviewed

Update from the pastor

October count indicates a 21% drop in Sunday Mass attendance at St. Isidore.

Financial Report given to the parish towards the end of October.  Offertory actual was not reaching budgeted need (about 24% short); this has begun to turn around – now running – year to date – about 20% short.

Stewardship Fair last weekend was successful; about two dozen poster displays.

Thanksgiving (1) food collection under way, (2) ecumenical service to be hosted Nov 21, and (3) parish celebration Nov. 25.

Christmas / New Year’s With the holidays falling on Saturday we will not be scheduling Saturday 5:00 P.M. Masses.

Lessons and Carols set for December 12^th at 5:00 p.m.

Generations of Faith is off to a good start, next round is Nov 12/14.

Transition committee will be meeting December 1^st.

Reconfiguration

            The end result will be one parish with two worship sites (actually three, St. Michael church, Christ the King chapel, St. Isidore church.)

            Importance of speaking of “all of us”, not “us and them”.

            The question was raised as to whether we should petition the archdiocese to reconsider the decision from scratch in the light of the latest movement.  It was pointed out, however, that the latest movement of delaying slightly the closing dates is only affording other parishes what we have already been given and that it serves only to delay the inevitable.

            Also noted that in Charlestown where there was protest of closure of one parish, further dialogue resulted in a plan where two parishes will be suppressed.

            Also noted that the major complaint of the other parishes – the actual closing of the church buildings – was not the case here.

            Concern was raised that St. Michael’s was six times larger than St. Isidore’s and St. Isidore’s would be overwhelmed.  [Actual difference via Mass attendance of 2003 October count: St. Michael’s 1679 is 3.4 times larger than St. Isidore 499.]  We will attempt to get updated figures before the Transition Meeting.

            It was noted however that in the plan both parishes would share as equals and the one new parish of St. Michael’s would respect the integrity of existing councils, programs etc.

            The upcoming Ladies Night Out was noted as an example of St. Michael parishioners reaching out to welcome St. Isidore parishioners.

            Recognized that the religious education activity of both parishes offer two models.  How to continue forward?

            Need for a youth program – more than either parish now offers.

            It was suggested that when the reconfiguration is completed, the Pastoral Councils and the Finance Councils of each parish be joined to have one new Pastoral Council and one new Finance Council.  They might then figure a process and time line for later elections etc.

            Anne Wilhite’s relationship to both parishes seen as an asset.

            St. Vincent de Paul seen as an interesting model though not exactly parallel.  St. Vincent de Paul conferences do not belong to the parishes but rather are established via the wider St. Vincent de Paul Society.  (Historically, the Hudson conference was quite helpful to the Stow conference’s initial organizing.)  The two conferences will each face the new question on their own apart from the Transition Team.

            The efforts of the past two years towards the protection of children is important.  Tim Garvin, on the St. Isidore Transition Team, can speak well to the St. Isidore side of the question.  What is the situation at St. Michael’s?

            Need for fiscal accountability cited.  Will records be kept and published of St. Isidore offertory and St. Isidore expenses?

            What will happen to liturgical ministers?  All pooled into one group, or distinct group for the two churches?

            On the question of a time-line, most seemed to favor a mid to late May target date.

            Concern expressed for the parish staff.  Will they be hired by St. Michael’s or move elsewhere?

            What will the Mass schedule be?  Will there be a re-looking at the Mass schedules of both churches or simply presuming St. Michael’s will keep their schedule and St. Isidore gets whatever fits in after that?  Our transition team will identify the St. Isidore October count and, presumably, the St. Michael’s October count can be shared.

            Beyond Sunday Mass, what about daily Mass, baptisms, confirmation, first communion, weddings, funerals, visits to the Blessed Sacrament?

            Will the St. Isidore weekly bulletin and/or the St. Isidore quarterly newsletter continue?

            Strong concern expressed that the buildings be used beyond the Sunday Mass for parish activity and community activity (of Stow and of Hudson).  This will call for a look at the procedures of opening and closing, etc. currently supported via a resident pastor.

            Final words noted that these ideas don’t exhaust all the questions, it will take more than a few transition meetings to resolve everything, need to keep the process open and transparent, confidence in the parish leadership to accomplish this task.

Next meeting                                      December 9^th