St. Isidore Parish Pastoral Council

February 7, 2002  

Members Attending: Rev. Richard Butler, Pastor, John Colonna-Romano, Deacon Charles Cornell, , Marshall Cross, Paul Curley, Donne Cutting, Nancy Dome, Jackie Downing, Mike Holt, Sharon McCann, Margaret Passafiume, Rosario Rizzo, John Slattery

Members Absent: Shirley Ormsby, Patricia Noone, Domenique Sexton

Evening Prayer

Minutes:            Minutes of January 10^th accepted.

Update from the pastor

                Fr. Butler noted Dick Martin’s resignation and expressed thanks for his service to date.

Fr. Butler noted the success of the Interfaith Session of January 19^th and the Ice Cream Social.   

            Archdiocesan convocation of councils will be on March 9^th -  Plan to attend!

            A detailed flier with Lenten activities will be distributed February 9^th/10^th.

            Since our last meeting and the discussion of Cardinal Law’s press conference of Jan 9^th, Fr. Butler addressed a letter to the parish (Jan. 13^th.)  The priests of the archdiocese met with the Cardinal Jan 23^rd-24^th.  The Cardinal’s letter of Jan. 26^th was read at the Masses on Sunday January 27^th; it arrived to late to be read at the evening Mass of the 26^th.  An open forum for discussion within the parish will be planned.  (This is scheduled as the first item of our agenda this evening.)

Follow through of the letter from the pastor to the parish 13 January.

            Fr. Butler reviewed the movement of this issue over the past months to the current hour noting that it is hard to predict when the onslaught of new information will peak.  It had been planned to have an open forum when all the data was out but perhaps it would be good to plan something in the upcoming weeks.

            Brainstorming suggested many items that were of concern:  Adequate attention to the victims of pedophilia.  The (excessive?) place of secrecy and confidentiality on the part of administration vis-à-vis openness in communication to priests and parishioners.  Whether the priests being suddenly removed are being treated justly- (presumption of guilt upon accusation or is there a fair process of judgment.)  The fiscal implications of the archdiocese and its management of funds.  The public discussion – pro and con – of the suggestion of the Cardinal’s decision on not resigning.  Procedures here in the parish on protection of children.

            It was recognized from the outset that we do not have sufficient data to resolve most of the above.  Our focus is to discover the best manner on going forward ourselves in the midst of the crisis and, if possibl0e, making what contribution we can to the overall situation.

            After some discussion it was agreed that an open forum in mid-March attached to (before or after) Sunday Mass would be the best timing.  The specific agenda would be refined in the light of the situation of the moment.  Mixed views on whether to have this for adults or for all.  Having it separate from but adjacent to a Mass time would allow all to make their own decision on whether to attend.

PPC Election

            Mike Holt reviewed the data from the last nomination/election committee and is ready to proceed.  Plan for an election the weekend of May 18 –19.  Thus a slate to be completed and publicized by the weekend of May 4-5.  Attempt to elect five or at least four since a larger than usual number are completing terms. A year from now we will be back to a normal pace of turnover correcting the result of the added appointees of 1999 and the non-election of 2000.

Youth Minister

            John Slattery met with Jim Flanagan of the Archdiocesan Youth Office.  The recent scandal has been devastating to the future of youth ministry and may take as much as a decade to settle down.  He noted that St. Elizabeth’s is searching now and John Slattery will be in contact with them.  Jim encouraged any liaison we might have with Bolton and the Worcester Diocese.  He praised the work of Deacon John Pepi of St. Bridget’s and Sharon will continue contact with him.

St. Vincent de Paul

            John Colona-Romano reported that the Stewardship Committee is enthused and will begin publishing info towards recruiting potential members this spring in time for them to participate in the October training program.

Review of the meeting

            :helpful to hear the various views

            :good discussion of the pain

            :timely topic and good we are facing the problem

            :good to hear oof what other parishes are doing.

Next meetings:

Mar14, Apr 11, May 9, June 13 2002

Archdiocesan assembly of parish pastoral councils and parish finance councils  Mar 9, 2002