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MEETING MINUTES St. Isidore Parish Pastoral CouncilMarch 14, 2002Members Attending: Rev. Richard Butler, Pastor, John Colonna-Romano, Deacon Charles Cornell, , Marshall Cross, Nancy Dome, Mike Holt, Sharon McCann, Shirley Ormsby, Margaret Passafiume Members Absent: Paul Curley, Donne Cutting, Jackie Downing, Patricia Noone, Rosario Rizzo, Domenique Sexton, John Slattery Evening Prayer Minutes: Minutes of February 7th accepted. Update from the pastorFr. Butler congratulated John Slattery for the March-April Newsletter. Fr. Butler spoke briefly to the Archdiocesan convocation of March 9th and the Open Forums of March 9th and 10th. These were addressed in detail later during the meeting. The Stewardship Committee is planning a recruitment for the proposed St. Vincent de Paul in the spring in sufficient time to have them participate in the October orientation and training. English-as-a-Second-Language project is running into two snags. Volunteers have not come forth as hoped; (one did come forth just this evening.) Secondly the State is adding to the challenge by requiring that volunteers be trained in Worcester instead of Hudson and that nine month commitments be signed. Promise for Tomorrow, the Archdiocesan capital campaign was scheduled to begin in September 2002 but it seems now that a slight adjustment is being made to the timetable. The bishops’s Parish Visitation will be here at St. Isidore December 6-7, 2003. We will get more details this summer. Typically this involves the parish in a several month self-evaluation (presumably in early 2003.) PPC Election Mike Holt distributed an (attached) outline of the tasks ahead. Each outgoing member is asked to recruit candidates in the next few weeks. Fr. Butler will attend to a bulletin notice. Charlie will attend to a web posting. Names to Mike by April 10. Newsletter photos etc by mid April (check with John Slattery) and posting in church by May 4. Election May 18-19. Concern on regular turnover of members. In 1999 Fr Soucy appointed extras and agreed to have no election in 2000. Thus our three year turn-over is out of sync. By holding steady at this point we will be back in sync next year. Concern about youth. Noted that three year terms present a challenge to youth as most, when college years approach, cannot continue. Decided we can look to one year terms apart from this election. Convocation and Open Forums An extended conversation was held reporting and reflecting on the two sessions. At the convocation about three thousand were invited to share views and thoughts in hearing sessions to which one of the bishops was present. At the session with the Cardinal Law the thoughts expressed were direct, respectful and challenging. Concern was expressed for the victims, for the alleged perpetrators, for the clergy, for prevention of abuse in the future by clergy or others, for the fiscal and legal realities and at great length objection to the systemic problems of the archdiocese that allowed this to build up. In the parish forums after the three liturgies last weekend about fifty persons voiced outrage, concern and frustration directed in large measure to the Cardinal. In reflecting it was noted that the Pilot this week would have some answers and acknowledged that it would be a long time before all answers would be clear. No specific plan was suggested for the parish level but all agreed that the issue needed continued addressing. As the initial good moves by the DRE develop it would be good to share that with all the parish. Some form of continuing process would be good in light of the forums. Youth Minister John Slattery and Sharon McCann had prepared some thoughts but time did not allow discussion. This will come forth at the next meeting. St. Vincent de Paul This did not get on the table due to time. Review of the meeting“going great”, “very informative”, “candid”, “difficult but necessary”, “not enough time”, “good process – but poor attendance was a problem”, “pleased with level of trust” Next meetings: April 11, May 9, June 13 2002 |
