Meeting Minutes
St. Isidore Parish Pastoral Council
November 14, 2002
Members Attending: Rev. Richard Butler, Ann DeChristofaro, Nancy
Dome, Kathleen King, Sharon McCann, Shirley Ormsby, Rosario Rizzo, John
Sangermano,
Members Absent: John Colonna-Romano, Pastor, Deacon Charles Cornell,
Will O’Brien, Domenique Sexton,
Evening Prayer
Reports from members who were absent:
John has noted a conflict in the Thursday scheduling but will keep in
touch; pastor acknowledged the difficulty and hoped he would continue.
Charlie called from Connecticut where he was tied up on a business meeting.
Will had e-mailed a request to resign; several spoke up hoping we would
reconsider. Domenique has had difficulty making meetings but the pastor
assured her this was understandable.
Minutes: Minutes of October 10th accepted.
Update from the pastor
As noted in the bulletin, Shirley Ormsby will be leaving at the end of
the year. We thanked her and all will thank her at a brunch December
29th. The Winter (Dec-Jan-Feb) issue of the Newsletter will
go out the last week of November. The fiscal picture continues to be
precarious. This will be monitored closely. The Promise For Tomorrow
campaign has brought in $73,300 in advance pledges and all will be invited
to make a pledge on the 17th of November. Evening of reflection
for ppc and pfc scheduled for Dec. 1st. Ken Meltz will be
a presentor. He is a pastoral associate from Burlington who has done
much in small base communities. Extensive positive comments from the
council members were brought forth regarding the process of small faith
groups. Thanksgiving interfaith service to be hosted by St. Isidore on
Nov. 24th. Thanksgiving Day we will have our usual Thanksgiving
Mass.
Youth Ministry
Brainstorming on this, it was noted that the best experiences of youth
ministry have been not in the large size of programs but rather in the
small group moments where relationships are developed. Teens would respond
to a social/spiritual theme (and perhaps service oriented). Some thought
starting with 9th / 10th grade and then backing
down to 7th / 8th. Four pronged model suggested:
community, education/formation, outreach, social. Important task –
even before thinking of a professional staff – is formation of a
leadership team. (AIM and CLI offer such training.) Best approach is
to look to new young couples. Parents of the teens are often themselves
a bit weary of the task and may not project the enthusiasm of the young
adults in this regard.
Discussion of small base communities of faith
At the last meeting it was agreed we would go in this direction to set
some vision for the parish in the coming years: the parish being a composite
of a variety of groups each with an accent or primary focus and together
bonded as a parish. (e.g. daily Mass congregants, St Vincent dePaul,
catechists, musicians, bible study folk, ecumenical outreach, etc.)
This discussion kept going back and forth to the earlier discussions
of youth ministry.
New Business
Several items (questions) surfaced:
Status of VOTF. We continue to encourage participation
in the West Concord chapter of VOTF. Feedback has been encouraging.
Numbers are too small for the parish to have its own VOTF chapter at this
hour.
Sexual Abuse Training Programs. As noted in the bulletin
a few weeks ago, the Diocese and the Parish are moving ahead on two tracks:
program for church leaders and adult church members to be informed about
the realities of sexual abuse of children and a curriculum for children.
Family Mass. Question was raised on having a “family
Mass” on Sundays. This will be brought up at a future meeting.
Not sure at this point on the parameters being raised by the question.
Review of the meeting
“Good thoughts, a lot toprocess.” “Variety
of ideas.” “Constructive.” “The small group experienced
in the attendance tonight was a good model for where we are going.”
“More positive spin regarding volunteering.”
Next meetings
Dec. 12 2002; Jan. 9, Feb. 13,
Mar. 13, Apr. 10, May 8, Jun. 12, 2003
Evening of reflection Sunday Dec.
1, 2002
Archdiocesan Assembly of councils
(tentative) Saturday March 8, 2003
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