MEETING MINUTES

St. Isidore Parish Pastoral Council

January 15, 2004  

Members Attending: Glenn Bunnell, Rev. Richard Butler, Rosa Chow, Deacon Charles Cornell, Ann DeCristofaro, Mark Douglas, Kathleen King, Susan Peabody, John Sangermano

Members Absent: John Colonna-Romano, Nancy Dome, Sharon McCann, Rosario Rizzo, Domenique Sexton

Evening Prayer

Minutes:            Minutes of December 11^th accepted.

Update from the pastor

Attached.  (Finance Council activity, MLK Breakfast, support of the service men and women in Iraq, Ice Cream Social, Marriage Affirmation and Protection Amendment.)

Election of new members to the PPC

            To have an election of new members on the last weekend of May (avoiding Memorial Day weekend), a slate is to be ready by early May; thus recruiting for a slate to be done mid March to mid April.  Kathy King agreed to work with Susan Peabody and John Sangermano as a nominating committee.  They will speak with Mike Statkus to get his experience and help.

Reconfiguration of parishes

            The recent memo of Bishop Lennon (January 10^th) asking clusters to meet on this topic was distributed.  Fr. Butler spoke with Fr. Mark Sheehan, the vicar of this vicariate, who as yet did not know details on the time line other than the expectation to complete the cluster level of discussion by March 8^th.  Fr. Sheehan noted that he felt St. Isidore’s stats etc. sufficiently strong as to preclude any anxiety about reconfiguration in this cluster.  Fr. Sheehan felt the more probable target was in urban areas where population has dwindled seriously, neighboring churches standing in close proximity one to another, and churches where fiscal constraints have resulted in serious deferred maintenance tasks that are now beyond the scope of being handled adequately.  While comforting to hear this, the parish plans to approach the cluster process seriously and responsibly.

            The council walked through the outlined inventory that was attached to Bishop Lennon’s letter.

            On a separate issue the council raised the question of rectory accommodations and the value or potential of priests of neighboring churches living together.  It was noted that there is a process for addressing this and that the isolation factor in the present arrangement of priests living alone was a reality that needed attention.  That issue, however, was quite distinct from the reconfiguration question and would be tabled until after the present situation is unraveled. 

Generations of Faith

            Time prevented a lengthy discussion of this.  Our next regional meeting is February 12^th at 9:30. 

New Business

            Discussion raised about microphones; it was noted that the audio technician who installed the system is working on the task.

            Recent liturgical changes discussed; seem to be going OK; the introduction to the readings which has been introduced might better be done in a slower pace as many are not ready for it.

Review of meeting

            “Good discussion”, “reconfiguration process is beginning to be understood but timing seems rushed”, “Chocolate cookies were good”.

Next meeting

Thursday February 12, 2004