MEETING MINUTES

St. Isidore Parish Pastoral Council

October 14, 2004  

Members Attending: Glenn Bunnell, Rev. Richard Butler, Rose Colosi, Deacon Charles Cornell, Jeff LaPlante, Susan Peabody, Kim Tocci

Members Absent: Rosa Chow, Mark Douglas, Ann DeCristofaro, Nancy Dome, Tim Garvin, Kathleen King, John Sangermano

Evening Prayer

Minutes:            Minutes of September 9^th were not sent out; meeting was reviewed briefly. That meeting, prior to the determination of St. Michael’s as the receiving parish, focused mostly on the frustrations with the Reconfiguration process.

Vice-chair

            In June Rosario had agreed to continue as vice-chair, presuming it would only be a month or so.  With the time-line now delayed, it was agreed to select a new vice-chair.  Rose Colosi was acclaimed as the new vice-chair.

Update from the pastor

St. Michael’s has been appointed as the receiving parish.  The time-line has been delayed slightly from the earlier plan of November 1^st.  (This will allow St. Michael to bring to closure Christ the King Church Oct. 31 and the establishment of Christ the King Chapel Nov. 21^st.)

Transition committee met and will meet next – with the St. Michael contingent – on December 1^st.

Apple Fest was very successful.

Generations of Faith is off to a good start.

Parish Finance Council will report to the parish October 24^th.

Stewardship Committee will be offering a stewardship fair November 7^th.

MICAH (Metrowest Interfaith Congregations Acting for Hope) (formerly the Routes 2-20-495 interfaith group) has announced the Metro West medical clinic offering free services every Tuesday beginning November 9^th at the Congregation Beth El in Sudbury (www.bethelsudbury.org).

Newsletter was sent out a few weeks ago.

St. Vincent de Paul is quite active with a number of new persons being served.

Reconfiguration

            Two major notes since our last meeting.  Designation of St. Michael’s and extension of the time-line “slightly” (no specific date at this point.)

Strategy for the future

Discussion went in several directions.

Case cited of frustration in registering a St. Isidore parishioner with St. Michael Religious Ed grade level program.  Noted that St. Michael’s is overwhelmed in these immediate weeks.  Suggested that those having difficulty contacting Brendan speak with Nancy Dome.  It is felt that this level of difficulty will be overcome soon.

Discussion on potential of learning from St. Joseph’s in Lincoln.  Anecdotal comments offered.  Suggested that Council members contact council members of St. Joseph’s for more reflective discernment.  Likewise, re St. Rose in Rochester.

            Future Mass schedule.  Noted that the 5:00 and the 8:00 liturgies have dropped to below 100 in attendance; future planning will be reflective of present trends.

            Plusses of the time-delay: Generations of Faith moving forward with good momentum.

            Liabilities in the time-delay: there has been an exodus already of 10 – 20 – 30 % already in the light of the announcement in May and the long delay in moving towards a receiving parish.  This is apt to increase if there is not a clear time-line determined.

            Time-line.  It was noted that Bishop Lennon spoke of a slight delay from our earlier suggestion of November 1^st.  Local conversations are suggesting a delay to mid-May.  Archdiocesan overall posture still talks of January 1^st.  How to resolve this ambiguity?

            Staff.  It was noted that staff will be terminated when St. Isidore Parish is suppressed.  What St. Michael may or may not offer them is totally separate.  They were legitimately planning on moving in November.  The ambiguity here is significant.

Next meeting

November 11^th