MEETING MINUTES

St. Isidore Parish Pastoral Council

December 9, 2004  

Members Attending: Glenn Bunnell, Rev. Richard Butler, Rose Colosi, Deacon Charles Cornell, Nancy Dome, Mark Douglas, Kathleen King, Jeff LaPlante, Susan Peabody, John Sangermano, Kim Tocci

Members Absent: Ann DeCristofaro, Tim Garvin

Evening Prayer

Minutes:            Minutes of November 11^th reviewed, accepted

Membership

            Rosa Chow has asked to resign from the council.  She will continue in her other activity in the parish but at this time cannot continue with the PPC membership.  Her request was accepted with appreciation for what she has done.

Update from the pastor

The transition teams (now one team) met December 1^st.

The winter Newsletter has been sent out.  Apologies expressed for omitting John Sangermano’s name from the PPC membership.

St. Isidore hosted the Interfaith Service on Nov. 21^st.

The Finance Council met Dec. 7^th.  Offertory is down but now stabilizing, matching the attendance situation.  The PFC is hoping to work with the St. Michael PFC.

Christmas / New Year’s With the holidays falling on Saturday we will not be scheduling Saturday 5:00 P.M. Masses.

Lessons and Carols set for December 12^th at 5:00 p.m.

Generations of Faith will resume after the Christmas season, meeting Jan. 21/23.

Sacramental Preparation continues.  A retreat for the children in First Penance will be held this Saturday

At Epiphany Sunday we will have a special chalking at the doors.

10:30 Homily

            A question surfaced on the 10:30 homily.  We will continue the tradition of special focus for the children on occasion but will continue with the more adult homily at other weeks.

Reconfiguration

            The agenda was left generic focusing more on process and identification of issues rather than on solutions or decisions at this stage.

            It was agreed that June 1^st would be the target date we would request.  Fr. Carreiro will submit this to Bishop Lennon.

            It was agreed that it would be good or councils and committees or each parish to share with parallel councils and committees of the other parish.

            The question was raised on the definition of a “worship site and Catholic presence”.  It was agreed that it would be good to get a handle on this but that it would be better to get this from the sharing at grassroots rather than asking for a definition to be handed down.

            Those who were at the December 1^st meeting were asked to share their impressions.

            Some felt that the folks from St. Michael were in a state of shock; few of them had anything to say.  (It was noted, however, that all were being very hospitable.)

            It was noted that St. Michael’s is only recently involved with this unlike ourselves who have been focused since May.  Also St. Michael had not been part of the Stow process in the initial days of clustering.  Also St. Michael is just resolving the 2000 merger with Christ the King.  Also St. Michael is receiving people from the two suppressions on the Marlboro side.

            It was hoped that the minutes of the Dec. 1^st meeting would be published soon.  Fr. Butler noted that two sets of minutes had been taken. 

            Questions surfaced about the fiscal situation of St. Michael.  Their scene is more complex with two schools, a cemetery, a rectory, and –until now – two churches.  Also real estate exchanges of recent years can skew quick summaries.  It was noted that with an October count of 1600 attendance their weekly offertory in last week’s bulletin was $6,600 (compared to our October count of 400 and recent weekly offertory collections of a little more than $3,000.)  Thus their intake is double ours but their per capita intake is half of ours.

            Would it help to get clear statements from the town (beyond parish membership) of the hopes and expectations of the use and service of St. Isidore Church in light of the strong history of community involvement.

            It was suggested that, important and valuable as that would be, more important is it that we imagine what we would like to be and what we could be.

            Experience of this type of situation is not common in the Archdiocese.  But other areas e.g. Wisconsin etc. in the midwest and Vermont etc. here in New England have many good examples.  We could become a leader for the Archdiocese as more such situations will surface in the future.

            Would it be good to think of a common celebration of the Triduum, using St. Michael Church, Christ the King Chapel, and St. Isidore Church for the several stages of the Triduum?

            The lack of a resident person on-site here is a factor that must be considered in any final plan.

            The value of small faith groups such as developed in our Lenten program two years ago is to be encouraged.  Can we echo this, this year during Lent?

            If we are to maximize the potential of the transition team we must get to know one another.  Recommended that we encourage a process of one-on-one meetings.

Next meeting                                      January 13^th