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The Parish Council is made up of 4 representatives from each of the three churches, a representative from the Parish Staff, a representative from the Finance Committee, a representative from the Communications Committee and the Pastor. Meetings are open to all parish members. Normal meeting date and time is the FIRST TUESDAY of each month at 7:00 p.m. at St. Paul's in Seneca, in the double classroom. The next meeting will be May 6 2008.
Parish Council Members - 2008 Contact one of your representatives below if you have questions, issues, comments..............
Officers for 2008: President: Bill
Shea
Reports submitted for Parish Council Meeting Held on April 1, 2008
Parish Council Meeting Agenda Opening prayer Accept minutes of previous meeting. Old Business
New Business
Committee business (Discussion as needed beyond filed
report) a. Communication ( ) b. Finance (Vicki Schmid) c. Adult formation (Lynn Sexton) d. Youth formation (Philip Caron) e. Hispanic (Sr. Joan/Eustacio (Juan) Mata) f. Campus Ministry (Dave Hart) g. Liturgical (Elizabeth Woodruff) h. Social Justice (Brett McLaughlin) i. Parish Community Life (Mike Eldridge) j. Evangelization and Reconciliation (Martha Davenport) k. Facilities (Paul Ortiz / Pablo Galindo) l. Stewardship (Paul Zielinski) m. St. Francis Mission (Paul Ortiz) n. Steering Committee (Lynn Sexton)
Other Business Closing prayer
Return to Reports
Parish Council Meeting Minutes
Members present: Mike Eldridge, Elizabeth Woodruff, Paul Zielinski, Martha Davenport, Paul Ortiz, Philip Caron, Brett McLaughlin, Mary Moosbrugger, Lynn Sexton, Bill Shea, Vicki Schmid, and Eustacio (Juan) Mata. Members absent: Dave Hart, Sr. Joan Kobe, and Pablo Galindo. Guests: Camille Hess; from St. Francis Mission Committee: Jerry & Sharon Slavik, Paul & Ginger Sallas and Bunny Ebeling. Bill Shea, Council President, called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. and Fr. McDonald gave the opening prayer. Minutes of the February 5, 2008 meeting were approved as written. Old Business
New BusinessReports of Committees
1.
Communications:
2.
Financial:
Vicki Schmid Fr. McDonald briefly went over the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2008-2009, and touched on some of the priorities. They have budgeted for 3 full-time priests; added some additional ministries; included a 5% tithe of each Sunday’s general collection that will go to a designated charity. There is a deficit expected that roughly equals the amount owed to the Diocese of Charleston for the parish’s obligation to the Diocese’s Capital Campaign. Fr. McDonald would like to pay this off using money in each church’s savings account and then start to rebuild savings. The educational department heads have been asked to submit revised budgets to Fr. McDonald.
3.
Adult Formation:
Lynn Sexton
4.
Youth Formation:
Philip Caron
5.
Hispanic:
Sr. Joan/Eustacio “Juan” Mata
6.
Campus Ministry:
Dave Hart
7.
Liturgical:
Elizabeth Woodruff
8.
Social Justice:
Brett McLaughlin
9.
Parish Community Life:
Mike Eldridge
10.
Evangelization and
Reconciliation: Martha Davenport
11.
Facilities:
Paul Ortiz/Pablo Galindo/Frank McGarity
Paul reported that the microwave at St. Paul’s
has been replaced and another table will be purchased. Frank McGarity has made Paul aware of the theft of copper in this area and is concerned that the churches are prime targets since they are unattended for much of the time. Fr. McDonald asked Paul to get with Frank and get suggestions from him to make the churches more secure.
12.
Stewardship:
Paul Zielinski
13.
St. Francis Mission:
Paul Ortiz Sharon Slavik went over the contents of the above report. Council commended the St. Francis Mission Committee on doing a very thorough and professional looking job with their report and hard work. Suggestions to the overcrowding at the 4:00 p.m. Mass at St. Francis included perhaps switching the 5:30 p.m. Mass at St. Paul’s to 4:00 p.m., and St. Francis would then be at 5:30 p.m. Another suggestion was to make both the Saturday Masses at 4:00 p.m. There is no way to have a Sunday morning Mass at St. Francis with the current number of priests. Safety issues: According to the Building Inspector, St. Francis has enough emergency exists but the committee wants another one. There is some other remodeling they would like to see done that should be less than $50,000 total and St. Francis would still be grand fathered in to new building codes. Council would like to see cost estimates to accomplish these changes. Most of these changes would probably be paid for from St. Francis’ savings and not go through the Capital Campaign Committee. The house for sale next to St. Francis will not be pursued. It is too old, too high an asking price, not in very good shape and the R-15 zoning on it is a problem to use it as St. Francis might like. The St. Francis Mission Committee would like to see St. Francis parishioners be more involved in parish-wide activities.
14.
Steering Committee:
Lynn Sexton Officers Reports
President:
Bill Shea Vice President: Brett McLaughlin By-Laws Ad Hoc Committee
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 | Mike sent a prayer (for the CRHP process) to the Liturgy Committee. It is important that we be in prayer for this process. |
| Kathy shared that she had spoken with Bob Edwards once again. Bob indicated that there may be a team coming from Jacksonville, FL to be the giving team. That team is in prayer to discern whether they are mature enough. Bob assured Kathy that if that team discerns that they are not ready to be a giving team that he is 95% sure that there will be a team from Atlanta available. Hopefully Kathy will be contacted in a couple days about the team from Jacksonville. |
| The Panthers are meeting with Father Sandy in early April about CRHP – to share with him about the process. |
| Someone asked about a minimum age. You have to be 21 to attend a CRHP weekend. |
| Lynn Sexton has begun getting the word out about CRHP at the St. Paul’s Adult Formation class. |
| The Panthers were thanked for taking the lead with CRHP. Kathy is thankful that “God is in charge.” |
Comprehensive Plan for Ongoing Adult Faith Formation
A task force of the Adult Faith Formation Committee – Pete, Jane, Camille, and Lynn – met for 2 ½ hours prior to our meeting and presented a draft of the “Comprehensive Plan for Ongoing Adult Faith Formation” for our community. The plan follows the model of the RCIA – with four sections - Evangelization and Reconciliation, Catechesis, Prayer/Purification and Enlightenment, and Mission/Lived Discipleship/Works of Justice and Peace. Under each area, the task force outlined what that area is about, current programs and offerings, and needed programs and offerings. It is important that formation be experiential as well as about learning. There are “ assessment tools” that individuals can use to determine where they are with their Catholic faith. The “Information for Growth” survey, for example, “tests” cognitive areas of learning and the “Called and Gifted” inventory is used to help an individual determine his/her gifts. The committee reviewed and discussed the draft.
Suggestions were made for editing the document.
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Under
Evangelization and Reconciliation: -- Under needed programs/offerings – add “Annual parish-wide retreat or mission” – A suggestion was made to invite Matthew Kelly, author of “The Rhythm of Life: Living Every Day with Passion and Purpose.” |
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Under
Catechesis: -- A suggestion was made to open up catechist formation to others who might consider being a catechist. It was also suggested that we need to continually invite our Hispanic adults to participate in Sunday morning Adult Faith Formation class. Malena will try to visit with other Hispanic adults in our community to determine what the needs are. |
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Under Prayer:
-- Additions under “Current programs/offerings” – Rosary groups, Adoration, Charismatic prayer group -- Additions under “Needed programs/offerings” – Healing prayer, Resources for families (Scott shared that there is a book that he and Kathy have been using with their children. He will find out the title of the book. A question was raised as to whether the book is available in Spanish. |
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Under Mission:
-- “Re-assessment and continued prayer for ongoing spiritual maturation” should be moved down under Needed Programs/Offerings. -- The Catholic Social Teaching classes should be done in collaboration with the Social Justice Committee. It was suggested that our community invite Sister Sara Dwyer, ASC, Executive Director of the NETWORK Education Program, as a speaker on Social Justice issues. Jane will present this suggestion at the next staff meeting. |
The need for learning Spanish with the goal of more outreach to our Hispanic community was discussed. This need is for conversational Spanish. A suggestion was made to offer an 8-week course in the summer – targeted at the leadership of the parish. This would help toward Goal # 3 – To identify and train bilingual leaders within our parish community for newly integrated Adult Faith Formation at St. Paul’s.
There was also discussion about forming a bilingual small faith group - an informal group of both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking persons, led by Malena as a coordinator. The English speaking participants would learn to express themselves in Spanish and the Spanish speaking participants would learn to express themselves in English. Perhaps they could do this by telling a story about their life as a Catholic or some other relevant story of common interest as Catholics. Malena and Pat Kelly are going to meet as a sub-committee to work out the details of such a program.
Next meeting: Tuesday, April 15, 2008 – 4:00 p.m. in the church office
Attachments:
“Comprehensive Plan for Ongoing Adult Faith Formation” – Draft 03/2008
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR ONGOING ADULT FAITH FORMATION
ST. ANDREW’S, ST. FRANCIS, ST. PAUL PARISH
-“Evangelization is the ministry and mission of proclaiming and witnessing to Christ and His Gospel with the intention of deepening the faith of believers and inviting others to be baptized and initiated into the Church.” U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults
-Quotes from “Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us: A Pastoral Plan for Adult Faith Formation in the U.S.,” USCCB, encouraging the priority of ongoing adult faith formation.
-RCIA as normative faith formation process for individuals and for the community.
ASSESSMENT TOOLS will be available for parishioners, including Information for Growth, “Called and Gifted” inventory; personal assessment
This is the first and ongoing phase of faith formation:
*First hearing of the Gospel
*Beginnings of faith & relationship with Jesus Christ
*Stirrings of repentance
*Practice of Prayer
*Beginning sense of community & Church
Christ Renews His Parish – offered twice annually for men and for women
Landings- offered 2-3 times annually for returning Catholics
Sunday Morning Adult Faith Formation- Lectionary-based, weekly at St. A & St. P
Small Christian Communities- all three churches & homes
RCIA for those drawn to the Catholic faith
Needed Programs/Offerings:
Witnesses/testimonies throughout parish community life events
Developmental or “Milestone” Groups ?
Collaborative effort with Evangelization & Reconciliation Committee
Other?
CATECHESIS
Increasing and ongoing phase of faith formation:
*Increased desire to know the Word of God through Scripture
*Increased desire to understand the experience the Sunday Liturgy
*Increased desire to experience and practice one’s faith within Community
*Increased desire to understand the teachings of the Catholic faith
*Ongoing conversion
Current Programs/Offerings:
Sunday Morning Adult Formation- Lectionary-based, weekly at St. A & St. P
U.S. Catechism for Adults- weekly, ongoing class at St. Paul’s
Small Christian Communities- all three churches & homes
Women’s Bible/Book Study Groups- bi-weekly, ongoing
Generations of Faith Family Nights – monthly, St. Paul’s
Catechist Formation- group and individual formation for catechists
Saint-of-the-month (need more unique spirituality of each saint)
Liturgical Committee’s catechesis in bulletins, newsletters
Parish Committee Members- ongoing formation, i.e. bishops’ documents
Needed Programs/Offerings:
CDs (lending library) & Catholic Updates (free) on Catholic Faith
Other events offered by Adult Faith Formation Committee
Developmental or Milestone Groups?
“Why Be Catholic?” or Theology 101 classes
Course on Letters of St. Paul (for Year of St. Paul)
Other?
Intensifying and ongoing phase of faith development:
*Increased desire to know and practice different devotions and prayer forms
*Importance of prayer, fasting & almsgiving during Lent and at other appropriate
times
*Increased experience of the Holy Spirit in prayer
*Increased sense of surrender to God
*Ongoing conversion
Morning Prayer at St. Paul’s
Liturgy of the Hours prayer class
Landings Team Member/ RCIA sponsor/CRHP Team Member
Small Christian Communities
“Called and Gifted” course in discernment of spiritual gifts (St. Mary’s,
Greenville)
“Life in the Spirit” seminar on charismatic prayer (local churches)
Retreats (offered regionally)
Needed Programs/Offerings:
Centering or Contemplative Prayer class/group
Liturgy of the Hours: Evening Prayer (consult with Liturgy Committee)
Spiritual Directors- list of available
Other??
Intensifying and ongoing formation:
*Participation in active ministry
*Increased desire to know and practice the Catholic Social Teaching of the
Church
*Increased desire to understand and live out Discipleship
*Immersed in the world with Christ
*Ongoing conversion
*Re-assessment and continued prayer for ongoing spiritual maturation
Current Programs/Offerings:
JustFaith Group
Outreach ministries: Prison Ministry, CCC, Safe Harbor, Our Daily Bread, etc.
Social Justice Committee member
Needed Programs/Offerings:
Catholic Social Teaching classes?
Other??
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Youth Formation Committee Report
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Social Justice Committee Report
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Parish Community Life Committee Report
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Evangelization and Reconciliation Committee Report
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Facilities Building and Grounds Committee
Report
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The following is an informal report on the Stewardship Committee. Paul hopes to have a more formal report next month.
The Stewardship Committee is making progress on studying a workbook on “Stewardship.” They are looking forward to attending a workshop on Stewardship in Concord, NC on April 19, 2008.
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St. Francis Mission Committee Report
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This page was last updated on 04/03/08