MINUTES OF PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING
November 7, 2006
1. Meeting called to order by Anita Fenton
2. Father Foley opened the meeting with a blessing and
members joined him in the Lord’s Prayer. Members then read
the Mission Statement.
3. Present: Father Foley, Deacon Joe, Paul Franco,
Vincent Matulaitis, Mary Sullivan, Anita Fenton, Mary Haverty,
Joshua Johnson, and Kathy Johnson
4. Pastor’s Report: Financial Report: The Offertory
Renewal Program appears to be going well. There have been
some inaccuracies, but most people understand a 30% increase
is being asked for. The last weekend in October was better than
the typical last weekend. $10,300 was collected during the first
weekend of November. This is higher than usual, but first
weekends of the month are typically the highest. Some
parishioners have not responded and another letter will be
going out to those families, asking that they do their part in
supporting their parish financially. Periodically, maybe 3-4 times
per year, laity will speak at the masses to ask for continued
support. Father Foley will be looking into automatic deductions
on a website set up for parish offerings. People will be able to
sign up for automatic weekly deductions from bank accounts or
credit cards. More information will be shared as Father gets it.
Additional Business: There will be a Deanery Penance Service
on December 12th at Immaculate Conception.
5. Temporal Administrator: Deacon Joe Thank you to
the Daisies, Brownies, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and all the
adults who took part in cleaning the church and grounds. The
windows have been completed. There are some gouges in the
lawn because of the machinery needed to fix the windows, and
we are looking for anyone who has some loom to fill in the
marks. The boiler valves have been replaced. Groups who have
mail delivered to the rectory need to pick it up regularly. Also,
groups that use the church hall need to remember to turn off
lights when they leave, please.
6. Old Business: New parish council members are
needed. Also, a representative from each of the ministries
should attend the meetings which are usually held on the first
Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. If any person or organization
wants to contribute to the Interfaith Hospitality Network there is
a man willing to match funds up to $20,000 through December
31, 2006.
7. New Business: Father Riley will be continuing his
Scripture Studies. Anita asked about the Giving Tree. Father
explained that last year, an agency brought in many more names
than we normally receive. This year we will go back to only
those agencies we have traditionally helped. Advent is late this
year, two Sundays after Thanksgiving, so we may put out the
names before Advent begins to give people enough time to
respond to the requests.
Ministry
Reports:
8. Knights of Columbus Deacon Joe Texas Hold ‘Em will be
held on November 17th. Pre-registrations will be solicited and
rules and regulations will be given. There will be 8 people at
each table and the tables will be combined as people fall out.
The buy-in will be $40. Prizes will be awarded. The dinner/ dance
will be held on March 3, 2007. There is a trip to Foxwoods
tentatively scheduled for January 17th. The bus will leave the
parking lot by 5:30 p.m. It will cost $25 and you will receive a
coupon for the buffet and $15 Keno play.
9. CCD No Report
10. CYC Mary H. Retreat will be held on January 19th-21st
at Oakhurst. Fathers Riley and Mazzone will be leading the
group. The CYC members will be serving coffee and… after the
8:00 mass on Thanksgiving morning. The CYC monthly mass is
very well attended. About 80 kids attended and there are 8 new
Eucharistic ministers.
11. Women’s Guild Mary S. The Evening of Recollection will
be held on December 11th at 6:00 p.m. It will be held in the
Johnson Room. There will be a mass, light dinner and a talk by
Father Foley.
12. Men’s Club No Report
13. Social Committee The Italian Night was not as well
attended as usual, but it was very well run and the food was
plentiful and delicious. $265 was raised for the Interfaith
Hospitality program and that amount will be matched by a man.
There are pictures from this evening on the church website.
The meeting was concluded with a prayer by Deacon Joe
followed by the reciting of the Hail Mary. The next meeting will
be December 5th at 7:30 p.m. All parish organizations should
send a representative to the meeting. New members are
welcome and encouraged to attend. Please see Father Foley.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathy Johnson
Parish Council Secretary