MINUTES OF PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING
December 5, 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, Chris McSherry, Derek
Stiles, Margaret Abboud, and Kathy Johnson
4. Pastor’s Report: Financial Report: The offertory gifts have
been up, averaging close to $9,500 each week for the month of
November. The lowest week was just under the goal of $8,100.
The first week of December brought $11,300. Parishioners are
responding to the needs of the parish and we are now over our
projected need. Father is thankful to all for their generosity. All our
bills are current and we are building up our savings for possible
boiler repairs and other bills that may arise. We currently have
about $40,000 in the savings account. Financial worries are
easing.
Additional Business: There will be a Deanery Penance Service on
December 12th at Immaculate Conception. There are currently 26
churches in Worcester, and some of them will be closing. Some
churches are in poor repair and there is a shortage of available
priests.
5. Temporal Administrator: Deacon Joe Kevin Staples donated
his labor to strip and wax the church hall and kitchen floors. This
was a big savings and was much appreciated. We are looking into
getting cages to go around the thermostats. People are turning up
the heat and forgetting to turn it back down, wasting a lot of money
and energy. Some parishioners have expressed concern about
the cost of repairing the stained glass window protectors. This was
needed maintenance and would have cost much more if we let it
go and the windows themselves were damaged.
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
7. New Business Anita has received two e-mails from Holy
Cross. A student is doing a project on Christ the King and wants to
attend an activity to get a feel for the church. It was suggested the
he join the CYC on their retreat. Father Foley states that Christ the
King is involved with Holy Cross in a number of ways.
A new phone system is being installed on Monday. All
phones will be connected with voicemail and automated parish
information available.
Vinny mentioned that parishioners have requested that
soldiers be remembered regularly. Father Foley noted that
intentions have been said for the military and he will continue to
do so.
Margaret will look into making a bulletin available for families
to get the information needed to access services when a family
member dies.
Derek said that the sound system needs to be adjusted-
there is whining and fading in and out during masses. Father told
us how someone messed with the dials trying to make the system
sound better, but ended up making things worse. The contractor
who put the system in and a different church sound system
contractor both looked at the system and made the needed
adjustments. Derek will look at the system and look into getting a
box that would enclose the dials to keep people from touching the
dials. The box has to be big enough to allow air to circulate, which
would make it possible to add a CD player to the sound system.
Father asked Derek to also look at the sound system in the church
hall. Deacon Joe will help Derek do this.
Margaret spoke about the Children’s Liturgical Group. She
asked if it would be possible to have the children come out during
mass to sing the Gloria, and it was suggested she talk to Dennis.
She also talked about the Children’s Playgroup. It meets on
Tuesdays, from 9Am to 11Am down stairs in the parish hall. All
moms are invited to come with their children. If a dad, brother,
uncle or aunt is babysitting, they too can come. Moms are asked
to bring a snack for all to share. Coffee, tea and juice are offered.
Members can contact Margaret at 508-753-2709 for questions.
Ministry
Reports:
8. Knights of Columbus Deacon Joe Members’ dinner will be
Sunday night. There is a bus to Foxwoods on January 19th. The
bus will leave at 5:30.
9. CCD No Report
10. CYC Chris Retreat will be held on January 19th-21st at
Oakhurst. Fathers Riley and Mazzone will be leading the group.
The bus will leave at 6:00. The group has 125 poinsettias to sell
December 16th and 17th.
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. The group made a donation to Interfaith Hospitality
which will be matched by a donor.
12. Men’s Club No Report
13. Social Committee No Report
The meeting was concluded with a prayer by Deacon Joe followed
by the reciting of the Hail Mary. The next meeting will be February
6th at 7:30 p.m. We will skip the January meeting, but will call a
meeting if something comes up. If there is no school on the day of
a scheduled meeting, the meeting will be cancelled. 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