Members Present: Tom Corbett, Rose Davis, Nivia CiFuentes, Linda Heininger, Pat Higgins, Father Stan. Also present: Rita Vogt and Dennis Rooney.
Topics Discussed:
Open-mindedness and inclusion—a basic alternative plan for the parish merger with the Vietnamese Parish IHM was reiterated. Rita made note of the commonalities between the old Italian, Polish, Irish and German Families who first settled here and how they had to mainstream themselves into the American fabric as they became accepted. Education of the faith community was mentioned concerning the lack of educating the people with regards to their new role as they experience lay empowerment. It was felt that this was a major oversight on the part of the Diocesan Planning Committee.
It is important to keep the lines of communication open between the planning committee, the Pastoral Council and the community. The selection of an effective communications officer will be imperative for the new Parish Council.
Rita mentioned three things that came as a result of the Diocesan Planning sessions so far:
1. St. Stephen’s stuck by the plan
2. There was no impartial leader of the three Parish Planning Committees
3. Lack of an effective preparation program for all parishes concerning the role of the Laity in the new configuration plan
We must focus beyond our differences; always keep in focus the many gifts and talents as well as limitations people have to offer; the position of each member of the Pastoral Council must be defined.
Candidates, thus far, for the upcoming new Pastoral Council elections in September:
|
Beth Picknally Camden Denise Caruso Nivia CiFuentes Dot Corbett Tom Corbett Rose Davis Linda Heininger Liz McHugh Marcia Miller Phouc Nguyen |
Neal Norris Pat Otto Pat Petronis Dennis Rooney Gabrielle Sapienza Joey Scavuzzo Julian Terzini Gail Tutwiler Rita Vogt |
Members Present: Rose Davis, Gary Sapienza, George Tutwiler, Jim Rotondo, Joey Scavuzzo, Father Stan. Also present: Dennis Rooney.
Topics Discussed:
Father Stan reported that Sister Ruthann will arrange another Pastoral Council workshop for the new council in the Fall. It is essential that Fr. Stan, George Tutwiler and Pat Higgins attend.
All biographies and pictures of Pastoral Council candidates are due to the rectory, via Email, by August 31, 2007. We are soliciting for more candidates to run for election in our August bulletins. The election will take place either the 3rd or 4th weekend of September.
Since the next Pastoral Council will be more intensely involved with the reconfiguration or reassessment of our position in the Diocese, it will be important to keep the community and the Grassroots initiative well informed. Therefore, Father Stan has selected Joey Scavuzzo to be the liaison between our Parish Planning Committee and the Grassroots Committee.