St. Mary’s Pastoral Council Meeting

June 7, 2008

SUMMARY NOTES

Those able to attend:          Leslie and Mike Lanigan, Lillian Smith, Ernie Merlino, Owen Rees,
Marion DeMott, Barbara Walsh, Cathy Roberts and Fr. Steve.

Those not able to attend:    Tony Baratta and Ed Lanigan.

Ed wrote to Fr. Steve last week and explained that he would be resigning his place on the Leadership Circle and Pastoral Council because of increasing family obligations.

Old Business:

• The school tuition for the school year 2008-2009 was set a few weeks ago. There was an increase for the one child family, the two child family, and the three or more child family.  The tuition rates were mailed to all school families about ten days ago.
• The parish calendar for the coming months through the summer of 2009 is set.  There will be some changes no doubt, but the dates are set as best as they can.
• CMA:  We are at about 50% of our goal.  The speakers last week seem to have generated more income for the CMA.  Our goal is $100,000.
• The Capital Campaign projects are proceeding along.  The work in the rectory is basically complete.  Our hope is to work on the auditorium next summer.
• There will be a special summer collection this year.  We hadn’t done this the last two years because of the redemption phase of the Capital Campaign.  The letter to the parishioners asks for them to consider a gift of $175.00 for July, August and September.

On-Going Business:

• Fr. Don Babinski met with the Pastoral Team at Cor Maria in Sag Harbor on June 4^th and 5^th.  He will meet with the school faculty and staff on June 16^th.
• This past weekend (June 7^th and 8^th) we celebrated FORGIVENESS WEEKEND as we prepare to enter into the summer season.  Fr. Steve will lead the ritual and preach at each of the Masses.  The prayer cards are ready to go.
• Fr. Steve has met with the youngsters and their parents who will be starting the 5^th grade in September to explain the new process to them.  These youngsters will be confirmed in the fall of the 7^th grade (2010).  There will be no Confirmation in 2009.  There will be a make-up meting on June 10^th.  The response was generally positive to the changes.  A copy of the parish program has been sent to the Office of Faith Formation in Rockville Centre as requested by that office.  The “INTERVIEW” questions have been reworked and distributed to the families and they have all received a copy of the COVENANT agreement which outlines the components of the Confirmation process.
• The Diocesan Pastoral Council held its first meeting on June 1^st at the St. Agnes Parish Pastoral Center.  Our Deanery Representative is a gentleman named F.X. McCarthy, a member of St. Patrick’s in Bay Shore.  The bishop made several appointments to balance out the membership.  There are 30 people on the DPC.
• The diocese is in the process of creating a description of Parish Personnel for parishes of various sizes.  It is still in the preliminary discussion phase.
• The Priest Presbyteral Council will meet on June 9^th.  Fr. Steve will no longer serve on this Council since he will be moving to another deanery. The Presbyteral Council will continue the discussion of the ME 25 as well as other pastoral concerns for the diocese (marriage preparation and sacramental preparation are two of the areas under discussion at the present time).
• There is an opening on our Pastoral Council with the resignation of Ed Lanigan.  A suggestion was made that we consider Brian Butler.  He is involved in JOURNEY with Barbara Grace.

New Business:

·         Finance Meeting:  A Finance meeting will be scheduled before Fr. Steve’s leaving on June 25^th.

·         The diocese does an exit audit of the parish when the pastor is being transferred.  The team from the diocese that came to St. Mary’s had several questions that have been answered.  They also have a good number of recommendations that they would like to see completed before June 25^th.  Steve will write a letter to the parish for the bulletin of June 17^th that explains their concerns and their recommendations.  The challenge is that all this came up within the last four weeks and it seems somewhat rushed at the present moment.

·         The Parish Feast is set for Friday, August 15^th.

·         The Dinner Dance this year will honor Nick and Cathy Roberts for their years of dedicated service to our parish.

·         Bishop Murphy has issued a Pastoral Letter about Communion Services in the diocese.  It explains the Eucharist and explains why communion services are not appropriate in our diocese.  Communion Services will end as of July 1^st.  It doesn’t impact St. Mary’s at all.  St. Mary’s last had a communion service many years ago when all the priests were at a convocation with Bishop Mc Gann in PA.

·         The Pastoral Council membership will be printed in the SPIRIT.  It already appears on the WEB site.  The members would also appreciate a copy of the names, addresses and phone numbers of all the members so that communication among themselves is easier.

·         Owen will contact Fr. Don in July to plan for the August meeting.

THE FOLLOWING IS A LISTING OF DATES FOR
UPCOMING PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETINGS:

August 9, 2008
September 13, 2008 (joint meeting with the Pastoral Team)
October 11, 2008
November 8, 2008
December 6, 2008
January 10, 2009 (joint meeting with the Pastoral Team)
February 7, 2009 (joint meeting with the Pastoral Team)
March 7, 2009
April 4, 2009
May 9, 2009
June 6, 2009

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!

Sincerely yours in the peace of Christ,

Reverend Steven J. Peterson
Pastor