Confirmation at St. Mary’s: Friday, 13 May 2005

Pictured with Archbishop Oscar Lipscomb are the six members of the confirmation class. Seated: Samatha Dill and Rachel Stuckwisch. Standing: Nathan Prickett, Marc Dolan, Archbishop Lipscomb, Ross Tate and Andrew Eick.

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Class Registration for 2005-06 year

There will be Registration forms for the 2005-2006 School Year in back of the Church. Please pick up one. The deadline for registration is June 1. We are needing a count to order books. If you have any questions, contact the C.R.E. Connie Scroggins.

Mass Intentions May 16-22, 2005

Mass Intentions for the week of May 16:

Mon:		Fr Joseph Symes (dec) req by Glenda Holden
Tues:		Special Intention
Wed:		Special Intention
Thurs:		Special Intention
Fri:		Special Intention
Sat:	5:30 PM	David Schoettl (dec) req by his family
Sun:	9:00 AM	Betty Guckian (dec) req by Ladies Sodality
Sun:	11:15 AM	St. Mary’s Parishioners
Sun:	5:00 PM	Español

Ladies Sodality May Meeting

The Ladies Sodality will meet this Tuesday, May 17, 2005 at 7:00 PM in the parish hall. This is the last meeting for the Sodality until September. Please mark your calendars and attend this very important meeting. We will be discussing all the events happening this summer.

A big Thank You for all the help we received this past year getting all the events, (receptions, coffee and donuts, etc. we could not have done it without your help. Thanks Again!

PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING, May 9, 2005

Pastoral Council Meeting

Present

Members
Fr. Jack Kane, Deacon Don Canonica,
Amanda Venafro, John Rowe,
Bonnie Sevchuk, Bob Sevchuk,
Sandy Halperin, Ray Collins,
Mike Collins, Dan Bloodworth,
Herbert Quintero, Nancy Penaskovic.

Also Attending
Timothy Perry, Steve Stuckwisch,
Janie Prickett, Lily Carrias,
Connie Scroggins, Luis Rodriguez,
Kathy Watts

AGENDA:

1. Opening Prayer: Fr Jack Kane
2. Introduction of all attendees
3. Archdiocesan Programs

A. Long Range Apostolic Planning

John Rowe, Chairperson, reviewed the results of the questionnaire handed out several weeks ago at all the Masses. He reported that there were 67 responses and mentioned that there were strong indications that the general group response indicated that most people are please with the St. Mary’s Liturgical celebrations, homilies, music.

He indicated that only 70.8% were satisfied with the Mass schedule.
Only 60.6 % felt that Adult Instruction was adequate.

The strongest areas in need of improvement were:
1. Awareness of the Parish Goals
2. Concerns about the Youth Programs and Development
3. Outreach to those who do not attend services

He explained the statistical analysis and asked for comment. The comments expressed covered the following:

1. Who was concerned about the youth programs? 60 % of respondents 50 yrs of age and 40% of respondents were under 50 yrs age. The general consensus was that all groups had concerns with attending to the youth, but most especially parents.

2. 55.2% felt the facilities were adequate. A point was made that many respondents did not understand fully the meaning of tsome questions, especially among the Spanish speaking members of St. Mary’s.

3. Don Canonica questioned how many respondents were husbands and wives. Could it be possible that we only has 45 families responding out of our estimated 160.

John Rowe was commended for doing a great job of starting the process of long range planning at St. Mary’s. We will continue to work with the process of long range planning in the next year.

B. Two Catechetical Programs:

1.“WHY CATHOLIC”

Don Canonica reviewed and handed out a summary of the “Why Catholic” program. Somme of the points brought up about this program were:
a. there is a substantial cost to the program
b. it requires small groups meeting over four years
c. as it has been conducted in the Archdiocese, the small group programs run for 6 weeks and then there are long gaps in the program.

2. “GENERATIONS OF FAITH PROGRAM”

Father Jack explained some of the strengths of this program and showed a video that highlighted the tenets of the program and how it has worked in several dioceses in the US and Canada.

Strengths of this program:

a. It is intergenerational and involves families as a whole.
b. It is held once a month for 11 months or four or five times a year, depending on the individual parish.
c. It has some flexibility, i.e., it can be a 2 ½ or 3 hr program if it involves a meal for the community.
d. The costs associated with the Program are less: the first year is free and thereafter it will cost $100/year.
e. It involves experiential learning: a central meal, one theme;
breaking into groups according to age or some other criterion (seniors, young married couples, etc.) and then a returning together for a prayer. The program also involves a “Home Kit” with activities to be conducted at home with the family during the following month.
f. Father Kane gave a handout that was a sample of how the curriculum could be developed over six years. Basically, it covers the following themes: Church Year; Prayer; Sacraments; Justice; Creed and Morality.
g. The program can be :

Primary which does not include the Religious Education Program as we are used to or
Blended,which allows for the Religious Education program to continue as is as well as the GOF program. The general consensus of the group was to do a Blended program beginning in the Fall and to reexamine the Primary program after that experience.

Some of the concerns expressed:
We would need a large meeting room or could use the Church for central sessions.
It would take a strong commitment of a Design Team and Catechists to plan, develop and put togetherthe monthly meetings, home kits, etc. It would require a strong lay group commitment.
The meals are to be a shared experience, so it would have to be simple or box dinners.
There would need to be a nursery for ages 0-3 years.
The estimated cost is $2 –6 per family for the home kits.

There is another meeting at St Bedes in Montgomery on May 24th, 9AM-3PM for further explanation and details of this program. Connie Scroggins and Amanda Venafro said that they would go with Fr. Kane and Deacon Don to this meeting.
The suggestion was made that we think of having the GOF program on a Wednesday night.

It was thought that we should meet again after the St. Bede’s meeting. So, the next Pastoral Council Meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, May 31st, at 7:00 pm.

This meeting closed with the recitation of the “Hail Mary”.

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