Parish Pastoral Council Minutes
September 8, 2003

Preliminary

Prior to our meeting, the following committees emailed their reports to me.  I collected the reports and distributed them to everyone on council one week prior to our meeting. 

Community Events/Publicity-submitted by Carol Johnson
Religious Education-submitted by Joan Parker
Liturgical Committee-submitted by Ted Nell
Youth Committee- submitted by Pat Bentley 
Social Action Committee-submitted by Ed Walls
Evangelization Committee -submitted by Frank Blee
Building & Grounds Report-submitted by  Ted Karmilovich

These reports can also be viewed at (click here)

The following committees did not submit a report for this month:

Family Life- Submitted by Ted & Joann Malecki
Vocations Committee-submitted by Bill & Connie Peters

MINUTES
September 8, 2003

The Meeting:
·        Meeting called to order at 7:00pm
·        Opening prayer Carol Johnson
·        Attending:  Matt Macready , Kevin Walls, Bob Senese , Ray Ring , Joan Parker , Carol Johnson, Blair Learn, Frank Blee, Joann Malecki, Ted Nell, Ed Walls, Mr. Rev. Bill Peters, Connie Peters, Pat Bentley, Fr. Bob, Fr. Carlton, & Mr. Rev. Joe Becker
·        Absent:  All Committees were represented
·        No correspondence was reported

Last Month’s Minutes:
            Changes: The trip to see “Daniel” was incorrectly dated.  It should have read Saturday Sept.20
            Minutes were accepted & approved

Committee/Group Reports:
Prior to our meeting, the following reports were submitted and distributed to council:
Liturgical Committee
Religious Education
Evangelization Committee
Community Events/Publicity
Youth Ministry
Social Action Committee
Building & Grounds Report

The following committees did not submit a report for this month:
Family Life
Vocations Committee

Discussion of Committee/Group Reports:

§         SAC:  mentioned that yesterday they collected 80 bags of groceries for their loaves & fishes campaign.  Ed stated that this was probably the largest collection of the year.  He attributed it to and thanked Fr. Bob & Fr. Carlton for promoting it from the altar.

§         Building & Grounds:

o       Ray has arranged for a dumpster to be placed in the church’s parking lot in the beginning of October.  He would like all committees to inventory their stuff and decide whether or not its time to part with it. 

o       The diocese inspected our buildings and concluded we do not have a mold problem; in fact, our parish was one of the less moldy ones they’ve seen.

o       The plan to relocate Assumption Church on Pitney Road was discussed.  Prior to the meeting, Ray was asked whether he thought such a project would affect our parish.  Unfortunately, with so many variables (i.e. housing developments, expanding Seton’s church, and the possibility of redistricting) still unanswered there was no way to predict its affect.  Frank made an astute observation that geographically, Pitney Road would not be the most logical location.  Just because the diocese owns the property should not be the primary reason to build there.  To relocate in Pomona made more sense.

§         Evangelization:  They recently met and are planning on reaching out to non-active Catholics and those individuals with no church affiliation.  Frank would like to develop a theme, and then incorporate the Liturgical Committee and SAC to help implement this project. 

§         Family Life:  Eight couple have signed up for Pre Cana on Oct. 19 and 26  

Old Business: 

1. Parish Plan:  no more revisions were necessary.  The plan will be submitted in its current form.
2. Parish Picnic:  was cited as a huge success
3. Socials
1. “Daniel” planned for September 20.  Pat noted that this religious play did not sell out as easily as the Christmas play and that maybe we should choose plays without a religious theme for these social events
2. Family Fun Day:  Oct 18 at Roesch’s Farms
3. Radio City :  November 7
4. The Producer’s:  January 2004

 New Business: 

1. Welcoming Party:  15-17 new parishioners have signed up to attend this September 11 event
2. Rosary Procession on Atlantic City boardwalk:  October 9 (from 10-3) Bishop DiMarzio, will lead a diocesan pilgrimage to Atlantic City in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary and in celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of our Holy Father’s pontificate.  CCD is renting a bus for the occasion and the diocese is anticipating approximate 20, 000 people to gather in Convention Hall.
3. Bishop DiMarzio’s Farewell mass:  September 26 in Blackwood.  Fr. Carlton, Joe Becker, Frank and Addie Blee, and MaryAnn & Blair Learn have volunteered to represent the parish at this event.
4. Spiritual Bouquets:  as noted in the bulletin, these are requested to be filled out and returned by September 15.
5. Parish Mission : (November 30)  Fr. McCarthy is scheduled, but he has been unavailable to iron out any specific details.
6. Absecon will hold a downtown fair on Sept. 27^th
7. Scripture Study
1. The diocese offers a 30 session Biblical Study program from September to May.  This year they will be covering the Old Testament.  Classes are on Wednesdays from 9:30 -11 at St. Drexel’s or on Tuesdays at 7 pm in our parish.
2. Our parish is also offering a Bible Study program.  Laurita Miller, Ella Maglalang and Bernadette Spina (recent graduates of the diocesan program) will facilitate our program.  It is scheduled for the four Tuesdays in October
3. Bishop Pastoral on “The Laity”.  It is six 90 minute courses.  Matt attended the one in Camden.  It is now being offered at other parishes and Matt has volunteered to facilitate one in our parish.
8. October is Respect for Life month:  This year’s theme is “Life is a Miracle”.  To promote it,
1. Fr. Carlton will organize a Life Chain
2. It will be noted in the church’s bulletin and during the offertory prayers
3. The Youth Ministry will incorporate it in their October 5 presentation:  “Drug Abuse is Self Abuse”

 Open Forum

§         It was announced to the board tonight that Bob Wenz will no longer be our Vice President.  Due to too many other commitments, Bob is forced to resign.  Toni ght we welcomed Kevin Walls, who Fr. Bob chooses to replace Bob and complete his term.  We thank Bob for all his hard work and for being there as we struggled through our first years as a Parish Council.  We now look forward to working with Kevin.

§         September 28 is AIDS Compassion weekend.  Toni Corrigan is scheduled to speak at the masses

§         Beth Decker has been hired to assist Pat and her Youth Ministry

§         The board agreed that Pat’s presentation “True Love Waits” would be a worthwhile endeavor.  This program should help teens choose chastity and abstinence in today’s overly sexually oriented times.

 Next meeting

Monday October 13
Time 7:00 pm
I will lead us in prayer

 Respectfully submitted by:

Bob Senese ,
Secretary