Parish Leadership Night - Council Minutes
February 8, 2006
In Attendance: Lindsey McCormick, Lynn Spinner, Fred
Bradbury, Megan Carmean, Mark Daly, Christopher
Spinner, Maureen Durner, Linda Ruskin, Joe
Amalfitano, Dominic Nallathambi, Karen Gianninoto,
Sandy Wood, and Fr. Carroll
Absent: Tom Fleming, Flo Petroski, Meredith Sides,
Deacon Brad Taylor, Greg Campbell, Deacon Bill Nickum, and
Joe Doherty
Council Agenda
A. Approval Of January Minutes
* No additions, No corrections, Approved as written
B. Committee Highlights
Liturgy-
* Changing of liturgy teams - Team IV ending winter
schedule
Team I will pick up with Lenten season- Theme-
“Jesus remember me when we enter your kingdom”
*Discussed use of responsorial psalms during Lenten
season
* No word on the light in the closet
* Team II- Easter season planning
* Father Norm introduced a brochure by Pope B. on how
to pray the stations of the cross
* Children’s Choir w/Joan Dent- built up to minister at 1 mass a
– They will practice on the 1st
& 3rd Thursdays at St. Benedict at 7pm
month
* Ash Wednesday- 7 p.m. mass and 7:30 a.m. and
9:00a.m.
* A Wed. in Lent Fr. will have a “walk-through” of the
mass
– Wed, March 22
Social Ministries-
General:
* Outreach Retreat here with Mary An Love
* Maryland Catholics Lobby night will be held in
Annapolis on February 20 from 3-8 p.m.
* Caroline Hospice has requested a meeting to discuss
the need for volunteers for transportation and
deliveries, patient sitting, and meal prep to name a
few
Committee Reports.
Habitat:
* The next Habitat breakfast is Saturday, February 18
.
* Drop off for Habitat Yard sale begins on Saturday
January 28.
Human Dignity
*The Human Dignity committee conducted a letter
writing campaign to Maryland Legislators on Stem Cell
Research and Parental notification of abortion bills.
* Silhouettes that are visual representations of those
who should be in our midst but aren’t because of
abortion have been placed in both churches and the
hall to remind us to pray for these lost ones and for
the end of abortions.
Samaritan House- United Concerned Christians
*Soup and cereal donations are being accepted
St. Martins Ministries
No collection this month.
Special Projects
Operation Rice Bowl- Flo has the materials and will
kick this off in Lent
NUTS-
Neighbors United To Serve has already begun
planning for next year
Voice Of The Homeless Committee:
Rev. Cephas from Hurlock who intends to create a
shelter for the homeless over these winter months
using one of their church buildings has not gotten a
clear to go ahead from the City Council to proceed.
We will wait until this occurs, so we do not invest
money for a shelter that might not get approved.
Parish and Family Life
* Discussed success of the Progressive Dance
* New Member- Judy Klug
* Suggestion made to update or add an addendum to our
Parish Directory
* New Head of Hospitality- Sandy Wood who will be
assisted by Linda Nickum and Flo Petroski
* Mission is organized and hospitality for each night
is delegated. We look forward to a successful Mission
* Mark Daly is researching topics and ideas for a
presentation to families Possibility of “Sensible
Finances to families”
Building and Grounds
* Installed new convection oven, freezer and
refrigerator
* New electric wiring for the oven and fridge was done
* The Knight’s moved out old appliances and put in the
new ones
* Updated wash room to accommodate the glassware.
* Thanks to all who helped!!!
Christian Formation
*Home School Policy is ready for Pastor Ratification
* Establishing an Adult Formation Committee
* Confirmation Service Day- Feb. 18th 1/2 kids to
Caroline Nursing Home, 1/2 to Benedictine School
* A 2nd RCIA class ( 6 candidates) has been started to
coincide meeting on Sunday mornings with the current
group (2 candidates)
* 1st Communion Rite of Enrollment February 26th
* RCIA- Rite of Elect/ call to continuing conversion-
March 6th at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
* Super Sunday- very successful- topic was “God is
Love” based on the Pope’s 1st Encyclical
*March’s Super Sunday will be our Mardi Gras
celebration with Faith stories from our parishioners.
C. Finance Report-
* offertory up on average from $4300 to $4500 a week
* As all we are having tough times with energy costs
* Finance Council is going to the diocesan workshop on
the 21st to network
* Bringing Vision To Life campaign ended this month
A thank you to the parish will be sent to remind us
of what has been done with the monies, and a subtle
reminder to add to offertory
D. Small Group Break Outs
* All of parish is running smoothly, no major problems
so we need to see if there is a part of the parish we
are forgetting or need to increase participation with.
* We broke into 4 groups: Family, single, youth, and
seniors ( We role-played we were in this group of
people.)
* We discussed: What would I participate in? What
would I participate in if it were on the calendar?
Synopsis of each group:
FAMILY
+
-
Super Sundays
young adult groups
Mission
families with children/toddlers
Habitat breakfasts
lacking between baptism and CCD
age
Children’s Choir
learning catholic culture
Hospitality
Progressive Dance
Adoration
SENIORS
+
-
Senior luncheon
Super Sundays
progressive dance
nighttime transportation
Habitat breakfasts
Bible study
Saturday Evening mass
SINGLE
+
-
Social events
Not a lot of events for everyone
ex. (game nights)
(sports night)
Bible Study
Retreat
Social action- volunteering
progressive dance
YOUTH
+
-
Lots of Social gatherings
not enough liturgical
involvement
bonfire, lock-in, skating, Ohio
Mug Shots
IDEAS:
Youth Formation
jr. ushers
Presence at Council
choir
lectors
future knights/sodality
What did we learn?
* Busy Parish
* We could do a youth Sunday 1x a month for
ushers/lectors etc.
* June 25-
In Conclusion:
We will implement some new ideas
Youth: ask pairs of youth to be ushers
Singles: Welcoming Committee will appoint 1 person to specifically contact and welcome singles
Family: Christian formation is working on activities
for baptism to CCD age
Seniors: make a list of parishioners willing and
available for driving
E. Pastors Report
* Mission- We do not pay for mission. However,
envelopes will be handed out for donations to be made
* Food needed to be provided for Bill Wegner-
Fr.
thought of welcoming him to our parish with
parishioners bringing dinner: Lindsey, Fred, Mark and
Lynn will take nights
* At Fr. Carroll’s invitation, the Bishop is coming for dinner on June25 to have a discussion with
young men who might consider talking about priesthood in the diocese. Let Fr. Carroll know if you
or someone you know should be invited.
F. Closing Prayer
Chris Spinner, Jr reflected on Chapter 6 of Seven Secrets…:
Successful Catholics always remember that God is
ultimately merciful and forgiving.
