Parish Leadership Night  

Council Minutes   

January

11, 2006

In Attendance: Lindsey McCormick, Lynn Spinner, Fred

Bradbury, Tom Fleming, Megan Carmean, Mark Daly,

Christopher Spinner, Maureen Durner, Linda Ruskin,

Joe Amalfitano, Flo Petroski, Dominic Nallathambi, and

Fr. Carroll

Absent: Karen Gianninoto, Deacon Brad

Taylor, Greg Campbell, Bill Nickum, Joe Doherty,

Sandra Wood

Welcome to our newest member of the council!!  

Welcome Domnic Nallathambi !

Council Agenda

A. Approval Of November Minutes

* No additions, No corrections, Approved as written

B. Committee Highlights

Youth Ministry-

* Discussed many upcoming events- chose coordinators for various

activities.

* List of web resources was given for youth ministry information

* Focus for Youth Ministry- to be "part of the fabric"

 of the parish.  See and live how life as a Catholic

will be as an adult.

Liturgy-

* Changing of liturgy teams this weekend- Thank you to

team III under Kathy Jackson

* Advent Adoration in the chapel was well attended

* There was discussion of liturgy environment-  The

closet in the choir loft needs lighting and shelves

for boxes.

* Thank you to Kathy Wood & Kathy Jackson for organizing the closet

last week.

* Discussions:

-need to have cantors/musicians to teach new hymns

before mass

- need for ushers to instruct families regarding

bringing up the gifts at offertory time according to

last years suggestion.

* Silhouettes in the churches representing our missing

brothers and sisters, victims of legalized violence

very effective!-  Thank you to Fred Bradbury for

making them.

* Liturgical Ministers Day of Recollection - January 14,

2006

Social Ministries-

General:

* "Praying from where you are" a day of reflection for

those who do outreach is being presented on Saturday

Feb. 4 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in our hall by Mary An

Love of the Diocese Parish Social Ministries Office-

All are welcome to attend!

* January 30 is the next meeting at 7:30 p.m. for

Social Ministries

* Caroline Hospice Foundation has requested a meeting

with us to discuss the need for volunteers for

transportation and deliveries, patient sitting and

meal preparation to name a few.  They would like to

address the committee before the end of January if we

are interested.

* Maryland Catholics Lobby night will be held in

Annapolis on February 20 from 3-8 p.m.

Committee Reports.

Habitat:

* The next Habitat breakfast is Saturday, January 21 .

* Drop off for Habitat Yard sale begins on Saturday

January 28.

* A new home has started construction on Eveland Rd in

Ridgely.

Human Dignity

* Washington DC "Right To Life" March is January 23.

We have a 25 person bus that will be leaving from and

returning to St. Benedict's.

* Sunday January 15 at 9:30 in the hall, the Human

Dignity committee will be conducting 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

No collection this month.

St. Martins Ministries

Food Bag donations are ongoing for St. Martins this

month

Special Projects

Operation Rice materials have been received and it

will be kicked off during Lent.

San Marcos Committee:

Coffee and Coco sales will continue during Super

Sundays.

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.

Breaking Bread- Free Lunch at St. Lukes February 18th-

11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Parish and Family Life

Sodality-

* Continues to support hospitality.  We are planning

to attend and support the Parish Mission planned for

February 12-15

Campus Ministry-

* Tries to support our extended college and military

members by keeping in touch and regularly sending care packages.  We

also have a mission to keep these members in our prayers

* Progressive Dance- January 28th 6-10 All eras will be represented

through posters, pictures, music and other representative items. $1  

per ticket includes snacks and drinks Decorating will be Thursday

January 26 7-9 p.m.

* Youth Lock in that evening too!

* Casting Crowns- Concert March 9 in Salisbury- 27

signed up to go at this point

* Jeanne Wallace - January 29 will present her Jamaica

Slide Show  to any attendees from our parish after the

8:30 mass. Any parishioners are invited to attend.

Knights

* Super Sunday on February 6

* Donated $500 for a seminarian in the Wilmington

Diocese

* Membership blitz to invite parish men to join.

* Jeanne will forward names of new member for this

committee.

Hospitality

*Adult Formation/ Open Forum January 24- Flo will take

care of light refreshments

C. Finance Report-

"We're in good shape." - Tom Fleming

* bills are paid, budget is good.

* Gift of $202,291 from an estate will be added to

savings

* Gibbons from Baltimore will refurbish the 50 year

old statue outside of the church in honor of Chuckle & Margaret Startt

* Year end gifts were given

* We had a 10% return last year with the Diocesan

investments

D. Christmas Feedback

* Name exchange in the mailing may have helped during

advent season and Christmas season.  This tradition

will grow as it is done more often.

* Environment has been excellent- Christmas masses

were overwhelmingly crowded which is a good thing.  We discussed how

over time, masses will even out.

* Prayer has been reprinted on a new card.  The goal

is to have the entire parish learn the prayer and no

when we say it.  - have it become routine.

* Christmas stable was missed but will return in some

fashion next year.

E. Parish Pre-Lent Mission

* We need to push people to do this mission.  Since

this is pre-lent, we will not have as busy of a lent

season.  We will still have adoration/soup on

Wednesdays and stations on Fridays.

* Mission talks will connect each night with a similar

format each night- song, opening prayer, talk, song,

closing prayer, invitation or snippet of next nights

talk.

F. Mid Year Check Up

As a council we reflected on the work done so far.

* We feel suggestions that are made, are listened to

and things get done.

* We are taken seriously and people listen.

* We are impressed how the committees work together.

They are good size, organized and keep council

informed on their doings.

* Sitting in on other committee meetings is an eye

opener as to the dedication and work  done within the

parish-  Suggestion- Council members rotate to

see/hear all committees- heighten awareness.

* We need to think how we connect with new families.

Flo visits them all, but council needs to be known to

parish so if they have questions/concerns they know

who to go to.  

Suggestions:

1. Put up council members pictures -visible in the

hall

2. update directory

* Good mix of people involved in committees, council,

parish life etc...

G. Pastors Report

* Be aware of what we are doing, where we are doing it

and be sure to return the room the way it was.

* Maps are available of where heating

units/thermostats are.  We need to be more conscience

of the heating bills.

E. Closing Prayer

Successful Catholics regularly do things that call

them out of themselves.

 Next meeting- February 8th