Parish Leadership Night  

Council Minutes

March 8, 2006

In Attendance: Lindsey McCormick, Lynn Spinner, Fred

Bradbury, Megan

Carmean, , Christopher Spinner,

Maureen Durner, Linda Ruskin,  Joe

Amalfitano, Dominic Nallathambi, Karen Gianninoto, Tom Fleming, Flo

Petroski, Sandy Wood, and Fr. Carroll

Absent: Mark Daly, Deacon Brad Taylor,

Greg Campbell, Deacon Bill

Nickum, and Joe Doherty

Council Agenda

A. Approval of February Minutes

* No additions,

Corrections: The knights did not install the new

equipment, they moved items, the company installed.

Minutes approved with corrections made.

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”

* There is light in the closet now and it is very

organized.

* Stations of the Cross- A large crowd for the 1st

Stations of Lent

* Children’s Choir- built up to perform at 1 mass a

month- practicing for their Easter season singing.

* Wednesday Adorations going well.

* Team II- planning for Easter Season

* We are looking for a new leader for Team IV.- Pam is resigning.

Social Ministries-

General:

* 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. They would like to address the committee if not

the whole parish. No date has been set yet.

Committee Reports.

Habitat:

* The next Habitat breakfast is Saturday, March 18.

* Habitat Yard sale is scheduled for April 22, next

drop off is March 25.

* Last breakfast we made$416 without Father’s donation

for youth.

* Habitat new homes in Federalsburg- looking at ways

to raise money to augment grant money.

* Looking at June NASCAR races in addition to

September races as another fundraiser opportunity.

Human Dignity

*Maryland Catholic Lobby Night held in Annapolis on

President’s Day.  We were represented by Jackie and

Carol.

* Classes on Pro-Life will be held on March 12 and

19th

Samaritan House- United Concerned Christians

*Soup and cereal donations are being accepted

St. Martins Ministries

No report this month.

Special Projects

NUTS-

We are supporting the NUTS activities and some of our

committee individuals again are taking leadership

roles.  St. Luke's is looking at hosting it this year.

Operation Rice Bowl- Flo has kicked this off for Lent

with the distribution of Rice Bowls and has put a

piece in the bulletin about it.

Voice of

the Homeless Committee:

* Status on Denton Shelter- a walk through of the

proposed shelter facility on 3rd Street (Full Gospel

Church) occurred on March 3rd.  The results of the

walk through showed that major renovation would be

required to get it up to standards.  Maybe just cots/blankets/pillows

could be donated just to get people out of the cold.

Parish and Family Life

* Possible New Members checking out our committee-

Colleen Taylor and A. Waltrup

* We continued talk about a Parish Directory

* Suggestion was made that young people be greeters at

Mass and other hospitality events

* Some young people are helping with the next

Soup/Bread night.

* We discussed kitchen guidelines.

* Sodality’s April meeting moved back because of Holy

Week.

*Knights-

April 5th - Soup

Knight Ceremony 3rd degree 10 members

Knight Ceremony 4th degree- Hagerstown Sat. March

25th by

invitation.

There are some questions- a brochure may be made.

* Mark Daly - not present to talk about update on

presentation

Building and Grounds

* February 21-23 a new furnace was installed into St. Benedict’s by

Meintzer- replaced the 19 year old furnace that had cracks and was

blowing small amounts of soot into the air.

Christian Formation

*The next few weeks will be heavy with RCIA Rites for both candidates

and Catechumens.  An explanation will be in the bulletin to inform

parishioners. *1st Holy Communion Prep classes begun last night and

will continue through April ending with a retreat. 1st Holy Communion

mass celebrations will be May 7th.

* Family Life sessions will be implemented for 7th and

8th grades in the next 2 weeks.

* 1st communion families, RCIA participants,

Confirmation families are being urged to attend the

“Walk through mass” on March 22nd.

*April 2nd- Our parish will host an open meeting for

all surrounding parishes who would like to attend a

Diocesan Religious Education Board meeting.

*RCIA- 4 candidates and 1 catechumen will celebrate

full initiation into the Catholic Faith at the Easter

Vigil this year

*Confirmation Retreat will be in Lewes, DE April

21/22.

* Closing ceremonies for RE will be April 30th.

* Adult confirmation classes will begin on Sunday

evening April 23rd for 5 sessions.

* Last Super Sunday is April 2nd- “Family Prayer”

C. Finance Report-

* For 36 weeks to date we have had an offertory of

$4,561 per week.

* This is an average of $177 over our current weekly

budget.

* comparison: our current weekly income is $341 over

what we received for the same 36 weeks last year.

D. Mission

*Reflection on the Parish Mission:

Lynn S.-brings us off our pedestal to reality

Christopher S.-Keeps us moving forward

Fred B.- could relate to him- learned about

forgiveness- God really is here for him.

Linda R.-took forgiveness to another level- deep

impressions

- gave us different voice-yet similar voice - a

father, husband, hard worker

-easy to connect to him

-You think you are doing good but are you really.

Made you think

- His message came across easier

- We came together as a whole- involvement-

hospitality, many musicians, dinners at rectory,

parishioners prayers to end each night.

- We are always hospitable.

-Bill Wegner was surprised with the variety and mix of involvement.

- Obvious to outsiders how hospitable we are.

-We are a family.

- helps to call us out of our shells.

What Next To Grow Spiritually?

-Horizontal not vertical growth

-Summer is a lull time- maybe something then.

What do we need more of?

-Vacation Bible School for Adults.

-Jeanne Wallace’s presentation on the orphanage in Jamaica made us stop

and

think of the less fortunate and to see how lucky we

really are.

-A Life in the Spirit Seminar

7 weeks long with the understanding that a prayer

group continues after.  It takes a “lukewarm”

Catholic and deepens their faith through talk, prayer,

praise, music and scripture.

Teams within the diocese do talks 1  per week.

Through this the movement of the Holy Spirit is asked

for.  You pray for gifts received in confirmation.

-RENEW

-power of small faith communities

* Cd’s/Book study group

E.Nominating Committee

It is that time of year again for nominating people to

be a part of the parish council. Karen Gianninoto, Fred

Bradbury and Flo Petroski will be the nominating

committee.

F. Pastors Report

* Finance- The statue of the Blessed Mother at St. Benedict finished.

The statue will be used for our annual May Crowning at which time some

history of the statue will be communicated.

* Stewardship campaign will be during Lent- Direct and

to the point.

* Annual Catholic Appeal will be in April.

*We would like to involve committees in the budget

process- April 6th- 7 p.m. committee members and

chairs invited for a presentation by the finance

council about how the budget is done.

* New furnace is in and working well.

HOME WORK-

Please complete the Parish Planning sheet with simple responses.  it

will help the diocese better understand our parish. F. Closing Prayer

Successful Catholics live in the moment, recognizing

daily opportunities for holiness.