Sacred Heart Parish
MINUTES OF THE PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING
Sept. 8, 2011
Attending: Fr. St. Martin, Winifred Murphy, Fr. Connelly, Danielle Betancourt, Martha Munsell, Joe Franco, Jacob Joseph, Mystica Alexander,
Fran Noll, Rick Johnson , Govind Sreenivasan; Interpreter, Jenny Corbin
Report from Pastor:
Our thanks to all for their continuing service, and to those who are retiring, i.e.Shawn Bryan, Stephanie Bucci, Ted Hoppe, Kathy Winters.
Addressing Sunday Mass schedule is topping our agenda. Present situation of 3 Masses too close together and poorly attended do not follow A.D. guidelines for 2 hours between start times and that allow for liturgically adequate worship. Proposal is for 1 Eng. Mass and 1 ASL Mass with Eng. voicing on Sun. AM, at times convenient to majority and providing necessary adjustments.
Comments from table: from Rick and Fran for deaf community: whatever is best, but lower church is not satisfactory; Masses sharing ASL/Eng. should be further explored; best start time between 9:30 – 10:30, conflict for same Mass time; also consider the complications of parking.
Father St. Martin: deaf community will always be small; Rel. Ed has to be on a Sun.(1st and 3rd for younger children, 9:30 – 10:15); once a month for Confirmation for an extended period following Mass and coffee. Sunday Mass is an obligation, so convenient Mass times also become an obligation; travel times need to be considered.
Other comments: possibility of combination Masses, ASL/E with primacy to ASL. As children enter teens, it is more difficult to get them to a 9AM Mass…later better. This is an opportunity to come together as a faith community, open parish to 1 Mass situation. Regarding Rel. Ed.: Sunday needs to be retained; with 2 parents working it is difficult to manage a Tues. program; timing for many is a convenience; Sunday is more popular.
Quality of Catholicism is part of this as we struggle with a faith and culture problem.
Other topics from Pastor: Summer finances were pretty good, PFC to report to parish later in Sept. Prior issues continue to be works in progress: SPN situation has no change; no specific action on improved publicity; painting and repair to both rectory and church; Grotto has been moved from behind school to back end of convent yard, to allow more recreation space for school, paid mostly by school.
Report from Winifred: Parish directories are still available; to be distributed after 9 AM Mass on Sept. 18; some have not picked up, also limited number of copies for sale at $ 5.00 each. The new English translation of the Roman Missal comes into use on Nov. 27, First Sunday of Advent; refer to bulletin and web site for further info; pew cards will be in use as we learn new prayers and responses.
Report from Deaf community: World Youth Day was a great experience; thank you to all for prayers and financial support. Everyone understood that it was a pilgrimage…joy amidst suffering; banner was beautiful.
There will be a workshop on Sept. 18, following Mass, in the convent, to study the ASL translation for new Roman Missal.
Senior Deaf Wellness welcomes a new coordinator, Betty Whittaker, who worked early on with DCC in Framingham.
NB: Homework assignment; comments and suggestions on Mass times to Fr. C. by Sept. 15; also NB on email from Dr. Jacob on this subject.
Items from the table: It is very important that we move forward with concrete discussion and plans for faith formation and census/visitation.
Next Meeting: Oct. 13, 2011 at 7:30 PM in convent library