ST. MARY STAR OF THE SEA, PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of Parish Council regular meeting, June 7, 2005
At 7:00 pm, President Bob Bonato opened the meeting. (A reception for newly elected members was held at the Rectory prior to the meeting.)
- Father Golas then led the council in reflection and read the gospel from the Mass for June twelfth, followed by a discussion topic.
- In attendance were the council members Robert Bonato President, James Doyle Vice President, Neil Lynch, Historian, Joseph Fish Secretary, Ed O'Reilly, Thomas Carrier, Rick Daddario, Pat and Paul Robotham, Judy Welcome and Maury Goldberg, Trustees Ed Cruess, Sr. and Clare Archer. Absent was Carole Charette. New elected members were present: Janice Rimiller, Nelson Waters and Barbara Wolf, with Bob Slabinski absent.
- May meeting notes were reviewed. It was noted that the Prayer Shawl group is not a part of he Human Needs committee as reported in the May minutes. Neil Lynch moved the minutes with adjustments be approved; the council passed the motion with a voice vote.
Committee Reports:
Religious Education
Jane Derasadourian reported that on May first, 55 robed students received the Sacrament of Confirmation in a ceremony performed by Bishop Macaluso. The parish choir accompanied the service. All facets of the ceremony were excellent, Jane reported. Karen Herbert explained the fall High School CCD program would be held on Sunday evenings with four lessons planned for parents to participate with the students.
LEAP
Karen Hebert reported the teen center basement project is almost complete. The Men's Retreat Group assistance was very important for this joint project with the town, Americares Homefront, and having received a private grant. Rich Kaiser worked up blueprints and materials lists, and Charlie Herbert led the work crew with other men from the choir as well. Students helped also.
Music
Rich Daddario reported that this fall will start the new season of music for the parish as the choir has completed its season. He will institute chants in the morning, new music and the parishioners singing before mass.
Human Needs
The May meeting of the Human Needs committee was cancelled.
Prayer Shawl Group
Pat Robotham reported the next meeting is scheduled for June 10th at St. Patrick's parish and they will meet throughout the summer.
Website
Ed O'Reilly reported that a web-based calendar is up and running and he is continuing to enter new photos.
Calendar Committee
Father Golas reported the calendar committee would meet on June fifteenth and the calendar of events would be posted on the parish website. The schedule for the Parish Council meetings will be on Tuesdays, September 6, November 1, January 3, March 7, May 2 and June 6.
FUN
Rich Daddario reported parish softball evenings will continue on Sunday evenings through the end of June, then on Tuesday evenings for the children and Sunday for the adults. There is a Fun Night scheduled for each second Friday until October. There will also be an adult, daytime bus trip to Newport Rhode Island on September tenth.
Parish Picnic
Jim Doyle reported the advance sign up for the parish picnic at 120 adults and 70 children. Activities for the children include drawing a mural on the macadam parking lot and a pneumatic air-filled, jumping platform. Picnic hours will be from noon to 5pm, June 12th at the K of C grounds.
Women's Guild
A report from Marilyn Slabinski stated the last meeting for the season in May included an award of two scholarships, with details to be announced in the bulletin.
Respect Life
Bob McGinnis reported the 'baby bottle' fund-raiser will be extended through June nineteenth for bottle collection. He thanks the parish girls' group 'Little Flowers of St. Therese' for their help in handing out the bottles at Masses in May.
Photo Directory
Carol Watts reports there will be a meeting on June ninth to start working on the layout for the Parish photo book with the committee photos and candids. The portraits have all been taken and the committee is awaiting their return to process for the directory.
Legion of Mary:
Fr. Golas stated that their responsibilities are mainly with bereavement help. A Junior Legion may be formed in the fall for girls too old for the 'Little Flowers of St. Therese'.
Grounds Committee
Tom Carrier said the committee will be concentrating on the Rectory and the Hart House properties.
Cemetery Committee
Tom Carrier reporting for Bob Archer, chairman said that the new area is complete with plantings.
New Building: Sound
Father Golas reported he had talked Peter Solak, from Sound Engineers, located in West Hartford who had reviewed the church interior. There are two dead zones, in the northeast and northwest corners as well as the Baptismal area due to the placement of the speakers. Two new speakers will be installed. The problem with the sound quality in the Gathering Space is also being investigated.
The Ricco Brothers have taken over the business of the previous contractor for landscaping along with Bartlett Tree Service.
Old Church Building
A report from Father Golas noted the demolition permits were in place and the time for Jones Destruction to begin work will be after the week of June fifteenth.
Liturgy
Father Golas reported that the Adult Education(Faith Formation) program and the small Christian communities activities may be considered as related activities and will be pursued in the fall. We will need to offer the help of the Parish Council and again enlist Brother Bob Moriarty to lead us.
Father Golas also reported the plans for changing Sunday Mass start times has been shelved in favor of moving the Children's Mass to the 11am Mass.
Unfinished Business:
Bob noted the acceptance of the new members of the Parish Council whose terms start July 1 and welcomed them to the council. New members are Janice Rimiller, Bob Slabinski, Nelson Waters and Barbara Wolf.
A motion to include a non-voting, teenage representative to the parish council was made by Neil Lynch and the motion was seconded and passed. The representative will attend council meetings for a term of one year. The person will be selected in agreement with Fr. Golas, the President, the Confirmation Director and the LEAP Coordinator.
New Business:
Election of council officers for next year resulted in the president, vice-president and secretary offices being retained by Bob Bonato, Jim Doyle and Joe Fish, respectively.
Rick Daddario proposed a Health Fair for a weekday afternoon in Oct or Nov. He is the UCONN health administrator in charge of such programs and will take charge. The motion passed.
The Good of the Order:
Outgoing council member Neil Lynch has agreed to continue in the position of parish Historian and Ed O'Reilly will continue as Webmaster next year. Tom Carrier will stay on the Cemetery committee.
Thank yous and well wishes were offered to retiring members, Tom Carrier, Carole Charette, Neil Lynch and Ed O'Reilly. Additional Thank Yous will be sent to the Music Director/FUN Chairman for his extraordinary efforts this year; Bob McGinnis, Chairman of the Respect Life Committee for the recent successful Bottle Money Drive for our local area needs and the Little Sisters of St. Therese for their help with the drive; the kids from TRUE for their Respect Life help; the K of C for their continuing help especially with the picnic; the Women's Guild for their continuing support of church activities; Paula Sutak, secretary for her help all year; Fr. Golas for his priestly and non-priestly expertise and support of the picnic.
Prayers were extended to Joe Fackleman, lector, and Bill Lapointe, usher who are in poor health.
Father Golas led the Council in a closing prayer. The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 pm.
Next Meeting is at 7 pm on Tues., September sixth.
Respectfully submitted, Joseph Fish, Secretary