Pastoral Regions

Most Recent News from the Regional Pastoral Council

Posted on Friday September 3, 2010

San Pedro Regional Pastoral Council Meeting of May 25, 2010

PASTORAL COUNCIL

Most Reverend Oscar Solis
Deacon Bob Miller

Meeting Minutes
May 25, 2010

I. Gathering and fellowship:

Present were: Deacon Bob Miller, Rev. Michael Sears, Deacon Dale Sheckler, Rev. Antonio Garnica, MSC, Rev. James Kavanagh Deacon Carl Gibboney, Marisol Meza, Charles Salfity, Martin Clement, Frances Jonte, Mary Baum, David Kennedy, Nora Rodriguez, Lou Cassani, and Hank Cierpich.

Guests included: Jeanne Haworth, Louise Ramirez, Sister Mary Margaret, Chuck Fisher, and Frank Holmes.

Excused were: Bishop Oscar Solis, Ana Rosal, Sister Regina Robbins, SND, Rosalie Marquez, Becky Maffucci, and Earl Lovett.

Absent were: Rev. Michael Gleeson, Jim Dela Torre, Hortense Casillas, and Alfonso Perez.

II. Opening Prayer: The opening prayer was from the Gospel of John, 16: 12-15, proclaimed by Deacon Dale Sheckler and Mary Baum. Sharing followed on the Holy Spirit and the gifts of truth.

III. Bishop’s Comments: Bishop Oscar Solis’ confirmation schedule had priority this evening. In lieu of the Bishop’s absence, Deacon Bob Miller made a number of announcements. The Pope has dedicated this year to the environment. The archdiocese has launched a campaign on how to take care of the environment. The theme for this campaign is: “If you \want to cultivate peace take care of the environment.”

Bishop Solis has chosen the dates for the next year’s Pastoral Council meetings. Those dates are all on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m., and are September 28th, and November 23rd, 2010, January 25th, March 22nd, May 24th, and July 26th, 2011. The new Archbishop will be invited to attend one of those meetings.

October 10, 2010, has been designated as Life and Dignity Sunday. This event is sponsored by the Respect Life Committee of the Archdiocese.

The annual San Pedro Religious Education Congress will be held on Saturday, October 2, 2010, at St. Matthias High School at 7851 Gardendale Street in Downey, CA.

IV. Agenda Confirmation: The agenda was accepted as submitted.

V. Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the last meeting were reviewed and approved

VI. Moderators’ Comments: Charles Salfity introduced Fr. James Kavanagh, pastor of St. James, who shared that the hall we are in has just been renovated. New floors, lighting, and lighter tables are all part of their contribution to being environmental friendly. The hall is also used to facilitate their feed the hungry program. Security measures have been installed to protect all those who use the hall.

Fr. James Kavanagh also shared the success of the school located approximately two miles inland from the church. The convent is now the parish offices and the rectory is now a home. The church was built in 1960. He concluded his comments with a brief history of the parish.

Charles Salfity concluded his comments by thanking everyone for their support while he served as moderator of the council and compared it to his experience serving on the junior chamber of commerce. He called it a “service to humanity.” He said he was humbled and honored to serve as moderator and will continue to serve if called upon.

He then introduced the guests present at the meeting.

Frank Holmes, of the St. James finance council, then gave a brief overview of their activities.

VII. Initiative Committee Reports:

• Initiative I - Evangelization

Becky Maffucci was absent, therefore there was no report given on this initiative.

• Initiative II - Participation and Accountability

David Kennedy stated that the Initiative II committee will be focusing on renewing the survey on what parishes have and do not have parish councils.

• Initiative III - Education and Formation

Lou Cassani stated that the Initiative III committee met and reviewed the archdiocese report and is looking to get more info from the region.

• Initiative IV – Ministry and Leadership

Martin Clement stated that the committee is working on a vocation plan, bereavement training, and lay presiders for the region. We scheduled bereavement training in January of 2011 at St. Lawrence Martyr in Redondo. The committee is also trying to schedule additional bereavement training in Long Beach for the summer or fall of 2011.

The committee has identified seven parishes with written vocation plans. That doesn’t mean that other parishes don’t have them, we just don’t know about them yet. St. Joseph in Hawthorne has monthly discernment days.

Deacon Bob Miller mentioned that deanery 18 is planning a monthly event on vocations. Fr. John-Paul Gonzalez of St John of God in Norwalk is putting it together. Frances shared that St. Joseph’s next vocational discernment day is on June 13th.

• Initiative V – Eucharist and Sacramental Living

Becky Maffucci was absent from the meeting, therefore there was no report on this initiative.

• Initiative VI - Social Justice

Frances Jonte stated that the Initiative VI committee has been very busy planning and promoting the Bilingual Workshop scheduled for Saturday, June 26, 2010 at St. Hilary’s Parish in Pico Rivera. Flyers and Registration Forms are available online. We are hoping that all Council Members will be supportive of this effort; and that they will call the Parishes on their Phone Tree List. We are also hoping that the Regional Office will notify all Parishes in the Region via E-Mail, encouraging them to send delegates to the Workshop. The Workshop is only a start; there are plans to follow up with assisting those Parishes who request help or resources and more Workshops as needed.

Our future plans include promoting the Creation Sustainability Committee (CSC), and Immigration Issues, which will be the topic of the Cardinal’s Public Policy Luncheon on September 24, 2010.

Charles Salfity introduced Jeanne Haworth, president of the pastoral council of St. James. She shared the recent success and events within the parish.

VIII. Election of the 2010 / 2011 Executive Committee

Deacon Bob Miller said that in Bishop’s absence, David Kennedy will assist him counting the ballots. They will inform Charles Salfity, Moderator, as to who gets the most votes. He will then ask that person if they will accept the position for the next year. The ballots were then passed out and the results were as follows:

Marisol Meza accepted the position as Moderator.

Lou Cassani accepted the position as Vice Moderator

Hank Cierpich accepted the position as Secretary.

Deacon Carl Gibboney and Nora Rodriquez accepted the positions as At-Large Members.

The next Executive Committee meeting will be July 6th at the regional office.

IX. Announcements

Charles Salfity announced the resignation of Erik Rubalcava.
St. Rose of Lima was vandalized recently and many sacred items were destroyrd.

David Kennedy, as a member of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, reported that apparently there are con-artists going around offering to change lighting at parishes. Be careful to choose only approved contractors from the archdiocese. There is also a committee on communications.

X. Closing / Night Prayer / Fellowship
Fr. James Kavanagh led the closing prayer.

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NEXT MEETING:
July 27, 2010

St. Cornelius Parish
5500 East Wardlow Road
Long Beach, CA 90808
562 421 8966