PARISH COUNCIL OF ST. PATRICK IN ARMONK
MINUTES OF MEETING ON FEBRUARY 15th, 2001
Present
at the February 15th, 2001 meeting were Alex Bacon, Bob Ballengee,
Arcangelo Bollella, Jack Di Pietro, Stephen Fischer, Vincent Greco, Mary Harnett,
Joanne McMahon, Jim Morrone, Ruth Pell, Michael Perretta, Father John Quinn,
Sheelagh Rabo, Mary Ryan, Ann Silvestri, Barrie Watson, and Paul Zepf.
Father
Quinn welcomed all present and outlined the agenda for the meeting. The agenda focused on committee reports, an
update on the classroom extension project, proposals of the Ad hoc Committee
regarding a parish center, an evaluation of the parish and new business.
Ruth
Pell led the Parish Council in Vespers.
Joanne
McMahon reported for the Teen Life Club.
The Teens have a full schedule of events. This Sunday they will attend a countywide C.Y.O. meeting. They will dine at Immaculate Conception
later this month, and will volunteer at the Blythedale Children's Hospital the
last Sunday in February. At their March
meeting, nominations will be held for St. Patrick's king and queen for
C.Y.O. The cotillion will be held in
May.
The
Teen Life Group and the first grade parents are sponsoring a Lenten project
called "Give and Let Live."
The object of this project is to give up something that is relatively
new in the spirit of Lent and self sacrifice.
During certain weeks parishioners will bring items such as sweaters and
toys to Mass and present them during the Offertory. The donations will go to needy children in the Bronx.
The
eighth grade Confirmandi students are undertaking a Lenten project entitled the
"Heart to Heart Project." The
purpose of this project is to provide school supplies to 1300 children in 2
towns in Kosovo. Basic school supplies
such as pencils, pens, and paper will be collected in donation boxes at the
entrance to the Religious Education wing.
Bob
Ballengee told the Parish Council that the Social Concern Committee collected
34 bags of food, 2 turkeys and $224 in cash from St. Patrick's during the past
5 weeks for the Food Pantry. At the
Food Emporium 26 bags of food were donated.
He noted that 8 members of the committee work at the Food Pantry. Every Sunday in Lent is a Food Pantry
collection Sunday. The Education Drive
to benefit a needy school in the Bronx is making good progress. The Committee's Lenten project will be a
baby items drive for a center for unwed mothers.
Ruth
Pell reported that the Helping Hands Committee needs volunteers to bring meals
to homebound seniors and to provide transportation for medical
appointments. Anyone who knows a senior
in need of assistance is urged to call the Committee.
Regarding
new business, Father Quinn told the Parish Council that a tent will be set up
on the lawn as the setting for the First Communicants' Blessing Cup Meal on
Saturday, April 28th. The next day, the tent will again serve as a
dining area when the fathers of the parish will prepare and serve breakfast to
the mothers of the parish.
Since
Father John Quinn will be completing his first six-year term as pastor of St.
Patrick's, an evaluation of the parish has begun, which is in keeping with
Archdiocesan policy. Cardinal Eagan
will review the parish evaluation by March 16th.
Alex
Bacon presented architectural plans for the classroom extension project. He told the Parish Council that he is
finalizing the paperwork for the project with the Archdiocese. The project will be entering the bid phase
shortly. Financial participation is
welcomed and may take the form of a donation earmarked for general construction
or for a specific element of construction. Examples of donations earmarked for
specific elements included windows and blinds, chalkboards, doors, ceilings,
lights, and landscaping. Qualified
subcontractors may also donate back their fees to the parish. The project is on schedule for occupancy in
September.
Alex
reported that the Parish Center Ad hoc Committee has proposed a 10,000 to
12,000 square foot building consisting of a multifunction room to be used for basketball
and social events. Alex presented a
schematic plan for this proposed gym/social hall which depicted a stage at one
end of the gym and a patio at the other.
A kitchen, bathrooms, storage space and a foyer were also included.
A
discussion followed which focused on whether the proposed gym/social hall
should be attached to the existing church buildings or detached. A vote was taken in which 14 voted in favor
of an attached structure, 0 voted for a detached structure, and 3 abstained
from voting. Thus, it was decided that
if a gym/social hall is constructed it will be attached to the parish
buildings.
Ann
Silvestri read a letter from Cele Greco thanking the Parish Council for its
expression of sympathy and support on the death of her beloved husband, Roland.
The
next meeting of the Parish Council will be on Thursday, March 15th
at 7:30 P.M.