PARISH COUNCIL OF ST. PATRICK'S IN ARMONK

Present at the June 29^th, 2000 meeting were Bob Ballengee, Grace Bolduc, Arcangelo Bollella, Jack DiPietro, Karen DiPietro, Claire Fasano, Kristy Fasano, Vincent Greco, Ruth Pell, Father John Quinn, Ann Silvestri, and Barrie Watson.

Grace Bolduc led the Parish Council in Vespers.

Father Quinn thanked everyone in the parish community for their prayers and encouragement during his recent hospitalization and convalescence. Father Quinn expressed his gratitude to the priests who celebrated Mass at St. Patrick's. He next distributed the agenda for the meeting which included committee reports, new business and an update on Religious Education.

Kristy Fasano reported that 17 students from St. Patrick's Teen Life Group attended the CYO Coronation Ball and enjoyed it immensely. At the Coronation Ball Kristy was crowned queen of both St. Patrick's and Westchester County. Justin Tripodi was crowned St. Patrick's king and was the 2^nd runner up for king of the county. Chris Fasano was elected Vice President of the CYO for Westchester County after serving as Treasurer for the current year.

Bob Ballengee informed the Parish Council that during the last 2 months the Social Concerns Committee collected 47 bags of food from St. Patrick's for the Interfaith Food Pantry. Customers of the Food Emporium donated 21 bags of food, while the Food Emporium itself donated 25 large boxes of food. Cash donations at St. Patrick's totaled $262.

The Interfaith Food Pantry located in Pleasantville serves 30-35 families on a regular basis. It was started 15 years ago to help people in the community who need food and is now sponsored by 11 congregations located in Pleasantville, Hawthorne, Chappaqua and Armonk. The Interfaith Food Pantry is staffed entirely by volunteers. It is open every other week on Friday and Saturday mornings and is always available for emergencies. Approximately 75% of the food is donated. The remaining amount is purchased with monetary donations. St. Patrick's is among the leaders in donations to the Food Pantry. The generosity of parishioners is especially appreciated during the summer months when food supplies run low.

Ruth Pell discussed the work of the Helping Hands Committee in assisting homebound senior citizens. The major activities of the committee include home delivery of meals and transportation services for medical appointments, local food shopping and banking. Through the committee's Friendly Visitor Program volunteers visit homebound seniors and make phone contact periodically to make sure that all is well. Advice on maintenance and repair is provided through their Handyman Assistance program. Volunteer bookkeepers and clerks further assist the staff with these responsibilities.

What the Helping Hands Committee needs now is more people to help. To date only 2 people are receiving homebound meals and there have only been 4 requests for transportation to medical appointments. Ann O'Sullivan has offered to include the work of the Helping Hands Committee on the parish's Web site.

Father Quinn thanked Kathy O'Connell and all who contributed to the Labels for Education drive. As a result of this drive, St. Luke's School in the South Bronx was able to purchase 5 televisions and 5 VCRs. The children and staff of St. Luke's along with principal, Sr. Patricia Howell were extremely grateful for this generous gift.

Father Quinn told the Parish Council that over 400 children are registered in the Religious Education program for the fall. With 65 families of returnees not yet registered, attendance is expected to exceed 500 students with up to 48 classes planned. First Communicants are expected to number 70. In September the Good Shepherd Montessori Program will be conducted in the former sacristy of the Lady Chapel.

With the tremendous growth in enrollment in the Religious Education program the Planning Committee is hard at work exploring the best ways to utilize existing space for much needed classrooms. The members of the Planning Committee are Tom Lindgren, Frank Golden, Barrie Watson, and Alex Bacon. The committee will review various options over the summer and report back to the Parish Council in the fall.

Plans are already underway for St. Patrick's annual Fall Festival. Father Quinn informed the Parish Council that since this event has become so popular, a tent may be used to accommodate overflow crowds.

Ruth Pell thanked all who contributed to the success of the annual St. Patrick's Church Blood Drive which was held on Sunday, June 25^th during all the Masses.

A new statue of the Blessed Mother will be located directly outside the Lady Chapel. Father Quinn told the Parish Council that the statue will be in memory of Father Brady.