PARISH COUNCIL OF ST. PATRICK IN ARMONK
MINUTES OF MEETING ON NOVEMBER 1st, 2000
Present at the November 1st, 2000 meeting were Alexander Bacon, Bob Ballengee, Arcangelo Bollella, Louis Brusco, Stephanie Brusco, Michael Clohosey, Pat Cummings, Gloria Debold, Joe Debold, Jack DiPietro, Karen DiPietro, Kristy Fasano, Stephen Fischer, Adrienne Flanagan, Bill Galasso, Joe Gallagher, Vincent Giordano, Frank Golden, Vincent Greco, Jerry Hammerschmidt, Chris Huguenot, Raffeleria Kesten, Tom Lindgren, Dino Liso, Margherita Long, Guy A. Mezzancelli, Jim Morrone, James Murphy, Doug Murray, John Naclerio, Nanette Y. Naclerio, Kevin Nowlin, William A. Nordstrom, Jr., Mary Beth O'Neill, Ann O'Sullivan, Ann Marie Papa, Michael Perretta, Anthony Pinto, Elvira Pinto, Father John Quinn, Mary Ryan, Edward Saggese, Jill Salhuana, Ann Silvestri, Steve Vierengel, Barrie Watson, Lynn Watson, Bill Weaver, and Susan Weaver.Father Quinn opened the meeting with prayers. He welcomed everyone and outlined the agenda for the meeting which included committee reports and a discussion on a proposed gym/social center.
Kristy Fasano reported for the Teen Life group. On the weekend of November 18th-19th Teen Life will sponsor the parish's Annual Arts & Crafts Show. The proceeds of the show will support "the Gift that Keeps on Giving Project," which provides pairs of animals to developing nations to encourage economic improvement. The show will include hand-made crafts, a White Elephant table, a raffle and a children's art show. A bake sale sponsored by the seventh and eighth grade Religious Confirmation candidates will benefit community service projects. Teen Life's plans include support of Birth Right and attendance at a spiritual weekend in December.
Bob Ballengee told the Parish Council that the Social Concern Committee collected 170 bags of food and $692 in cash from St. Patrick's during the past 4 months for the Food Pantry. From the other collection sites 64 bags of food were collected. He noted that 7 members of the committee work at the Food Pantry. For Christmas the Social Concerns Committee plans gift giving campaigns to benefit the Taylor Care Center and the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility. The Parish Council thanks the Social Concerns Committee for the outstanding work they are doing to assist those in need, and especially thanks the member who co-chairs the Food Pantry.
Pat Cummings informed the Parish Council that the Respect Life Society prayed the Rosary for Life every Sunday in October at 10:10 A.M. The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer drive was very successful and yielded contributions of $1,000. Many people in the parish signed the Moratorium on the Death Penalty petition.
Alex Bacon reported on the classroom expansion project. He told the Parish Council that his meeting with the Facilities Committee of the Archdiocese went very smoothly. Alex will meet with that committee again to discuss a more specific estimate. Regarding the timetable for the project, November will be revisions month. December and January will be dedicated to making blueprints for bidding and construction. In February bids will be received and contractors secured. Construction will progress from March through August with the opening of the classrooms anticipated in September.
Frank Golden opened the discussion on a proposed gym/social center by suggesting that the Parish Council first consider the need for such a center. Reasons indicating this need included the tremendous growth in the parish over the last 5 years and the formation of the parish's basketball team. Last year over $5,000 was spent to secure court space for the team. Next, Frank asked the Parish Council to consider what such a gym/social center should look like.
Alex Bacon presented modified plans for a gym/social center in which the center was attached to the existing Church buildings. A widely held sentiment was expressed that if such a center were constructed it should be contiguous to the Church.
A discussion followed concerning the advantages and disadvantages of a gym/social center. A number of advantages were brought forth in this discussion. A gym/social center was seen by many as a way of energizing the parish. It would allow for more activities and in so doing would encourage the children of the parish to come together in a way that would connect their activities to the Church. By involving the children of the parish in activities at a gym/social center, family values could be transmitted to them, values that are lacking in the public schools. The disadvantages of a gym/social center centered on the cost to the parish of both its construction and maintenance. In addition, it was pointed out that there is a shortage of volunteers to run social activities. Without a tremendous commitment of time on the part of volunteers, the parish would derive little benefit from a gym/social center.
The decision was made to form a subcommittee headed by Tom Lindgren to explore the issues relating to a proposed gym/social center. The subcommittee will report its findings at the next meeting of the Parish Council on Thursday, December 7th at 7:30 P.M.