PARISH COUNCIL OF ST. PATRICK IN ARMONK
MINUTES OF MEETING ON DECEMBER 7th, 2000
Present at the December 7th, 2000 meeting were Bob Ballengee, Joanne Ballengee, Arcangelo Bollella, Louis Brusco, Michael Clohosey, Pat Cummings, Anne Curran, Joe Gallagher, Anna Sachko Gandolfi, Frank Golden, Vincent Greco, Tom Lindgren, Joanne McMahon, Jim Morrone, Maria Morrone, Ann O'Sullivan, Mary Peccerella, Elvira Pinto, Father John Quinn, Sheelagh Rabo, Mary Ryan, Jill Salhuana, Ann Silvestri, Barrie Watson, Lynn Watson, and Paul Zepf.
Following the Mass for the Vigil of the Immaculate Conception, 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.
Joanne McMahon reported for the Teen Life group. Eleven parish teens attended the 39th Teenage Federation Convention at Kutscher's Country Club in Monticello on the weekend of December 2nd - 3rd. Joanne was among the three adults who attended the convention with Teen Life. Everyone enjoyed meeting Archbishop Egan and mingling with Catholic youth. Kristy and Chris Fasano were involved in making this a rewarding experience for all.
Pat Cummings informed the Parish Council that the Respect Life Society prayed the Rosary for Life on the first Sunday in December at 10:10 A.M. The March for Life will be held on January 22, 2001.
Bob Ballengee told the Parish Council that the Social Concern Committee collected 102 bags of food, 9 turkeys and $829 in cash from St. Patrick's during the past 5 weeks for the Food Pantry. At the Food Emporium 42 bags of food and 67 turkeys were donated. He noted that 8 members of the committee work at the Food Pantry. The Social Concerns Committee's Christmas gift giving campaign to benefit the Taylor Care Center is already underway. Details will follow for the Christmas toy drive. This drive will benefit the children of the inmates of the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility. The Education Drive is going along very well.
Bob announced that there are openings for lectors. Anyone who is interested in serving as a lector is encouraged to contact Bob.
Ann O'Sullivan reported that everything is proceeding very smoothly with the Religious Education program. In January, First Penance will be celebrated by 82 students. The children of the parish are enjoying their preparations for the Christmas Pageant. Under the superb direction of Jennifer Weiss the Christmas Pageant promises to be, as always, a much anticipated event.
The Advent Wreath project has been a great success thanks to the dedication of Mary Ryan. Due to enthusiastic demand, Mary doubled her original order of 25 wreaths to 50, all of which were sold to parishioners at cost.
At the last Parish Council meeting a decision was made to form a subcommittee headed by Tom Lindgren to explore the issues relating to a proposed gym/social center. Tom reported that this subcommittee of approximately 20 people met twice since the last Parish Council meeting. The subcommittee formed further subcommittees which will report their findings to the Parish Council. The issues to be researched and reported on include the potential uses of a gym/social center, the construction and operating costs, and the manner in which it would be run. Included in the operating costs will be monthly estimates for lighting, heating, maintenance and insurance.
An important issue that the subcommittee investigated is whether the parish's CYO basketball team is allowed to use any of Byram Hills' 5 gyms for practice. To date the response from the Byram Hills Board of Education has not been favorable. A discussion followed concerning the best strategies for requesting that the Board of Education allow the parish basketball team to use Byram Hills' gyms. It was decided that the Parish Council write to the Byram Hills Board of Education regarding the matter.
Father Quinn told the Parish Council that he attended a meeting at St. Joseph's Seminary in Dunwoodie on November 8th. At that meeting the discussion centered on where individual parishes expected to be in 5 years. Father Quinn anticipates that in 5 years there will be 1 priest at St. Patrick's. There will be no nuns. The laity will play a larger role in running the parish.
Father Quinn has been delighted with the large turnout at Christmas and Easter Masses and intends to install closed circuit television in Wallace Hall to handle overflow crowds.
A menorah will be erected on public property during the holiday season. Father Quinn asks the people of the parish to respect the menorah and its traditions.
The members of the Parish Council and all parish volunteers are warmly invited to attend St. Patrick's Salute and Christmas Party at Sir John's Restaurant on Friday, December 8th or on Saturday, December 9th.
The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on Thursday, January 11th at 7:30 P.M.
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