PARISH
COUNCIL OF ST. PATRICK'S IN ARMONK
MINUTES
OF MEETING ON JANUARY 9th, 2003
A.D.
Father Quinn welcomed all and distributed printouts of the full text of
the Evening Prayer for the Thursday after Epiphany.
Father explained the universality of the Liturgy of the Hours.
The prayers from it are the same prayers that are said all over the world
throughout the day. By praying the Liturgy of the Hours at the parish level we
are joining in prayer with Catholics worldwide.
Ann Silvestri led the Parish Council in the Evening Prayer.
Jessica Di Pietro reported that there are 34 members in Teen Life. In
November, the teens visited children at the Westchester Medical Center.
The C.Y.O. conference in December was a faith sharing experience for all
who attended. At their Christmas party Teen Life made sandwiches for the
homeless. A drive is planned for
Ronald MacDonald House. Their December bake sale netted $940.20 which the teens will
donate to the Heffer project, which fosters the economic self-sufficiency of
people in developing countries by giving them bees which are harvested for
honey. The honey is either used for
food or is sold. Similarly, through
the Ark project the teens will send to poor countries 2 animals of various
species to be bred for food or to be sold.
Jessica noted that Joanne McMahon had been awarded the C.Y.O. Youth
Administrator award. Ann Silvestri
congratulated Joanne on this much deserved recognition.
Father Quinn distributed copies of a letter that was sent to the parents
of 12 Confirmation candidates. Their
children have neither attended Sunday and Holyday Masses at St. Patrick’s nor
documented Mass attendance at other Catholic churches for most of the fall
semester.
In that letter, Father reminded the parents that in October their son or
daughter signed a Confirmation Covenant stressing “religion, responsibility
and respect.” He noted that it
had been announced that each candidate was expected to demonstrate that he or
she had fulfilled the basic requirement of church law to attend Mass on Sundays
and Holydays. Father added that at
its November meeting the Parish Council voted unanimously in support of the
Confirmation Covenant requirement of Sunday and Holyday Mass attendance.
Canons 1246, 1247, and 1248, which concern this basic church precept,
were quoted. In conclusion, parents
were informed that for the remainder of this year’s program, in the absence of
the child’s documented Mass attendance, the Parish Council recommended
deferral of Confirmation “until such time when compliance with covenant
commitments has been certified.” The
Parish Council’s response to this letter was to reiterate its total support of
the Confirmation Covenant.
Father Quinn informed the Parish Council of the arrival of the devotional
candles. They will be installed in
the vestibule of the Church by statues of the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph.
The statues were carved by Michael Gressel and were donated to the St.
Patrick’s by his son. Father Quinn expressed his gratitude to the Gressel family
for their generosity.
John Erickson reported on the pew renovation project. A total of 149 kneeler pads need to be replaced.
John has received a quote of $3,072.07 for the materials.
Volunteers will install the pads. Ann
Silvestri thanked John for his efforts on behalf of this project.
Father Quinn reported that construction of the Parish Center has been
delayed by a change in the Archdiocesan approval process.
While final approval has been granted, that procedural change delayed
construction for 3 months. Details
will follow in a statement to be read at this Sunday’s Masses.
Copies of the statement will be included in the church bulletin for the
weekend of January 18th - 19th.
Joanne McMahon asked if one
meeting room in the Parish Center will be dedicated to storage for social action
drives. Father Quinn replied that
while a room will not be specifically assigned for storage, it will be available
for that purpose as needed.
Bob Ballengee thanked the parish on behalf of the Social Concerns
Committee for its generosity since November to the Food Pantry.
He thanked all who gave to the Christmas gift drives for the children of
the inmates of the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility and for the residents of
the Ruth Taylor Geriatric Center. A
men’s clothing and toiletries drive will be held the end of January to benefit
Holy Innocents’ quarterly Midnight Run. Parishioners are requested to leave
donations in Wallace Hall. The
committee needs and requests volunteers.
Pat Cummings reported that she will participate in the March for Life on
January 22nd. The next
Blessing of Expectant Parents is scheduled for May.
Father Quinn thanked all who decorated the Church so beautifully for
Christmas. He announced that the
annual St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Dance is scheduled for Saturday, March 15th.
First Communion will be on Saturday, May 3rd, and Confirmation on
Saturday, May 10th.
Present at the January 9th, 2003 A.D. meeting were Bob
Ballengee, Pat Cummings, Thomas D’Agostino, Jessica Di Pietro, John Erickson,
Mary Jane Fazio, Joanne McMahon, Nina Pavone, Father John Quinn, Ann Silvestri,
Corinne Strianese, and Ed Strianese.
The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on Thursday, February 13th
at 7:30 P.M.