PARISH COUNCIL OF ST. PATRICK'S IN ARMONK

MINUTES OF MEETING ON  FEBRUARY 13^th,  2003 A.D.

             Father Quinn welcomed everyone and distributed the agenda for the meeting.  Ann Silvestri led the Parish Council in the Evening Prayer.

            Father Quinn introduced Tom Stuetz, St. Patrick’s new plant manager. Together with his wife, Lois, Tom will also assume the responsibility for St. Patrick’s preparation programs for Baptism, marriage, and the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults.  Having run Archdiocesan marriage preparation for 14 years, Tom and Lois are superbly qualified for parish ministry.

            St. Patrick’s has a full calendar of events for the next 3 month, starting with the Valentine’s Day - Mardi Gras celebration which Father announced will be on Sunday, February 16^th.  The St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Dance on Saturday, March 15^th will be followed by Sfingi Sunday on the 16^th.  The Wednesday Ecumenical Lenten services and luncheons will be held at St. Patrick’s.  We will host the March 19^th and April 9^th luncheons.  Tent events on the weekend of April 26^th - 27^th will include the Blessing Cup Meal.  First Communion will be on Saturday, May 3^rd, Confirmation on Saturday, May 10^th, and the May Crowning on Sunday, May 11^th.

            The Petition Dinner for the eighth grade Confirmation candidates and their parents is scheduled for April 2^nd.  Father Quinn indicated that since Wallace Hall is not large enough to accommodate large group events, the plan is to hold the catered dinner in the basement of the school of religious education.  Ann O’Sullivan noted that the basement has 3 access points.            Father Quinn reported that 7 of the 11 Confirmation candidates who had not been attending Sunday and Holyday Masses are now doing so.  This improvement came in response to a letter Father Quinn sent to their parents.  That letter noted the Parish Council’s unanimous support of the Confirmation Covenant requirement of attendance at Sunday and Holyday Mass and its recommendation of deferral of Confirmation “until such time when compliance with covenant commitments has been certified.”  Those 7 students will be confirmed with their class this May subject to continued compliance with Confirmation Covenant requirements. After a discussion, the Parish Council concurred that the Confirmation of the 4 remaining students will be deferred until May, 2004 contingent upon attendance at Sunday and Holyday Mass through that date and completion of this year’s studies.  Their parents will receive a letter to that effect.            Frank Golden told the Parish Council that excavation for the Parish Center is scheduled to begin on March 1^st.  The order for the steel will be fabricated on February 14^th with shipping anticipated for the week of March 2^nd.  The permit for the well has been received which gives St. Patrick’s clearance for the final building permit.  We should have that final permit by next week.

            Joanne McMahon reported that 10 Teen Life members visited residents of the Ruth Taylor Care Facility on Sunday to the delight of both the residents and the presiding minister.  The teens nominated George Cholankeril for parish king and Jessica Mosca for parish queen.  Both will represent St. Patrick’s at the C.Y.O. Coronation Ball in May where they will be in the running for countywide king and queen.  The Parish Council approved Joanne’s request for a $100 full page advertisement in the C.Y.O. cotillion journal congratulating George and Jessica.  From 2 bake sales the teens raised $1,000 for Ronald MacDonald House.  That charity will also benefit from the proceeds of the teen’s soda can tab drive, in which the tabs are melted down for scrap aluminum.  Father Quinn asked Joanne to check the teens for interest in Good Friday Pax Christi, a prayer for peace in which the Stations of the Cross are said across 42^nd Street.

            Father Quinn thanked the parishioner who pledged $1,000 for the pew renovation project.  The cost of the materials for this project is estimated to be $3,200.

            Bob Ballengee thanked the parish on behalf of the Social Concerns Committee for its generosity over the last 5 weeks to the Food Pantry.  He thanked all who gave to the men’s clothing and toiletries drive at the end of January which benefited Holy Innocents’ quarterly Midnight Run.  The committee seeks volunteers especially for leadership positions.

            Reporting for Respect Life, Pat Cummings noted that she participated in the March for Life on January 22^nd.  The rosary is recited the first Sunday of every month.  The next Blessing of Expectant Parents is scheduled for the first Sunday in May.

            Mary Jane Fazio suggested that religious education students recite the rosary monthly.  Father Quinn replied that while all students are given rosaries, class time is too limited to require monthly recitations.  Ann O’Sullivan added that grades 3, 4, and 5 learn the mysteries of the rosary.  Joanne McMahon proposed that Teen Life organize a living rosary in the spring.

            Present at the February 13^th, 2003 A.D. meeting were Bob Ballengee, Michael Clohosey, Pat Cummings, John Erickson, Mary Jane Fazio, Frank Golden, Sister Mary Rose Golden, Vincent Greco, Joanne McMahon, Ann O’Sullivan, Father John Quinn, Mary B. Ryan, Ann Silvestri, Corinne Strianese, Ed Strianese, Thomas Stuetz, Barrie Watson, and Lynn Watson.

            The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on Thursday, March 13^th at 7:30 P.M. 

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