PARISH
COUNCIL OF ST. PATRICK'S IN ARMONK
MEETING
ON APRIL 9th, 2002
Present at the April 9th, 2002 meeting were John Alberga,
Bob Ballengee, Arcangelo Bollella, Anna Sachko Gandolfi, Frank Golden, Sister
Mary Rose Golden, Vincent Greco, Tom Lindgren, Joe Looney, Joanne McMahon,
Dorothy Mitchell, Ann O’Sullivan, Father John Quinn, Ann Silvestri, Corinne
Strianese, Edward Strianese, Barrie Watson, and Lynn Watson.
Father Quinn called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M.
Father led the Parish Council in Vespers and distributed the agenda for
the meeting.
On behalf of the Parish Council, Ann Silvestri thanked Father Quinn for
providing the parish with a very full Holy Week schedule. All the services were well attended and greatly appreciated.
Ann thanked all who contributed in any way in making Holy Week so
meaningful.
The minutes of the March 14th, 2002 meeting were approved as
corrected. The parish’s
contribution to the Holy Innocents Midnight Run in February was corrected to
include clothing in its 16 bags of donations to that cause.
Bob Ballengee reported that the Social Concerns Committee’s Food
Pantry collections for the last month totaled 42 bags of food and $138 in
donations from St. Patrick’s, and 15 bags of food from the Food Emporium.
From its Lenten Drive, the committee collected 3 car loads of men’s
clothing, which it delivered to St. Christopher’s Inn in Graymoor.
A women’s clothing drive has been proposed for the period following
May 15th. On April 4th,
the Armonk Ecumenical Social Concerns Committee met at St. Patrick’s and
discussed the committee’s involvement in the Habitat for Humanity Project.
Of the 14 people who attended, 11 were from St. Patrick’s.
On May 5th, 5 people from each congregation in the committee
will go to the Habitat for Humanity’s construction site to learn and
participate in the project.
Joanne McMahon told the Parish Council that members of the Teen Life
Club will attend the C.Y.O. Coronation Ball on May 4th. On May 5th, they will participate in the Habitat
for Humanity project. The teens
look forward to attending World Youth Day and C.Y.O. Day, both of which will
be celebrated on May 18th.
Tom Lindgren stated that almost $600,000 was pledged in the past 4
weeks, bringing pledges for the Fundraising Campaign for the Parish Center to
just under the $2.3 million mark. When
the goal of $2.5 million has been reached, fundraising will still remain open.
All funds raised beyond that amount will go to an endowment fund for
the maintenance of the Parish Center. The
Hudson Valley Bank will finance the construction of the Parish Center based on
the amount pledged. Tom announced
the Tent Events for the weekend of April 26th - 28th. On Friday, the C.Y.O. basketball team will enjoy a pizza
party. On Saturday, the Blessing
Cup Meal will be celebrated. Ann O’Sullivan thanked the basketball team in
advance for setting up for that meal. After
the Sunday Masses, Martha’s Guild will host coffee and bagel hours.
On Sunday evening from 5:00 P.M. through 7:00 P.M. all adult
parishioners will be invited to a party in the tent in celebration of reaching
the Parish Center goal.
Joe Looney reported that a
construction manager has been retained for the Parish Center. Next, the budget will be refined. Last night, April 8th, the project went before the
Planning Board. One or two
refinements must be made to address the adequacy of parking before the project
goes to the Zoning Board.
Ann O’ Sullivan informed the Parish Council that there are about 63
students in the First Communion program and about 56 students in the
Confirmation program. St.
Patrick’s was 1 of 7 groups invited to a conference on expanding religious
education to include both children and adults. This is a topic Father Quinn
considers to be of special importance since religious education is a total
parish catechesis. Father views
the Sunday liturgy as a means of religious education and aims at reaching as
wide a constituency as possible. As
part of adult religious education, Father plans a program for the over 55 age
group once a month.
Anna Gandolfi asked the question, “Is there a forum where the laity
can discuss the recent scandal in the Church, among people who care about the
Church?” The answer was that at
this point there is no indication of who could address these issues. Father Quinn expressed gratitude for the understanding and
maturity he has witnessed among Catholics.
Sister Mary Rose Golden stated her conviction that the Church will
emerge better than ever from this time of purification and suffering.
Father Quinn, Vince Greco, and Tom Lindgren will meet with Mike Gulino,
Athletic Director of the Byram Hills School District.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss future endeavors that may
involve the school district and the parish.
The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on Thursday, May 9th,
following the evening Mass for Ascension Thursday.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 P.M.