PARISH COUNCIL OF ST. PATRICK'S IN ARMONK
MINUTES OF MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 12th, 2002
Present at the September 12th, 2002 meeting were Bob Ballengee,
Pat Cummings, John Erickson, Mary Jane Fazio, Sister Mary Rose Golden, Nina
Pavone, Father John Quinn, Ann Silvestri, Barrie Watson, and Lynn Watson.
Ann Silvestri welcomed everyone and presented the agenda for the meeting
which included Vespers, old business, committee reports, building update, new
business, adjournment and scheduling of the next meeting.
Ann led the Parish Council in Vespers.
Pat Cummings reported that the Respect Life Society recites the Rosary
before the 10:30 A.M. Mass on the first Sunday of each month and every Sunday in
October and May. Respect Life will
sponsor the Blessing of Expectant Parents on Sunday, October 6th.
Pat has been invited to monthly meetings of the Vicariate that meets in
Mt. Kisco. As she is unable to
attend the meetings, the Vicariate has suggested that Father Quinn send someone
in her place.
Reporting for the Social Concerns Committee, Bob Ballengee stated that
St. Patrick’s donated 34 bags of food and $354 in cash to the Food Pantry over
the last 7 weeks. The committee
collected 29 bags of food from the Food Emporium and the library. Bob thanked everyone for their generous contributions and
expressed gratitude to the parishioners who volunteer at the Food Pantry.
Turning to the schedule for the Social Concerns Committee for the next 6
months, Bob reported that St. Patrick’s will support the Holy Innocents
Midnight Run on October 26th with donations of clothing and
toiletries. The committee has
agreed to support that cause every quarter.
A women’s winter clothing drive is proposed for November.
On November 14th the committee will participate in a Hunger
Banquet at Hillside Church sponsored by the Armonk Ecumenical Social Concerns
group. In late November and early December, there will be a
Christmas gift drive for the children of the inmates of the Bedford Hills
Correctional Facility. The
committee will also collect presents for the patients at the Ruth Taylor
Geriatric Center. A major drive for clothing, baby goods and kitchen utensils
for the St. Vincent de Paul Society is proposed for early Lent.
Father Quinn thanked Bob and the members of the Social Concerns Committee
for the superb work they do in reaching out to those in need in the local
community. Father would like the
parish to extend that effort to encompass global social concerns.
To heighten our awareness of worldwide social issues, Father Quinn
suggested parish projects such as a visit to the United Nations, Ground Zero,
and Ellis Island.
Father Quinn announced St. Patrick’s Tent Events for the weekend of
September 28th - 29th. St.
Patrick’s Annual Fall Festival will be held in the tent on Saturday, September
28th immediately following the 5:30 P.M. Mass from 6:30 P.M. - 9:30
P.M. Reservations for this ever
popular event may be made after the Masses on September 21st and 22nd.
Father Quinn thanked chairperson Beth Yaroscak and all volunteers who
make the Fall Festival a wonderful occasion for the whole parish.
The official groundbreaking ceremony for the Parish Center will take
place on Sunday, September 29th following the 12:00 P.M. Mass.
Bishop Mestice will join us and will turn over the first official shovel
of ground. After the
groundbreaking, all are invited to enjoy refreshments in the tent.
Reporting for religious education, Father Quinn told the Parish Council
that close to 570 children are registered for the fall semester of the Religious
Education program. Evening classes
are now scheduled for Wednesdays and Thursdays.
St. Patrick’s program has a full complement of devoted teachers.
Father Quinn expressed his appreciation to them and to all who volunteer
their time on behalf of the children in our religious education program.
Mary Jane Fazio asked if a decision had been reached on the proposal to
install devotional candles in the vestibule of the Church. Father Quinn replied that the proposal is under advisement
and noted that candles would be installed in the chapel of the Parish Center.
In answer to Mary Jane’s question about the total amount pledged for
the Parish Center, Father Quinn stated that pledges amounted to approximately $2.2
million. Regarding the suggestion
Mary Jane made to repair or recover the kneeler cushions in the Church, Father
Quinn responded that the decision to undertake that project depended on cost. Sister Mary Rose will inquire as to the amount Good Counsel
paid to refurbish their kneeler cushions and will report her findings to Father
Quinn.
Father Quinn announced that starting in October a Mass will be offered at
7:30 P.M. on the first Friday of the month for 3 consecutive months.
At the end of that period, Father Quinn will decide whether to continue
evening Masses on First Fridays based on parishioner response. The
next meeting of the Parish Council will be on Thursday, October 10th at
7:30 P.M.