In attendance: Bob Morris, Anna-Marie Ferraro, Pat Brandl, Jan
Dolan, Marge Bean, Paul Kellen, Clare Keane.
The Opening Prayer was offered by Anna-Marie.
Discussion of Recent Meetings: Presentations by David Gibson ("The Coming
Catholic Church"), Tom Beaudoin and a panel of
young people, and Mary Lou Burke were well-received and attendance was good
despite wintry weather.
Financial Status: Anna-Marie reported we have $6,889 in our account. This
amount includes $4,103, the net profit from the sale of Christmas cards for the
benefit of survivors, $515 owing to Bob for printing and duplicating costs, and
$775 owing to Anna-Marie for copies of David Gibson's book. Without those
amounts, our net balance is $1,496.
Discussion
followed, centering on the disposition of the card money which was to go to the
Lighthouse which has since closed. Marge and Paul are attending organizational
meetings following the closing, and Marge is investigating survivor
organizations to see which group could use the money for services to survivors.
Paul will present the options at our March 8 meeting.
Bob
and Jan will take copies of the Gibson book to the next Lay Council meeting,
then to the Parish Voices meeting, and will try to return any remaining copies
to the publisher within the required time.
Regarding
the meeting on Feb. 21 which WAVOTF is co-hosting with the Concord chapter, Bob
reported that Book Ends will bring copies of David France's book, "Our
Fathers: the Catholic Church in an Age of Scandal". We will supply coffee
and the Concord group will bring food. There is a conflict with a Survivors
First meeting from 9-12 the same day.
February 23 meeting: We will revisit once more the issue of rewording Goal
#2. Clare reported the Supporting Priests group has come out in favor of changing
the wording as suggested months ago by Fr. Bob Bullock to "Supporting
priests in their ministry". We have discussed the 6 questions VOTF
leadership sent out to Parish Voices. At this meeting Bob also plans to
distribute copies of diocesan audit reports for discussion. Other topics will
be a Spring potluck supper for priests, the planned
Parish Voices meeting which has been moved to June 12, and plans for another
Coffeehouse for Survivors.
Other Planned Meetings: Marge is hoping to bring in organizers of BishopAccountability.org
for a March meeting. Marie Doyle is organizing a Lenten Spiritual evening led
by Srs. Joan McCarthy and Kay Hanigan.
We will use one meeting to discuss the John Jay report, due to be released next
week. Other meetings for which we have commitments are as follows:
March 1: Francine Cardman
March 15: Pastoral Associates
April 26: Sr. Mary Johnson of
Emmanuel College
May 3: Meg Guider of Weston School
of Theology
Possible Future meetings: Bob reported the new organist has offered to give an
organ recital as a fund-raiser, an idea that was enthusiastically received.
Several panel discussion possibilities were aired – present and former parish
council members from a number of parishes, contrasting models of parish governance,
finance councils, married deacons, parents of
survivors. Pat urged us to plan an evening of healing prayer for the summer
when the closing of parishes begins. Bob asked us to think about where we are
headed as an organization. Clare suggested the group volunteer for
opportunities that present themselves within the parish, since that is the way
we can truly integrate into parish life.
It
was noted that Louise Aleo is recovering from a hip
fracture in the Woburn Nursing Center and will be home this weekend. Several
members have called or visited.
The
next Steering Committee Meeting will be held on March 24.
For
the Closing Prayer, the group prayed the Our Father.