In attendance: Bob Morris, Jane Howard, Marge Bean, Jan Dolan, Anna-Marie Ferraro,
Louise Aleo, Clare Keane.
The Opening Prayer was offered by Bob.
Financial Status: Bob reported that we have so far sold roughly $5,900
worth of Christmas cards in support of the Lighthouse. Anna-Marie reported that
after expenses, card sales have netted $2,500, and we will net further profit
from future sales. The printer's bill is due before mid-December. They gave
WAVOTF a 50% discount and we will send them a note of thanks.
Bob
will send out an email asking for volunteers to sell cards after masses this
weekend.
Anna-Marie
reported that the WAVOTF account has a balance of $1,392 before reimbursing Bob
for expenses of $574. These expenses were incurred through the purchase of
"The Coming Catholic Church" by David Gibson, who will speak here on
Jan. 26. The debt will be defrayed as members purchase the book. Copies will be
made available at the next few meetings.
Marge
reported that sales of Nutcracker tickets to benefit SNAP have been selling
slowly. SNAP has not yet broken even. The performance is Dec. 4. The group
decided to make a year-end donation to SNAP (national).
A
discussion followed concerning the future role and funding of the Lighthouse,
the one-stop resource center for survivors.
Discussion about formation of Boston Area VOTF Chapter: This group is being formed
from representatives of the five regions of Greater Boston. Each affiliate will
choose a representative to this council and one to the national council. We
will need to elect representatives at our Jan. 5 meeting. Bob will clarify this
at the Dec. 8 meeting and also circulate an email to membership.
Future Meetings: On Dec. 8, working groups will meet. Bob will raise the topic of
Archbishop O'Malley's visit to the parish on Dec. 21. The group felt that it
would be appropriate for VOTF members to wear pins or ribbons, but hope to
impress on all that this should be a respectful occasion and not an opportunity
to demonstrate or to engage the Archbishop in lengthy dialogue.
WAVOTF
will sponsor a festival of Lessons and Carols on Dec 15. The format of the
service is being planned. Anna-Marie will recruit readers.
Jan. 5,
the working groups will meet. Jan 12 Steve Krueger, VOTF Executive Director,
will be here. Jan 19 there will be no meeting in observance of Martin Luther
King Day.
Jan.
26 David Gibson, author of "The Coming Catholic Church", will speak.
Feb.
2 Thomas Beaudoin of Boston College will speak with a panel of young people on
the topic "VOTF and Youth: is there any connection?"
Other
meetings in the planning stages include a parents-of-survivors event on Feb.
25: Francine Cardman of Weston School of Theology on March 1: an evening of
Lenten prayer and reflection on March 15: a presentation on Pastoral Associates
on March 29.
Other
proposals for future meetings were discussed.
Review of Recent Meetings: the group shared feedback on the Virtus program
presentation, the meetings with survivors on Nov. 24, the latest working groups
meeting, and Fr. John O'Malley's talk on Vatican II last Monday (Dec. 1).
Other business: Bob floated that idea of having a second Boston-Area Parish Voices
meeting in early April.
The
next Steering Committee Meeting will be held on Jan 21.
For
the Closing Prayer, the group prayed the Our Father.