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January 26, 2008
PRESENT: Fr. Armstrong,
David Endres (seminarian intern), Mary Beth Nolan, Mike Schiller.
EX-OFFICIO: Jack Corey (parish school
principal), Deacon Bob Schroeder (pastoral associate).
1)
Traveling Chalice
Program – Mary Beth Nolan reported on the program. The program had
better participation in the fall months, but dropped off near
Christmas time. She has a list of those willing to participate and
will follow up with them. She asked if there was a way for those
who are homebound to participate.
Seminarian David Endres was asked to
look at the traveling chalice prayer book with an eye to revising
and simplifying it. Fr. Armstrong has spoken to grades 5-8 about
the traveling chalice program as part of his weekly classroom
visits.
2)
The parish marked
Vocation Awareness Week, January 13-19, 2008. David Endres
(assisted by seminarian Marc Soellner) spoke to all students in
grades 5, 7, and 8. He preached on vocations at the school Mass on
January 18, 2008.
3)
As part of Vocation
Awareness Week, the parish again initiated the “Called by Name”
program that elicited names of parishioners with a possible vocation
to the priesthood or religious life. David Endres spoke at all
weekend Masses inviting those in attendance to take part in the
program. The result was that 20 names surfaced. Father Armstrong
has contacted those named by letter.
4)
The fifth grade will
take their annual trip to the seminary on Monday, April 14, 2008.
The day will include a tour of the seminary, vocation talks, lunch,
and tour of the rare books collection. The PTO has approved funding
for the transportation.
5)
David Endres will ask
Deacon Schroeder for ACRE (Accessing Catechesis/Religious Education)
test scores for past years regarding the question on religious
vocations: “I have thought of becoming a sister, brother, or
priest.”
6)
Deacon Schroeder will be
contacted to see how vocations can be better promoted among the
servers.
7)
The next meeting is
tentatively scheduled for Saturday, May 31, 2008 at 8:30 AM in the
St. Joseph Room.
September 8, 2007
PRESENT: Fr. Armstrong, David
Endres (seminarian intern), Joe and Mary Beth
Nolan, Mike Schiller.
EX-OFFICIO: Jack Corey (parish school
principal), Deacon Bob Schroeder (pastoral
associate).
1) Traveling Chalice Program – Joe and
Mary Beth Nolan discussed the program to date. It was stated that
the program is averaging two families per month. It is hoped that
now that the school year has begun more families will take part. It
was stressed that those who have already taken part are eligible to
receive the chalice again.
It was mentioned that some are not
able to take part because they are confined to their homes or not
comfortable receiving the chalice in front of the congregation. The
possibility of someone accepting the chalice on their behalf and
bringing it to them was discussed as a possibility for the future.
Joe and Mary Beth agreed to keep a
contact list for the program and to encourage those who will be
bringing up the offertory to consider taking the chalice as well.
2) Parish School: Fr. Armstrong and
seminarian David Endres will visit school classrooms weekly on
Tuesday mornings. David will go to the school to eat lunch with the
students every Thursday. Fr. Armstrong stressed the importance of
this interaction in prompting students to think about the
possibility of a vocation.
3) “Called by Name” Program:
Parishioners will have the opportunity to suggest someone they know
who might make a good priest, brother, or sister. This will occur
on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (January 13, 2008). Father
Armstrong will follow up with a letter to those who have been
suggested.
4) Servers: Deacon Schroeder will be
contacted to see how servers could become more aware of vocations.
5) Bulletin Column: David Endres will
write a weekly column, highlighting vocations among other topics.
6) Serra Club: To recruit new members,
Mike Schiller from the Serra club will include a bulletin insert for
the Fourth Sunday of Easter (April 13, 2008).
7) Youth Group: David Endres will
contact the youth group moderator, Julie Heil, to inquire about the
possibility of assisting with the program.
8) “Adopt a Seminarian” Program: David
Endres will inquire about beginning this program in the grade
school. Students would have the opportunity to send a note or ask a
question of a seminarian at Mount St. Mary’s.
9) Graded Course of Studies: Deacon
Schroeder will be contacted about the content of religious education
regarding vocations and where it is inserted within the curriculum.
10) Field Trip to the Seminary: David
Endres will contact fifth grade teachers to plan a class trip to the
seminary.
The committee
expects to meet next at the beginning of 2008. The normal meeting
time of a Saturday at 8:30 AM was agreed upon. |
