PRESENT: Bill Coffey, Teri Frost, Muriel Grim, Chuck Hammer, Fr. Marty, Bob Maher, John & Juli Miller, Moira O'Dea, Don Peterson, Mary & Pat Reddan, Mike Rodriguez, Sallie Sauber, Wendy Serbonich, Susie Shanmugham, Jon Sparhawk, Carol Wasko, & Adam Wickert

ABSENT: Sally Owusu-Kwarteng

1. Opening prayer led by Mary & Pat Reddan
2. Review of October minutes; minutes were accepted as presented
3. Letter of thanks from Bishop Conlon read by Fr. Marty
4. Education segment from video on Evangelization; notes on video attached
5. Discussion on evangelization for small group sharing
a. Questions for discussion:
--How has my definition of evangelization changed after viewing video?
--What seems to be the easiest part of evangelization?
--What is the most challenging/risky part?
b. Summation of discussion
--risky: door-to-door contacts or other face-to-face contacts
--easy: conversation sharing; evangelize by sharing & actions; not necessarily
bring people to church but show/evangelize by following Jesus' example
(feed the poor, visit the sick, etc.)
6. Current issues
a. Clergy conference on changes in the liturgy (General Instruction on the
Roman Missal)
--changes in procedures in order to enrich, instruct
--should be in place by Ash Wednesday, February 25, 2004
--educate congregation: resources, workshops, bulletin inserts
1. better use of silence for opportunities to reflect on what's going on
2. procedures for reception of communion: pause & reflect on what happens
when we receive the body of Christ
3. more emphasis on singing
b. Pastoral Council will work with Liturgy Committee to implement changes
--volunteers: Don Peterson, Chuck Hammer; Carol Wasko & Moira O'Dea are already members of the Liturgy Committee
c. Communication Committee will be formed to look at the following:
--how do we connect/communicate with new parishioners
--use of web site
--use of bulletin
--use letters, reports, newsletters; how often, in what format
--volunteers: Jon Sparhawk, Pat Reddan, maybe Mike Rodriguez
7. Pastoral Council terms are longer than usual Council terms in order to help members understand, appreciate & live our faith & assist in our spiritual growith through use of prayer, evangelization & liturgy
8. next meeting: Monday, December 8, time to be announced (dependent on Mass schedule)--7:00 pm after 6:00 Mass.

 

NOTES ON EVANGELIZATION VIDEO

1. Definition of Catholic Evangelization is simply sharing the love and knowledge of Jesus with others.

2. We've freely been given Christ, we've accepted Christ into our lives and we freely allow Him to live in us.

3. We are already sharing Him with family, friends; we just need to broaden our vision.

4. Jesus Christ is the greatest of all evangelizers. St. Paul was the first person to capture the vision of Jesus. Mary was the first Christian evangelizer (and a married lay woman).

5. Models of Evangelization
a. Mary was messenger and Jesus was the message; we are called to be messengers and Jesus is always the message
--incarnational theology
--Christ will always conquer even though there are bad things happening
b. the story of the paralyzed man
--Four friends who met Jesus wanted to share their experience with a friend
who was paralyzed. They took him to see Jesus but couldn't get in so they
climbed up to the roof, made a hole in it and let their friend down through that
hole to where Jesus was. An example of "try & you might succeed; don't try &
you fail"
*personal discussion about the place Jesus Christ has in my life (a)
*invitation; might be accepted or not (b)
*obstacles: be creative & work hard to overcome them (c)
*bring parties together & leave in God's hands (our job); God's job is to save (d)

6. The Synod on Evangelization was held in 1974. Paul VI wrote and published Evangelization in the Modern World in 1975 as a result of Synod. A summary of the document was produced several years ago.