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MEETING
MINUTES
Genesis Vicariate Pastoral Council
Combined Meeting
7 p.m. ~ November 10th, 2008
St. Anne Parish
AGENDA:
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St.
Cletus Credit Union Presentation
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Tracking Committee Responses
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Vicar’s Report
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“Keeping the Dream Alive”
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VPC
Minutes
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Announcements/Open Discussion
ST. CLETUS CREDIT UNION
PRESENTATION
Following an opening prayer by Msgr.
Rice, The manager of the St. Cletus Credit Union, Steve
Samoranski, gave a presentation about their services.
Formed in 1962, the Credit Union is
prospering with over 1900 members. Their membership
includes anyone with a group, business, or
organization within a 25-mile radius of their office at
10 ˝ Mile and Ryan in the St. Cletus School Building.
They are a full-service financial institution with
Savings, Checking, Christmas Club, and Youth accounts as
well as Visa, Debit, and ATM cards. They offer
Mortgages, Home Equity Loans and a wide variety of
Consumer Loans.
Any money deposited is insured for
up to $250,000 by the National Credit Union
Administration, not the FDIC as banks are. For more
information please call (586) 756-5010 or visit their
website at
www.stcletuscu.org.
TRACKING COMMITTEE RESPONSES
Fr. Wesley has to have a report for
the Tracking Committee by the end of November in
response to their “Year Two Implementation Update” (the
full document is available on the VPC Website), so he
has requested the parishes to all submit a report of the
status of their merging & clustering.
VICAR’S REPORT
Pastoral Care of the Sick:
The Vicars work on monthly “focus items” and this
month’s deals with the Sacrament of the Sick. The
Pontiac Vicariate surveyed hospitals, nursing homes,
hospices, etc., exploring their conception about the
Catholic Church’s response to the ill. They took the
information and submitted a report and plan of action.
When people are sick, elderly, frail
or facing an operation is the time to call a priest to
be anointed. Deacons are not allowed to anoint the sick.
There is a difference between anointing and
Viaticum (the Sacrament of giving Holy Communion to
someone who is dying). Only a priest can perform the
Sacrament of the Sick, but Viaticum can be given by
ANYBODY. The beautiful prayers that accompany the
Sacrament are available in the book “Pastoral Care
for the Sick”. Fr. Wesley suggested printing and
distributing the prayers to the parishioners to make it
easier to perform the rite.
Msgr. Rice said that the Anointing
of the Sick can forgive sins even if the person is
unable to make a confession. He said the if a priest is
not available but a deacon is present that he can may be
able to anoint the person and not presume to hear their
confession, but let the sacrament itself absolve the
person’s sins.
The question was posed how often
should someone be anointed. Some believe it should be
every 6 months and others feel it should be each time
the person becomes more critical. There is an “Anointing
of the Sick Mass” on the 1st Wednesday of each month at
St. Louise that is very successful and draws between
100-150 people. There seems to be a lot of confusion
about this Sacrament and there was a great deal of
discussion. Fr. Wesley suggested that our parishes
review their programs for the Pastoral Care for the Sick
and that the subject would continue to be an agenda item
for the council to discuss.
CSA Quotas: At this time, it
doesn’t appear that the quota placed on the parishes by
the AOD will be lowered. Fr. Wesley suggested that if a
parish is working on a financial or building fund they
should tie it into their CSA as it helps them to reach
their goal. Most of our parishes have not been able to
meet their CSA, but overall our Vicariate is well over
its CSA goal because of the parishes that have reached
or exceeded their quota. If your parish has an
individual concern, your pastor can petition the AOD to
reduce your quota. Reminder, if a parish doesn’t make
its quota, the balance is then taken from its savings.
Fr. Bondy stated that having the
Michigan Catholic (http://www.aodonline.org/mcn/)
available to his parishioners
makes them aware of the needs of the Diocese, not just
the needs of St. Anne, which has helped him to meet his
CSA goal.
Msgr. Rice, Pastor of St. Louise is
also the Editor of the Michigan Catholic and a member of
our Council. He said the publications helps to broaden
the views of the parishioners beyond their own church.
They see the programs funded by the CSA and the good
thing it does and are more willing to participate in the
fund drive.
“KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE”
The Office of Black Ministries
sponsors the “Keeping the Dream Alive Award” each year.
The award seeks to recognize the contributions of
individuals from throughout the Archdiocese of Detroit
who are working for racial and ethnic harmony and
reconciliation. People eligible for the award must be an
active Catholic that is a leader by building bridges
between groups in their parish community and/or
workplace. They must also be in a non-paid, lay
volunteer position. Nominations are due November 10th.
Awards are given on January 19, 2009 at the Blessed
Sacrament Cathedral at 9 a.m. Mass.
SOCIAL OUTREACH SURVEY
The Parish Social Outreach Survey
conducted by the AOD Office for Pastoral Ministries has
been completed. Jim Keifer distributed a color-coded,
pinpoint map with the services by each parish zip code.
He requested each of the representatives to review the
map and notify him of any changes or updates. A copy of
this map is available from your pastor or by contacting
AOD Pastoral Ministries Office at (313) 237-4690.
VPC MINUTES
Fr. Wesley stated that there had
been previous discussion on how to more effectively use
the Vicariate Newsletter. The VPC minutes take up much
of the newsletter, so there is a question whether they
should continue to be published in the Newsletter or if
each parish would be willing to insert them into the
bulletin each month. If the parishes put them into their
bulletin, there would be more room for more information
including advertising upcoming programs and events
within the Vicariate. There was some discussion on the
subject and will be an agenda item for the January
meeting.
ANNOUNCEMENTS/OPEN DISCUSSION
St. Vincent DePaul has changed the
way they operate their stores. They no longer give out
vouchers but are using a ‘card’ system. Even though they
are non-profit, they are starting to ask parishes to
give 50% of the cost of the items they give out (i.e.
when someone gets a table, chair, washing machine, etc.)
to their organization. Parishes in southern Macomb
County and Wayne county are exempt unless they referred
the person to the location that is being charged. It was
suggested that we should have a St. Vincent DePaul
representative come to the council and explain how their
system works.
St. Therese of Avila is in the
process of forming a Parish Council.
St. Leonard Church is now the St.
John Deaf Center and is used exclusively by their group.
The convent and the rectory are now rehabilitation
“three-quarter” houses for men and women in recovery.
The hall is used for the Meals on Wheels and the Senior
Luncheon Program and they are now starting a jointly run
St. Terese of Avila and St. Clement Food Pantry in the
front and the St. Vincent DePaul Society will be housed
in the back.
St. Cletus provided items to
Children’s Hospital’s “Smile Train” program which
entertains children undergoing chemotherapy and those
that have to stay in the hospital.
Fr. Schulte of St. Sylvester
extended an invitation to the clergy to attend the next
meeting of the
“CPC (Church/Police/City)
Partnership”. This recently formed group includes City
of Warren & Centerline leaders, politicians, police
department and church leaders that are working to ensure
unity for the cause of protecting the people’s right to
worship and practice their religion without the threat
of intimidation, violence or discrimination due to the
cultural diversity of the area (there is now a Mosque
and 2 Buddhist Temples in the city). The group’s church
leaders have signed an “Interfaith Covenant for Freedom,
Equality and Justice”. At their next meeting they will
be receiving a list of all foreclosures in Warren and
will be studying the effect this is having on the
population, diversity and other issues. They will also
discussing the implications if GM closes because of the
financial damage it could cause to the area. For more
information, please contact Fr. Schulte at (586)
751-3510 or Kelly Colegio at the Mayor’s Office by
calling (586) 574-4522.
The “Sacramental Record Keeping
Workshop” is offered by the AOD Office for Christian
Worship and the Archives Office. All pastors deacons,
parish secretaries and others who have responsibility
for maintaining sacramental records are invited to join.
Two opportunities will be offered: November 11th, from 1
– 3 p.m. at St. Fabian Parish in Farmington Hills and
Wednesday, November 12th at St. Germaine Parish in St.
Clair Shores from 1 – 3 p.m.
A Saturday Evangelization Series
“The Call of St. Paul: Evangelization & Building
Communities of Disciples” at the Sacred Heart Major
Seminary in Detroit and take place from 10 a.m. until
Noon. Together you will discuss the letters of St. Paul
and discover the call to boldly live & spread the faith.
There is no cost to attend and the 2008 dates are;
October 18th and November 15th. The 2009 dates are; Jan.
17th, Feb. 21st, March 21st, April 18th and May 16th. A
free-will donation for refreshments will be collected.
For more information, please call 313-237-5702.
“A Lenten Journey: Walk in the
Footsteps of St. Paul” Greek Pilgrimage and Cruise,
March 19-28, 2009. You will trace the steps of St. Paul,
including stops in Thesslaloniki, Ephesus, Phillipi and
Corinth/Athens. You will also visit the ancient cities
of Pergamum and Patmos and reflect on the writings of
St. John and The Book of Revelations. There will be an
“Informational Night” on Wednesday, September 24th at 7
p.m. at St. Gerald’s Church in Farmington, MI. For more
information or to reserve your spot on the trip go to
www.csconcierge.com or call Judy Maten at
313-268-1985.
“Seminar Style Marriage Preparation
Programs 2009”, contains numerous seminars taking place
throughout next year. The Bishops of Michigan have
suggested these topics to be included: Marriage as a
Sacrament, Conflict Resolution, Careers, Family of
Origin, Communication, Children, Commitment and Church,
Intimacy, Sex and Procreation, Understanding of
Sexuality and Marriage and Natural Family Planning. For
a list of the programs offered, their dates and times,
please contact the Office for Family Ministry at
313-237-5892.
As a reminder, the combined Clergy &
VPC meetings at St. Anne each month at 7 p.m. and
the schedule is as follows:
A closing prayer was said and the
meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Monica Archibald
Recording Secretary
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VPC
MEETING MINUTES - NOVEMBER 2008
