St.
Sebastian
Thursday, December 11th 2014
Thursday, December 11th 2014
In Attendance:
QUEEN OF ANGELS
Very Rev. Brian P. Dowd – Pastor
Rev Msgr. Jonas C. Achacoso – PT
Parochial Vicar
Mr. Juan Rodriguez – Pastoral
Associate/DFF/YM
Mrs. Carmen Cruz – CFF
Dr. Conrado Gomez – Parish Council
Rep.
ST. RAPHAEL
Fr. Jerome T. Jecewiz – Pastor
Sr. Christine Scherer – DRE
Mr. Richard O’Connor - Food Pantry
Ms. Elizabeth Ciro – Food Pantry
CORPUS CHRISTI
Fr. Patrick West – Pastor
ST MARY - BVM HELP OF CHRISTIANS
Rev. Christopher O’ Connor – Pastor
Rev. Evans Julce – Parochial Vicar
ST. TERESA
Rev. Msgr. Steven A. Ferrari – Pastor
ST. SEBASTIAN
Rev. Kevin
Abels – Pastor
Rev. Carlos
Velasquez – Parochial Vicar
Rev. Rodnev Lapommeray – Parochial
Vicar
Rev. Abraham Thaddeus – Parochial
Vicar
Dcn. Jorge Castillo – Part time
Ms. Sonia Casanova – DRE
VISITOR
Ms. Ellen Rhatigan – Deanery Planning
Process
1. Opening Prayer
2.
CONGRATULATIONS TO REV. ABRAHAM THADDEUS WHO HAS BEEN
INCARNATED INTO THE DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN!
3.
Approval of Minutes
- Summary of Minutes were approved
4.
Presenation of Agenda Items:
a. Deanery Planning Process: (Part 3) Ellen Rhatigan, from the Office of the Vicar,
joined us to discuss the Deanery Planning Process. She expressed
that our Deanery is doing a great job in the Planning Process. There will be 2 meetings Planning Process – 1st on
January 15th at 7PM, and 2nd on March 19th at
7PM. She emphasized to our Deanery that two lay representatives from the Parish Pastoral Council should participate
in both meetings. Three questions were given to each parish pastoral council:
i.
As a parish, what makes
you most proud?
ii.
What are you struggling
with as a parish (internally and externally)?
iii.
What issues do you see
in the community that are impacting the parish?
Queen
of Angels, Corpus Christi, and St Sebastian’s have completed the questions.
Parishes that did not complete the questions have until Jan 15th
2015. They can submit the questions to Fr. Dowd. Ms. Rhatigan explained that
the
Deanery Planning Process must address the Real Needs of our Deanery. Parishes
should focus on 4 things:
iv.
Identify our strengths
and challenges as a Deanery
v.
Identify areas where we
can collaborate as a Deanery
vi.
Develop and Foster a
system Communication and Collaboration in our Deanery
vii.
To implement our shared
goals, strategies, and development of a core leadership within 2 Years
b.
Parish Reports:
i.
Queen
of Angels: We had our Advent Mission in English and Spanish –
reflections can be found on video (Eng - http://youtu.be/hdcnLxurXDA /
Span - http://youtu.be/YV3cfUGMNDg).
• We celebrated an Ecumenical gathering for the Feast of St. Nicholas
Illumination and Carol Sing on Dec 4th. • Feast of O.L. Guadalupe begins tonight with
the Rosary and ends with the Mass and Celebration tomorrow evening. • Faith Formation
is putting together a Children’s Play titled “Love Came Down at Christmas” on
Dec 14th at 4PM – it will include a potluck dinner for the family. •
We are having our Annual Christmas Concert on Dec 24th at 4:30PM and
11:30PM. • The Christmas Bengali Mass will not be celebrated on Christmas Eve,
but will be celebrated on Sunday, Dec. 28th at 5PM. Please share the
information with your Bengali Parishioners.
ii.
St
Sebastian – In preparation for Advent, the parish had an all
day advent penance from 7:30AM to 7PM on Tuesday Dec 10th. In
addition to Penance on Saturday, the parish has Penance on Monday morning after
the Mass, Penence after Mass on Wednesday Evening, and Penance in Spanish after
Mass on Thursday Evening. • Included in their Advent celebration they started
Vespers on Sunday with Special Guest Speakers. • Other events during Advent,
like O.L. of Guadalupe are being celebrated. • They will be having a 12 Mid-Night Mass. • Adoration
of the Blessed Sacrament is Monday - Friday, 7:30AM to 7PM.
St. Sebastian School
– Open House will be on January 27th and January 29th
from 9AM to 10:30am. Deanery received a Flyer from Fr. Abels. Please use this
for your Bulletin Blurb:
OPEN
HOUSE AT ST. SEBASTIAN SCHOOL: St. Sebastian School – A Catholic School of
Excellence serving the parishes of B.V.M. Help of Christians, Queen of Angels
and St. Sebastian - will be having an Open House on January 27th and
January 29th from 9AM – 10:30AM. We’re located on 39-76 58 Street;
Woodside, NY 11377. For more details, contact us at 718-429-1982. Find us on
the web @ www.stsebastianschool.org
SEE ATTACHMENT FOR
DETAILS
iii.
St.
Mary's: BVM Help of Christians: Last Sunday they hosted
a Diocesan meeting for the Mexican Apostolate. Fr. O’Connor met with the
Director of the Apostolate – Rev. Jorge. Tonight they celebrate their Feast of
O.L. of Guadalupe at 11PM in Honor of St. Juan Diego. Celebration continues on
Friday Morning with the “Antocha” at the Cathedral. Fr. O’Connor will return to
the parish to celebrate the Feast of O.L. of Guadalupe at 7PM, followed by a
musical procession around the Church with Mariachi’s. They will end with
celebrations. • Next Thursday they will do Christmas Caroling around the
neighborhood. • They are also doing a Raffle for the Young Adults who are
attending World Youth Day in Poland. See OTHER BUSINESS for details. • There
will not be a Mid-Night Mass on Christmas Eve. • Rev O’Connor is installing
Surveillance Camera’s due to a security and theft problem. Fr. Jecewiz suggested
to Fr. O’Connor and to all the Pastors – see OTHER BUSINESS for details.
iv.
St.
Raphael’s: Fr. Jecewiz gave a report on the Food Pantry. They
had over spent for this year – this is because of the increase in prices for
food, and cut backs on food stamps. They are collecting gift items for clients
who are participating in their Advent Giving Tree Program. • Feast of O.L. of
Guadalupe Mass was celebrated on Saturday, Dec 6th. • Korean
Community has completed a major retreat – Fr. Jecewiz explained that the Korean
Community is not from the area, but comes to St Raphael’s to celebrate their
faith.
v.
Corpus
Christi: Feast of
O.L. Guadalupe begins tonight with the Rosary and ends with the Mass and
Celebration tomorrow evening. • English and Spanish Novenas for Christmas begin
on Monday and end with a Bilingual Mass on Christmas Eve. • Fr. West hired a
Youth Minister to start a youth group on Thursday Evenings. Scripture sharing
has been going very well.
vi.
St
Theresa: Feast of O.L. Guadalupe Mass will be on Sunday at
10:30AM. Rosary will begin tonight and the Mañanitas will be on Saturday Night.
• Monday, Dec 15th begins the Novena to the Divino Niño – which have
will talks by visiting priests, deacons, and seminarians. Theme will focus on
Pope Francis’ teachings on “People of Mercy”.
It will conclude with a big celebration on Christmas Day. • The Parish
is part of a Pilot Program called Generations
Faith Campaign – their goal is to raise $445,000. They have made 50% of
their goal. • Msgr. Ferrari has recommended
his Music Director to any Pastor who is looking to hire.
5.
New Members to the
Deanery:
a.
Fr. Abels introduced to us Mr. Harry Connor – Director of Buildings
and Grounds, Deacon Jorge Castillo – Part time Deacon for St. Sebastian, and
Sally Williams – Coordinator of Pastoral Care.
6.
Other Business:
a.
St. Mary’s / BVM is holding Raffle for Young Adults going to
World Youth Day. Cost $40. Winner gets 4 Tickets to Fly anywhere with JetBlue. SEE
ATTACHMENT FOR DETAILS
b.
Recommendation for Pastors: Anti – Theft Iridescent Powder
that can be bought at a Spy Shop – SEE https://www.queensspyshop.com/ or call them at (718) 779-9580. Fr. Jecewiz explained
that it is possible to get some of the money back through insurance.
c.
Deanery
is interested in doing an All Monday Penance, similar to the Lenten Season. It
is being done in the Archdiocese of New York. Pastors of the Deanery believe
that this may cause confusion to Parishioners of the Diocese of Brooklyn. Fr.
Dowd and Ms. Rhatigan will mention it to Vicar. No decision was made as Deanery
to pick a day or to it on the same day that the Archdiocese of New York. More
to come by email.
d.
Fr Evans presented to us a plan for attending the March to
Life. The cost for the trip will be $65. It does not include sleeping bag or
toiletries. The trip will be for 2 days, beginning on January 21st,
and ending on January 22nd. We would meet at St. Mary’s Church
before 9AM and return back to the parish at 11PM. Details will follow during
the month of December 2014 & January2015.
e.
Dr. Gomez presented an idea for DFF’s and CFF’s for our RCIA
program, using the Compendium of the CCC as the structure of our classes. If
DFF’s and CFF’s within our Deanery use the same Syllabus, it would be easy for any
adult student to transfer into any of our Parish RCIA Programs. He believes
that the Program can work alongside our Liturgical Calendar, fostering in our
Adult Students a love for Sacred Scripture and Spiritual Formation. SEE
ATTACHMENT FOR DETAILS
f.
Fr. Lapommeray
open the discussion on Young Adult Ministry within the Deanery. Members of St
Sebastian Young Adults would like to invite Young Adults within our Deanery to
participate in their group meeting. He asked for permission to spread the word
through our Deanery. Fr. Dowd recommended Fr. Lapommeray to get in touch with Ms.
Fran Klettner who is in charge of the “Deanery Happenings”. Ms. Klettner
receives by email events and activities to have them posted in every Bulletin
within our Deanery. Ms. Klettner’s email is franklettner@verizon.net
A suggestion was made to Deanery to discuss the topic of Youth Ministry
and Young Adults Ministry on Jan 15 2015, or March 19th 2015.
7.
Closing Prayer
Jan 15th - 7PM - Blessed Virgin Mary Help of
Christians - St Mary's
March 19th - 7PM - St Raphael – UPDATE (Decided on Oct 16th)
May 21st - 1PM - St Teresa
May 21st - 1PM - St Teresa
