St. Sebastian
Thursday, December 12th 2013
Thursday, December 12th 2013
In Attendance:
QUEEN OF ANGELS
Very
Rev. Brian P. Dowd - Pastor
Fr. Ricardo A. Perez – Parochial Vicar
Fr.
Nirmal Costa – Part time Associate Pastor
Juan Rodriguez – Pastoral Associate/DFF/YM
Carmen
Cruz – CFF
Conrado
Gomez – Parish Council Rep.
ST. RAPHAEL
Fr.
Jerome T. Jecewiz – Pastor
Sr.
Christine Scherer - DRE
Elizabeth
Ciro –
Richard
O’ Connor –
CORPUS CHRISTI
Fr.
Patrick West – Pastor
Augusto
Lucero - DRE
ST. SEBASTIAN
Rev. Msgr.
Michael Hardiman – Pastor
Rev. Thasseus
J. Abraham, SIOL – Parochial Vicar
Rev.
Frank Mann – Priest in Residence – DeSales Media
Jo Ann Dolan – Principal
Ms Sonia Casanova - DRE
ST MARY - BLESSED VIRGIN MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS
Fr. Noel
Moynihan – Pastor
Patricia
Wise – Principal of Religious Ed
ST. TERESA
Rev.
Msgr. Steven A. Ferrari – Pastor
Rev.
Msgr. Perfecto Vazquez – In Residence (Retired)
Deacon
Roberto S. Abundo –
Sr.
Mary Jane Kelly - DRE
Norberto
Saldana – Pastoral Associate/St Vincent de
Paul Food Pantry
1.
Opening
Prayer
2.
Approval
of Minutes - Summary of Minutes were approved
3.
Continuation
- Communication in the Deanery – Religious Ed.
a.
Fr.
Dowd asked that Directors and Coordinators of Faith Formation meet before Feb
13th to discuss some of the points mentioned in our previous Deanery
meetings, and to strengthen our network. This will strengthen part of our
communication and inform parishes of our work.
4.
News
from the Dean
a.
In
January, the Deans will meet with the Bishops and Vicars to discuss ways of
strengthening other deaneries in the Diocese. It will be one of the items for
our Feb 13th Deanery Meeting. Invite the Deacons, and members of
your Parish Council for our meeting.
b.
Deacon
Gilligan mentioned that their will also be a discussion on merging the Pastoral
Planning and Episcopal Vicar’s Office.
c.
Deanery
Queens 1 – A meeting was held with representatives of the Parish Pastoral
Councils. The Deanery discussed their Pastoral Plan, ideas, and future.
5.
Pastors
Report
a.
St Mary – Preparing for the Feast
of Guadalupe. Religious Education is thriving. They are working on
reaching out to parents using a program called, “Family Life”. This program is
used to help parents and children grow closer to Christ and the Church. A concern
was presented about its teaching on “parents”.
b.
St Teresa – Bishop Sanchez visited St.
Teresa’s to install Msgr. Ferrari as the pastor. Bishop DiMarzio is visiting
St. Teresa’s on. Dec 24 at 10PM. They celebrated the Feast of Guadalupe on Dec
11th, with a Women’s Mariachi Band. They begin their Novena
to the Divino Niño
on Sunday, Dec 15th – it will include talks by Deacons of Ecuadorian
background. They will be hosting for the Pastoral Institute Classes in Spanish.
They are hosting Sunnyside/Woodside Boy & Girls Club 4 nights a week.
Beginning January 1st, they will be stop mailing envelope packets
for Church Contributions. Parishioners will be picking up their envelope
packets at the rectory.
c.
St Rafael – They celebrated the Feast
of Guadalupe, which included cultural dancing, and fellowship. Fr.
Jecewiz mentioned that some who participated in the Mass did not participate in
the cultural activities. He believed they moved away from the Tribal or
Folklorical dances and customs of the past. The parish sent 3 parishioners to
the Pastoral Institute for formation. These parishioners have created a Friday
Night Faith Formation for Children in Spanish. They have a Spanish Rosary that
turns into a Charismatic Prayer group. The Food Pantry is doing well – the
parish is now preparing for their Christmas Distribution. Fr. Jecewiz presented
a concern about possible abuse from those who need food. See Item FOOD PANTRY
for details. Their Pantry is open twice a week.
d.
Corpus Christi – Mass for the Feast of
Guadalupe begins tonight. Sunday begins the Novena to the Divino Niño in English and
Spanish. Youth Ministry and Religious Ministry are both doing well. Food Pantry
makes peanut butter and jelly sandwiches once a month. It is given to the
Coalition for the Homeless the next day.
e.
St Sebastian – Scripture Study on Wednesday
& Saturday. Parishioners who completed their formation at Pastoral
Institute are leading the groups. Their film ministry is growing. Mass of the
Feast of Guadalupe begins tonight. Sinbang gabi (Nine Day Masses before
Sunrise) and the Novena de Aguinaldo before Christmas. Begins Sunday, Dec 15th.
Changes were made to the light fixtures in the Chapel. They are hosting the
Pastoral Institute Classes in English. Lastly, Msgr. Hardiman will be the
Pastor of St. Patrick’s. We wished him our farewell and blessings.
f.
Queen of Angels – 60th Anniversary
was a great success. We celebrated with a Parish Picnic, Concert, Mass, and
Dinner at Anton’s. Great opportunity to reach out to the Alumni old Parish
School. Tonight, the parish will be celebrating the Mass for the Feast
of Guadalupe. The Novena de Aguinaldo will begin on
Dec 16th, which is being put together by one of our parishioners,
Liliam Maya, who was a graduate of the Pastoral Institute. She is the
Coordinator of our Parish Hispanic Committee. Children’s Liturgy will be every
Sunday to prepare children, and families for Christmas. Sad news – Fr. Ricardo
Perez has completed his assignment and will be returning to Colombia on a new
assignment. We wish him farewell and our blessings. Also, Fr Nirmal Costa is
joining us as a part time parochial vicar, and will be the Coordinator for the
Bengali Apostolate. He is shared with St. Bartholomew.
6.
Food
Pantry
a.
Fr
Jecewiz presented a concern about those who appear to be in need, but either
have a car, or send family to pick up food in cars. Usually people in need come
to the pantry by foot or by public transportation. The City doesn’t want to
deal with the complaints. Policy of the City is to serve anyone asks for help. Many
families coming from far to pick up food. Number families: 1,500. It increased
to 1,700 families.
b.
Msgr.
Hardiman spoke about Champion Supermarket who stopped donations of Thanksgiving
Dinners to St Sebastian’s in helping the needy. Reason – same issues presented
by Fr. Jecewiz
c.
Fr.
Mann explained that addressed similar abuses while at St. Fidelis.
d.
Fr.
Abraham explained that some who are
immigrants appear to be doing financially well. On the contrary, while they are
driving a car, wearing good clothing, or jewelry they may be starving at home.
The appearance is to show they are stable in this country.
e.
Fr
Monynihan mentioned that those who come to his parish food pantry are mostly
Chinese.
f.
Fr.
Brian brought up a point of the extensive publicity by way of the local
newspapers. People are reading and sharing information with those in need –
another reason why people are traveling far, even in a family member’s car,
just to pick up food. He also mentioned that Queen of Angels gives vouchers to Stop
& Shop, and Dunken Donuts. We do not have space
for a pantry.
g.
Fr.
Dowd suggested that we put FOOD PANTRY as an item for discussion in the future.
7.
St
Sebastian’s School
a.
Open
House begins on Jan 28th & Jan 30th. If they cannot
make it on these dates, they can call the office at (718) 429-1982 or (718) 429-5502.
Promotions will be published on local and city newspapers.
8.
New
Business
a.
Promotion
– Advocate for the Disabled – Jan 4th at St. Sebastian’s.
b.
June
14th 2014 – Flag Day Parade – Encouraging our Deanery to participate
in this Event.
9.
Closing
Prayer
Next Meeting - Thursday, February 13th - 7PM Corpus Christi
Future Meetings
April 10th - 1PM St Teresa
June 19th - 1PM St Raphael
Future Meetings
April 10th - 1PM St Teresa
June 19th - 1PM St Raphael
