St. Theresa / Our Lady of the Wayside

St. Theresa / Our Lady of the Wayside Parish Council Meeting February 12, 2014 Minutes

Present: Bob Altomare, Marguerite Andersen, Vincenza Chapin, Luzmarina Lalli, Regina Molinelli, Isabel Oramas, Rich Sieminski, Denise Stein

Excused: Fr. John (attending Making All Things New meeting) Fr. Praxid, Mary Kathleen Greiner, Mary Pat Hughes

Opening Prayer – by Rich Sieminski

The January 8, 2014 meeting minutes were circulated via email and members reviewed prior to tonight’s meeting. The minutes were approved and accepted.

 New Business

1. Establish “Parish Club” (hybrid of Platinum Plus)

Purpose Develop, Plan, Coordinate, Communicate Parish Social Events

Co-Chairs Luzmarina Lalli & Marguerite Andersen

Meet Monthly Pot Luck luncheons on 1st Fridays after Benediction

This Club will be open to all ages and provide activities (trips, speakers, social events) for both daytime and evening meetings. Decision needs to be made whether Club should start in March or after Lent/Easter season. A Bulletin announcement will be prepared.

Fr. John endorses the formation of the “Parish Club” as long as there is sufficient participation from the parishioners. The previous Platinum Plus Club had 48 members.

2. Volunteer Recognition Pot Luck Dinner

a. Annual Parish Life Event (to be scheduled after Easter) to recap and recognize prior year achievements of all Ministries, and enable potential newcomers to explore their interests. b. Targeted for either Friday, 4/25/2014 or Saturday, 4/26/2014 - Date will not conflict with First Communions or Confirmation - Check with CYO for end of season schedule c. Gym is needed d. Tables and chairs may need to be rented e. Luzmarina Lalli will coordinate Dinner 3. Develop a Ministry Directory for Volunteers (only): a. To improve events management/communication and parishioner involvement b. Facilitate arranging substitutions when rescheduling becomes necessary c. Brendan Ryan has Eucharistic Minister & Lector lists that include phone #’s d. Rich Sieminski wants to incorporate Brendan’s lists within a master list to include all Ministries e. Rich will request participant names, phone numbers and email addresses from Ministry leaders f. Ministries can decide to limit release of data to within their respective ministry g. Annual publication (hardcopies could be distributed at the recognition event) h. Fr. John is sensitive to those parishioners who may not want their phone number or email address published. Discussion took place on having a representative from a Parish Ministry speak at each Mass on the first weekend of the month to introduce themselves and describe how their ministry participation has impacted their spiritual life. This would be ongoing throughout the year, affording all ministries the opportunity to speak.

 Parish Council Communications

Bob Altomare will determine with Fr. John whether the names of Parish Council members be included with the group photo on the website.

Rich provided promotional materials to Bob for posting (on the website), the Lenten sampler series “Catholicism” (flyers with dates, time, location, descriptions of content for each episode).

 MATN Cluster Progress

St. Theresa’s continues to work with their cluster group’s compilation of data and preparation of recommendations for input to the Archdiocese by March 1, 2014. There are 75 clusters in the Archdiocese. An initial evaluation of each cluster’s recommendations will be made by an Archdiocesan Advisory Group of 40 individuals (20 clergy, 20 religious/laity). The clusters will then re-submit their recommendations for a final evaluation, which, will then be presented to Cardinal Dolan for a final decision this coming Fall, with implementation to be effective with 2015.

 Parish Life Renewal Initiatives

. Mary of Nazareth Movie – 1 hour, 53 minutes

- Decide on venue – Tarrytown Music Hall, Jacob Burns Center or Cineplex in Hawthorne - Rich provided an analysis of each venue with seating capacity, theater and movie rental costs and cost per ticket - Cineplex in Hawthorne is advantageous for ease of parking and cost - Ticket prices would be established for Child / Adult / Family - Open this event to parishes in our cluster

. Hudson River Cruise – 3 hours

- Rich provided an analysis of alternative cruises - The Parish Council decided upon “The River Rose” (capacity: 150) - To depart from Peekskill on October 4, 2014 (Noon to 3:00 pm) - Menu options to be explored, which would result in $25-$30 cost per person

 Grounds Keeping

The Parish Council recommends the following:

a. Install guideposts with reflector strips to mark the parking lot entrance from Pleasantville Road (posts will match existing sign posts in front of Church) b. Vinnie Chapin will contact Phil Zegarelli (Briarcliff Manor’s Village Manager) to determine whether village approval is required for the positioning and color of the guideposts, as well as the status of a Yield Sign to be placed at the exit from the parking lot onto Central Drive. c. Replace the existing Handicapped Parking sign in the main parking lot.

Discussion followed regarding parking lot space constraints with respect to accommodating pedestrian access amidst incoming traffic, and, the bus from Atria at the10:45 Sunday Mass. Remedies to be investigated include designating some parking spaces as “compact cars only”, eliminating a space (atop the hill on the right), and realigning some parking spaces. Bob will email Michael Molinelli for assistance on this proposal.

It also was mentioned that snow removal for the lower parking lot for a weekday funeral Mass was inadequate. It is recommended that Fr. John and Andrew Saunders explore this with the vendor.

Father John has approved developing fundraising efforts which specifically target buildings and grounds improvement projects. Rich provided an outline of the costs and projected donations for such an effort. The Parish Council requests estimates from Andrew Saunders on the costs for items in need of repair / replacement which were noted in the January 8, 2014 minutes. It is understood that no interior painting of the Church will be done until exterior water and moisture issues are remedied.

Closing Prayer – by Rich Sieminski

Meeting adjourned at 10:00 pm.

Submitted by Denise Stein