Present: Archbishop John Vlazny, Fr. Dennis O’Donovan, and Members: Julia Bochsler, Mother Francine Cardew, Tania DeSantis, Sr. Ruth Frank, Jerry Grondin, Fr. Don Gutmann, Avi Huelskamp, Mike Kerr, Sue Lepley, Bob Lowry, Kirsten Meneghello, Keith Miller, Deacon Don Philip, Fr. Dick Rossman, Rod Spring, Paul Steele, and Deacon An Vu

       Staff Present: Todd Cooper

Members Absent: Michelle Forster (E), and Eloisa Hernandez

The eleventh meeting of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council was called to order at 10:05am by the council chair, Bob Lowry.  Bob led the opening prayer.

The agenda was reviewed and approved.

The minutes from the April 5, 2003 meeting of the APC were approved with the following changes:  An addition on page two under Racism Subcommittee:  “Some of the surveys returned contained constructive comments”.  A change on page nine: Avi Huelskamp did not offer the closing prayer.  The closing prayer was offered by Todd Cooper.

        Last week marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of the selection of John Paul II as pope.  Please keep the Holy Father and his ministry in prayer.  Last week also marked the beatification of Mother Teresa.

        As of June 30, 2003, the archdiocese has twenty fewer employees.  Budget cuts have totaled two million dollars.  The staff reduction was tough on morale and there are still some lingering issues, but the transition has been made.

        Fr. Patrick Brennan is the new head of Clergy/Personnel.  He is also the priest moderator of St. Rita’s Parish in Portland.  He was rector of Mt. Angel Seminary for ten years.  Fr. Lienert is on a well-deserved sabbatical.  Upon his return, he has agreed to be the vicar for planning efforts and will continue to be involved with the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council.  Fr. O’Donovan has assumed charge of Human Resources.

        Twenty-seven men are currently in the priestly formation program.  There will be two ordinations this spring.  Nineteen men are at Mt. Angel, four are on pastoral internships, and four are at other seminaries, including the North American College in Rome, Hales Corners in Wisconsin, and a seminary in Mexico City.  Two of the nine new men are Hispanics.  Andrew Dinners are still taking place to help foster vocations.  The archbishop will direct the annual priesthood discernment retreat on January 23-25, 2004.  Last year, four of the twenty-five attendees entered the seminary.

        The U.S. bishops are funding a national study to determine the scope of the problem of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in this country.  Work is being done to determine such things as the total number of allegations and the total costs of settlements. The results will be announced in January.

        The Catholic Charities Appeal is up twenty to twenty-five percent this year.  The appeal is back up over $500,000.  Catholic Charities is the professional social services arm of the archdiocese.  Their annual event will be held on March 13, 2004.
The archbishop drew attention to the six primary themes that surfaced from the Disciples in Mission process.

         The archbishop noted the excellent variety of options offered by the materials.  Small groups could continue their work together using the materials.  Pastors could be encouraged to address the issue in a homily on the Sunday before Martin Luther King, Junior Day.
 APC members agreed that the materials were especially good because they approached the issue of racism in a non-threatening way.   The consensus of the APC was that the materials developed by the subcommittee be formally recommended to the archbishop for use by the archdiocese.  The hard work of the subcommittee was duly noted.

         The APC felt it would be fruitful to promote the materials in conjunction with the twenty-fifth anniversary of the bishops’ pastoral letter in 2004.  Todd will work to prepare a memo for the November Pastor’s Mailing, promoting the materials.  Prior to distribution, the materials would benefit from some format changes and the addition of numbers to the pages.

         The subcommittee members recommended to the APC that the Racism Subcommittee continue in existence. Their primary concern was to make sure that the proposed materials would be widely promoted and put to good use.  The archbishop suggested that the APC Executive Committee make a report next year about how the materials have been implemented.  The APC supported this suggestion and noted that the Subcommittee on Racism had fulfilled its original charge.  Regarding the continuance of the subcommittee, the APC would ask the newly constituted council to discuss the issue and make a determination.

LUNCH BREAK – 12:10 to 1:05pm
 
 

        Prior to the report, council Chair, Bob Lowry, noted that the momentum created by Disciples in Mission in the Archdiocese should not be lost.  Mike Kerr reported for the subcommittee.  He reviewed the subcommittee’s proposal for the council (See Attachment A).  One of the tremendous benefits of DM was that it provided a common experience and a common goal for the Archdiocese.  There should be some type of ongoing, common diocesan program.  Stewardship could be used as the theme for a follow-up to the theme of evangelization and as a continuation of some of the aspects of Disciples in Mission.  A program could be developed based on the U.S. bishops’ pastoral letter on stewardship.  Evangelization and stewardship are two sides of the same coin.  Being a disciple means that one is on mission and that one is a steward.  Just as true evangelization is not proselytizing, so stewardship is not fundraising.  Stewardship has a depth of meaning that could be explored through a diocesan-wide program that is small group based.  Perhaps the new APC members could be given copies of the bishops’ pastoral letter on stewardship.  There is great value in having all parishes reflect on the same theme.

        Council members agreed that following Disciples in Mission, people are asking “What is next?”  There should be a focus and some kind of follow-up to DM, perhaps through small Christian communities.  Small communities are a great way to internalize things.  Through materials prepared by Tom Gornick, it was noted that Small Christian Communities are defined as those that meet together for six weeks.  Coordinators are key to the success of these groups, as are strong ties to the parish and its leadership.
 
 

        Todd Cooper reported.  The 2003 Pastoral Assembly is less than one month away.  The committee, which includes Kirsten Meneghello, Rod Spring, and Pia de Leon, has been working hard to prepare the materials and make all the arrangements for the assembly.  Kirsten is in charge of registration.  Rod is in charge of meals.  Pia is responsible for volunteers and the closing liturgy.  The music and prayer will be led by Clint Bentz and the Jubilee Musicians.  The keynote speaker, Fr. Bob Barron, is confirmed for Friday evening.  Claeys’ Catering will be preparing the dessert reception on Friday night, and the lunch on Saturday.  The St. Pius X Knights of Columbus will be preparing the breakfast on Saturday morning.  APC volunteers are needed for set-up and clean-up.  Former T.V. anchor, John Marler, will facilitate the vicariate reporting.  Pastoral Center staff members are on standby to offer brief reports if the council so desires.  If given, their reports should be brief, should address their area of expertise as related to the pastoral priorities identified, and should not be a “campaign for votes”.  It will be important to let participants know that the Disciples in Mission materials from the parishes are being used by the APC to help determine what pastoral priorities will be proposed to the archbishop.  At the annual meetings, vicariates discussed their own recommendations for pastoral priorities.  At the assembly, vicariates will have the opportunity to discuss some of the priorities recommended by other vicariates.  A list of some of the top priorities has been compiled using the information from all of the vicariates and this list will be made available at the assembly.  Vicariate discussions will be facilitated by APC members and vicars where needed.  Separate reporters and recorders will be identified for each vicariate discussion.  The closing liturgy will conclude the assembly, and the newly elected regional representatives of the APC will be commissioned by Archbishop Vlazny during the closing Mass.

The council recommended that the Metropolitan Eugene Vicariate should comprise its own APC region.

Materials will be prepared for the incoming APC members to help orient them and to bring them up to speed on the movement and activities of the APC up to this point.

The council members thanked the archbishop for his excellent leadership and for the opportunity to serve on the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council.  There was a resounding consensus by the APC members that service on the council had been an enriching, positive, faith-building experience.  Council members expressed that it had been a privilege and an honor to serve on the council and to get to know the archbishop.

The archbishop thanked the council members for their friendship and service.  He expressed that it had also been a privilege for him to get to know each of them.  He looks forward to seeing them during parish visitations and at other diocesan activities.

The meeting closed with a prayer led by Tania De Santis.

NEXT MEETING:

Return to Pastoral Council Minutes

Return to Archdiocesan Pastor Council