Parish Pastoral Council
Fall Retreat
September 12, 2015
Notes:
Welcome and Introductions
Amanda Green –
 A Year of Transition – endings/beginnings, purpose of this meeting to set the course
for the parish this year.
 Purpose of PPC – advisory to the pastor. From the Archdiocesan website:
o an important means by which the pastor will hear the voice of the parish.
o Through its deliberations and consultation with the pastor, the PPC helps to
unite the pastor and the parishioners. Together they discern the pastoral
needs of the parish and ways in which those needs can be addressed.
o Characteristics of a parish pastoral council:
 Prayerful
 Pastoral
 Representative
 Discerning
 Responsive
 Enabling
 Review of today’s agenda/calendar for the year
 Review of summer meeting with heads of Commissions. Discussed at that meeting:
o Internal structure
o External relationships
o Mission statements and procedures
 Summary of parish priorities survey results
Paul Melley –
 Gratitude for the work of Amanda Green as vice-chair of PPC
 New Staff Members - Reenie Murphy – administrative assistant, Jamie Huggins –
facilities director, Kyle Crosby – Database manager, also in the process of hiring
new associate for faith formation.
 Need for parish business manager - most roles are covered by other members of
staff. Accountant handles the books, Reenie Murphy handles HR, Paul is overseeing
the other needs that would normally be covered such as capital facilities projects
and working with the Finance Council.
 Finance Council – helping to create the budget and financial report for distribution
to community.
 Facilities
o New lighting and painting in Lannon Chapel
o Garden Level construction is complete, finishing touches will appear
o Accessibility – Ramp will be completely replaced immediately
o Energy Audit – looking at savings from energy usage
o Negotiated electrical rates with Boston College and have significant savings
for the future
o Parish offices – cleaning and reconfiguration, archiving records with diocese.
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Transition to new pastor – This will be a year of transition, but change is central to
our faith. To guide us in this transition, the Emmaus story will be central to our lives
this year. We will acknowledge the loss, and recognize our obligation to continue
and welcome a new pastor.
Fr. Bob
BC – Archdiocese conversations – The conversation regarding the exchange of
property with the archdiocese and Boston College is ongoing. The Archdiocese has
submitted a proposal to Boston College for the renovations that would be required
to the seminary buildings and the proposal is currently under review. At this point
there is no formal understanding, but once a deal is in the works the parish council
and staff will focus on the details.
Report from Finance Council
Peter Levangie, Paul Meaney, Co-Chairs
The Finance Council is responsible for stewardship of temporal goods and as such
the council gives guidance and input to pastor and staff. The areas of responsibility
included the real property, physical plant, and budgeting for operating and capital
expenses.
The Finance Council is also charged with supporting financial controls in order to
ensure compliance with any relevant regulations and Archdiocesan requirements.
The Council also has a communications function in order to keep the parish aware of
important financial matters, the report for this fiscal year will be coming out in
several weeks.
This year, as a parish we will strive to rebuild financial reserves which were drawn
down for the renovation of the Garden Level in the Parish Offices. The Finance
Council will also be looking to identify the capital needed to cover current deferred
maintenance.
A significant focus of the Finance Council has been to increase the number of
parishioners who make their contributions using the automated pledge program.
Approximately 66% of parishioners use the pledge program, but more attention will
be given to encouraging increased giving for those already in the program.
In this year of transition, the Finance Council will focus time and energy to recognize
the unique contribution Fr. Bob VerEecke has made to the parish in his 27 years as
Pastor. The goal is to raise $1million to ensure that programs that are so important
to Fr. Bob can be sustained into the future. The campaign will culminate with a
celebration on April 30, 2016.
Come Journey with Us – Catherine Downing
The parish wide event will occur on weekend of September 19-20 following each mass.
Activities and events will take place in Lannon Chapel, Friary Room, & Garden Level.
Parish Pastoral Council Goal Setting - Denny Martin
Last year the goal was One Book, One Parish using Pope Francis’ Joy of the Gospel. There
were some nice moments of success, and other moments that did not work as well as
hoped.
This year there is a desire for building a goal of a greater sense of unity, the reality that we
all belong to one parish. A possible focus would be a year of Ignatian Pilgrimage for the
parish. How do we do that and what would it look like?
1. What would be the benefit to parishioners of an Ignatian journey?
2. What would that look like?
3. How could it be a meaningful experience?
4. How can an Ignatian journey be integrated into the Year of Mercy?
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Reports from Groups
Most Hispanic parishioners do not know who Ignatius was. The community should
hold events and activities through the year to help focus on the major themes and
moments in the life of Ignatius.
Create a script from Ignatius’s life, divided into four or five parts. Four or five times
during the year, perform a skit with reflection.
A bilingual Mass can be offered, with Spanish-speakers speaking the English parts
and English-speakers speaking the Spanish parts.
First Communion can be held together (English- and Spanish-speakers)
Although integrating the parish into one whole is important, the Spanish-speaking
community feels it is valuable to retain Mass in Spanish. Their children go to
English-speaking schools and are losing the culture. Church is a place where the
culture can be preserved, and where parishioners can experience the special
spirituality of praying in their own language.
Group #2
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Our shared Ignatian identity is something we all have in common. If we invite
everyone on an Ignatian journey, then we deepen that sense of shared identity.
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The Ignatian story is easy to connect to our personal lives, as Fr. Bob did on this
retreat. Our parish theme could be “The Ignatian Way/Your Way” or “The Ignatian
Story/Your Story.” This would appeal to every developmental level, from children to
the elderly. I have my own Loyola. I have my own Manresa, etc.
Each Commission could consider how this theme fits into its own charism. For
example, the Outreach Commission is a natural fit for the movement from
Contemplation to Action. Go forth and find God in All Things.
Each Commission could invite people into key moments of the Ignatian journey.
These ideas fit into the Year of Mercy because we are companioning with each other
in mercy. We are cultivating mercy in our relationship with our new pastor, with our
outgoing pastor, with each other, with those we serve.
Over the year, Pope Francis will be sharing more of what’s in his heart concerning
the Year of Mercy, so we can be flexible in our planning to respond to his lead.
The transitional parish meetings with Frs. Bob and Joe can be messaged as part of
the Ignatian journey.
Those of us in leadership need to share positive stories and messages about the
transition to the new pastor, to encourage a spirit of welcome and mercy.
Leadership is farther ahead in our processing than the rest of the parish may be.
To help the parish transition to new leadership, we could host small group parties to
grieve, process, and move forward.
We could invite parishioners to record on video or in writing the answers to Fr.
Bob’s reflection questions today, such as: Where does your story begin with St.
Ignatius Parish?, What is your graced history? What have been some of your
consoling experiences with St. Ignatius Parish? It could be called The Pilgrimage
Project, e.g. My Journey to St. Ignatius/My Journey at St. Ignatius.
Group #3
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We can offer opportunities for “Manresa Moments” – meditations, peace, simpler
than Taizé.
We can send the message that just being at our parish means you’re on a journey.
Show mercy by affirming people who don’t feel they are worthy/not holy enough to
serve and be more active.
o Active parishioners can share their own stories which show they are not
perfect.
o Validate that what people are doing is prayer, whenever they reach out to
God – no need for special formulas, rituals.
We have put a lot of effort into intentionally creating different atmospheres at
different liturgies, so it’s not surprising that people attend the liturgies that speak to
them. So how do we borrow ministers from one Mass to the other without saying
you have to switch Masses? Just send out a call for help when needed. Also,
parishioners might attend a different Mass if they knew which presider would speak
on what (e.g. Michael on Benedictine spirituality).
We can integrate the upstairs and downstairs 10 a.m. coffees.
We are intentional about our different liturgies, so why are we surprised that people
identify with that mass community?
We should make the borders between masses more porous.