Yankton Area Study Group Combined Meeting #1 Groups A/B St. Benedict s, Yankton August 20, 2009

Transcription

1 Yankton Area Study Group Combined Meeting #1 Groups A/B St. Benedict s, Yankton August 20, 2009 Present: Bishop Paul Swain, Pastors, Deacons, Parish Representatives of parishes involved and parishioners Prayer Service: The meeting opened with a prayer service and blessing of the Parish Representatives presided by Bishop Swain in the main body of St. Benedict s church. Meeting: (1) After the prayer service, the meeting convened in the parish hall. Deacon Roger Heidt opened the meeting with introductions and a review of the evening s agenda. (2) Bishop Swain was introduced and offered a presentation on the reasons for Pastoral Planning, structure of a diocese and parish, the Vision for the diocese, parameters of the planning process and demographics. Bishop Swain stressed the transparency of the planning process and that all meetings will be open to any parishioner of the parishes. (Parish Representatives have copies of all the presentations, copies of newer slides will be given out at the next meeting and most are available on the diocesan website) (3) Deacon Heidt reviewed the Planning Process to be used, introduced Deacons Knapp and Devlin who will be working with the groups and reviewed some of the items learned from working with the first group in the Redfield Area Study Group. The main dialogue will be with the Parish Representatives, at the end of each meeting, time will be set aside for questions and comments from the audience. (4) Deacon s Devlin and Knapp then worked individually with the Parish Representatives to establish meeting places, times, dates and other information. (see attachments) (5) After a break, Bishop Swain responded to comments and answered questions. Comments and questions are from Parish Representatives, Re: is from Bishop Swain. Comment: appreciate the process, seems well thought out-looking forward to working on it Comment: thankful for process, 2 parish meetings already, need to pray for vocations Comment: praying for bishop, grateful for process Question: request bishop s presence at meetings Re: will try to be there if absolutely necessary, can t make promise to attend Question: religious order priests, how do we get them? Re: they are not available, would get them if we could. Question: will we talk about what the parishes will do when brought together? Re: it will be part of the implementation process, people with special gifts will be needed. Question: what are creative solutions other dioceses are doing? Re: We are looking at other places, Fargo in 2 nd phase, everyone doing a little differently

2 Question: more foreign priests Re: are exploring, but not all priests from foreign countries have been well received, language and culture are sometimes barriers Comment: pray for more understanding, vocations, religious education, young people need to see the beauty of Catholic faith Question: Role of Deacon Re: main mission is work of service, works of mercy. Baptize, witness marriage, funerals, wake services, Question: Bon Homme county, prison will that be considered? Re: special circumstances need to be considered Question: area going from 6 to 4 priests, where are they going? Re: retiring Question: last priests ordained, one sent to another diocese? Re: last 2 years, all ordained are serving in our diocese Question from a priest: priests know the parishes, when will priest input be sought? Re: Bishop does not want the priests to be put in the middle, wants them to walk with the people. Bishop doesn t show up because it chills the discussion, if you need to get mad, don t get mad at priests, get mad at bishop. Question: can a deacon do a communion service and meet Sunday obligation Re: church says no, only under special circumstances with permission of bishop, obligation is to attend Mass on Sunday Comment: change is difficult, keep an open mind (6) Key actions/messages from meeting: Transparency Set up future meetings Vocations important Have options Open to suggestions Plan is only proposed Spirit of openness Expect implementation time There is homework (7) Deacon Roger thanked Fr. Paul and staff for the hospitality and use of their facilities. (8) Bishop Swain led a closing prayer and Blessing. (9) Meeting adjourned at approximately 9 pm Attachments: 4

3 Yankton Group A Meeting #2 Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Centerville, SD Thursday, September 17, :00 P.M Light Meal 6:30 P.M. ----PRAYER PASTORAL PLANNING REFLECTION PARISH REPRESENTATIVES 6:40 P.M. ----STUDY GROUP BUSINESS 1. Approval of Agenda 2. Questions/Concerns - August 20, meeting 3. Parking Lot explanation/use 4. Review/Discussion/Action - Norming Guidelines (Tab E) 5. Guidebook Orientation 6. Demographic Review/discussion What is available Area A Statistics 7. Data Gathering Worksheet minute Presentation by Parish Representatives on their Parish highlights 9. Next Meeting Thursday, October 1, 2009, 6:30 p.m., St. Teresa, Beresford Presentation on Change/Transition Discuss Parish Story Line development Finance Review (Mike Bannwarth- Diocesan Director-Finance) Key Actions/Messages 8:40 P.M. ----AUDIENCE QUESTIONS/COMMENTS 8:55 P.M. ----KEY ACTIONS/KEY MESSAGES 9:00 P.M. ----CLOSING PRAYER/ADJOURN

4 Yankton Group A Proposed Meeting Schedule Thursday, September 17 Good Shepherd, Centerville Thursday, October 1 St. Teresa, Beresford Thursday, October 15 St. Patrick, Wakonda Thursday, October 30 St. Agnes/Thomas, Vermillion Thursday, November 12 St. Joseph, Elk Point Thursday, December 3 St. Peter, Jefferson Thursday, December 17 Blessed Teresa, Dakota Dunes Notes: Meetings will be every two weeks, on Thursday evenings, typically lasting two to three hours. The meetings are primarily for the parish representatives to develop a recommendation for Bishop Paul Swain for parish ministry in the Area starting July 1, However, any parishioner is welcome to attend the meetings. Pastors and Parish Rep. Alternates are encouraged to attend. There will be an opportunity at the end of each meeting for any attendee to ask questions or voice opinions. The meetings will rotate among the affected parishes, in order for representatives to learn about their neighboring parishes. The host parish may wish to offer light meals/beverages before the meeting. It is anticipated that there will five to six meetings. But there may be more or less. Parish representatives are strongly encouraged to have dialogue with their fellow parishioners about the process in the time between meetings. The meetings cannot be on the same day as the Yankton Area Study Group B meetings. The typical outline for each session is as follows: o 6:00 p.m. light meal (optional) o 6:30 p.m. Opening Prayer & Meeting o 9:00 p.m. Adjourn

5 Memorandum TO: Parish Representatives, Group A FROM: Deacon Henry DATE: August 21, 2009 SUBJECT: Misc. Logistics Greetings. This memo is to confirm some of the matters that we discussed last night. Parish Representatives A list of the eight parish representatives is attached. If you don t have an alternate, please ask your pastor to consider appointing one. The alternate would obviously fill in for you when you are absent, but also be a sounding board for you, and an aid in conversations with fellow parishioners. Also, can you provide Deacon Roger with addresses of your alternates. Meeting Schedule The proposed meeting schedule is attached. We had to reverse the first two because of preparation for a parish bazaar being held at St. Teresa. Please confirm with your pastor that your parish can host the meeting as scheduled. Meetings Layout We would like to have the meeting room arranged somewhat like last night. Maybe think of yourselves as a City Council, a School Board, or a County Commission that needs to have public discussion. Also, a public address system is preferred. Please let Deacon Roger know if your hall does not have a sound system, as we can bring one, it is important for people to be able to hear. We also need a screen or blank wall to project visual aids, and a small table on which to put the projector. Meeting #2 Please let Mary now how many people you expect to come from your parish, so that meals/beverages can be arranged. The proposed Agenda for your next meeting is also attached. Fellow Parishioners Please remember that you represent your fellow parishioners. So please develop some means of conversing with them about the process. Options for such conversation can include written reports/solicitation, reports/solicitation, end-of-mass meetings, independent meetings, parish bulletin inserts, or combinations thereof. Also, tell them about the diocesan site: Also, please ask your pastor if you can routinely publicize the date, time, and location of our Area A meetings. Homework Please prepare a 3 to 5 minute oral report about your parish for our next meeting. Based on our experience in the Redfield area, it is very easy to use up 5 minutes. So, please practice your presentation in advance with a clock or watch. Also, please remember to look for the filled-out data sheet on page 70 of your manual. Thanks.

6 Yankton Area Study Group Parish Representatives Group A St. Agnes, Vermillion Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, Dakota Dunes Pat Wingen Trudy Thoman 1103 Deerfield Road 413 S Royal Troon Drive Vermillion, SD Dakota Dunes, SD pwingen@aaladin.com tthoman@longlines.com cell Alternate: Jim Spencer 511 Bison Trl, Dakota Dunes spencerj@mercyhealth.com St. Teresa, Beresford Mark Brunick 903 St. Andrews Dr. Beresford, SD marnor@bmtc.net mar nor Good Shepherd, Centerville USD Newman Center, Vermillion Mary Frederickson Karen Card PO Box S Crawford Rd Viborg, SD Vermillion, SD dfred51@iw.net Karen.Card@usd.edu St. Joseph, Elk Point St. Peter, Jefferson Dan DeBuhr Joe Trudeau 509 W Main th Ave Elk Point, SD Jefferson, SD dandebuhr@iw.net jwtrudeau@live.com c c Alt. Don Gray Alt. Dick Dailey th Ave 1006 Wynstone RD Elk Point, SD Jefferson, SD donagray@hotmail.com dpegger@aol.com St. Patrick, Wakonda Darby D. Ganschow th Ave Volin, SD Darby.Ganschow@usd.edu