PPC Members in attendance
Fr. Arock Arockiasami, Brian Carlson, Norma Flores, Phil Heink, Kevin Lamping, Walter Leachman, Erich Maul, John Mitchell, Andrew Moore, Karen Morgison, Cora Mudd, Inocencio Muñoz, Fr. Dan Noll, Bill Rood, and John Tibe Absent: Mary Grace Allen, Anna Byrd, and Carol Lee
Opening
The meeting began at 7:00 PM with a prayer by Phil Heink.
The minutes of our previous meeting were approved with revisions.
Unfinished Business
John Mitchell reported on a special meeting held last month on December 9th. At that meeting, Leo Brown (of Real Life Radio) talked about a proposed program aimed at improving the “average” Catholic’s understanding of The Eucharist. With approval (and dispensation) from Bishop Gainer, this program would take place during Lent of 2014 and involved early dismissal from Mass for those who elect to participate in Catechetical classes. Several concerns were voiced during that December meeting, and John reported that since that meeting, Leo Brown report to the Evangelization Committee that Real Life Radio was now focusing instead on radio programming to address this issue. John Mitchell also reported that the evangelization committee was currently reading Rediscovering Catholicism by Matthew Kelly. The council then discussed the usefulness of expanding this more broadly throughout our parish.
We then began a more general discussion of Catholic Evangelization. We decided not to participate in a “Lenten dismissal program”, but we still need to find a way to better promote evangelization in our parish.
The council voted to direct further discussion of this to a newly formed Evangelization Task Force. This group will be comprised of:
John Mitchell
Andrew Moore (chair)
Kara Johnson (staff)
Inocencio Muñoz
Ginger Fraser
Father Dan
another representative yet to be chosen from our Hispanic community
New Business and Updates
Karen mentioned our support and promotion of a Youth Mass, which is aimed at making the youth of our parish feel more welcomed.
We began a discussion of Mary Queen Parish and our relationship with the poor. We discussed a refugee program in the Diocese of Louisville, the Father Beiting Appalachian Mission Center, Parish Twinning, and the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. Father Dan reminded us that the Pope talks about “encounter”, which should be more than just money or prayer. He mentioned discussion among the parish staff of how to deal with informal requests, often after hours and in the parking lot, for food and money. He also mentioned that around 50,000 refugees from the Congo will arrive in the United States over the next year, and that Lexington is the third largest destination for these refugees.
This began a general discussion of the Council of possible programs in which our parish might participate or organize. There was interest in mission trips and in programs that might involve the school. After this discussion, a motion was proposed by Bill Rood to form a Task Force aimed at exploring Parish Twinning as a way to help those in need beyond our borders. The motion was seconded by Norma Flores and approved. Kevin Lamping and Bill Rood will be co-chairs of this Task Force and they will find additional members.
Next PPC Meeting
Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at 7:00 pm. It will be held in the media center of the Education Life Center (ELC).
Closing prayer and adjournment
A closing prayer was offered by John Mitchell and Fr. Dan gave us a blessing.