Archdiocesan
News Archive
Posted on Thursday July 9, 2009
Minutes Of The San Gabriel Regional Patoral Council Meeting Of December 6, 2008
SAN GABRIEL REGIONAL PASTORAL COUNCIL: Keeping the Synod Alive Highlights for Saturday, December 6, 2008
SAN GABRIEL REGIONAL PASTORAL COUNCIL: Keeping the Synod Alive
Highlights for Saturday, December 6, 2008
Welcome—Anita Ford welcomed Council members and reviewed the purposes for the meeting.
Prayer- Mark Padilla led our Advent prayer which included a reflection on the second part of Cardinal Mahony’s pastoral letter on Evangelization.
Deanery meetings: Input on Issues and Concerns of the SGRPC – Anita Ford
Anita reviewed the plans for the Cardinal's deanery meetings that will be held this year. Beginning in January, the Cardinal will meet with the leadership of the parishes in each of the deaneries. The format for these gatherings will include an opening prayer led by the regional bishop, a financial report and an overview of the financial forecast. This will be followed by the introduction of a model being proposed for the reorganization of the Archdiocese and a discussion on the issues and concerns of the Regional Pastoral Councils.
Standing Committee Reports.
Initiative I: Evangelization- Mark Padilla
The Committee has not met since the last Regional Pastoral Council Meeting. The implementation goals for the year will be discussed at the next meeting.
Initiative II: Parish Councils - Sr. Kathleen
All parishes have received the brochure about the Parish Councils workshop to be held at Ramona Convent Secondary School on January 24, 2009. The morning event provides an opportunity to educate Parish Council Members around their role and responsibilities and to recognize their efforts. The workshop is especially designed for new councils and/or new members of existing councils. There will be special sessions for moderators/chairpersons and secretaries.
In reviewing the Parish Councils survey, it was noted that of the 60 parishes, 30% of the parishes do not have councils. Two of the standing committee members are each working with a parish that is in the process of developing Parish Councils. The standing committee is also in the process of developing a resource guide based on materials made available by Mark Fisher.
Initiative III Ongoing Formation and Education - Sr Carmen
A Resource Guide is being created in response to an existing need. Specific areas were delegated to each committee member under the following categories:
Archdiocesan offices/services/programs
Catholic universities/colleges/retreat houses
Interregional resources available
Parishes’ inter-parochial resources
During the month of October, letters explaining the committee’s goal in response to Synod Initiative III and questionnaires were sent out to gather the data. The response to date has been good. The committee is encouraged by the interest that has been generated and which has been communicated to them in the responses received.
Initiative IV: Ministry and Leadership
Committee members have met several times through teleconferencing. Along with members from Standing Committee II, they have planned an afternoon for Pastors, Parish Life Directors, Pastoral Associates, Deacons, Ministry Directors and others in positions of parish leadership.
The event is entitled: Parish Leadership: Shared Responsibility
The event will be held at San Gabriel Mission on March 18, 2009, 9-11 a.m. and the agenda will include:
• Opening prayer, welcome, purpose of meeting
• Motivational talk by Bishop Gabino on the importance of collaborative leadership, the role of the laity and sharing the expectation that within two years every parish will have a pastoral council based on the document, “Communion and Consultation”
• Sharing from those attempting to utilize “Communion and Consultation” in collaborative ministry.
• Small group discussion, large group sharing
Initiative V: Eucharistic and Sacramental Living-Fe Musgrave
The leaders of this standing committee are talking to people in parishes and inviting them to join the committee.
Initiative VI: Social Justice-Cathy Crayton
No Report.
Retreat Evaluation – Yolanda Brown
Sr. Peg led us in a wonderful day that included input on the Advent theme, communal prayer and time for personal reflection. Participants felt that Sr. Peg was an inspirational leader and that the theme, Advent, a time of waiting, was timely. The participants recommended that a retreat should be scheduled annually.
UPDATES
Archdiocesan Pastoral Council - Chris
Cambria Smith will continue as the chair of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council.
The Cardinal will be 75 in the year 2011 and will retire that year. In lieu of a parting gift he would like to see 25 men preparing for the priesthood. The Cardinal expressed a concern over the shortage of priests.
The Council was encouraged to focus on the implementation of the Synod Initiatives and to use the Tidings to raise awareness and/or to put together presentations for parishes.
Synod Office - Dn. Dave
Dn. Dave reported that a Communication Committee is being developed by and coordinated with the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council. Los Angeles will be the first in U.S Archdioceses to have a communication plan. Bishop Gabino is the new chair of the USCCB committee in Communications. The Archdiocesan website is being redeveloped.
The Synod Implementation Committee recently met and will refocus on helping parishes with the implementation process.
Council Chronicles - Anita
The chronicles will be sent out by email. Sherri Saldana will take over the Chronicles in January.
January Inter-Regional Gathering – Anita.
The Inter-Regional Gathering will take place at Notre Dame High School on Jan.10, 2009. Each Region may bring up to 18 representatives. At the moment the SGRPC has 12 members signed up. Bishop Gabino will give a short motivational talk. The Cardinal will address the group by video since he will not be present. Built into the schedule will be plenty of time to share.
Bishop Zavala
The Archdiocese is in the process of restructuring. There have been meetings with attorneys and models have been suggested.
The lack of priestly vocations is a reality for the church. All in the faith community need to promote vocations and to do so collaboratively. There is a pastoral plan for vocations:
A priest will be assigned in every region and someone in every parish to be responsible for vocation promotion. Regional councils are being asked to get involved and to see how involvement with vocation fits into the Synod Initiatives.
Janis Nelson contacted Bishop Gabino and several members of the Executive Committee before writing the second Tiding’s article on the Synod. All members present agreed that this second article gave a good overview of the Region.
