Council of Religious – 
Minutes of November 21, 2003 meeting

Present:  Srs. Marilyn Winter, Mary Jean Korejwo, Mary Ann Czaja, Barbara Marie Cady, Janet Schemmel, Mary Ann Ennis, Joanna Walsh, Mary Therese Brown and Mary Margaret Weber.

Absent excused:  Srs. Kieran Williams and Margaret Gallagher

Joanna led us in prayer.

Correction to the previous minutes – the guest speaker for 2004 is Sr. Doris Klein.  Minutes accepted with this correction.

Msgr. Thomas Paul Hadden will celebrate his 45^th anniversary of ordination on December 20.  Barbara Marie will send a card in the name of the Council.

Mary Ann Czaja will send a sympathy card to Sr. Marge Polys at the death of her sister.

(Both cards have been sent.)

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

CELEBRATION:  A discussion followed the question:  Should Sr. Doris Klein come in 2004?  Is there enough interest in this type of day?  Although 60-65 people attended this year, more lay people than religious were present.  If women religious are not interested, perhaps 2004 will be the last year we host this day of enrichment.

Sr. Mary Ann Czaja will contact Sr. Doris to see what her fee is.  We agreed to continue the 2004 Day of Enrichment.

The evaluation of the 2003 Day of Enrichment with Sr. Melannie was positive.

JUBILEE celebration will be on February 7, 2004 at 11 am at the Cathedral.  Those celebrating this year:  Mary Ann and Bridget (40), Marion (60) and Kitty (25).  Mary Therese is writing the article for NC CATHOLIC.  The date is perfect since the celebration of World Day for Consecrated Life is Feb. 8.

Mary Margaret and Janet are taking care of the music, Mary Jean will serve as sacristan, Janet is working with the caterer, Mary Jean is getting the gifts.  GREETERS WILL BE NEEDED.

Mary Ann will do the reflection.  A flyer will be put into centralized mail so parishes can download it and put it in bulletins. 

ISSUES AND ANSWERS:  The day with Sr. Attracta is scheduled for tomorrow (Nov 22).  The location was changed to Cardinal Gibbons High School due to events taking place in Raleigh on Saturday.  Seventeen will attend the day – 13 registered, 3 committee members and Sr. Attracta.  This will be a pilot to see if there is interest and need.

COMMUNICATIONS:  Kieran has spoken at Gibbons and has young adults in service in her parish.  Janna is looking toward articles in NC CATHOLIC for Jan./Feb/May to coincide with national vocation awareness.  There will be an article on jubilarians.

Mary Therese wanted to put together a packet of communities represented in the Diocese but did not receive enough information to go forward with the project.  We will try to put VISION magazine in places where young adults gather.

NEW BUSINESS:  October 2 – luncheon for Sr. Evelyn.  The Justice Fund now has more than $15,000 to be used to do work in her name.  Council decided to send $100 to the Council of Churches in her name.  Joan and Janet will take care of this.

Marilyn filled us in on Dominican Leadership Conference.  The need for respectful communication was stressed.  Women religious are a gift – they come to conversation out of reflection.

On March 20, at Our Lady of Lourdes, Fr. Cardone from Toledo will offer a conference on End of Life Issues.

Joanna told of the General Council meeting she attended in October.  The new general is Irish.  Joanna spoke of hearing Donna Markum, OP – we need to be non-judgmental, speak the truth with compassion, conference partnering and forgive the past.

WEBSITE:  Mary Jean noted that a Daughter of Charity is studying websites and found ours to be the best and most user-friendly.  In the new year, Mary Jean plans to re-vamp the site to better use the space we pay for.  We will have a digital camera at our next meeting.

RETIREMENT FOR RELIGIOUS:  18 sisters volunteered to speak on behalf of this drive.  Not all parishes will have a sister speak.

ENDOWMENT FOR THE POOR COMMITTEE:  Mary Jean attended.  Eight grants were completed.  The committee met on 11-19 to distribute $25,000.  They were able to fully fund 2 requests and partially fund 2 others.

The Bishop will need to approve them.  More money will be available next year.

WOMEN’S TASK FORCE UPDATE:  A booth was set up at the Day of Enrichment to elicit help.  Only two people left their names.  At this point, we did not see that the Task Force was accomplishing the task – an Office for Women in the Diocese.  Mary Margaret is no longer willing to support this effort as it is not focused on the task it was set up to accomplish.

It was decided that we would begin each meeting with a PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS.  Joanna will put together some sample prayers.

Mary Ann Ennnis said goodbye to the group.  Her sister is recently diagnosed with cancer and Mary Ann is relocating to Wisconsin to be near her sister.  Mary Ann leaves the day after Thanksgiving and already found a position near her sister’s home.

The next meeting is scheduled for 4 pm on FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27.  Please let me or Mary Ann know if committees need rooms to meet prior to the meeting.  Also, please let us know if you will be unable to attend.

Blessed holy days to each one!

Barbara Marie