Council of Religious Minutes
August 23, 2002
1. Present: Srs. Barbara Marie, Kieran, Joanna, Marilyn, Joan, Janet,
Loretta, Mary Ann E., Mary Therese, Mary Ann C., Mary Margaret, Mary Jean;
Excused: Srs. Margaret, Maxine.
2. Welcome and re-introduction of members
3. Opening Prayer….Srs. Mary Ann Czaja(next mtg. – Sr. Mary Ann Ennis)
4. Committee Reports….
Issues and Answers: Co-chairs. Srs. Joan, Marilyn, Mary Ann C.
*Meetings will be handled through email and conference calls.
*Sr. Joan will handle information for the website.
*Decisions made…
….at times current justice, peacemaking issues information will be
included in meeting
….would like to initiate and sponsor an enrichment day through the
Council
….want to be present on the web-site
*Questions for the Council to address…..
….what process do we use in the interim between meetings for current
timely issues?
….give us more info on the links for the web-site justice issues
….when is it important to make a local statement about local
issues? when or how can the committee initiate a statement in the name of
the Council? what’s the criteria?
Community Relations:
*Chairperson: Sr. Joanna
*Members: Srs. Mary Therese, Kieran
*Committee will handle meetings by email and phone.
*Sr. Joanna will provide info for the website.
*Decisions made:
….we three will be contact persons on the website for anyone interested
in religious life
….we need to have a sister present at the three "Encounters With
Christ" sessions
….we will stay in collaboration with the Diocesan Vocation Office,
Fr. Mike Clay and Fr. Dan Oschwald
….need to continue articles in the NC Catholic
….explore how to build on the experiences presently going on at Holy
Trinity Williamston
*Discussion items:
….coordinating with planning committee on Jubilies
*Items to be added to the website:
….vocations information
….email links: Joanna, Kieran, Mary Therese
Celebrations:
*Chairperson: Sr. Janet
*Members: Srs. Mary Margaret, Loretta, Mary Ann E., Margaret
*Meetings…prior to Council meeting depending on need and email
*Contact for website: Sr. Janet
*Decisions made:
….Sr. Janet will handle registration on Sept. 28
….Sr. Loretta will find out who the Jubilarians are
….Sr. Mary Margaret will get a Jubilee date
*Discussion items:
….responsibilities for Day of Enrichment
….preliminaries for Jubilee Celebration
*Want to have available to add to website…pictures
of conference day activities, pictures of jubilarians,
pictures of jubilee celebration, places of ministry
***If you would like to be involved with the work of any of the
committees, PLEASE contact the chair-person.
5. Task Force Report….Sr. Mary Margaret reported the status of the
proposal for the "Office for Women in Society and the Church". The
Council drafted a letter of support to the Bishop and the Council of Priests to
be sent prior to the Sept. meeting of the Priests Council
6. Website Update…..Sr. Mary Jean
*Site map was explained
*Access was explained: http://www.raleighcouncilofreligious.com
*Access to database of Sisters will be explained to all non-council
members by one of the council members. They will contact sisters personally.
7. African-American Ministry Plan….lead by Sr. Barbara Marie, the
Council looked at the plan for 2002-2003 at the request of Msgr. Hadden.
Suggestions and questions will be given to Msgr.
***RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. That attention be given to African American women and encourage them to
take leadership positions in the ministry.
2. That sensitivity be given to the choice of Religious Education texts so
that all children see a reflection of themselves.
3. That the fact that ALL are invited into the plan (African-American and
non-African-American) be stressed. AAMEN chapters should be present in all
parishes of our Diocese, whether of not there is an African-American presence at
this time.
8. Srs. Marilyn and Joanna shared insights from the LCWR meeting.
The talks given are available on their website: http://www.lcwr.org
9. Sr. Joan raised some issues you might want to look into:
…."A National Housing Trust Fund" (see http://usccb.org/sdwp/national/hsghill.htm)
….Some Maryknoll World Productions….especially: "Quechua
Way of the Cross"….uses pictures and prayers of young Quechua and Aymara
people exploited in Peru "Beatitudes"…scenes from around the world
as illustrations - http://www.maryknollmall.org
10. Some discussion was held on role of the Vicar of Reigious in the
diocese.
11. Topics raised for next meeting included….
a) corporate stance of Council in interim times
b) co-sponsoring a second Enrichment Day each year
c) deanery gatherings.
Respectfully submitted,
Srs. Barbara Marie and Mary Jean | 
