March 10, 2004 Meeting Minutes

Pastoral Council Meeting Minutes: 3/10/04

All members present except Fr. Mike.

Topics to be discussed: Evangelization and Discernment

Prayer lead by Linda Winter… Gospel of John: Woman at the Well.

REFLECTION

Discussion about the kinds of questions we would ask if we were at the well with Jesus.

· Those who are thirsty are often the closest to Living Water
· Do we “get it?” like the apostles seemed to be slow to “get it.”
· How are like the Samaritan woman?
· How are we like the disciples?

Worship in truth and spirit!!!

Presentation: Discernment by Steve Hilliard

Some definitions: “to see that which is beyond the obvious”
Making right choices .. not just good choices. How does one know that one is making right and good choices? We see in hind sight by the fruits of our work. In discerning, we will be tempted to choose things that lead us off the path that is marked as “God’s will for us.” So, how do we avoid following our own agenda (the agenda of the ego or our “selfish Self”) and perhaps thinking that we are doing the Will of God. That is the challenge.

Perhaps to meet this challenge we must practice the art of discernment on a regular basis. How does one practice the Art of Discernment?:
Ø taking time to listen to the Holy Spirit,
Ø creating sacred space and time to allow for us to see and hear and touch as Christ might see, hear, and touch
Ø learning to identify a sense of truth, congruence, and peace within ourselves and others
Ø developing a willingness to be prophetic in the face of injustice or prejudice,
Ø developing the “largeness of heart” to be able to reconcile and invite reconciliation where ever and when ever possible

These are all good suggestions and questions. But discernment leads to action. Several members stated that they were looking forward to getting on with tangible projects, implementing a plan or objective. Still, discernment might be the best foundation to any implementation or action.

So, how do we, the Pastoral Council, develop the art and skill to lead, advise, and support in a discerning manner? This will take more time, more discussion, more formation. We committed ourselves to studying this topic and focus on it again next meeting. Several books were available for reading.


Presentation: Evangelization by Nancy Fahey

Nancy had a great handout entitled, What Is Evangelization?

Some members shared personal stories of their conversion and how is conversion linked to evangelization.

The section of the handout, Presentation of the Goals, listed numerous goals that might lead us in our efforts to become an evangelizing parish.

Closing Prayer: Linda Winter


Reminder: Next meeting is 3/27/04 at the Woolridge Center from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.