ARF Minutes December 2016

SACRED HEART PARISH 

ADULT RELIGIOUS FORMATION COMMISSION 

December 1, 2016 

PRESENT: Sister Rebecca Otter, Mary Mitchell, David O’Gwin, Cathy Grover, and Regis Lopata 

            ABSENT:  Father Warren Stecklein 

            GUEST: Jim Mitchell  

The minutes from the meeting of September 13, 2016 were reviewed and approved as written. 

It was noted that the Book Nook in the vestibule of the church is being kept in good shape.

Commission members were not aware if Sister Irene has written more of the “Joy of Love” articles for the “What You Do For the Least” column in the Sacred Heart Beat.  Sister Rebecca will check on this.  If we do not have more columns available, then commission members will work on future columns.

Plans were made for the Adoration/Holy Hours for the upcoming months.  These include: 

            December – no Holy Hour 

            January – Christian Unity – Sister Rebecca 

            February – Vespers and quiet time 

            March – Scriptural rosary with the sorrowful mysteries – Regis 

            April – Environmental stewardship – Cathy 

            May – St. Isidore (patron of farmers) – Cathy

The commission members reviewed the responses to our recent program on the Eucharist by Bishop Barron.  Overall, we received positive responses to the program, although the people who attended on Wednesday evenings commented on the noise from the PSR participants.  In addition, they felt it was not best to have different leaders of the discussion each week.  It was noted that there were no parents of PSR students attending the Wednesday program.

            There was discussion about having another program for Lent.  One recommendation was for a program called a “Biblical Walk Through the Mass”, which is from Ascension Press and would be completed in five sessions.  We will look further into this at the next meeting.  

Jim Mitchell attended the meeting and suggested having a men’s program called “Father Kapaun’s Men”.  This program consists of eight sessions, and focuses on having the participants become better men, husbands, and fathers.  It was decided to pursue this further, and it was suggested that sessions be held on Sunday mornings before the 10:30 a.m. Mass.  It would likely begin in January, so that it could be completed prior to starting the Lenten study program.  Jim will present the program during Masses one weekend this month in order to encourage participation from the men in the parish.

It was noted that on our recent stewardship renewal forms, that some individuals indicated a desire to participate in Mass ministries.  It was decided that we would attempt to train such individuals by the end of January.

Commission members held a patriotic rosary two times in the past few months.  The rosary went well on both occasions, and we received positive comments about it.

The next meeting of the Adult Religious Formation Commission will be on January 5, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. at the Parish Education Center. 

ARF