SACRED HEART PARISH

ADULT RELIGIOUS FORMATION TEAM

September 4, 2012

 PRESENT:  Sister Irene Hartman, Sister Rebecca Otter, Father Warren Stecklein, Diane Dodez, Lynne Eck, and Regis Lopata

            ABSENT: Elaine Coulson

 The minutes of the meeting of June 12, 2012 were reviewed and approved.

 We have not heard anything from Elaine about her membership on the team.  There was discussion about several individuals who might be considered as possible team members.  These people will be contacted to determine if they might be interested and available as future team members.

 The team discussed themes for upcoming Eucharistic adorations:

            September 19^th: prayer for students, teachers, and parents

            October 17^th: gratitude for the past 100 years of Sacred Heart Parish and initiating             the Year of Faith

November 20^th: this will be on a Tuesday, as the regular Wednesday adoration for             that month would be the evening before Thanksgiving.  The theme for this       adoration is thanksgiving for the many blessings we have received.  We            will ask parishioners to write blessings on pieces of paper at the masses on the weekend of November 3^rd and 4^th.  We will then give thanks for these         blessings at the adoration.

 There was discussion about the “So Glad You Asked” articles published recently in the Sacred Heart Beat.  Sister Irene wrote an article for the October issue, which the team reviewed.  Regis will write one on what parishioners can do to assist with RCIA.  There was some discussion about future topics.

 The Year of Faith begins in October of this year.  As part of celebrating this, we will use a faith prayer during masses beginning that month.  In addition, during January, we will give parishioners magnets with information about increasing our faith.  The team also discussed asking some couples in the parish to invite friends to their home on several occasions to discuss faith issues.  These discussions could occur during Lent or on a quarterly basis through the year.

 The team discussed the recent “Fortnight for Freedom”.  Our parish complied with the request of the Bishop that we do something for this, as we prayed a rosary on a daily basis for religious freedom.  A couple of parishioners offered their thanks for these daily rosaries. 

 The team was asked to address invitations for our parish centennial celebration, which was done after the meeting.

 The next meeting of the Adult Religious Formation Team will be on November 13, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at the Sisters’ house.

 ARF