Mary, Mother of God Parish Pastoral Council
Minutes February 16, 2023, 7:00 p.m.
​
Present: Soledad Andrade, Ms. Christine Boyd, Fr. Bob Cook, Lucy and Maria Cordon, Kokou Dagawa, Eunice Daniels, Maggie Flynn, Mark Franzen, Chris Grant, Yasha Hookens, Pat Kenny, Robert Krug, Greg Lindeman, Heberto Machado, Jr., Mercedes MacLaughlin, Jane McCarthy, Fr. Romert Morales, Lorena Nava, Lionel Osaghae, Joyce Ramirez-Knight, Remedios Ryan, Vince Singvongsa, John Stimler, Deacon Bede Thigpen, and Friar Jason Warrer.

Not present: Fr. Thomas Fetz, Michael Magada, Fr. Robert Melnick, Deacon Juan Ramirez, Kerry Reed, Deacon Paul Spalla, Fr. Bob Sprott, Deacon Ron Stricker, and Diane Trinh. 
​
Meeting began on Zoom at 7:07pm. with opening prayer from Fr. Bob Cook. Minutes from the 11/16/2022 meeting were approved after Deacon Bede Thigpen’s motion of approval followed by a second motion from Remedios Ryan; with unanimous approval. 

1. Operations
   1. Transition Task Force for Fr. Alejandro Lopez’s transition: Fr. Bob Cook, Stuart Boldry, Mark Franzen, Dorothy Julian, Dan Lagacy, James Murphy and Soledad Andrade as secretary. Meets every two weeks.
      1. Fr. Bob Cook will remain on the SGH Board, along with St. Bonaventure Province provincial Fr. Paul Langevin.
      2. April 16 (Divine Mercy Sunday): Fr. Robert Melnick’s last Mass, with a reception to follow the 10:30am Mass. He will move to Marytown and remain the Spiritual Assistant for Secular Franciscans.
      3. Fr. Bob Cook’s last Mass will be on 5/7. Sendoffs will be at all three churches on 4/23, 4/30 and 5/7 - times/locations TBD.
      4. Friar Bede Thigpen will undergo surgery for sleep apnea in early April and recuperate outside the friary. Will be ordained upon his return. His next assignment is still pending.
      5. Fr. Alejandro Lopez arrives after 5/7, with a formal installation a month or two after.
   2. As part of the Renew My Church "Building the New Reality" Phase, the Disciplemaker's Index survey will be sent to members of the PPC, Finance Council and leaders of parish ministries.
   3. Several PPC member terms up as of January 1, 2023: Kerry Reed, Lucy Cordon, Remedios Ryan, Lionel Osaghae, Maggie Flynn, and Michael Magada. Fr. Bob will talk to individuals about staying on for a term to end with the academic year.
   4. Parish Staffing
      Music at SGG Kevin Allen as artist-in-residence oversees the choir and music for 9:30am on Sunday. Choir is growing and actively recruiting. Next steps would be to hire an organist. Cheri Dahlen was involved with starting a contemporary choir at SGG, and is still in talks with the parish about it.
   5. Physical Plant SI bells now fixed. Winter has been mild, snow removal costs are low. Boiler problems at all 3 sites.
   6. Miscellaneous Evangelization will be a part of St. Gregory’s Hall. Fr. Bob Sprott, OFM, scholar-in-residence at St. Gregory’s Hall will help with Masses and parish work, in addition to teaching for SGH.
      
      
2. Outreach
   1. During the pandemic, the Greater Chicago Food Depository loosened its regulations to allow people to get food regardless of where they lived. It is returning to rules that allow people to get food only in the area where they live. Food Pantry numbers are lower as a result.
   2. Jim Eder, Temporary Director for the Soup Kitchen on a volunteer basis for decades, passed away. He was part of the Catholic Worker movement when it first began and used to live in the STC rectory. He lived in Edgewater, and during that time, he attended all 3 of our churches. His Funeral Mass was 2/11. There will be a Memorial Mass for him on 3/10 at STC after the SK. Sarah Crow, artist in residence at SGG, will make a portrait of him for the SK.
   3. Ministers of Care are installed. Deacon Paul Spalla will assign EMCs to visit people. 

 

1. School Report
   1. 8th grade class results: 23 - full scholarships to Loyola Academy, 4 - full scholarships to St. Ignatius, and 4 - Daniel Murphy Scholars.
   2. All students who applied got a full Tax Credit Scholarship through Empower Illinois. Funds raised in cooperation with Ss. Francis Xavier and Joseph; program will continue for 2023/2024. Over a quarter of a million dollars has already been raised.
   3. Full enrollment expected next year.
   4. This year, the school hosted Loyola University School of Education students (graduate and undergraduate).
   5. The school applied for a state grant to replace the 1910 furnace, waiting to hear back. Big capital projects: window replacements and a security system. 

 

1. Liturgy and Worship
   1. Ash Wednesday schedule:
      1. SI 8am, 12pm, 5:30pm and 7:30pm (Spanish).
      2. STC 8:30am
      3. SGG 8:30am, 12pm (Communion Service) and 7:00pm (English with the choir).
   2. Days of Recollection:
      1. 3/25 in English at SGG hosted by SGH
      2. 3/19 in Spanish with Fr. Tito at SI.
   3. Canterbury House hosting Sung Compline at STC the Sundays of Lent, followed by fellowship.
   4. March 1-29: Fr. Bob Sprott will host T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets Lent Reading Group.
   5. March 20: Parish Penance Service at Saint Ita.
   6. March 27-29: Triduum of Holy Hours hosted by SGH at SGG with Bishop Bartosic. For the healing of sexual abuse victims.
   7. Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter is still in progress.  

 

1. Religious Education and Sacraments
   1. Religious Education has about 20 students preparing for First Communion and 2 from CGS. Confirmation has 38 students: 24 RE students, and 14 students from STC school. The RE First Communion students are preparing for Reconciliation.
   2. RCIA has grown to two groups. One meets every other Sunday; the other, every other Monday. RICA has 3 candidates preparing for Confirmation. The Rite of Election will occur February 26 at Holy Name Cathedral with 12 candidates, 9 from RCIA and 3 from RICA.
   3. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd - Religious Education for children 3 - 12 using Montessori-inspired methods. Meets Tuesday mornings and Thursday evenings. 34 families participate, with a total of 70 children.
2. St. Gregory’s Hall
   1. Adult Faith Formation Program January-March weekly course on Augustine’s Confessions led by Fr. Bob Sprott, OFM. March weekly reading group on T.S. Eliot’s “Four Quartets” led by Fr. Bob Sprott, OFM.
   2. Sacred Art Program 3rd Saturdays: Monthly life drawing sessions, 2 hours with a live model. 12/9 - 12/11 Advent art workshop - copies of a Baroque Nativity oil painting led by artist-in-residence Sarah Crow. 12/27 open studio and blessing with artist-in-residence Sarah Crow. 1/13 tour of three Parish churches led by Mark Franzen and Maggie Flynn.
   3. Sacred Music Program 12/11 Convivium Marianum Marian lessons and carols with Bishop Bartosic, composer-in-residence Kevin Allen with professional choir. 2/2 Mass for Candlemas with candle blessing and procession, composer-in-residence Kevin Allen with professional choir.
   4. Upcoming events in April, with author Michael Heinlein, biography on Cardinal George. Scott Moringiello will return for Spring courses. Modern Catholic Literary course still TBD.
   5. Sycamore: RMC calls for creating soft entry points at parishes to give an experience of Christ. Hard entry point: Invite people to Mass. Soft entry point: Create small faith-sharing groups through programs. Ours is Sycamore. SGH and CH will work together on this.
   6. SGH internally provides faith formation to kids through CGS, adult formation through Scott Moringiello and Fr. Bob Sprott (RCIA/RICA programs are not part of SGH but fall under adult formation), beauty through literature and music with Kevin Allen, and art with Sarah Crow. Youth catechesis occurs with the Religious Education program. CH Coordinator James Murphy has Roundtable Discussions about current events in the community.
   7. We are now working with the St. Francis Catholic Worker house, which has younger people with the Catholic Worker Catholicism mentality; Mass is held there once a month. A memorandum was signed under the Food Coop for a grant to allow membership for people who cannot afford it. This will help in networking and building community. Urban Farming in development in the North Courtyard and side property of STC. Rudy Rieza uses the STC parking lot to grow things for the SK. Lawrence House also has interest in helping with the planting. SGG plots behind the rectory will continue to be used.
      
      
3. Parish Life Thanksgiving with the Franciscans. Las Posadas. Marianum Convivium. Our Lady of Guadalupe. Simbang Gabi x3. Colombian Novenas. Parish Christmas Concert. Señor de Esquipulas. Lunar New Year. La Virgen de Suyapa. Candlemas. Spaghetti Supper.
4. Upcoming
   1. Ash Wednesday.
   2. In Lent: Stations of the Cross, Confessions at SGG, Compline at CH, Four Quartets, Parish Penance Service and Evenings of Recollection. Triduum of Holy Hours for Healing - Bishop Bartosic (3/27-29). Life in the Spirit Seminar (4/1).
   3.  SGH Divine Mercy Mass (4/16). Fr. Robert Farewell Reception (4/16). Author Michael Heinlein Talk (4/18). Pedro Calungsod Mass (4/21). Lao NY (4/23). Confirmation (4/25). First Communions (5/13). May Crowning 5/14 (Mother’s Day).

 
New Business Pat Kenny proposes motion as a council to thank the committee who coordinated the Spaghetti Dinner. Motion seconded by Mark Franzen and passed unanimously.
 
Next Meeting Monday, April 17, 2023 at 7pm
 
Closing Prayer Deacon Bede Thigpen, meeting adjourned at 8:42pm