The St. Thomas More Society Scranton, Pennsylvania


2301 N. Washington Avenue

Scranton, Pennsylvania 18509

Mr. Eric L. Bergman, Executive Director

 

Trustees Meeting

June 02, 2005
7:00 PM

            

Present:  Eric L. Bergman, Ed Facciani, David Kimble, Jerry McGreevy, Jim Reese and                   

               Don Sanderson.

 

Absent:  Paul Coviello, Bill Harris

 

Guest:     Judy Sanderson

 

Meeting began with Prayer.

 

Minutes of meeting held on March 16th  2005, were approved with one correction. The minutes for the meeting held on January 9th 2005 were approved at the March 16th meeting.

 

Financial report was accepted:

 

Trustees authorized the purchase of a gift from STMS to either St. Clare’s Parish or to Msgr. Feldcamp in honor of the 40th Anniversary of his Ordination to the Priesthood.

 

Bible Memorials – We have received memorials for 20 bibles.  We have an additional 20 bibles available for memorials.

 

Harris Memorial – Fr. Eric will have a discussion with the family regarding the purchase of a memorial gift.

 

Book of Divine Worship / Catechism - All Catechism books are distributed and 6 Books of Divine Worship are available for purchase.

 

Budget 2005 – Budget requires $ 1,519 per week in pledges. To date we have

$ 1,176 in pledges. Additional pledges needed $ 343 per week.  It was noted (see schedule) that $ 2,171 in plate offerings were received through April 30th.  In addition, one time grants and gifts of $ 14,628 was received through April 30th. These plate offerings and grants will go a long way in helping us to cover our budget for 2005; however, this does not resolve our long-term stewardship issue. We, the STMS, need to sustain ourselves with pledges to cover our operating costs.

 

 

Trustees Meeting – June 2, 2005                                              Page 2 of 3

 

Anglican Use Conference – STMS collected registration fees of $ 1,540; donations $ 200; and Advertising donations of $ 1,100,which resulted in total revenues of $ 2,840.  Total costs incurred was $ 2,079. (See details on schedule attached).

 

Envelopes – It was agreed that STMS would purchase weekly pledge envelopes for each family unit.  60 sets of envelopes will cost $ 75 plus shipping fees.  We will encourage all members to use the envelopes.  They will assist the counters and the financial secretary in preparation of the deposits and tracking the pledges.  When STMS members miss a church service, it is hoped that when they look at the envelopes they will realize that they need to make a “catch up” donation in order to keep their pledge current.

 

Fr. Eric has received notice that he will be required to travel to Boston on July 9th for his Theological Evaluation.  Trustees agreed that all costs associated with Fr. Eric’s process to be ordained a Roman Catholic Priest would be covered by the STMS.

 

Anglican Use Mass – The trip postponed in May is rescheduled to coincide with Fr. Eric’s travel to Boston.  Should this time frame be not convenient for our members, STMS will rent a car for Fr. Eric’s travel alone.

 

Society Picnic - It was suggested by Ray Nearhood that we have a summer picnic.  Don Sanderson will obtain the site (in Bear Creek) once the members agree to a date.  Note: subsequent to the meeting, the members selected Saturday, August 13th.  Those interested in working on a committee to organize the event, contact Don Sanderson.

 

Pastoral Concerns:

 

Lapsed members – Fr. Eric will make a visit to the home of each member that is not coming to Evening Prayer on a regular basis.  The conversion process is long and some are feeling the strain.  We need to stick together as an extended family to encourage each other during the months ahead.

 

Convalidations are proceeding nicely.  Those couples that have not done so need to contact Msgr. Feldcamp to set up a meeting and arrange for their “ Wedding”.

 

Annulments – Some members are in the process but because it is lengthy others need to act sooner than later. The annulments need to be granted prior to being confirmed.

 

First Holy Communion – We hope to have Msgr. Feldcamp arrange for First Holy Communion classes to conclude prior to the adults being confirmed, so that both confirmation and First Holy Communion can be celebrated at the same service.

 

Trustees Meeting – June 2, 2005                                              Page 3 of 3

 

Fr. Connor and Fr. Eric have agreed to hold additional Catechism classes so that we can complete the process, sooner than later.  Additional classes will be held on Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 8:30. Schedules will be handed out and posted on STMS web site.  Make up classes will be held with Fr. Eric on Tuesday nights at 7:00. Anyone needing special assistance should contact Fr. Eric. Based on the aforementioned, Fr. Connor and Fr. Eric will approach the Bishop to set a date for our Confirmation and First Holy Communion.

 

Pastoral Care Committee – It has been suggested that we formalize a Pastoral Care Committee to assist Msgr. Feldcamp and St. Clare Parish in visiting the sick and shut-ins.  This effort will be coordinated with members of St. Clare. Those persons that feel this could be their “calling” as part of STMS should contact Fr. Eric or Joanne Shuemaker.

 

Society events:

 

Anglican Use Conference – It was proposed that we hold another conference in the spring of 2006.  Should we do it, the planning process should begin in the fall of 2005 with advertising in Jan / Feb / March.  Fr. Eric to contact Joe Blake and report back.  Read Fr. Eric’s report on our web site along with the talks from our guest speakers.

 

Bible Study – With the additional Catechism classes scheduled for Wednesday nights and the make up classes on Tuesday night, we have agreed to suspend the bible studies until the fall.

 

Question and Answer sessions - Whenever possible, questions that arise at our Catechism classes should be deferred for a separate meeting.  Long discussions tend to preclude us from covering the specific topic for that Catechism Class. This would mean that we would have to add additional classes in order to finish by a certain date. Accordingly, Fr. Eric will hold Question and Answer sessions on Sunday afternoons from 3:00 to 5:00 on the Sundays that we DO NOT have a Catechism Class.  Watch the bulletins and check out the calendar of events on the STMS web site for these sessions.  NOTE: It is not mandatory to attend question and answer sessions, whereas attendance to Catechism classes is mandatory.

 

Midweek prayer services  - We have moved the Rosary and evening prayer from 5:00PM to 6:00PM on Wednesday nights. On the nights that we have Catechism Classes, the Evening Prayer will be modified to allow completion by 6:30, which is the starting time for Catechism Classes.  Again, you need to check the Calendar of Events for the dates of the Catechism Classes.

 

Meeting closed in prayer at 8:55PM.

 

Respectfully submitted

Jerry McGreevy,

Acting Secretary