St. Joseph Parish Council
The meeting was called to order by President, Jack Marinella, at 7:07 in the Parish Hall Basement. Madge Codone led the meeting in prayer.
Attendance: Msgr. Dominick Bottino, Marti Badagliacco, Pat Campanella, Anthony Capella, Sal Capelli, Frank Carrelli, Ron Chance, Madge Codone, David DiMeglio, Tom Durney, Mary Kryvoruka, Hugh LaMonaca, Maryann Laslie, Burwell Porter (Trustee), Elvera Porter, Pat Rodio, Minerva Rodriguez (Trustee), Agustin Saldana, Sr. Dorothy Toussaint, Alex Tigro
Excused: Nimia Bemudez, Richard Blasberg, Joseph
Olive Absent: Anthony Padovani.
Ways and
Means Committee: Anthony
Capella, chairperson, Anthony Padovani, Nimia Bemudez, Pat Rodio
The
date of the Clam Bake will be September 18, 2005. There will be a 50/50 (300
tickets @ $100). Anthony Capella will chair the project with help from
committee and council.
Ecumenical Committee: Joe Olive, chairperson, Nimia Bemudez (No Report)
Education Committee: Anthony Padovani, chairperson, Richard
Blasberg (No Report)
Liturgical Committee: Marti Badagliacco, chairperson, Ron Chance
The Lenten Church decorations, filled bins, filled pantry, 3-day Mission were all successful. John Rossi will be in charge of the Altar Servers. Anthony Capella and Kathy Pantalone will assist. Anyone else interested in helping should see Monsignor. The Investiture of new servers will take at the 10:30 Mass on Sunday, April 10. Next meeting will be held on March 9 to discuss Holy Week. Interested parishioners are welcome to join the Liturgical Committee. Monsignor indicated that Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday will be bilingual; namely, Italian, Spanish, English.
Maintenance
Committee: Sal Capelli, chairperson, Anthony Capella,
Ron Chance, Dave DiMeglio, Agustin Saldana
Weather has hindered progress of the many projects lined up by this committee. However, Bobby Capoferri and Ken Miessner removed the Air Conditioner and the bell tower, Anthony Capella indicated that AT Chadwick & Company will supply and install the new Air Conditioner at no charge. The council expressed sincere gratitude toward the generosity of Chadwick & Company.
Ron Chance with help may be able to replace the roof on the Red Building at the Cemetery. The handicapped ramp and porch on the Red Building on 3rd Street will be taken down and used at the house at the cemetery. The remainder of this building is ready to be leveled.
Ron Chance suggested that a Sign-up board with a list of dates and tasks to be done be placed in Church for volunteers to sign up. Monsignor will announce this from the altar prior to the placement of the list in church.
Monsignor received an assessment from ML Ruberton regarding the Parish Hall renovations. Without unforeseen problems, the cost will be between $700,000 and $900,000.
Bids are being acquired by Monsignor for the 24 x 60 foot new building at the cemetery.
Social
Activities Committee: Elvera Porter, chairperson, Mary Kryvoruka, Marti
Badagliacco, Madge Codone, Pat Campanella
The Spring Dance will be held on April 16 at 7:30. Dress is casual. Announcements will be put in surrounding churches and in the Star Herald.
On Monday, March 21, the beginning of Holy Week, The Passion of the Christ will be shown starting at 7:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall at no charge.
Youth Ministry Committee: Rich
Blasberg, chairperson, Maryann Laslie
Mary Ann Laslie reported that between 15 – 20 children attend on a regular basis. The Youth Group Leaders attended the CAP (Child Assault Prevention) program. In attendance were: Maryann and Bill Laslie, Rick Blasberg, Kathy Pantalone, and Mario and Mary Lou Triboletti.
Mary Ann Laslie reported that the heater needs to be fixed since we still have cold weather ahead. Pool sticks need new tips. These will be supplied by Frank Carrelli. Cabinets need to be locked after use.
A Great Adventure trip is being planned for the 11th Annual NJ Catholic Youth Rally on May 15. The cost is $40 per child. Monsignor said the parish will take care of the cost of transportation.
Religious Celebrations Committee: Frank Carrelli, chairperson,
Maryann Laslie, Alex Tigro, Rick Blasberg
The Cadillac will be purchased from DeSimone Cadillac. DeSimone will have the tickets printed and supply a digital picture of the car.
Roberta Padavoni will be the chairperson of the Religious Articles Stand. She and Monsignor will determine the types of articles to be purchased. The new T-shirt of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel will be sold through the Religious Article stand. Hammonton Gazette took digital photographs of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. These will be used on the T-shirts. Copies will sent to the Rectory, Joanna Conn, and Max Graphics.
Stand Placement was discussed. Richard Tomasetti made a scaled pinup board of the new parking lot in Church / Parish Hall grounds. Monsignor introduced the idea of moving the Beer Garden into the proposed Food Court and moving Religious Articles to where the Beer Garden stood; however, after further thought the Candle Shrine will be moved to replace the Beer Garden. The statue of the Blessed Mother that was donated by the Cresenzo family will be moved to the Convent grounds and will be used as the statue in the Candle Shrine. The statue of St. Joseph, presently on Convent grounds, will be placed at the corner of the Church on French and 3rd Street. The Bell tower will be torn down and the spot where the statue of the Blessed Mother stood will now be opened up. The final stand locations will be discussed at the next meeting based on this information.
A large beer mug will be added to the Beer Garden. The proposed mug will be 22 oz. with “Mt. Carmel Festival, Hammonton NJ” inscribed on it.
Frank Carrelli and Anthony Seia will be soliciting vendors to participate in our festival by renting vendor spots. Anyone knowing a local business that wants to rent a spot should inform Tony Seia or Frank Carrelli.
A few changes in the St. John the Baptist Feast will consist of a Eucharistic candlelight procession around the carnival ground will include trilingual (Spanish, Italian, English) rosary, Mass, and services followed by Benediction.
On July 13, 14, and 15, Fr. Harry Jordan accepted the invitation to preach at the Mt. Carmel Triduum. A Eucharistic Candlelight procession followed by Benediction will take place. July 16 will remain the same with Masses and confessions every hour.
Evangelical Committee: Hugh LaMonaca, chairperson, Pat Campanella
On special days, (Easter Sunday, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day), there will be no coffee and donuts.
By Laws Committee: Hugh LaMonaca, Alex Tigro, Ron Chance (No Report)
New Business
Monsignor reported that all of the members of council were placed on a list of local people who will be interviewed by representatives of the Diocesan Office of Development regarding the best way to conduct Phase 2 of the fund raising campaign for the new St. Joseph High School. The Diocese is currently thinking of having a single campaign in the five Hammonton area parishes that would raise money for the high school, grammar school, and the capital needs of each of the parishes. Each of the parishes was asked to submit capital needs items for inclusion in the campaign. Monsignor stated that he did not submit any capital items for St. Joseph parish because he did not agree with the idea of coupling parish fund raising needs with those of Catholic education. He was concerned because Phase 1 of the campaign for St. Joseph High School is still 50% short of its goal of 2.5 million dollars, and the shortfall might be addressed by applying funds from Phase 2 (cafeteria and 8 classrooms) that would have otherwise gone to the parishes. He felt that the capital needs of our parish should be met by fund raising activities within the parish, and not tied to a fund raising campaign for Catholic education. Monsignor suggested that when people give, they should indicate where they want the money to go. Monsignor mentioned that other parishes, such as St. Mary’s in Williamstown and St. Vincent DePaul who send a number of students to St. Joseph High School, should also be responsible for helping with the subsidy. Currently only the 5 Hammonton parishes are subsidized.
Monsignor mentioned the need for a new parish hall which may be funded by the Mausoleum and the Crypts over a period of time. Money may have to be borrowed from the Diocese initially. He reminded the council that when we make our House of Charity goal, we will get back 10% which will be used for the projects in the parish. With the parishioners of St. Joseph Parish being so generous with their time and talent, expenses have already been cut down substantially.
Monsignor explained that the four Franciscan Sisters of the Infant Jesus (2 Spanish, 1 Italian, 1 American) who will be coming to St. Joseph Parish will do Social Work in the parish. They will work out of the Rectory and/or out of the Red Building at the Cemetery.
A Guadalupe Society is being formed. The Latino (Puerto Rican, Mexican, and Italian) and non Latino parishioners will be served.
An issue was brought up by Ann Benedetto regarding a CCD misunderstanding. Monsignor apologized for this very regretful incident. He was not aware that the parents did not receive their letter of instruction prior to the Sunday CCD classes. Monsignor explained he did not have enough time when arrived in the parish to take a good look at the CCD program; however he assured those in attendance that improvements will be made by next year. He also indicated that the Diocese intends to Confirm students in 6th grade. Youth Ministry will serve students from Grades 7 – 12. Monsignor also is looking into the possibility of having groups of 10 to receive First Holy Communion so that the entire community will celebrate with the children and their parents and relatives.
The next meeting will be in the Parish Hall on April 4, 2005, after the 6:30 Mass. Minerva Rodriguez will prepare the opening and closing prayers.
At 8:45 p.m. a motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Anthony Capella and seconded by Elvera Porter. Closing prayer was led by Madge Codone.
Respectfully submitted,
Sr. Dorothy Toussaint