ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA

LITURGY AND SPIRITUAL LIFE

MINUTES

MAY 11^th, 2011  

Present: Fr. Stef Bankemper, Carol Adams, Denise Dirkes, Molly Fassler, Kim Lampe, Judy Leick, Mary Ann Metzner, Alison Schwalbach  

I. Prayer- Alison led the opening prayer.  

II. Educational Component- This is postponed until our next meeting.  

III. Liturgy

          A. Evaluation of Past Liturgies

                   1. Extended Benediction- Those who attend this enjoy the extended Benediction. Fr. Stef will consider                        whether he wants to do this again next year.

                   2. Palm Sunday- This was well attended. The choir helped to keep everyone’s singing together during the                        procession. Handing out palms went smoothly.

                   3. Chrism Mass- The bus was full! Those who received the oils for our parish expressed their                        appreciation for being asked to do this.

                   4. Holy Thursday- Comments and e-mails were received about those who waited in line for the foot                        washing but then had to sit back down because the supply of towels were used up. A suggestion was                        made to have the towels in the middle of the aisle so people could pick up their towel before going up                        onto the altar. Thus everyone would be able to see when the towels were gone. Also, we forgot to                        announce the collection for the poor.

                   5. Good Friday- This was a beautiful service. The committee agreed that it would be helpful to have a                        more quiet, reverent and reflective atmosphere both before and after all services.

                   6. Easter Vigil- Our thanks to Tim Reynolds for the beautiful white cross he made for the old Baptistry                        and for all the work he does to help with setting up for the Vigil.

                             a. Environment- Great work, Molly! We may use more mums next year as they are more hardy                                  than most seasonal flowers. While the metal ambo allows a better view of the Easter fountain, it                                  is impractical in that it does not have a shelf underneath. Therefore, a suggestion was made to                                  not switch ambos next year. Handing out candles worked better. We suspect that Judy has the                                  gift of bi-location as she did so much as sacristan and for the reception---all at the same time!

                             b. Music- the music was lovely. There was a microphone missing in the undercroft.

                             c. Reception- A suggestion was made to have the reception on the following Sunday (Divine                                  Mercy Sunday) as it is so late and that way more parishioners would get to greet the new                                  Catholics.   Fr. Stef will see what the RCIA team thinks about this idea.

                   7. Easter Sunday- The additional instruments truly added to the celebration.

                   8. Divine Mercy Sunday- Fr. Stef gave a great homily for this Feast.

                   9. May Crowning- This was well attended. A suggestion was made to choose the students who crown                        Mary and Jesus by having an essay contest.  

          B. Future Liturgies

                   1. Confirmation May 16^th- Red flowers will be ordered. Servers are selected.

                   2. Senior Mass May 15^th- Seniors have RSVP’d and some will be gift bearers.

                   3. Holy Spirit Novena- We will do this again this year beginning on Friday, June 3^rd. Pentecost is                                  June 12^th.

                   4. Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ- This will be celebrated on June 26^th.

                        5. Summer Mass Schedule- This will change back to Friday Mass at 8:00 after Memorial Day. There will                         not be Mass on Memorial Day or the 4^th of July as both of these holidays are on Monday.

                   6. Communion to homebound- This is working out well.

                   7. Server training- We will have 23 new servers on the schedule this summer.

IV. Business

          A. Approval of Minutes- Minutes were approved.

          B. Old Business/New Business

                   1. Liturgy Component- Next year the committee will study At the Supper of the Lamb by Paul Turner.                            Fr. Stef will order these.

                   2. Children’s Liturgy of the Word- Alison will do this again next year.

                   3. Saints- A suggestion was made to focus on the saints in our windows next year. We could possibly                        use the pictures Chris Stegner has taken of the windows and make our own cards.

                   4. Letter from parishioner- Several concerns were mentioned, including posting the minutes from the                        meeting on the website more punctually, running out of towels on Holy Thursday, and that there was                       not a blessing for mothers on Mothers’ Day. (Fr. Stef forgot to do the blessing.) All concerns were                       addressed.  

V. Next Meeting: August 10^th , 2011