March 2009

Twin Cities VOTF Steering Council Minutes

March 19, 2009, St Joan of Arc Parish Center

Attendees: Suzanne Severson, Jim Whalen, Jim Ayers, Tim Power, Tom Garvey, Coin LaVergne, Christina Bumgardner (minutes)

Suzanne opened by leading prayer focused on the 7 Corporal Works of Mercy.

Parish Bulletin Editor emails update: Christina needs to hear from Tom Garvey and Shari Steffan with eamil address corrections. Emails will need to be sent next week announcing the Apology Service.

Outline for the Apology Service April 26th.

Shari has done a great job of coordinating the apologist and location.

Shari: Check on St. Ed's for cups, silverware, plates, coffee urns, etc. Count should be about 50 participants. If we can't use their facilities, Whalens will bring what is needed.

We decided harp music creates a nice environment so will locate a tape of harp music or Suzanne will ask her daughter.

Fr Eugene Pouiott has accepted to be the apologist. Shari will confirm a female religious as second apologizer.

Shari will MC.

Next steps after the Apology Service:

Discussion around power of bishops and how that plays out in actions and decisions. We also discussed whether to invite Kevin to the apology service. We decided that we first need to define our thinking before we talk to Kevin. Suzanne underscored the need for developing relationship but right now the door seems closed.

Jim Ayers talked about unhealthy, one sided relationships and power in the name of good. What kind of training proposal could we create to help seminaries in their training? Tim will contact Fr. Byron to see if seminaries are currently doing training on how to prevent inappropriate relationships.

Colin suggested finding out what is important to the Archbishop and how we can serve. Discover the priorities of the Arch. He also suggested that the bishops owning the church is a key problem. Bishops have created trainings and situations in which others must change but they are not held accountable to change the culture.

Jim Ayers also discussed curriculum for a training of how to create boundaries, training on closeness in relationships, potentials for a setup, self-disclosure. Also voiced by all priests was the need to taking care of oneself including being aware of overwork and isolation. These issues effect other positions in the church: staff, clergy and laity.

1. We need to find out if this is included in formation.

2. What type of on going education is provided for priests?

3. If not, could we provide it and write a proposal?

Website:

We decided to keep the website active and Tim Power will pay for the third quarter's fee if no fiscal agent is found by then. Currently Colin is working on a non-profit that could serve as our fiscal agent.

Next meeting is April 23rd, 5-7pm. Everyone will think about ideas for the April agenda

Apology Service is April 26, 4:00pm at St. Ed's