RESPECT LIFE MONTHLY MEETING - 2/24/04
PRESIDING Jim Hoyng
ATTENDING Jim Hoyng, Joe Kavanaugh, Don Barrett
OPENING Jim opened with prayer and reading of mission
statement.
NOT PRESENT Larry Riley, Dianne Rzewnicki, Shirley Matton,
Marty Sheehan
NEW BUSINESS
Don Mulligan's inventory of potential Respect Life bulletin articles is good
through March. He is looking for new material for April and beyond. Anyone
interested is asked to submit material this coming month Jim Hoyng is making a
scrap book of these articles for the respect life library and to use as a
reference guide to avoid duplication
Jim is setting up a "calendar of national and local events" to help guide the
committee's attention and commitment to related special events.
There was a discussion relating to possible application of the rosary to
focus more parish attention on respect life issues. It was felt this might be
accomplished through a better promotion of the weekly KofC Rosary, following
Wednesday night Mass or after one of the Masses on Sunday. It was thought Young
at Heart would be a great resource to help promote and support such a plan.
Important part of any campaign of this type would be the "invitation" to
participate. More people would need to be invited more frequently.
Some thoughts were placed on the table for future discussion and
consideration;
* Possible future Respect Life Essay contest for IHM
School students.
* Invite a speaker from "Priests for Life" to address a
weekend of Masses
* Card and note campaign to remember the aged in nursing
homes,
especially the more forgotten, remembering them on
birthdays and
holidays.
* Invite Sr. Lucie, from Maryfield, to address the subject
of aging and how
we might help make a difference by contributing time and
talent in a
ministry for the aged.
There is a continued desire to grown the Committee. Sharon Vroom, a newer
member of the parish, has expressed interest in the Respect Life Committee. She
has been contacted and invited to participate. It was suggested an effort
should be made to interest members of the Latino Community also.
It would be productive to identify individuals on the Committee who would
spear head "issues." Don Mulligan has already expressed willingness to address
the Abortion Issue, Dianne Rzewnicki has expressed a willingness to take on the
Capitol Punishment Issue and Don Barrett will focus on the Euthanasia Issue
and other life issues for the aging. The entire Committee, however, will
remain committed to the total picture. The purpose for assigning issue
responsibility is to help channel and organize future information and
activities. Care
for the homeless, issues relating to suicide and prison ministry work will also
be assigned, hopefully as the Committee grows.
There is now a "Right to Life - Lifespan Website." We should get this
information into the bulletin. Jim will handle. (www.rtl-lifespan.org)
NEXT MEETING - Wednesday, March 31.
RESPECT LIFE COMMITTEE MONTHLY MEETING - 10/29/03
PRESIDING - Jim Hoyng
ATTENDING - Don Mulligan, Shirley Matton, Larry Riley, Dianne Rzewnicki,
Don
Barrett
MISSED - Joe Kavanaugh, Marty Sheehan
OPENING - Jim opened meeting with a prayer and reading of committee
mission
statement
REVIEW OF 10/24/03 MEETING MINUTES
Discussed resources and available material from
which articles for a weekly Respect Life message can be drawn for the bulletin.
It was suggested and agreed that all members of the Committee contribute. Don
Mulligan, will be responsible for collecting potential articles. He will select
article to be used each week and coordinate entry with Pat Evans. Members can
contribute material at any time. Articles received will become part of a
"article bank" to insure a healthy inventory of material for this project.
Jim learned we were not able to secure a permanent
Respect Life shelf in the church library for reference material. It is hoped
this committee, lead by the Holy Spirit, will generate enough interest and
demand for this material to warrant further consideration of a permanent section
dedicated to Life Issues.
Approximately 35 of the willing from IHM joined the
2003 Life Chain on October 5. This was down from about 100 in 2001 thought a
lot of effort was made to get the word out. The Chain gathered 1900 faithful
who witnessed as more 2400 vehicles passed by. There was some discussion of how
we might improve attendance a the 2004 Chain, which will fall again on
October 5. This will be a pending issue.
Baby Bottle Boomerang will take place next weekend.
We will receive 300 bottles for distribution. Should more be needed names and
telephone numbers of interested parishioners will be recorded by volunteer
distributors, following Masses, and additional bottles will be made available
after the Masses the following week. We learned there was not enough time to
schedule Libby Dunsmore to appear before the Knights and Bethany in October.
This will be a pending issue for 2004 targeted for early Oct 2004. All members
of the committee will participate in distribution and collection activity.
The new meeting format was adapted and used for
this meeting
NEW BUSINESS
Jim shared a kit of collateral material developed
by the Catholic Conference of Bishops. It had a store house of information.
He has ordered a kit for each member of the Committee.
Unable to show video "The Silent Screen" Don
Mulligan brought to the meeting. Both church videos need repair so viewing was
postponed for a future meeting. Because this Committee will no doubt need a VCR
in the future and because the Community Outreach Commission needs a VCR for
the Interfaith Hospitality Network programs, it was thought we might secure one
through the COC budget. Don Barrett will check with Donna Howell.
Discussed lack of media coverage for
Greensboro's Life Chain and who might be contacted to question the lack of
coverage.
Both Jim and Don Mulligan had sources they felt could be tapped and will follow
throughout. It was further noted how news like post abortion problems and
deaths from the abortion pill were not being chronicled by the main stream press
and media. This will be a focus issue, on an ongoing basis, in the future.
Jim asked to have Larry Kwan added to the
distribution list for minutes of meetings. This way they can be placed on the
website. Don will discuss with Ann Marie
First Heart to Heart article (next issue) will
be the invitation/mission statement article used in the bulletin. It's an
important one and needs the broadest
audience.
Next meeting will be held, as scheduled,
Thanksgiving Eve, Nov 26
Copies
Fr. Jack
Ann Marie
Donna Howell
Marty Sheehan
Joe Kavanaugh
Larry Kwan
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