Ministry encouragement and a statement of support were presented to the leaders. A discussion followed concerning the (on-going) evolution of our ministries in response to the needs of the people of our parish, and the reality of life’s demands upon the leaders. Ministry leaders must honestly assess their ministry. The leaders of many of Family Life’s ministries have been in the position of leadership for more than 3 years. A few of the ministries have a method in place to recruit and replace ministry leadership on an annual basis, e.g. Yesterday Kids and S.A.M.S
The ministry continues to serve the needs of the people, with a small growth noted. The volunteers to assist the sacrament have remained steadily involved over recent years. No changes expected in the short term, however Beth mentioned that the “parish†requirement for God Parents to receive instruction is a worthy program and should be continued, despite an apparent withdrawal of such requirement by the diocese.
This ministry is alive and well, with 8 to 12 people routinely attending. Patti Sutton has stepped forward to offer assistance in leading during Judy’s absence.
The ministry has been active for approximately 9 years with up to 12 people participating in the twice monthly gatherings. The open format has proven to be most inviting. The leaders begin each meeting with prayer, followed by participants sharing life experiences and scripture sharing. Tom mentioned that they may be interested in a retreat may be in the offering at some future date and time.
This ministry has a long history of participation in parish activities. The present ministry leader, Jim Lebo, will be passing leadership responsibilities on to Eva Willis in the next year. They have 90 members which meet monthly. They have three special events each year: Pot Luck Dinner, Christmas Party, and a St. Patrick’s Day Picnic to raise funds for the group and to donate a portion to the church’s ministries.
After being on hiatus during the summer, the small group is gathering for a fall dinner at a local restaurant October 24th. This ministry has become a small group in recent years, but it still serves their needs. Kay is concerned about the longevity of the group. A special prayer service is held 3 times a year (January, March, and November).
First-ever workshop is on schedule, for November 11th. A goal to formation of marriage ministers, with commissioning, is planned. To support the growing number of engaged couples, this ministry needs to grow in the number of participating volunteers: sponsor couples, UNITAS presenters, and wedding coordinators are seen as essential team members (and future marriage preparation ministers).