Church of the Resurrection of Our Lord
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Welcome to the Parish Pastoral Council
The parish pastoral council was formed in 1997 at the behest of then pastor, Father William C. Kaufman. The council was instrumental in the planning process of the Jubilee Year Celebration in 2002 - 2003. In the fall of 2004, Father Kaufman assembled a new pastoral council. The council was chosen via a spiritual discernment process rather than via nomination and election as had been done in the past. The council's primary mission was to undertake the creation of a comprehensive pastoral plan that would provide a vision for the needs and concerns of the parish community and serve as a "living" document designed to assist the parish community in successfully expressing its mission of spreading the Gospel of Jesus. The council spent the following year working in collaboration with the parish community to create the plan, which was ratified by the community in April of 2006. You will find a copy of the parish pastoral plan here.
The current composition of the parish pastoral council consists of four ex officio members and nine parishioners selected through a discernment process by all of those who expressed interest in serving on the council when it was formed anew in 2004. The ex officio members are Rev. Joseph E. Howarth (pastor), Rev. Charles Engelhardt, OSFS (parochial vicar), Lucille Hillerman (principal) and John Scafidi(director of religious education). The members selected through the discernment process are Jeanette Arthur (council secretary), Robert Donahue, John Fiorella, Joanne Friel, Al Maguire, Frances Mordell, Joseph Notarfrancesco, Viviana Packel, and Teresa Yankanich.
The council's primary function is to serve as a consultative body for the pastor. It is also responsible for bringing issues of concern to parishioners to the attention of the council members. Currently, the council is responsible for the implementation of the parish pastoral plan. The plan is set for implementation over a three-year period with the remaining two years set aside for evaluation and the implementation of any objectives that were delayed or rescheduled. A complete timeline for the implementation of the plan can be obtained here.
The parish pastoral council can be reached via email.
Be sure to check back periodically to find out what's currently taking place, as well as to stay informed with updates on the progress of the implementation of Resurrection of Our Lord's parish pastoral plan.
Activities Committee Formed!
One of the hottest topics during our parish assemblies and parish pastoral planning process was the desire to increase the sense of parish community by offering varied activities and events catered to parish families, children, youth, young adults, adults and senior citizens throughout the year. In response to the expressed desires of our parishioners, and the implementation of our parish pastoral plan, the parish pastoral council has formed an Activities Committee, whose responsibility it will be to plan and coordinate social events within the parish, and they need YOUR ideas! Do you have some creative, fun, and innovative community building ideas that you think the parish community could benefit from? The committee would love to hear from you! Send them an email with your ideas and suggestions at activities_committee@resurrectphila.org! We will eventually create a web page dedicated to the work of the Activities Committee that will keep you informed of the latest events being planned and the ways in which you can become involved!
Bereavement Ministry
We are happy to announce that we have secured the services of Deborah Gawthrop, MS., G.M.S., a professional grief counselor, in order to provide a six-week support group for family and friends who have experienced the loss of a loved one. The sessions will be held on alternate Wednesdays beginning October 3rd. Sessions will be held in the St. Joseph Meeting Room located in the Convent (2035 Vista St.). On street parking is available. Enter through the Vista Street entrance. Each of the six sessions will be held from 1:30 - 2:45 PM.
DATE & TOPIC
October 3, 2007 - Tasks of Grief
October 17, 2007 - Managing the Emotions of Grief
October 31, 2007 - Adjusting to a Changing World
November 14, 2007 - Help for the Holidays
November 28, 2007 - Communication with Family & Friends
December 12, 2007 - Continuing Bonds
If you or someone you know would like help in dealing with grief, or to sign-up for the Bereavement Support Group currently forming for the fall, please contact Debbie Gawthrop at 215-624-8190, or email her at dgawthropcnlt@cs.com.
Parish Pastoral Plan Update for 2006
January 2006
To undertake an immediate redesign of our parish website in order to make it a more informative and interactive resource for the community.
This objective has been implemented. We secured a parishioner to head up the redesign of the parish website. In addition to completely redesigning the site, this individual is responsible for maintaining and updating the site on a regular basis.
Even though the objective is considered implemented the parish website is an ongoing project due to its very nature and is continually evolving as we seek new ways to make this viable tool beneficial to our parishioners.
May 2006
To establish a Welcoming Committee whose responsibilities will include but will not be limited to personally welcoming all new parish members.
This objective has been implemented. A Welcoming Committee was formed over the summer and given the task of developing a system of welcoming newly registered families to the parish. Thus far the committee has achieved the following:
1. Created a nice “Welcome to the Parish Bag!” consisting of a Resurrection of Our Lord Welcome mug, a handmade welcome card from the school children, and some candies. Some seasonal items that may be distributed at Mass or some appropriate leftovers are also included if available. Currently, the bags contain a Resurrection of Our Lord sweatshirt from the 75th anniversary and laminated prayer cards.
2. Our new parishioners from July through early December totaled 48. The committee started to visit them. The new parishioners are contacted by phone and the committee schedules a visit if they are open to it.
3. Invitations were sent to all 48 families regarding the Welcome Mass and a social was arranged following the Mass in the school hall.
4. Plans are in the works to evaluate the welcoming process thus far and to plan for another Welcome Mass in the spring.
October 2006
To incorporate a monthly youth and family mass in the current mass schedule utilizing the youth in ministerial roles.
Twenty-one families expressed interest in being involved in the family Mass. Our goal is to provide every interested family with at least one opportunity during the course of the year to be involved in the family Mass. An entire family is responsible for one of the ministerial roles during Mass (i.e., one family fills the role of altar servers, another servers as greeters, another bears the gifts at the offertory, one servers as lectors and still another dresses the altar. Thus far the Mass has been well received by both the parish community and those families participating in it.
November 2006
To conduct a yearly parish mission
As many of you know, we had a mission scheduled for November, but it was postponed by the presenter due to a complication with his schedule. The council is currently working towards having a Mission offered hopefully by the spring of 2007 and at the latest this fall.
December 2006
To begin a bereavement ministry support group to assist those coping with the loss of a loved one.
The council has secured the services of a professional grief counselor and has arranged for a bereavement support group to begin
in the fall of 2007. The group will meet six times over a 12 week period. An additional session will be
planned for the spring. For more info click
Upcoming Objectives for 2007
To continue work on the implementation of a bereavement ministry support group and secure the services of a professional grief counselor to minister to those dealing with the loss of a loved one.
To hold a parish mission in the fall of 2007.
To form an Activities Committee to plan and develop activities, socials, and events for youth, young adults, families, adults and seniors by May 2007.
To establish an ongoing/periodic adult seminar series to address life issues, such as parenting skills, elder care giving, healthcare, etc., by June 2007.
To celebrate a heritage mass and social twice a year beginning in October 2007.