PEP is coming!

Dear Fellow Parishioners:

Yes, the Parish Evaluation Project is coming. Over the past few months our parish leaders and staff, and in fact the entire community, have taken the time to reflect on our current state of affairs here at St. Edward’s. Where are we as a parish? How do we continue the good work here at St. Edward’s given the many changes we have endured this past year? Granted, changes are a part of life; and yet, we must be able to adapt. After much consideration, our parish leaders have chosen PEP as a means to guide us through this transition time. 

PEP is a parish assessment and renewal instrument that serves to lead parishes through periods of change. The key here, like any good tool, is that we make the effort to utilize it. PEP will provide a solid framework for this community to work together to assess our present and future work. This effort will engage the entire parish; that is, it will not be just a chosen few doing the work, but rather an all-inclusive endeavor.

Preliminary meetings will begin in August 2012. The process will conclude in September 2013.

In order to set up PEP here at St. Edward’s there will need to be some leadership teams established. Immediately, a Parish Oversight Committee, or POC, must be formed. The best size for this group is 7 to 9 people, including one staff and one Parish Pastoral Council member. Any registered parishioner is welcome to serve on our POC. The primary purpose of POC is to coordinate the work of other committees and groups in the assessment and renewal process. The time commitment will be approximately one meeting each month over the thirteen month journey.

This weekend members of our Parish Pastoral Council will be speaking about PEP at all the Masses --- I have asked our PPC to oversee this project --- and will be available for questions afterwards. Please take time to consider how you will be involved in this process. Now is the time for us to plan for our future. Everyone is needed to “come to the table” and share their gifts. While the recent Listening Sessions were a good tool for everyone to give input to our parish leaders, PEP will allow everyone to “roll up their sleeves” and get to work in actually building a future for our community. The question is, will you be part of this future? Will you participate in the wonderful party we are about to organize? When you receive your invitation to join PEP, I encourage you to say “YES!” and become part of the process.

Summer blessings, Fr. Brian

HEALTH CONCERNS

The limited availability of the flu vaccine has raised some questions in the community about Roman Catholic rituals that involve physical contact. Unfortunately, the opportunities for infection through contact are limitless, e.g. touching the back of a pew, a doorknob, a hymnal or breathing the air around us.

While fully appreciative of the concerns involved, the Archdiocese‘s Worship Center is not making a recommendation to change any ritual actions, at this point in time. The Church has always taught that those who are ill are not required to attend Mass. Those who feel unwell, out of consideration for others, should remain at home. It is expected that if a person believes he or she may have been exposed to illness, from a family member, for example, or has a suppressed immune system, then it is prudent for him or her to refrain from shaking hands at the Sign of Peace or drinking from the Communion cup.


AN AED AT ST ED’S

AED’s or Automated External Defibrillators are used to restart a heart of someone whose heart has stopped. These have in recent years become very "user friendly" and the prices have come down significantly. We are in the process of purchasing a unit that will be available during masses and at other times. Ushers and others will have training to be able to use this effectively.

Fr. Mike