PRESBYTERAL COUNCIL MEETING Catholic Diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania Monday, November 21, 2016 Venango Catholic High School ~ Oil City, PA 10:30 A.M.

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1 . PRESBYTERAL COUNCIL MEETING Catholic Diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania Monday, November 21, 2016 Venango Catholic High School ~ Oil City, PA 10:30 A.M. Members in Attendance: Bishop Persico, Fr. Richard Allen, Fr. Zab Amar, Fr. Joseph Czarkowski, Fr. Michael Ferrick, Fr. Joseph Gregorek, Msgr. Charles Kaza, Fr. Brandon Kleckner, Msgr. Robert Malene, Fr. John Malthaner, Fr. Jeff Noble, Fr. Phil Pinczewski, Fr. David Poulson, Fr. Nicholas Rouch, Fr. Matt Ruyechan, Fr. Chris Singer, Msgr. Robert Smith, Msgr. Thomas Snyderwine, Fr. Rich Toohey and Fr. Glenn Whitman. Members excused: Msgr. Joseph Riccardo Guests: Msgr. Edward Lohse, Deacon Marty Eisert, Mrs. Anne-Marie Welsh I. Opening Prayer The meeting was called to order at 10:40 am by Fr. Malthaner. Fr. Malthaner led the group in daytime prayer. II. Approval of Minutes Minutes from the meeting July 11, 2016 were moved to be accepted by Msgr. Kaza and seconded by Fr. Zab Amar. Motion passed unanimously. III. Attorney General s Subpoena A. On November 7, representatives from the AG s office seized St. Mark Center, all files and computers and were there until5 a.m. the next day. B. If any pastors and parishes are approached, they are to cooperate fully or risk being arrested. C. The time frame for the search is from D. Jones Day attorneys from Pittsburgh are serving the Erie Diocese. E. They are looking for any and all cases of child sexual abuse, even alleged, whether guilt has been established or not. F. As far as names of accused being released, that would be up to the Attorney General. G. Timing on this issue may be 6-8 months. IV. Progress on Parish Re-Structuring A. Msgr. Lohse: no challenges received, canonical or otherwise. B. Msgr. Lohse: questions received: see Attachment A. C. Bishop Persico: hoped to begin making clergy appointments this fall, but some complications have arisen; now there is hope to make the announcements in December. D. Preparation portion of parish restructuring process: 1. For the most part, it is working well. There s a little tension in Erie s East Deanery, due to a change that was not in the original plan and thus was not able to be processed for as long a time as others had. 2. The use of stand alone parishes should be discontinued after February because of future mergings and partnerships. 3. Recognition and credit is given to Fr. John Chaplin for covering St. Bernard s in Falls Creek for so long. V. How Deans can give interface between planning process and parishes Deacon Marty Eisert A. A director of planning is not advisable. B. The Presbyteral Council, with its representative constituency, can better serve to consider future mergings and partnerings.

2 C. Perhaps the Deans could get copies of each parish s annual report with its stated future goals. That way the Deans could talk to their pastors about their progress. In some cases, Deans could get pastors to collaborate on common goals and projects, e.g. Religious Education. VI. The Pastoral Plan s Third Initiative: Cradle to Grave Faith Formation - Deacon Marty Eisert A. A Gannon University research committee is gathering data on the faith formation of youth and young adults and will be making recommendations to the Bishop in December. B. Mr. Joe Streett will be retiring and that will open up different leadership pathways. C. Bishop Persico has been getting recommendations to make faith formation and religious education more family-involved. VII. Input from Deans on implementing recommendations from Faith Formation Task Force Bishop Persico A. Fr. Toohey: There should be options given to students in meeting requirements. B. Father Malthaner: successful models in parishes should be shared across the board. C. Fr. Whitman: catechists should still be certified. D. Bishop Persico: parishes should share human and program resources. Care must be taken when dismissing a paid person who has become unqualified to avoid a lawsuit. E. Fr. Toohey: parishes should invest more money in Faith Formation. F. Bishop Persico asked what Council thought about the age of Confirmation in our Diocese. Most felt it should remain where it is. VIII. Forming a diocesan-wide organization to promote Eucharistic Adoration A. Bishop Persico endorses this on a regional level to promote vocations. B. See Attachment B for letter from Father Mike Polinek, Vocations Director, urging this practice. C. Fr. Rouch, as seminary vice-rector, cites how popular this is with seminarians. D. Fr. Toohey: educating the parish is key to this program s success. E. Fr. Singer: young people do respond to this and older people fondly remember Forty Hours devotions. F. See Attachment C for more details. G. Fr. Toohey will bring a specific proposal to Presbyteral Council. IX. New Business Fr. Noble asks that CSA schedules remain the same unless some parishes truly need more time. X. Next Meeting to be announced XI. Meeting adjourned at 2:22 pm. Moved by: Fr. Gregorek, seconded by: Fr. Zab Amar.. Passed unanimously Respectfully submitted, Tom Snyderwine Secretary

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