St. Thomas Aquinas Human Concerns Committee Meeting Minutes March 25, 2008

Attendance:

Paul Chestnut, Mary Fong, Carol Schaffer, Patricia Markee, Chris Lundin, Laura Chiu, Kieran McCarty, George Chippendale, Sasha Madison

1. Faith-Sharing/Question of the Week - Patricia
Patricia offered a prayer from Holy Week, followed by discussion.

2. The February minutes were approved.

OLD BUSINESS

3.  Volunteers needed for two jobs: parish liaison to the diocesan HCC and parish representative to the deanery social justice group. Tom Jaworowski had served in both positions.
Kieran McCarty volunteered for both of these positions.

4. Update on Lucio - Patricia

5. Fr. Louis Vitale speaking tour - Chris
Fr. Vitale is coming to speak in Palo Alto on April 22; the event is sponsored by the MPVP&J, of which our parish is a member. It will be held at the Methodist Chuirch on Hamilton. Rev. Diana Gibson is doing the publicity. [The event was subsequently canceled.]

6. Death Penalty - Terry

7. Web site revisions - Paul
Carol and Paul worked on a plan for revising the HCC web page. A new outline was distributed. The revisions will take place over the next two months.

NEW BUSINESS

8. Bread for the World's Offering of Letters - Paul
We discussed a date for the Offering of Letters. There is First Communion on April 27 and May 4. May 11 is Mother's Day. Confirmation is May 17 at the 5 pm Mass at SAG. To be continued.

9. Faithful Citizenship Workshops - April 3
Dr. Stephen Colecchi, Director of the Office of International Justice and Peace of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will conduct these presentations for the Diocese of San Jose: 2:30 - 4:30 pm: Presentation on the Middle East and the War in Iraq 7:00 - 9:00 pm: Faithful Citizenship Workshop Place: Our Lady of Peace Pilgrimage Hall, 2800 Mission College Boulevard, Santa Clara. Register on line at www.dsj.org/register/fc

10. Catholic Lobby Day - April 22
"Catholic Lobby Day is a gathering of over 600 Catholics from across the state who come together at the State Capitol to speak on behalf of those who are poor and vulnerable, those without a voice. Cost $30. We will provide a comfortable bus, lunch, and all materials. The day will include Mass at the Cathedral, a march to the Capitol, rally, and legislative visits. The registration is attached and also can be accessed online atwww.dsj.org. It's actually a lot of fun. Just ask someone who went last year!"

11. What's On Your Mind?

Patricia: The Day Worker Center wants to buy a new location. They have $275,000 now from a donor. We discussed ways to raise money for the remainder.

Kieran suggested that parish events should be more mindful of ways to save the environment.
For example, at the St. Patrick's Day Dinner, recyclable materials were put into the regular garbage bins. These concepts should be incorporated into the planning for each event. George said that he would tell Ruth to bring this up at the next PSC meeting.

The Thomas Merton Center is in the business of selling reusable shopping bags at the 8:45 Mass at STA. It would be good to expand this effort to all the Masses.

George discussed the Heroes' Lunch, which is an annual event to honor individuals in Palo Alto.
He would like to find some money to send worthy individuals to this event. It is planned for May 2.

We discussed the possibility of requesting a donation of $1000 for JustFaith in the HCC budget for 2008.

13. Volunteer for Faith-sharing/Question of the Week
Carol volunteered.