St. Thomas Aquinas Human Concerns Committee Meeting Minutes, September 21, 2010

Attendance: Laura Chiu, George and Ruth Chippendale, Walt Lundin, (and later joined by Thibaut deBretagne and Fr. Thierry)

1. Faith-Sharing/Question of the Week
We used the four "Blessings" read at the MVPJ Interfaith Peace event 9/19.

2. Approval of July minutes and this agenda
We approved the agenda and the last minutes.

OLD BUSINESS

4.  Time & Talent Planning
We're going to need help.  Walt will appeal to our broader membership.  As it looks now, for STA 10/10:   Walt, Laura, Paul.  Palo Alto St. Vincent dePaul will have brochures - no representative.  Laura will try to get ten color copies of our Annual Report for display.  We'll have a few books and videos as well, plus a brief explanation of what volunteers are asked to do:  Monthly meeting, occasional vestibule assistance, advocacy via our R.S.V.P. program with Network and Jericho.

At this point we were joined by Fr. T. and Thibaut.

5.  We discussed Prop. 23 briefly.  
The HCC will join the Green Committee in urging a "No" vote.

6.  Fr. Thierry recently talked about the dignity of labor (Labor Day weekend) and more recently, about Muslim tolerance and respect.  He is now considering material for the 30th Sunday. Walt and Paul will confer about future opportunities.

7.  Thibaut gave a summary of a program from France, Parcours Zachee.   It somewhat resembles a combination of Christian Family Movement (lite) and JustFaith (lite), with components for daily home prayer, journaling and meditation and about 30 biweekly group meetings to discuss readings.  Readings are substantially less than JustFaith.  There is focus on social justice and the community.  Social justice encyclicals and the principles of Catholic social teaching are excerpted. After a Q&A session and some discussion we concluded this program has value (prayer, spirituality plus social justice awareness)  Thibaut will meet soon with Adult Spiritual Development to seek endorsement.  He plans to have fliers available for display at the T&T tables.

8.  Death Penalty
In Terry's absence (he is in D.C. on death penalty matters) Walt announced a 10/10 rally at Lytton Plaza; said that Terry and Gerard McGuire had met with Supervisor Cortese about urging new District Attorney Rosen not to pursue death penalty verdicts;  thanked us for financial support for CA People of Faith; and announced a 1000 Congregations meeting 9/28.

9.  Day Worker Center
In Patricia's absence, Walt told of need for a grant writer and announced a 9/25 yard sale on Mercy Street to raise funds for its new permanent location.

10.  PIA Update
George reported on meeting of several PIA groups with Terrie Iacino (Step Up Silicon Valley and Catholic Charities) about safety net and sustainability issues.  She was aware of the problem, offered her support, and suggested PIA meet next with Sacred Heart Community Services.

11.  What's on Your Mind?  
  a.  Laura spoke to Fr. Thierry about nominees for 9 a.m. Mass site awards.  
  b.  Fr. Thierry said Jaime Gutierrez, a diaconate candidate, is doing some work with Ruben Solorio of Catholic Charities.
  c.  Those who attended the Interfaith Peace gathering thought the event was well-presented, inspired the faithful choir, and drew a respectably-sized crowd, about 70 to 80.  Walt counted twelve from our parish, two from St. Athanasius and one from St. Joseph.

We need a faith-sharing volunteer for next month's meeting.  It will be at OLRH, 7:30 p.m., October 19.