Catholic Community of Pleasanton

Parish Council
of the Catholic Community of Pleasanton

The Parish Council of the Catholic Community of Pleasanton is one of the most vital and important ministry in the parish. Through it, the priorities and directions of the parish are determined, new ministries undertaken, budgets approved, and buildings built. It is the primary advisory or consultative body for the pastor.

In addition to doing long range planning, the council members deal with whatever pastoral concerns the pastor brings before them. The pastor works collaboratively with the council and participates in the workings of the council.

The RENEW program, the development of St. Elizabeth Seton, our Small Christian Communities all came out of deliberations of the Parish Council and its Committees. The Social Justice and Outreach Committee of the Parish Council is responsible for recommending distribution of our 5% tithe to worthy causes and institutions.

Participation on the council is a ministry of Christian leadership and service.

All members of the parish are welcome to attend council meetings of the Catholic Community of Pleasanton.

Parish Council Officers
Executive Committee 2009-2010


FRANK SPINDLER (TILL ‘10) Parish Council Chair
TERESA KOTCH (TILL ‘10) Parish Council Vice-Chair
LISA FAIRCHILD (TILL ‘11) Parish Council Secretary

REV. PADRAIG GREENE - Parochial Administrator - CCOP

Parish Council for the
Catholic Community of Pleasanton 2009-2010


Elected/Appointed Members

DAN ALLARI (TILL ‘10) APPOINTED Facilities Committee Chair

TED GERLACH (TILL ‘11)
Social Justice/Outreach Committee Chair
ROBERT ROBICHAUD (TILL ’10) APPOINTED Finance Committee Chair

LISA FAIRCHILD (TILL '11) Spiritual Life Committee Chair
THERESA KOTCH (TILL ‘10) Finance Committee
FRANK SPINDLER (TILL ‘10) Communication Committee Chair
NOEL SALVADOR (TILL ‘11) Parish Ethnic Diversity
Focus
SUZANNE A. SLUPESKY (TILL ‘10) Evangelization Committee Chair
MARY JO SMITH (TILL ‘11) Spiritual Life Committee


Program Representatives

CARL SCHLACHTE (TILL ’10) APPOINTED Faith Formation
OPEN TO BE FILLED SHORTLY (TILL '10) APPOINTED Family Life Ministry
DICK MARTIN (TILL ’10) APPOINTED Pastoral Staff

SHARON McKEE (TILL ‘10) APPOINTED Small Christian Communities

GARY WORTHAM, DEACON (TILL ‘10) APPOINTED Liturgy Planning

For contact information, click PARISH COUNCIL ROSTER (PDF)


Additional Information About The Parish Council:

Eight of the members are elected at large. For continuity, the two-year terms of these members have been staggered so that four are elected each year during May or June with their term starting at the June Council Meeting.

The remaining seven members have a one-year term:

One appointed representative from the Liturgy Planning Committee
One appointed representative from Faith Formation
One appointed representative from Small Christian Communities
One appointed representative from Family Life Ministries
Two representatives appointed at the pastor's discretion
One representative from the Parish Pastoral Staff,
but will neither vote nor be eligible to hold a council office.

Select the highlighted program link to get more information on these parish ministries. All are welcome to participate in them.

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Parish Mission Statement

"To know Christ better, live as He calls us to live,
and make Him better known."

Adopted by the Parish Council
October 7, 2008


Parish Council Committees:

The Parish Council is made up of five standing committees. All committee membership includes a representative of the council as its chair. Committee membership is open to all members of the parish who wish to participate in these ministries.

The six committees open for participation are:

Communication Committee

FRANK SPINDLER
– Chair, Communication Committee
(925) 484-3349 Home
(925) 216-7817 Cell
fespindler@comcast.net

The mission of the communications committee is to “shine a light on the people, liturgies, and ministries of the Catholic Community of Pleasanton.”

Communications Committee objectives:

  • Coordinate parish communications forums, including website, weekly bulletin, email newsletters, brochures, and other media

  • Provide tools for parish ministries to more effectively reach their audience

  • Make CCOP a more frequent, welcome presence in peoples lives

  • Reach more people

  • Convey the energy and excitement of our community, and it’s liturgies ministries, programs, and events

  • Be timely, time efficient, cost efficient, and help the parish operate more effectively


Evangelization Committee

SUZANNE A. SLUPESKY – Chair, Evangelization Committee
(925) 846-6824
suzanne@castampin.com

The purpose of the Evangelization Committee is to develop new ideas to support and nurture the members of our Church in their efforts to make the parish a welcoming environment to all.

There are several subcommittees working on outreach to others, in reconciliation to inactives, and to the unchurched in a spirit of Christian love; on the marketing of CCOP; on SCC & RENEW activities; on spirituality in the workplace; and on how to make the parish more family friendly.

1st WEDNESDAY STREET PARTY - Begins in May, continues through September

A parish team has been formed co-chaired by Lori Nelson and Carolyn Wagner. Plans are underway for pictures from various ministries and faith formation. We have a priest, staff person, various ministries planned for each month. A new tent with CCOP on the sides plus new brochure racks will change the image of previous years and give more space for interaction. A brochure of all ministries is planned.

Here's your opportunity to start evangelizing!! We hand out balloons to the kids, and talk to people about our church and our faith. It's a non-threatening way to begin sharing your faith!

Please come help us...everyone is welcome!

For more information contact Lori Nelson at lmnelson@costco.com.

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Finance Committee

ROBERT ROBICHAUD - Chair, Finance Committee
(925) 462-1869
brobichaud@comcast.net

The Parish Council Finance Committee assists the pastor in the administration of the temporal goods of the parish. It prepares the parish budget each calendar year for council approval in January, and reviews the funding requests and desires of the other parish council committees, parish organizations and the parish staff in light of the needs and financial position of the parish. In conjunction with the pastor it oversees and regularly reviews the actual revenue and expenses of the parish in light of the approved budget.

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Facilities Committee

DAN ALLARI - Chair, Facilities Committee
(925) 426-8807 home
(925) 200-1462 cell
dlallari@mac.com

The Facilities Committee meets each month on a Saturday at 9:00 am. Contact Dan if you are interested in being a part of the committee and for the specific meeting date and location for the current month.

The committee is composed of parishioners and others who wish to assist the Pastor and Business Manager with the oversight of the physical plant and land that are the responsibility of the Catholic Community of Pleasanton. The committee is to advise and lend expertise regarding the upkeep and maintenance of the buildings and grounds at St. Augustine, St. Elizabeth Seton and the St. Augustine Cemetery. This includes assessing needs, determining project designs, identifying resource requirements, implementing safety practices, plant inspections and recommending priorities and long-range facility plans to the council.

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Family Life Ministries

OPEN - Family Life Ministry Representative


Social Justice and Outreach Committee

TED GERLACH - Social Justice-Outreach Committee Chair
(925) 426-7866 Home
tgerlach@comcast.net

Click on the link to view/print:
Social Justice - Outreach Newsletter
Oasis of Hope Project Description
Oasis of Hope Calendar
The committee meets the 1st Thursday of every month at SES Conference Room B, at 7:30 pm.

The threefold purpose of the Social Justice and Community Outreach Committee is:
  • To educate the members of this parish and others, on social justice issues in the light of Catholic social teaching;
  • To identify, formulate, and implement Catholic social principles in areas of public policy and conflict involving the poor and the powerless and;
  • To cooperate with and lend support, both personally and financially, to the efforts of other persons or groups of goodwill, who work for the achievement of a more just and compassionate society. The Social Justice/Outreach Committee of the Parish Council is responsible for recommending distribution of our 5% tithe to worthy causes and institutions.

Volunteer Opportunities - Click on the links below to participate directly with these charities:
Birthright
Habitat for Humanity
Tri-Valley Haven
St. Mary's Interfaith Dining Room

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Spiritual Life Committee
LISA FAIRCHILD, Chair, Spiritual Life Committee
(925) 600-1765
lisafairchild@sbcglobal.net

Spiritual Life Committee Mission Statement:

To lead our parish community to a “full, conscious and active participation” in the life of Christ as experienced in the sacraments, encouraging them to translate that into their day-to-day life.

We do this by:

• Facilitating the knowing and understanding of what we believe;
• encouraging the community to live what they believe; and
• inviting them to share what they have lived.

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Liturgy Planning Committee

GARY WORTHAM, DEACON - Liturgy Planning Representative
(925) 895-1647 Cell
(925) 474-2785 Parish Office
liturgy@catholicsofpleasanton.org

CCOP's Liturgy Planning Committee’s mission is to enhance the spiritual life of our parish through preparation and coordination of its liturgical celebrations (e.g., Sunday liturgies, Sacred Triduum, Holy Days of Obligation, devotions, blessings, Communion Services, etc.). This Committee of Parish volunteers maintains a current understanding of the Church's liturgical documents and instructions from the U. S. Bishops through self-guided study, group study, workshops and liturgical conferences. We regularly make presentations to the Parish at large on the meaning of the Church’s worship and how ritual is celebrated in our community.

The Committee coordinates or provides liturgical guidance and support to the Liturgical Arts and Environment sub-committee, and the Youth and Family Liturgy sub-committee. Additionally, the Committee recruits, trains, and schedules liturgical ministers (i.e., Lectors, Head Eucharistic Ministers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Ushers, Greeters, and Altar Servers).

The Liturgy Planning Committee meets at 7:30 pm on the second and fourth Mondays of each month in Room C at St. Elizabeth Seton Church.

A member of the Liturgy Planning Committee sits on the Parish Council each year. This year Deacon Gary Wortham will represent the committee.

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Small Christian Communities

SHARON McKEE - SCC Core Team Representative
(925) 462-8625
bmckee@ix.netcom.com

Some people have the misunderstanding that small christian communities are another parish program. They are not that at all. While communities may use a specific program periodically, for example during Advent or Lent, they are not a program but a way of being church that is supportive not only of a personal faith journey but, by nature, a reflection of the communal journey of the people of God.

I would like to offer parishioners an opportunity to join existing groups or to meet others in similar life situations and begin an SCC.

We're forming several new groups. If you think you might want to join one, you may call the corresponding facilitator for information.

We plan to focus on Evangelization for the next two years. Why not invite your non-Catholic friends to join your SCC or to join you in beginning a group? These groups are marvelous ways to introduce people to our church.

Click Here for a list of SCC's welcoming new members. The top group are SCC's with a common theme. The second group are older SCC's, originally organized in specific neighborhoods with faith sharing as their primary activity.

For more information, call Sharon at (925) 462-8625 or email: bmckee@ix.netcom.com.

Fr. Pagraig sums up the secret of SCC's:

"There is no more effective way of growing in your faith than to be part of a Small Christian Community where that faith is shared, listened to, and celebrated. SCCs are a wonderful way to articulate the connections between faith and life. "

Cardinal John Henry Newman once said that “Great holiness is lost to the Church because people refuse to tell their stories”. Through SCC, parishioners have an environment to tell their stories and have their stories honored in faith and love.

Coming together in Small Christian Communities provides mutual support, builds healthy relationships, and empowers members to grow in faith as well as have greater belonging to the parish.

Our parish has 2 kinds of Small Christian Communities (SCC's): adult groups and family groups. Fr. Padraig coordinates the adult SCC's. Liz Rogers coordinates the family SCC's, which are known as Intergenerational Faith Communities (IFC's). Participation in IFC's is through the parish Faith Formation program.

Contact: Fr. Padraig Greene at St. Augustine, 846-4478 and/or Liz Rogers at St. Augustine Faith Formation Office, 846-3531.

 

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