Pastoral Council and
Commissions:

Pastoral Council
Liturgical Commission
Education Commission
Family Life Commission
Administrative & Communications Commission

The Saint Patrick Cathedral Pastoral Council serves as a consultative body to the rector assisting with the administration of the parish and the parish commissions. Members are selected according to the by-laws of the Saint Patrick's Cathedral Pastoral Council. Meetings are held monthly and include prayer, review of parish finances with the rector, and review of programs and events with commission chairs. Every meeting includes discussion of the pastoral programs, spiritual development of parishioners, faith formation program and community outreach. The council maintains committees and working groups for capital projects, adult discipleship, fund raising and parish assessment.

Council Members:
Jim Whitaker - Chairman

Vacant - Vice Chairman

Lori Frazier - Secretary

Terry Brennan

David Matvey

James Guptill

Kathy Healy

Thomas Kelly

Rob Kenny

Jim Sigman

Sean Smith

 

 

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The Liturgy Commission - The purpose of the Liturgical Commission is to provide a Liturgy in conformity with the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments for each Mass at the Cathedral. The commission works to ensure that the cathedral preserves with care the authentic Liturgy from the Church's spiritual tradition, and adapts it appropriately with pastoral guidance so parishioners may find in their participation in the Liturgy - especially the celebration of the Sacraments - an abundant source of grace and a means for their own spiritual growth. The commission oversees the following committees and programs.

Music: The Parish is blessed with a full-time Music Director. Under his leadership, the Parish has excellent adult and youth choir programs, and music at each regularly scheduled Mass. The Music Director gives generously of his time in many other ways as well, including St. Patrick Elementary School programs.
Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers, Altar Servers and Ushers: At present, the Deacon and Pastoral Associate oversee the Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers, Altar Servers and Ushers. They work together to recruit, train and schedule parishioners for these liturgical positions, according to the Official Guidelines of the Diocese of Charlotte.
Worship Planning and Para-Liturgical Devotions: The Rector heads these committees. A goal of the Adult Discipleship Team is to increase devotions in our Parish.
Altar Guild: The Altar Guild has been recently formed. The Guild is active in conducting weekly care of altar duties specified by the Rector. The Guild and members of the Catholic Women's Group prepare the Cathedral before Christmas, Easter and any other special occasions, such as Ordinations. The Pastoral Associate oversees the Guild.

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The Family Life Commission consists of the following ministries dedicated to supporting and enriching the spiritual and social needs of parishioners, with special emphasis on the family.

The Bereavement Ministry offers solace and comfort to Parish members who have lost a loved one. Members host meals for the families on the day of the funeral. In addition this ministry sponsors lectures and workshops on related subjects for the Parish.
The Amazing Grays is a senior citizen ministry that plans and organizes activities and recreational outings for its members. The Amazing Grays provide strong support to the Parish, and many of its members provide inspirational service in other ministries.
The Coffee & Donuts Ministry provides coffee and donuts for parishioners following the 9:30 am Sunday mass in the courtyard behind the Church. This regular social event is well attended and provides a good opportunity for fellowship.
The Young Professional Ministry plans and co-ordinates social and recreational activities tailored to the needs of young adult parishioners. Developing and nurturing this ministry is an investment in the future of our Parish as these members take on leadership roles at Saint Patrick.
The Pancake Breakfast and Parish Supper Ministries plan, organize, and sponsor regular pancake breakfasts after the Sunday masses and weekday suppers. The Parish Supper Ministry organizes monthly informal potluck suppers in the School cafeteria. A program or family activity follows the dinner, and onsite babysitting is available. Pancake breakfasts are held monthly. These events are well attended by parishioners of all ages, particularly families with preschool and school age children. The Parish traditionally holds a social event on St. Patrick Day as well.
The Refugee Ministry serves the basic human and spiritual needs of the Parish's large refugee community and encourages participation of the refugees in Parish activities. The Parish Refugee Ministry and members of the Catholic Women's Group provide food, clothing and assistance with medical appointments, insurance, taxes and other needs to the refugees. The ministry incorporates the refugees into the Parish's spiritual life.
The Newcomer Welcome Ministry welcomes new members to the Parish, and helps visitors understand the qualities that make Saint Patrick a special place. The Office Manager registers new parishioners, and the Pastoral Associate helps the parishioners become involved in programs in the Parish.
The Pictorial Directory Committee has been working on a Parish directory project over the last couple months. The committee has worked to bring parishioners together for the new Parish directory, which should be available this year.

The Family Life Commission is dedicated to providing and enriching family experience at Saint Patrick, reflecting Pope Benedict's call for awareness of the centrality of family life in the Church. The individual ministries serve the spiritual and social needs of our parishioners, affording parishioners opportunities to forge friendships, share fellowship and strengthen their own families.

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The Community Life Commission oversees the parish's outreach to those less fortunate in our community. The commission oversees the following committees and programs.

The Saint Patrick Christmas Dinner is a cornerstone of the commission's activities. Annually, the Parish provides Christmas Dinner on Christmas Day to those in need. The cost of this dinner is covered by corporate donors such as Harris Teeter, and contributions made by parishioners and the parish. Each guest receives gifts of warm clothing and accessories. Dinner is served in shifts in the school cafeteria to allow more parishioners to participate and to serve more guests. This year, the gift area was moved to the school gym to accommodate the growing number of guests.
The Homeless Shelter Ministry provides volunteers and contributes enough food to serve approximately 160 homeless men a hot meal on the second Sunday of every other month. Volunteers, in addition to serving the meals, also stay overnight in the shelter. The parish also participates in Room at the Inn run by Urban Ministries. This program provides shelter, food and fellowship for men, women and children during the months of December - March. The parish participates jointly with St. Mark's Lutheran Church, with our parishioners providing meals, van drivers and overnight hosts every other week.
The Respect Life Committee raises awareness and fosters understanding within our parish community of the Church's pro-life teachings. This mission is pursued through the planning and implementation of activities which address four major areas defined by the Conference of Catholic Bishops in their publication entitled,  "Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities." committee efforts will include public information and education, service opportunities in support of pastoral care, policy/political advocacy, and prayer and worship.
Boy Scout, Cub Scout, Girl Scout and Brownie programs associated with the Parish have grown nicely in strength in recent years, and provide great opportunities for Parish youth.
The Knights of Columbus is an attractive ministry for many men in the parish, who enjoy the fellowship with men from other parishes, and provide service and charity to the community.
The Red Cross also provides an attractive ministry for parish members, who are working to expand the parish's support of Red Cross programs.

The Community Life Commission strives to provide each parishioner with opportunities to live the faith we profess through service to the Community.

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The Evangelization & Ecumenism Commission reaches out to Catholics and Non-Catholics to share our faith through the following programs.

The Rite of Christian Initiation (or RCIA) is a nine month sacramental formation process, in which persons desiring to become Catholic are formed by the Word of God, study of the seven sacraments and the Christian witness, prayer and support of the Parish community, to serve Jesus Christ and the Church in the world today. The parochial vicar and deacon direct the RCIA program together with assistance from many lay volunteers. The program has had large classes in recent years. Currently, the RCIA program primarily includes inquirers who approach the Church, but the commission would like to establish a more active evangelization program to reach out to others who may not contact the parish on their own. The RCIA is a process of discerning and ritualizing one's stages of conversion. For those not previously baptized this leads to sacramental initiation into the Church through celebration of the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist at the Easter Vigil, thus empowering them for lives of service, charity and justice as witnesses of the reign of God. For those who are already validly baptized this leads to full communion with the Church through celebration of the sacrament of Reconciliation prior to the celebration of the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil.
At the heart of this experience is the proclamation of the kerygma, the saving death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Embracing the gift of salvation is embracing the demands of the reign of God. The RCIA is celebrated in the midst of the community and is a challenge to the community to deepen its own conversion. The RCIA recognizes that growth in faith that leads one to commitment happens gradually and in discernible periods.
The RCIA provides a new context and model for sacramental catechesis: evangelization, conversion, the response of faith, and mission. All of this is formative and dynamic, responding to the initiative of God. The further exploration of the various periods and steps of the RCIA will underscore this understanding of sacramental catechesis. Ultimately the theology of the RCIA is about conversion.
The RCIA process has four stages: (1) Inquiry, (2) Catechumenate, (3) Purification/Enlightenment and (4) Mystagogy. Our sessions include prayer, presentation of a subject by priest and Parish catechist, a general discussion followed by a break into small groups for personal discussion and application, and thereafter a reconvening for final questions and a closing prayer.

1. During the Inquiry stage, a person learns about the faith, reaching the point of initial conversion, and expressing a desire to become a Christian. Basic information is presented about the Catholic Church and how it differs from other churches. Beliefs in God, Jesus, Mary, and the Saints are brought into the discussions as well as prayerful exploration of the Sacred Scriptures. The stage concludes with the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens. The RCIA team helps with Inquiry. It helps those in charge of sponsors, as well as coordinating refreshments.
2. During the Catechumenate stage, the catechumens receive pastoral formation and guidance to help them become disciples. Catechesis during this time includes dogmas and precepts and a keen awareness of the mystery of salvation. Celebrations of the Word of God are at the heart of the catechumenate.
3. When the catechumens are ready and the Church agrees that they are ready, they enter the period of Purification and Enlightenment, a time of more intense, final preparation for the sacraments of initiation. The period usually coincides with the season of Lent and begins with the Rite of Election, usually celebrated on the First Sunday of Lent, when the catechumens have their names enrolled in the Book of the Elect. For these new elect, this is a time for reflection, along with the entire church, and a time to resolve final questions. On the third and fourth and fifth Sundays of Lent, the elect take part in the "Rites of Scrutiny" which again are moments of introspection and evaluation. The sacraments of initiation - Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist - are celebrated normally at the Easter Vigil. Those who have been validly baptized will celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation prior to the Easter Vigil, while those who are baptized at the Easter Vigil will begin celebration of this sacrament following the Easter Vigil.
4. The fourth and final step in RCIA is Mystagogy, when the newly baptized - now called neophytes - are given support and assistance in taking their place as active disciples in the church community.

In summary, the RCIA process should help people to be awaken to the stirrings of God to a renewed life and to a more authentic living of life.
Catholic Outreach: This committee brings relief to victims by providing materials and volunteers to help rebuild families and communities who have suffered losses due to disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina survivors.
Parish Spiritual Renewal: Renewal and the need to re-evangelize within the Catholic Church itself have been recurring themes of Pope Benedict. Current programs include the Young Professional's Theology on Tap program and the Parish's efforts to expand Adult Faith Enrichment programs. Finally a monthly evening retreat for men has been ongoing since November 2000 and for women since April 2001. The retreats are held at Saint Patrick Cathedral and are open to all parishes.
Religious Group Networking: This program represents the Parish's efforts to work with other Catholic groups, the many strong Protestant churches in Charlotte, and other religious groups in our area. The Parish has enjoyed good and mutually beneficial relationships with many of these groups and churches.

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