Town Hall Meeting a big success

About 55 parishioners attended the Nativity Town Hall Meeting on Saturday evening, February 15, 2014. There was a positive attitude in the hall as we worked through an ambitious agenda.

1. REPORTS - click here to read the full council and committee reports
2. BLESSING OF THE FLEET - weekend of April 11-13 (info) - there was general agreement that we will do food sales the morning of Saturday, Apr. 12, probably some kind of take-away. The Pastoral Council will appoint a planning committee to work out the details at its March 9th meeting.
3. FLOOR AND PEW RENOVATION - The Building & Maintenance Committee explained plans to renovate the church's interior. Starting the week of June 1, the pews will be removed and the floor sanded, stained and finished. (Projected cost: app. $12,000) At the same time, we hope to have the pews renewed in the same way. We have not yet received any bids for this, but presume it will be comparable to the floor project. All this means that we will not have access to our church building or between one and three Sundays. MASS OF PENTECOST, JUNE 9, WILL BE OUTDOORS AT THE RIVER! Additional Masses will be celebrated in the Hall. Nota bene: we need to start brainstorming about renovation and enlargement of the parish hall as well.
4. BISHOP'S ANNUAL APPEAL - after watching the Bishop's video announcing the appeal, we reviewed last year's very successful drive (145% of goal, 83% participation) and looked at this year's goal. BAA GOAL FOR 2014: $9587.
5. FRANCISCAN FRIARS LEAVING THE GOLDEN ISLES - Fr. Bob made the sad announcment that the Province of Our Lady of Consolation of the Conventual Franciscans (OFM Conv.), which has staffed Nativity for more than 20 years, will close its friary community in Brunswick this summer. Frs. Wilfrid, Chuck and Bob will all be leaving Georgia for other assignments. The Franciscans are working with the bishop to ensure a priest for Nativity.
6. A PROPOSAL FROM THE PASTORAL COUNCIL - The Council proposes that the people of Nativity set as a goal for themselves to be established as a full parish by the year 2020, which is Nativity's 75th Anniversary of existence. There are many reasons for this desire: we are growing in every way, already now we are bigger than many other parishes of the diocese, and we have potential for more growth. Alone in McIntosh County there are more than 400 Roman Catholics. We wish to shoulder our responsibilities as the People of the Church, doing our share to make Catholicism a reality. We want our community to grow in grace and holiness before the Lord! There was strong support for this proposal at the Town Hall Meeting. Please note - this discussion was only advisory, to sound out the feelings, hopes and ideas of the parishioners. We do not intend in any way to short circuit the authority of our bishop, rather, we wish to help him grow his diocese. We understand that being erected as a canonical parish is absolutely no guarantee that the bishop can find a pastor for the parish!
7. PASTORAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS - click here for a PowerPoint summary of the process - click here for a more complete presentation of the rules and procedures, taken from our by-laws