Monthly Meeting - January 15, 2008

Our monthly meeting was held on Tuesday, January 15, 2008, at 10:30, Little Francis House, Pearlington, Mississippi. The meeting was called to order with prayer from the Ritual by Ann. Our guests, Brother Juniper, Sister Fidelis, and Martha were welcomed.

• Liturgy of the Hours and Intercessory Prayers. We prayed the Liturgy of the Hours Morning Prayer and then joined hands to offer our petitions and prayers to God, for our friends and family and for ourselves. Martha provided instruction on LOH.

• Ongoing Formation. Our homework to prepare for ongoing formation was to read chapter 8 in both books. Eileen presented the teaching, which focused on penance.

• Lunch. After formation we recessed for lunch and to celebrate Karen’s birthday. We reconvened for our business meeting.

• November and December Minutes. Our November and December minutes were presented by Ouida. A motion was made by Karen, seconded and passed that the minutes be approved as read.

• Treasurer’s Report. Karen reported our balance as of last month and then this month after income, donations and expenses. Donations were made to Amazon Relief Fund, St. Vincent de Paul and St. Clare Monastery.

• Blog and Web Report. Ouida reported that we have had 970 visitors on Our Lady of the Pearl website since it was published four months ago. Our blog has had 2422 visitors since it was published three months ago.

• Brother Juniper. Brother Juniper spoke to us about the baptism of Christ and that he immediately went into the desert with the gifts that he had received from the Holy Spirit. Likewise, we have work to be done and cannot stay in our rocking chairs too long. Christ did not stay in one place long. There is a time to rest and a time for work to be done.
  
  
• Sister Fidelis. Sister said that we should respect the body and take care of it. The body knows. It is going to be resurrected with us. God made it, and it is not evil. We are body, soul and spirit.
  
  
• Day of Recollection. We decided to have a day of recollection, presented by Brother Juniper on Tuesday, February 12, 2008, from 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at The Pavilion on Magnolia Lane in Waveland, MS. We may invite others. Eileen is making the arrangements.
  
  
• Regional Retreat. St. Joan of Arc Regional Retreat will be at St. Charles Retreat Center in Moss Bluff, LA (Lake Charles), beginning Thursday, June 12 – Sunday noon, June 15. The retreat master will be Fr. Richard Trezza, OFM (known as a dynamic speaker). More information will be coming soon. Money for the retreat is to be sent to Thelma, Regional Treasurer.
  
  
• Donation for Raffle, Regional Retreat. Each fraternity is asked to provide a donation for the raffle which raises money to help defray expenses. Eileen volunteered to put together a basket.

• Regional Meeting. Ann, Ouida, Carol and John attended St. Joan of Arc regional meeting on Saturday, January 12th. The meeting was very good. While the council met in executive session, the others enjoyed a formation teaching, presented by Mary, SFO, Port Arthur, Texas. Other information on this meeting was provided in the form of a handout with the information coming from Martha’s newsletter.

• H2O Project. At the Regional Meeting a certificate was presented for Eileen, which had been made by the National Youth/Young Adult Commission, at the Secular Franciscan Order National meeting in October 2007. As a result of Eileen’s taking the H2O Project to the Catholic schools in Hancock County, $4,369.50 was raised during Lent and credited to St. Joan of Arc Region.

There being no further business, we closed in prayer.