Parish Pastoral Council
The Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) is a group of leaders in the St. Charles Borromeo community who share their faith and who seek to promote the Church’s mission to live and communicate the values of Christ in the world. Its charge is to assist the Pastor with everything “pastoral” and to provide guidance on the direction of the parish. Much of our work is done through other ministries, some of which are led by members of the Council.
The PPC meets with all the parish Ministry Leaders periodically to understand their plans and achievements, discuss the future needs of the various ministries, and identify any areas for further work.
The PPC also tends to internal community building, such as the book groups and Bible studies, as well as some parish social/community building events.
We hope to be of help to you.
The current PPC members are Mike McGowan (Chair), Sabrina Gates, Alexandra Gupta, Beth Liou, James Maleady, Alsatia Ragusa, Gloria Landron Rosado, and Tevin Williams.
Contact: Mike McGowan
Worship Committee
The Worship Committee fosters and supports our various group prayer and worship activities.
1. Our mission is to prepare for the Mass and other public celebrations and devotions so that the celebrant can focus on celebrating the Liturgy.
Responsibilities may include: preparing vestments, altar service, announcements, prayer of the faithful, sacraments (typically baptisms), Easter Vigil, and communion services.
2. Foster and support our various group prayers and worship activities, in-person and online. These include Bible Study, Faith Sharing, Novenas, Rosary, Evening Prayer/Vespers, Eucharistic Adoration, and other initiatives that may be proposed.
3. In consultation with our Pastor, Deacon, and DRE, we decide upon themes of focus for the different liturgical seasons (Advent-Christmas, Lent-Easter, Ordinary Time), holy days, and significant saints’ days for the parish.
Contact: Tevin Williams
St. Charles Borromeo Family Faith Program
The mission of the Family Faith Program at St. Charles Borromeo seeks to enrich the faith of our children and their families by teaching and sharing the knowledge of the love of God, to encourage prayer and a personal relationship with Christ, and to present the teachings of our Catholic faith.
It is our goal to encourage our students and their families to become more faith-filled and involved Catholic Christians.
Our program begins each Sunday with the 9 AM Family Mass and follows with classes held in the Mary McDowell School building located next to the rectory.
The success of our program depends on our Catechists!! We are always in need of Assistant Catechists for all grades. This is a great way to start out in this wonderful faith filled ministry.
Contact: Dawn Hewitt (Dawn.Hewitt@stcharlesbklyn.org)
Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers
Lectors: Lectors have the important responsibility of proclaiming the scriptures.
New members are welcome. No experience is needed. We gladly coach new members in public speaking skills and team new lectors up with veterans until new members feel comfortable on their own. Assignments to Masses are based on lectors’ availability and preferences with generally no more than two per month.
This is a great and rewarding way to share the Word of God with others and to experience the Mass in a more personal way.
Eucharistic Ministers: Eucharistic Ministers assist in distribution of Holy Communion during Mass and have the opportunity to bring it to the sick and homebound. Assignments to Masses are based on availability and, as with the lectors, generally not more than twice a month.
Both Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers participate in a one-day Diocesan training.
Contact: Tevin Williams
Bible Study/Faith Sharing
Our Bible Study/Faith Sharing Group is advertised in our bulletin and open to all; it includes parishioners from St. Charles as well as other parishes in Brooklyn, Long Island, and elsewhere. We meet on Zoom each Sunday from 5pm to 6pm to study and discuss Scripture. We alternate between Bible Study and Faith Sharing.
For Bible Study, we choose a particular book such as Isaiah, Psalms, or one of the Gospels, read it in full along with scholarly commentary, and meet weekly to discuss what we learn.
Participants take turns facilitating sessions, and occasionally we have Biblical experts as “guest lecturers.”
In between Bible Study series, we engage in Faith Sharing, in which we discuss each Sunday’s readings and what they mean in our own lives.
Contact: Kerin Coughlin
Adult Altar Servers
The Adult Altar Server assists the celebrant before and during Mass, particularly during Sundays and Holy Days, to make our community celebration of the Eucharist run smoothly and reverently.
Altar service is a unique lay ministry that actively assists in the Mass up close and greatly helps our celebrants.
Contact: Francis Chin
Music Ministry
“She or he who sings prays twice.”
As all who attend St. Charles know, music is an integral part of our worship.
The Music Ministry is comprised of Sergio Sandí (Music Director and pianist), Coco Leung (cantor), and Ann Bordley (flutist).
Other professional musicians are hired for special celebrations like Easter and Christmas, and on an as-needed basis.
Contact: Sergio Sandi at sergiosandi@stcharlesbklyn.org
Pre-Cana/Marriage Education
Peter McFadden has been teaching Pre-Cana here at St. Charles for several years now. His program gives our couples an opportunity to complete Pre-Cana within the parish while also attracting new couples to St. Charles. He employs an intensive approach in which he meets with each couple privately.
Before meeting, he asks couples to complete the FOCCUS exercise and read several essays he has written on marriage. He often supports couples, even years later, when they run into difficulties in their marriage. Peter has taught marriage conferences at St. Charles and hopes to do so in the future.
He lives north of the city with his wife and two daughters and comes to St. Charles twice a month to work with couples.
Media and Technology
Our Media and Technology Committee broadcasts St. Charles Borromeo’s message on several platforms. We keep our digital imprint updated with our activities.
Daily and Sunday Masses are live streamed on YouTube and archived on our YouTube channel, youtube.com/user/stcharlesbklyn, for later viewing.
Each week, we send registered parishioners and friends of the parish an email announcing parish activities. We also prepare the parish printed bulletin, update the parish website, and draft the announcements to be read at the end of the Sunday Masses.
New participants are welcome. The commitment we ask for is for one year, and you will get help in content creation.
Contacts:
Mike McGowan
Francis Chin
Altar and Garden Committee
The Altar and Garden Committee at St. Charles Borromeo has always worked to create beauty indoors and out. Preparing the altar for Mass is a weekly priority. At Easter and Christmas, the church is fully decorated. For example, during Holy Week, we placed Easter lilies on the side altar for the Holy Eucharist on Holy Thursday, and decorated the front altars on Holy Saturday with a variety of colorful flowering plants for the Easter Vigil Mass and the morning masses.
There are other duties, such as keeping plants watered and fresh flowers looking healthy.
There is a small planting space along Aitken Place which we will make the most of once the weather improves. We are all looking forward to working with our new pastor.
Contact: Anita Mondello
Finance Council
The Finance Council’s mandate is to oversee and safeguard the assets of the parish and to advise the Pastor on financial issues. This involves an ongoing review of assets, liabilities and expenses as well as budgeting, financial reporting and reviews of internal controls. The Council expects to have regular meetings with the parish’s accounting firm. It also reports to, and coordinates with, the Diocese, as needed.
As required by Canon Law 537, it is ruled by the norms laid down by the diocesan Bishop.
The current Finance Council members Ed Bradley, Lela Madoo, Mary McBride, Steve O’Brien, Tess Thompson
Contact: Ed Bradley
Facilities Committee
The Facilities Committee advises the Pastor with respect to all the physical aspects of the parish properties. In addition to the Church building at 1 Aitken Place/19 Sidney Place, which is almost 155 years old. The parish properties include the former parish school and rectory at 21-23 Sidney Place, which is currently leased by the Mary McDowell Friends School – Upper School, and the current rectory and parish center at 31 Sidney Place. All of these require constant upkeep and maintenance operating in New York City’s oldest landmark district.
The Committee recognizes needs, some informed by the Pastor. It then solicits, organizes, vets, and refines proposals; balances urgency, sequence, and cost to provide an ever-evolving plan for dealing with “brick and mortar” issues. The Pastor is closely informed, but he DOES NOT climb any ladders, or read many documents or blueprints. Final decisions are, of course, his.
The Committee needs more people who have relevant skills and experience and are willing to devote significant time to the cause. Criteria for lay members of the Facilities Committee include, in addition to being willing to spend 5-10 hours a month on site visits and calls to discuss professional proposals, some knowledge and experience in the world of building and buildings; the ability to suffer through long contracts and to read blueprints, for example.
The Committee currently consists of the Pastor, as well as one of the trustees, Francis Chin, both ex officio, Joseph Genova, Mimi McGowan, and John O’Malley.
Contact: Joe Genova
Family Fellowship
Join our vibrant community of young families as we navigate the joys and challenges of raising children in the Catholic faith. This group is dedicated to providing support, encouragement, and connection for parents with children of all ages and those expecting.
Together, we’ll foster meaningful relationships through family-friendly social events, faith-sharing gatherings, and the sharing of local resources that nurture our spiritual and family lives. Whether you’re looking for advice, friendship, or simply a place to belong, the Family Fellowship is here for you. Let’s grow in faith and community together!
Contacts:
Alexandra Gupta
Danielle Kushner
Catholic Professionals Ministry
The Catholic Professionals is a lay-led ministry that is led by Tevin Williams and Alexandra Gupta; both are members of the Parish Pastoral Council.
The ministry meets on the second Tuesday of every month and discusses a different topic on the basis of faith while being a working Catholic professional in a secular world.
The ministry was formed in December 2019 in response to a call for more community fellowship amongst the younger, working professionals in the parish, and has continued to grow.
Contacts:
Tevin Williams
Alexandra Gupta
Book Groups
Sunday Book Group: The Book Club has been a tradition at Saint Charles for many years. It is open to anyone who wishes to participate and encourages new membership. It generally meets the second Sunday of the month after the
11:15 AM Mass.
The books are selected by the members. At the last meeting in June, the group decides what type of books they would like to read the following year.
We are currently focusing on fiction by 20th and 21st century award-winning authors. In the past: we have also read biographies and classics. But we are primarily a fiction book club.
At our September meeting, everyone has the opportunity to present their selection, and a schedule is drawn up for the year. A wide range of topics is encouraged which has led to many interesting and informative discussions.
Contacts:
Kate McCormack
Diane Konefal
Brownstone Brooklyn and Beyond: The Brownstone Brooklyn and Beyond book group meets weekly on Thursdays at 7 PM via Zoom. The group was originally formed in 2019 as part of a Lenten program offered in conjunction with Grace Church Brooklyn Heights, the nearby Episcopal church. When COVID-19 hit, the group transitioned online and blossomed, picking up members from other churches in the Brooklyn Heights/Park Slope area and beyond—including former parishioners no longer in the Brooklyn Heights area and family members of participants who joined from Louisiana, Massachusetts, and Texas. Attendance varies based upon the book selection, but there are often 10 to 12 participants. The majority of participants do not worship at St. Charles Borromeo church.
The reading selections usually have a Christian or spiritual bent. The group occasionally reads encyclicals or other tracts in addition to books. The readings are selected by popular vote by the participants.
Dave Plinksy facilitates the group.
The book club was the subject of a short video, https://vimeo.com/castletownmedia/review/558743352/a84972b111, that was presented at the 2021 World Communications Day virtual conference. The video includes an interview with Fr. John Gribowich, who resided at St. Charles Borromeo at the time.
Contact: Dave Plisky
Activities Committee
The Activities Committee creates opportunities to bring parishioners together so that they can get to know one another in a welcoming, warm, and friendly social setting.
Activities and gatherings include:
– Cookouts: We’ve generally had at least one cookout a year either in the May/June timeframe or in September around Catechetical Sunday. We begin after the 11:15 AM Mass; besides lots of food, there are games, crafts and books for children to play, make and read during the BBQ.
– Fish Fry during Lent: We’ve had a fish fry one Friday during Lent since 2022. Each year it has been well received.
– Concerts: we have not had one recently, and this may be something to plan.
These gatherings bring people together after celebrating Mass together, and parishioners volunteer to help with set up and clean up, shopping, cooking and baking, serving food, and generally sharing their talents in many ways!
Community Outreach
Catholic Charities/ Custom House Christmas Toy Drive: For the past eleven years SCB has actively held a toy drive to support Catholic Charities Brooklyn/Queens annual holiday toy event. Partnering with local restaurant Custom House, we are one of five CCBQ “super sponsors” that contributes a significant amount of toys that are distributed during the holiday season.
Contact: John O’Malley
HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services/HSVS: For the past six years, the parish has partnered with HSVS through the donations of parishioners of gift cards to HSVS students attending college or a post-secondary program. HSVS provides educational and financial support to college students placed in foster care through their American Dream Program.
Parish Advocates for Persons with Disabilities
St. Charles Borromeo Church works to express our Catholic faith through building a community, which bears witness to the power of God’s love. Inclusion is central to this witness, and is aligned with the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ call to affirm the dignity of every human being through participation in the sacraments.
An overview of the current ministry of Accessibility at St. Charles is presented on the church website: https://www.stcharlesbklyn.org/people/accessibility-advocates/
Parishioners Phil Murray and Ashleigh Thompson were trained in fall 2011 by the Diocesan Disability Ministry as ‘Parish Advocates for People with Disabilities’. Their efforts have been informed by the principle of Universal Design, community awareness, and a general spirit of welcome. Parishioners are also encouraged to request a meeting with advocates about any specific issues or needs.
Several early actions of this ministry included the creation of large print name tags for Greeters/Ushers and other Lay Ministers, creating accessibility content for the website, placing an accessibility statement in the bulletin, and consistent use of the AV system.
Over time and in response to the pandemic, additional efforts included making gluten-free hosts available, live-streaming mass, removing pews in the rear of the church to make room for wheelchairs, including accessible design in office and rectory renovations, and posting homilies online. Widespread use of Zoom also means that parishioners who cannot physically come to church can participate in church events. Lastly, children with varying abilities participate in catechism.
Contacts:
Phil Murray
Ashleigh Thompson
Vocations Committee
The goal of the St. Charles Borromeo Vocations Committee is to bring awareness and encouragement to young men and women who are interested in the priesthood and religious life.
Over the past few years we’ve tried to bring awareness to vocations by:
Sponsoring Eucharistic Adoration to pray for vocations.
Participating in Vocation Awareness Week
Including prayer petitions in our weekly Sunday bulletin
Acknowledging the anniversaries of World Day of Consecrated Life and World Day of Prayer for Vocations at Sunday Mass
We are in need of help and are looking for volunteers who will take on a leadership role to expand our program. We are open to any new ideas or suggestions to promote our vocations program.
Since we are working full time, our “meetings” are done by email or on an as needed basis. The Diocese of Brooklyn Vocations Office sponsors 2-3 optional meetings per year to update Parish Vocation Committee members on any new business and ideas relevant to our programs. In addition, the Office provides monthly emails that include posters and flyers about vocation events taking place throughout the diocese.
Please prayerfully consider this opportunity to join us in expanding our Vocations Program. If you think you might be interested, please send an email with your contact information to rectory@stcharlesbklyn.org.
Contact: Pat Briggs