Commissions

Communications Committee

The Communications Committee is dedicated to spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ through all available communications media. We write articles for local newspapers, Harvest magazine, TV, and radio; take pictures of parish events; design and maintain our parish web-site pages; and promote parish events through posters, flyers, and programs. Our goal is to creatively communicate all the good work that our parish does for our local community and within our own church community.

Faith Formation

Chairperson: Trish Morin

The purpose of the Faith Formation Commission is to provide effective channels for parishioners to grow in faith and experience God’s presence in their lives. The Faith Formation Commission advises the pastoral team with respect to educational issues. The Faith Formation Commission assesses the educational and faith development needs of the parish and provides long-term direction as to how to satisfy those needs. The needs of children, youth and adults are all included in this assessment. The Faith Formation Commission supports the educational delivery programs. We also support the Parish Children’s and Adult Libraries through Poinsettia sales at Christmas, Lily Sales at Easter, and various Book Fairs. Our catechists are our most valued volunteers who put many hours into lesson planning and their own faith formation and training, so we also plan the Catechist Appreciation Dinner, the Catechist Commissioning Sunday, and the Catechist retreat.

Small Blessings Newborn -K
Chester’s Kids (Children’s Liturgy of the Word) Grades K-1
Faith Friends (Faith Formation Program) Grades 2-4
SPRED
Goods News Disciples Grades 5-6
Junior YM Grades 7-8
Youth Ministry Grades 9-12
Adult Education: The Faith Formation Commission sponsors several various adult education programs throughout the year.
RCIA: This is the process through which adults and children of catechetical age or older become members of the Roman Catholic Church. The process includes an extended period of formation and celebration of the initiation sacraments – Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil Liturgy.

Finance

Chairperson: Jim Russell

The Finance Council is responsible for assuring the necessary human and material resources – land, buildings, finances – that will enable the parish to carry on the work of Christ. To a great extent, the effectiveness of the other commissions and of the pastoral mission of the Church depend on whether the necessary resources are available to operate the programs that are deemed necessary. This commission is also responsible for reminding parishioners of their duty to return to God, as a token of gratitude, part of the material benefits with which they have been blessed.

Parish Profile – To maintain an accurate profile of the parish including population, changing neighborhoods, economics, future growth or decline.
Financial Education – To educate the parish about financial needs and priorities.
Fund Raising – To stimulate greater financial responsibility by members of the parish.
Budget Preparation and Monitoring – To prepare and monitor the annual operating budget.
Financial Assistance – To assist in construction and repairs, fund disbursements, preparation of financial reports, and Catholic Stewardship Appeal
Facility Maintenance and Replacement – To plan and provide for the maintenance and replacement of the physical plant.
Human Resources – To provide the necessary lay personnel to meet parish needs and to develop and monitor job descriptions and human resources, policies, and procedures.

The Finance Committee supports the following fund-raisers for our parish. We always need sponsors, monetary and in-kind donations to help these fundraisers meet their financial goals. Please contact the chairperson of each sub-committee if you would like to help plan these fund-raising events.

Christmas Prelude Sub-committee

Chairperson: Heather Mullen

This fundraiser was just new in November 2008. We planned a whole weekend of events just before Thanksgiving, which included:

The Polar Express
Craft Fair
Silent Night Auction
Treasure Chest (White Elephant Table)
Cookie Xpress Sale
Fish Chowda Lunch and Snack Bar (sponsored by Knights of Columbus)
Winter Wine Tasting
Pancake Breakfast with Santa (sponsored by Youth Ministry)
Advent Wreath Making (sponsored by the Parish Life Committee)

Spring Fashion Show Sub-committee

Chairperson: Mary Capobianco

New for Spring 2010, a fashion show of the latest Spring styles including a luncheon. Look for our first organizational meeting coming in Summer 2009.

Italian Dinner Sub-committee

Chairperson: Mary Godfrey

The Italian Dinner has become a tradition at St. Bartholomew with tasty Tuscan specialties, wine, Italian desserts, and out of the ordinary entertainment. If you like to cook Italian food, contact Mary to help out.

Parish Life

Chairperson: Heather Mullen

The Parish Life Commission supports the heart of the Christian community by strengthening the relationships of individuals within our parish community, by involving all members of our parish community in fellowship, and by providing experiences that give a clearer vision of discipleship through community life.

Fellowship Events:

Volunteer Appreciation Dinner – This annual, multi-generational celebration is a special evening to acknowledge and thank the many hardworking volunteers of our parish.
Advent Wreath Making Sunday – On the first Sunday of Advent, the entire parish is invited to an Open House to enjoy refreshments, listen to Christmas music and make an Advent Wreath, ornaments and holiday crafts to decorate and bring the true meaning of the season into their home.
Family Activities – We offer several events throughout the year especially for families with children, such as Pizza Movie Night, the Advent Wreath Sunday or Super Bowl Party. These events change year to year, depending on the interests and talents of our planning committee.
Poverty Meal – To provide a simple meatless meal after the Ash Wednesday Mass to start our Lenten journey through the spiritual disciplines of fasting, almsgiving, and prayer.
Easter Egg Hunt – The afternoon of the Easter Vigil, our committee hosts an egg hunt for the families in our parish. We also offer an Easter story, crafts, and light refreshments to experience the joy of the Resurrection!
Senior Luncheon – This special event is enjoyed by the senior members of our parish that impart so much wisdom, guidance, time and talent to our parish.
Social Events – Sometimes the adults just need some time to enjoy each other’s company! Several times a year, we sponsor fellowship events for the grown ups, such as Pot Luck Suppers, Grown Up Game Night, or Themed Parties. These events change year to year, depending on the interests and talents of our planning committee.

Social Justice and Peace

Chairperson: Judy Meschinelli

To infuse the spirit of Christ into the laws, attitudes and morals of the community. Parishioners, through personal dedication to the community of mankind, should strive to alleviate human suffering and even more important, to eliminate the causes of social problems. The Commission meets every other month at 7pm on the first Tuesday of the month in the church. All Parishioners are welcome. To educate the parish in the teachings of the church on Social Justice. Social justice forms an essential part of being a Christian. Keeping the parish informed about particular social problems within the parish and the surrounding communities. To investigate and coordinate the parish response to problems on the local, national and global levels and especially to the needs of the poor, the sick, the oppressed and the imprisoned. Legislative issues and Beginning and End of Life issues through bulletin inserts and contact numbers for their legislators. St. Bartholomew's is a tithing community. Ten percent of the gross monthly income is the source of funding that the commission dispenses to support different causes and requests in a responsible and Christian way. An annual report is published in the Bulletin. Some of the organizations that receive ongoing support are the following:

Birth Line and Project Rachel
Respect Life, Maine Vitae Society
Prison Ministry
My Sisters Keeper
St. Anthony’s Parish, Jackman, Maine
Wayside Soup Kitchen-Fourth Sunday of the Month
Catholic Charities of Maine
Catholic Relief Services
South Portland Food Cupboard
Missions in Haiti
Emergency Requests

Worship

Chairperson: Pauline Dumont

The Worship Committee assesses the liturgical needs of our parish, especially the art and environment of our liturgical space. We decorate the sanctuary for the liturgical seasons, make recommendations for purchases of more permanent religious artwork, greenery, vestments, altar cloths, sacred vessels, and musical equipment, offer on-going training and formation of liturgical ministers, and ensure the prayerful coordination of special liturgies. Our current projects are to investigate purchasing banners for the sanctuary, making stepping stones to our Mary Garden, and putting up an outdoor Nativity.