For minutes of our April, 2010 meeting, click here.
The Archdiocesan Guidelines describe the PPC's purpose: "to assist the pastor in his leadership role of planning, organizing, initiating, promoting, coordinating and reviewing the evangelization, worship, religious education and service activities within the parish." Parish Pastoral Council members have three year terms, are nominated by any parishioners, and are chosen from among all nominations after a process of prayerful discernment.
The Parish Council meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 7:30pm-9pm in the Fireplace Room. You are always welcome and encouraged to share your thoughts and ideas about the parish with anyone from the PPC who will then bring your thoughts to our meetings, or by emailing Parish Pastoral Council
Introducing our Blessed Sacrament Parish Pastoral Council:
Karen Bell
I have been a member of Blessed Sacrament parish since 2001. My husband Brian and I have two children: Matthew who will be attending BC High in the fall, and Jeanine who will be in 6th grade at Blessed Sacrament School. Perhaps my most visible contributions to the parish have been as lector and occasional performer with Fr. Mike and Susan Glancy. I teach voice at Milton Academy, sing professionally in Boston, and conduct the New Pond Village Glee Club. I am also a cantor at St. Catherine’s in Norwood, and co-director of the Youth Choral Program there. Blessed Sacrament is an incredibly vibrant community, and I look forward to serving on the Parish Pastoral Council.
Andrea Berry
I've been a member of Blessed Sacrament for 15 years. I started out as an altar server, and worked my way up to the Religious Education, with both the Elementary students and Confirmation candidates. What I love most about this parish is the friendliness and a strong sense of community. I look forward to bringing some new ideas to the table and helping out in various ways. I believe that having a college student on the committee will help to inspire younger people to give back to the church and to have a positive role model.
Louise Cataldo
I have been living in Walpole for the past 12 years with my husband Christopher and my daughter Gayle. Blessed Sacrament parish has been a great experience that has contributed to our growth as a family. The parish was very welcoming and has provided many opportunities and programs that have allowed us to strengthen our faith. I have served as a Catechist in the Religious Education program for the past three years, teaching grades 1-3. I am impressed by the quality of the program and inspired by the participants. I am looking forward to serving on the Parish Pastoral Council and hope to build on the wonderful community that exists here at Blessed Sacrament. I have an undergraduate degree from Westfield State College and I have worked as a Manager of Human Resources at a local Credit Union for the past 10 years. I enjoy many outdoor activities with my family, friends and our dog Sophie.
Emidio DiVirgilio
I have lived in Walpole for 17 years and have been a member of the parish for the same amount of time. I am married to Teresa and have two children, Christina (16) and Anthony (13). I graduated from the University of Lowell in 1985 and have worked for Tufts Health Plan as a Senior Safety & Security Specialist for almost four years. I have also been a Walpole town meeting member since 2001. I look forward to being a member of the Parish Pastoral Council. I've been looking for an opportunity to volunteer in some way that would benefit the church and hopefully increase my faith. We have a great church community and I look forward to assisting in the future success of Blessed Sacrament's mission.
Marianne Kearney
I have been a member of Blessed Sacrament since moving to Walpole in 2005, serve as a Eucharistic Minister, member of the Social Justice group, and was on the organizing committee for the hunger awareness event "Got Give?" held last fall, in collaboration with United Church of Walpole. In my professional life, I am the director of clinical project management, in the neurology clinical trials unit at Massachusetts General Hospital. I enjoy the level of community involvement and energy at Blessed Sacrament and look forward to working closely with the Pastoral Staff, as a member of the Parish Pastoral Council, to continue to make "Blessed Sacrament a Catholic community, rooted in the Eucharist, where All are Welcome as we Build the City of God".
Gail Maloney
I have lived in Walpole for a number of years with my husband Dan, and my daughter Erin. Recently I retired from a career in sales and marketing and am now involved volunteering in the community – with a focus on the Walpole schools and Blessed Sacrament. For the last three years, I taught in the CCD program and currently help out at the Parish House. I received my undergraduate degree from Holy Cross College, and earned my MBA in marketing from Boston College. I really enjoy the sense of community at Blessed Sacrament and hope I can contribute to its growth over the next few years as a member of the Parish Pastoral Council.
John Marcus
John has been a member of Blessed Sacrament for almost 14 years. John, his wife Susan and their son Christopher moved to Walpole in 1995 from Springfield, MA. John has served on the PPC since 2004 and has been a lector for the past 12 years. Christopher has also been a lector for the past two years. John is looking forward to continuing to serve on the PPC, because he believes the parish is at a critical point in its history; and he wants to be able to contribute to the great work already being done in the parish.
Kevin McGovern
I have been a member of the Blessed Sacrament Parish community for 24 years. My wife Joanne and I have 4 children, twins Maura and Kathleen (BSS ’04) both attending Salve Regina University in Newport RI, Denis (BSS’05) who will be attending Boston College, and Neal (BSS’09) who will be attending Bishop Feehan High School . I have been an active parishioner over the years serving as School Board Chair for 7 years and Lector for 2 years. I have also mentored the BSS robotics program for 8 years. I am employed as Chief Technologist for BCBS of Rhode Island and previously owned and operated a computer consulting firm. I believe my technology and business experience will be of benefit to the PPC.
Mary Prendergast
My husband and I and our two children have been Blessed Sacrament parishioners since 2004. I have always enjoyed the level of involvement the parish encourages among members, and I am one of the many who supported our ongoing Year of the Blessed Sacrament celebration. I look forward to serving on the Pastoral Council and contributing my experience in project management and communications strategy.
Joe Rosenthal
Joe Rosenthal has been a member of Blessed Sacrament Parish for thirty-five years, serving in various capacities as lector, C.C.D. teacher, school board member, and with his wife, Pat, Home/School Association Co-President and baptism presenter for new parents. A graduate of Boston College, his professional career was in public education - the last eighteen years as a Jr. High Principal. He is now retired. He and his wife, Pat, have been blessed with twelve children. He hopes to be able to assist the parish to help serve all of God's people with the Gospel messages.
Tess Staley
Tess has been going to church at Blessed Sacrament all her life, but just recently was confirmed. She is 16 years old and will be a junior at Walpole High School this upcoming year. From a family of 9 children, she knows the feeling of having a large family, which is also the reason she enjoys coming to the church so much. As a new member of the PPC, she hopes to become a more prominent member in the church.
Maggi Taurone
My name is Maggi Taurone and I have recently became a member of the PPC here at Blessed Sacrament. We have lived in Walpole since 1992 and have enjoyed worshipping at Blessed Sacrament since our arrival. I enjoy being involved in my parish and feel that I have ownership because of that involvement. Currently I am a lector, a member of the Social Justice Group, and the editor of the weekly bulletin. I live in the neighborhood with my husband Ken Gibson and our son Alex. I am a middle school math and science teacher for the Town of Sudbury. I look forward to sharing ideas and hearing about your ideas as the PPC works to enable our parish to flourish in the years ahead.
Denise Tetreault
I have most recently been a member of Blessed Sacrament for the past 15 years. I grew up here at Blessed Sacrament, went off to college and worked in the Midwest for twenty years, and then returned to the friendly town of Walpole and the welcoming Blessed Sacrament. I’ve been participating on the Social Justice Committee and lectoring for the past several years. The past three years on the PPC has been an enlightening experience, and I am looking forward to continuing the work of the PPC. I am a physical therapist working in Milford, and keep busy with my parents, siblings and nieces and nephews; and in my spare time I keep trying to perfect my golf game with my friends.
Deirdre Walsh
Hello my name is Deirdre Walsh. I have been involved in the parish for many years as an altar server for eight years, a lector for two years, and other collaborative events such as the monthly soup kitchen. I am currently a sophomore at Medfield High School, where I participate in a variety of activities including theatre and a service group called Community Teens. I work as a youth soccer referee for the town of Medfield, as well. I am so excited to become a member of the Parish Pastoral Council. I love Blessed Sacrament's outreach into its dedicated and faith oriented community. I hope as a member of the Parish Pastoral Council to help Blessed Sacrament become an even stronger and better parish for the future.
Bill Willoth
I have been an active member of Blessed Sacrament Parish since 1984. My wife, Cindy, a lifelong member of the parish, and I were married in Blessed Sacrament Church in 1981. I am a Boston College alumnus and am currently an investment fund manager; and Cindy is a Human Resources Director at a local aerospace company and is continuing her education at Boston College. Our two sons are both graduates of Blessed Sacrament School and Xaverian Brothers High School. Kurt recently received his political science degree from Gettysburg College, and Kyle just completed his freshman year at Santa Clara University. We have a very active one-year-old Hungarian Vizsla named Kali.
I stated that I was an active member of Blessed Sacrament Parish for the last twenty five years; but, it would be more accurate to say that I have been a member for twenty five years, of which I have been an active member for two or three. My life has changed. I feel urged by the Spirit to play a more active role in my faith, and I feel that contributing in any way as a member of the Parish Pastoral Council will complement my faith journey.