Feasibility Study team of an English group/Li-Peng Chou

Dear All,

One advantage of an aging community is that it leaves more room for the next generation to grow. After so many years of growth, finally we see the English group becomes mature enough to form a standalone team. The SJCCC as a whole, now requires three groups in parallel to serve broader needs on language basis. In the past, only the Mandarin group enjoys a dedicated priest for exclusive services. Both the English group and the Cantonese group are constantly pleading for guest priests to nurture their spiritual needs. Without clear identity, members may have strong attachment to the community, but don't have the sense of spiritual belonging. The importance of a community, which is constantly communioned in Mass, is obvious. Let's take the Mandarin group as an example, even with the recent turmoils, the whole community is still united firmly in the Sunday Mass. The same thing can be observed also on the recent development of the Cantonese group. Under the leadership of Fr. Hsiao as their dedicated spiritual director, the whole team becomes very affirmative to their Evangelization goals. It is about time for us to consider the English group be transformed into an independent entity too. For this, I have obtained the permission from the council meeting to form an ad hoc study group. You are cordially invited to the feasibility study team for the establishment of an English group in our community. The initial goal is to have a full time (or part time) priest as a dedicated spiritual director to the group.

A tentative roster of the study team members is as follows:

• Jimmy Chen, finance minister;
• Steve Chu, Watermark leader;
• Marcus Liu, Lighthouse leader;
• Ujian Lee, Lighthouse leader;
• Isabel Chou, former vice chair;
• Ana Tsai, former chair;
• Yvone Chow, experienced and professional LOM;
• Patrick Ku, youth minister;
• Joanne Hsia, English Mass liturgical minister;
• Margarita Hua, Mandarin Mass liturgical ministry;
• Jesica Wong, CM director;
• Kai Min Yang, former chair;
• Tony Fu, tent builder of many youth ministries;
• Ken Wong, former chair;
• Li-peng Chou, acting chair;

In the first meeting, we'll discuss the following two subjects:

1. The necessity (from community view) and requirements (candidate qualification) of a full time or part time priest;
2. The operation model of the English group;

We will share the following thoughts:

1. Please name 4 reasons why we should/could not do it;
2. Please name 2 reasons why we should/could do it;

In order to give more thoughts for this profound change, I'll give one month for everybody to collect inputs from your related teams. The first meeting is scheduled in mid September. Here are the potential time slots:

• September 20, Thursday, 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm, or
• September 22, Saturday, 10:00 am to 11:30 pm, or
• September 23, Sunday, 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm.

Please let me know your interests and availability to the team, as well as your preference to the meeting time.

Thanks, In Christ,

Li-peng