POLICY DECISIONS
Awards
By custom, the following awards are presented annually:
Medallion Circle (Silver) - Outstanding Archdiocesan and/or ParishService - Maximum of one (1) presented to a member of the clergy at the Annual Banquet
Medallion Circle (Bronze) - Outstanding Archdiocesan Service - Maximum of one (1) presented to a layperson at the Annual Banquet
Thomas Ryan Award - Outstanding Parish Service - Maximum of one (1) presented to a layperson at the Annual Banquet. Executive Board members are ineligible
John Schaum Memorial Award - Outstanding Holy Name Service not recognized during lifetime - Maximum of one (1) presented to a member of the clergy or a layperson, at the Annual Mass for Deceased Members.
Banquet
Annual Banquet usually held in May of each year.
No Archdiocesan Annual Banquet for 2007, to avoid conflict with the Presidential Banquet of the National Convention.
Blessed John - Annual Mass
Annual event, held on a Sunday, in the Fall of each year, at Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Philadelphia [This location was chosen because of the presence of the Blessed John of Vercelli Prayer Room].
By custom, the Executive Board delegates plenary discretion to the Committee Chair (presently T. Paul DiVito) to make necessary arrangements.
Blessed John - Monthly Mass
Monthly event, held on the second Saturday of each month, at a rotating series of parishes (see sub-folder "Blessed John Masses" under this folder). By custom, the Executive Board delegates plenary discretion to the Committee Chair (presencly Francis Franzini) to make necessary arrangements.
Citizenship
As needed, the Chair (presently John F. Bradley) advises the membership of upcoming elections and of public policy issues of concern.
Constitution
Customarily, no action is taken unless a member of the Executive Board presents a proposed amendment to either the Constitution or the By-Laws. Theoretically, amendments to the By-Laws could be voted upon immediately, but are customarily postponed until the next Executive Board Meeting. Amendments to the Constitution, however, require 30 days notice and publication in the Voice of Vercelli.
Convention
The Executive Board has delegated plenary authority to the Convention Committee to make all decisions pertaining to the Convention [Motion of Robert Leso, at February, 2005 Meeting, seconded and passed unanimously.
Fund-Raising
Since 2003, the PAHNU has sold raffle ticket books for the Fall-Winter Raffle of the Roman Catholic High School Alumni Association. The proceeds of the 2003-2006 raffle ticket sales were dedicated to the 2007 Convention Account. Because of the heavy workload of the Convention, and the anticipated revenue therefrom, the PAHNU will not sell raffle tickets in 2007, but will probably resume sales in 2008, with the funds committed either to the General Treasury, or to some other cause designated by the Executive Board.
Hispanic Holy Name Societies
The PAHNU actively encourages the formation of Hispanic, or Spanish-language Holy Name Societies in parishes where the Hispanic population is sufficiently numerous as to render them feasible. Conversely, the PAHNU also encourages Hispanic Catholics to join already-existing English language Holy Name Societies in their parishes, if they wish to do so.
Memorial Mass
The PAHNU holds an Annual Mass for Deceased Members on a Sunday in November, preferably the 1st Sunday, if possible. The Mass is rotated among parishes with active Holy Name Societies. The John Schaum Award is presented to a family member of a distinguished Holy Name person who was never honored by the PAHNU during their lifetime. The names of deceased Holy Name members who died in the past year are read aloud at the Mass, and enrolled in the Seraphic Mass Association.
Prison Ministry
While the PAHNU is not currently visiting prisons, the organization supports the work of the National and State Holy Name "Metanoia" retreats, led by Harry "Bud" Cope and Lucius "Lou" Manns, the NAHNS Prison Ministry Chair and Vice Chair respectively. Recently, the PAHNU has also encouraged the morale-building work of "Mary, Mother of Captives", a letter-writing ministry to prisoners.
Pro-Life
The PAHNU encourages attendance at the Annual Pro-Life March in Washington, DC, on January 22nd, and also provides information to its members about other pro-life activities in the Philadelphia Metropolitan Region.
Reorganization/Revitalization
The PAHNU supports parish Holy Name Societies in the following ways:
1. Publicizing their activities under the sub-folder "Parish News";
2. Visits by the PAHNU President and other officers to parish Holy Name Society events, preferably at least on an annual basis;
3. Sending speakers to weekend Masses when a new society is being formed.
Sick and Vigil
The PAHNU announces the illness or death of Holy Name Society members at its monthly Executive Board Meetings, and enrolls deceased members in the Seraphic Mass Association (see Memorial Mass, supra.
Sports
The PAHNU sponsors an annual "Holy Name Night at the Phillies", and generally reserves 50 tickets for the said event.
Supplies
The PAHNU keeps a modest stock of supplies on hand, for sale at major archdiocesan events, such as the Annual Blessed John Mass, Annual Banquet, and Annual Memorial Mass for Deceased Members.
TV Mass
With the gracious cooperation of Dr. Annette DiMedio, Producer of the Archdiocesan TV Mass, the PAHNU celebrates an Annual TV Mass for Shut-Ins. Whenever possible, the taping of this Mass is timed for airing on National Holy Name Sunday [the second Sunday in September].
Voice of Vercelli
Recogniznig that not all of our members have computer access, the PAHNU publishes a "hard copy" newsletter. Ideally, this Newsletter should be published on a quarterly basis, but circumstances sometimes prevent such regular publicatino.
Website
The PAHNU maintains a Website, which is being constantly improved for the benefit of our members and parish societies.