St. James Pastoral Council Minutes
March 13, 2006

 

OPENING PRAYER: Chuck Koesterer

 

MEMBERS PRESENT: John Alvey, Chuck Koesterer, Dave McDonald, Joe Ross, Sarah Rusch, Larry Stanley, John Talbot, Father Joe and Father Matt

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:  Mary George, and Mike Jones

 

The meeting was conducted by President of the board, Chuck Koesterer.  The February minutes were approved as written.  The March agenda was approved.

 

Old Business:

1.      Discerning God’s call for the Parish

A meeting for the heads of each goal will be held this Thursday.  Goal 5 is taking a look at long and short term goals for our facilities. 

                                                                

2.  Discernment for the Next Pastoral Council

      John Alvey reported there were 16 prospective council members who attended the first discernment meeting last Saturday.  He asked for some of the present council members to attend the next meeting.  Discussion will continue at the next council meeting on how many positions will be filled with new members.

 

3.  Parish Feast Day/Art & Music Festival

      After discussion on whether to have separate celebrations for the Parish Feast Day and the Art & Music Festival it was the consensus of the council that the Festival would possibly have better attendance if it was held later in the year when it isn’t so hot.  Father Joe said he would talk to Geoff Hagins to see if he would want to have the Festival later.  Father Joe suggested trying to have the Feast Day celebration on the actual feast day in the evening to see if we would have a better turnout.  It would be on Tuesday, July 25th.  Further discussion on both celebrations will be held at the next meeting.     

     

New Business:

1.      Spring Cleaning Day

      Spring cleaning will be Saturday, April 8th at 10 a.m.   Cleanup projects both inside and outside will be organized as in the past.

 

2.  Ideas to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of our building

      Our 25th Anniversary of our present church will be April 5th.  Group 5 will put together displays of our church’s past, present, and future on a table in the narthex the weekend of April 1st and 2nd.  

 

Ministry Reports:

Activities: Larry Stanley

Larry reported that Freedom House is seeing a lot of needy people and could always use more people to help.     

 

Education:

Father Joe said most of the 5th graders are coming back next year so there will be 38 possible 6th graders which are too many for one class.  Different options are being considered for additional classrooms such as moving the library to a trailer outside the cafeteria to allow room for two classrooms.  Council members asked about utilizing storage space for classrooms and planning for additional space for the next several years. 

 

 

 

Youth: Sarah Rusch

Sarah reported a small youth group saw a very good movie at Mike Jones’ house and how the movie impacted them by seeing how a young man could overcome a lot of problems, become a Catholic, and end up becoming a priest.  Sarah said it made her think that no matter what you do, God will always accept you and He will forgive you.   Youth Mass is the 2nd Sunday of each month.  

 

Liturgy: Joe Ross

Mass schedules for Lent are set.  There will be a Monday 5:45 p.m. mass through Lent.  The Baptismal font has been moved inside for Easter.

 

Groups: John Alvey

Several men from St. James became Fourth Degree Knights this past weekend including Father Joe, Father Matt, and Len Platt.   The Knights fish fry was well attended with about 600 meals served.

Father Joe mentioned they are redoing the church directory and if you know of any changes to let Len Platt know in the next day or two.  

Chuck said if anyone knows of any ministries or groups that have news items for the newsletter to let Toni Ferro Arthur know. 

 

Administration and Stewardship:  Chuck Koesterer

The parish house sold and is waiting to close.  The Stewardship Committee is getting together again.   Dennis Valentine is the chairperson.  They are working on redoing distribution of packets to new parishioners.  There are about 20 new families coming to the parish every month.

 

Pastor’s Comments:

1.      Compliments to the council on a good year working well together and he has enjoyed working with this council. 

 

Chuck noted the 50th anniversary of the Catholic Key is coming up, and he asked if we should put a parish ad in this paper as it goes to every household in the diocese.  Father said we possibly would, and there are plans to distribute prayer cards for the anniversary after Mass.

 

CLOSING PRAYER: John Talbot

 

April Agenda:

1.      Discerning God’s Call for the Parish – Mike Klamm

2.      Discernment for the next Pastoral Council

3.      Parish Feast Day

 

The next business meeting will be Monday, April 10th at 7 p.m.  Opening and closing prayer will be by Mike Jones.   

 

 

 

Meeting notes courtesy of Dorothy Haynes - Recording Secretary