St. James Pastoral Council Minutes
April 14, 2008

 

Opening and closing prayer:  Julia Alsobrook

 

Members present:  Julia Alsobrook, John Alvey, Diane Dolak, Mary George, Dave McDonald, Lisa Richardson, Cathy Teague, Jim Thornton, and Fr. Matt

 

Members Absent:  Joe Ross, Ann Tucker, and Fr. Tom

 

Guests Present:  Jim Newell and Chuck Koesterer

 

Old Business:

  1. Discerning God’s Call for the Parish Goal #5 (Parish Improvement Project)

Dave reported that the outside siding is left to do and it could get finished soon with good weather.  A consultant has been called in to ensure that the roof repair is done properly.  It will not need a complete tear-off.  The repairs are expected to run in the $75-85,000 range, and other problems might be found as we try to correct the existing problems.

 

 

New Business: 

  1. Council Membership and Membership Size

Dave, Mary John and Joe are up for going off the Council.  At the next meeting, Joe is expected to give his definitive answer and Father Tom should decide whether he wants to go on with nine members, or wants ten to serve.  John said that he is leaning on going off the Council if we have the full discernment process.  Fr. Tom thinks we should explore having an election, but that they have not been very successful in the past.

 

  1. Tour of the New Construction

Jim Newell conducted a tour of the new classrooms, youth room and computer lab.  Everyone was very impressed with the work.  The teachers are still in the process of moving in, but are very excited about the new spaces.                 

 

Ministry Reports

 

Youth: Lisa Richardson

Lisa reported that the new youth room is now open.  Bobbi has interviewed the 2nd year confirmation kids; confirmation is scheduled for May 9th.

 

Activities: Mary George

Mary reported that Joe Barry would like more Pastoral Council participation in the next blood drive.  We are all welcome to donate blood, or help in some way in the May 20th blood drive.  The possibility was discussed that perhaps Fr. Tom could announce the blood drives after the Masses to get more people involved.  We had a good turnout of adults and children for the Spanish Stations of the Cross.  We don’t have a lot of Spanish speaking parishioners, but the Gospel or one of the other readings in Spanish at regular Masses might be a possibility for the future.  We have a few Spanish missalettes in the sacristy that could be moved to the back table in the narthex for people to use as worship aids.  If we were to incorporate Spanish in the regular Masses, we would need another priest who is bilingual.

 

Groups:  No report made

 

Liturgy: Joe Ross

Father Matt reported that the scheduling of two Masses at 9:30 am and 11:30 am on Easter Sunday worked out very well.  The Masses were full, but not packed and everything went smoothly.  Father also pointed out that the Veneration of the Cross on Good Friday took 1-½ hours, and was wondering if there was a way to make it go more quickly without losing reverence.  It was suggested that we use two crosses.  Father will bring it up with the Liturgy Committee.

 

Father Matt reported that there might be busses going to the Rosary Rally.  A bus may not necessarily leave from St. James, but from surrounding parishes.  A note will be placed in the bulletin, for those needing or are able to provide rides to Kaufman Stadium for the Rally.  Originally, a committee was going to recruit volunteers to call on parishioners to promote the family praying the Rosary, but that is not going to be possible.

 

Mary reported that there seemed to be some confusion about the sign-up sheets for Eucharistic minister, lectors, ushers, etc. for the Easter Masses.  Some who were regularly scheduled for that weekly Mass thought their positions had been filled by the sign-up sheets and did not report for duty as usual.  At Adoration after Holy Thursday Mass, many people left early complaining that it was too noisy.  It was discussed that next year Adoration could be held somewhere that could be closed off to cut down on the noise.

 

Education:  Julia Alsobrook and Diane Dolak

Julia reported that the First Communicants and their parents participated in a Bread Baking Retreat on March 29th.  Father Joe Miller was on hand to help.  Fifth graders are going n a retreat to the Franciscan Center in Independence on the 20th.  They will spend the morning in a vocations retreat with Father Joe, have brunch in the sister’s dining hall, do the outdoor Stations of the Cross with their teachers, and then celebrate Mass in the chapel with the sisters.  All the students were given rosaries that were donated by Ken Oyen’s mother’s parish in Florida.  The rosaries were given out along with the brochure for the Living Rosary in May.  The Religious Ed room is up and running; videos, books and craft supplies are sorted and organized.  St. James will be once again hosting the Northland Catechist Kick Off in August.  This is a day of invigorating speakers, hand-on workshops, and displays of materials for all the catechists in the Northland area.  The parishes of the two Northland deaneries sponsor it.  Danny Baker and his musicians will play for the prayer services and Cathy Barron has agreed to present one of the workshops. 

 

A new Pre-K teacher has been hired as well as one other teacher.  Molly anticipates that the hiring will be completed by the 25th.  The ITBS Testing results have just come back, but the data has not yet been analyzed.

 

Diane reported that Daryl said everything is going fine in the office, and that everything has been moved back into classrooms after the new construction.  There are five people continuing with Sandy in the Adult Religious Ed program.  A retreat to Conception Abbey is scheduled for April 27th.

 

Pastor’s Comments:  Father Matt

Father Matt reported that Father Tom is doing well after his surgery.  He plans on being in the office on Wednesday, and presiding at one Mass (11 am) this weekend.

 

Agenda Items for May Meeting:

 

Discerning God’s Call for the Parish

 

 

Closing prayer:  John Alvey for Julia Alsobrook

 

The next meeting will be on May 12th, 2008. Opening and closing prayer will be by John Alvey.

 

 

Meeting notes courtesy of Cathy Teague - Recording Secretary