St. James Parish Council Minutes
October 14, 2002

 

OPENING PRAYER:  Annette Talbot

 

PRESENT: John Alvey, Ed Barlett, Doris Cadd, Lou Carey, Roger Holyfield, Mike Klamm, Chuck Koesterer, Kim Lay, Jerome Schieder, Annette Talbot, Chris Venditti, and Father Jim Urbanic

 

ABSENT: Father Ron

 

GUESTS:  Tom and Vicki Vinton, Ed and Mary Ann Hughes, and Bob Kaspzyk

 

The meeting was opened by Chairperson Annette Talbot.  Doris Cadd made a motion to approve the July minutes, and Mike Klamm seconded with all approving.  Two issues were added to the agenda: Parish Workday and Protecting God’s Children.  The Agenda was then approved after motions by Annette and Doris.

 

Annette welcomed Father Jim Urbanic to the meeting, and council members extended him a welcome to our parish.  Father Jim told the council he was very happy to be here.

 

AGENDA:

1)      Scouts’ Religious Awards:  Ed and Mary Ann Hughes were present to request that the council consider letting the Boy and Girl Scouts award their religious medals during Sunday Mass.  Three years ago they were asked to discontinue awarding their medals during Mass because of an exceptionally long Mass that included other speakers.  Mary Ann stressed the importance of the religious medals, and how hard the Scouts work for them.  The Scout leaders feel they should be recognized by their parish family during a Mass once a year on Scout Sunday.  Ed Hughes said these children are the future leaders of our parish, and they are asking our support.  Lou Carey said the National Catholic Committee on Scouting develop the criteria for the medals, and also state the medals should be awarded during a “holy setting”.  Several council members agreed the Scouts put a lot of time and effort into earning these awards, and we should support them by letting them award the medals during Mass. Further discussion after the request was presented on being flexible with planning the award ceremony on a Sunday when there weren’t other things on the agenda, and have leaders make sure it is well planned to keep the ceremony short. They should be awarded at the 11 A.M. or 6:00 P.M. Sunday Mass so there won’t be parking and other overlapping issues.        

 

2)      Third World Sister Parish:  Tom and Vicki Vinton gave an update on progress of developing a Third World Sister Parish.  Tom said he had been in contact with a Precious Blood priest in Cincinnati who  suggested forming a committee to look into getting acquainted with the mission area we choose, and who will be a resource for getting started with our mission.   Vicki is forming a committee of interested parishioners which will be meeting in about six weeks.  She has several names from Father Ron who are interested in helping or have had some involvement with the Third World.   She said they were looking at Guatemala or Peru because it would be closer and easier to get to.   They will report back to the council after they meet.

 

3)      New Election Process:  Ed and Chris reported on the session they attended recently at a Diocesan Day for Pastoral Councils on the discernment process for election to the Parish Council.  Their concern on this process is getting enough interest to attend all the meetings and continue with the discernment process.  This process is intended to be community building and matching up individual’s gifts where needed on the council.  Chris said the Parish Council as well as the Staff should be part of the discernment process.  Annette suggested each council member contact their ministry heads before the next meeting to get names of candidates for the council elections or discernment process in May.

 

4)      Reassignment of Father Dien’s 2010 responsibilities:  Strategy 1, Goal B, Action #4 – omit Father Dien.  Joan Sage is a point of contact for this action.  Strategy 2, Goal  B. Action #2 – Annette will check with Father Ron regarding  a contact for a parish pilgrimage.  Strategy 5, Goal C, Action #2 – It was decided to omit the priest at William Jewell since we are unable to  provide a priest at the present time.

 

5)      Diocesan Day for Pastoral Councils:  Annette, Chris, Ed, John, and Chuck shared highlights of the sessions they attended October 5th at a Diocesan Day for Pastoral Councils concerning facilitating discussions, communications, discernment process, and ecumenism in action.  Chuck said it was interesting that they used our 2010 project as an example in the planning session.

 

6)      Parish Work Day:  Roger and Lou reported on volunteers and projects to be addressed at the Parish Work Day Saturday, October 19 at 9:00 A.M.  Roger said they were mostly outdoor projects except for some painting in the office area.

 

7)      Protecting God’s Children Program: Chuck said the diocese is putting on about 50 workshops to raise awareness of child sexual abuse and how to create child-safe environments.  It is a three-hour session.  He said Father Ron sent letters to all ministries involving children to attend a workshop, and about 45 attended last Thursday’s program held here in our parish.

 

8)      Ministry Reports:

Prayer – Lou Carey - No Report

 

Youth – Jerome Schieder – Willie said the Youth Group has been participating in Faith Sharing Groups after the 7 P.M. Mass the first and third Wednesdays.  The annual lockout will be November 22nd and 23rd with plans to spend the night outside and go to the City Union Mission again.

 

Liturgy -  Chris Venditti – No Report

 

Communication – Doris Cadd – No Report

 

Christian Formation/Religious Ed – Kim Lay – No Report

 

Catholic Organizations – John Alvey reported the Altar Society with have Chaplain Steve Smith as speaker on Tuesday, November 5th who will present “Role of Laughter”. 

 

School – Chuck Koesterer – No Report

 

Internal Human Concerns and Outreach – Annette Talbot – No Report except to acknowledge Joe Barry’s continued success with the blood drive and his service to the parish with the recent honor of the Bishop’s Award.

 

External Human Concerns and Outreach – Ed Barlett – No Report

 

Parish & Family Life – Mike Klamm – A report from Brenna Ildza that the Family Life Ministry has had two meetings at the City Park with a very small group attending.

 

Administration & Stewardship – Chuck Koesterer – No Report

 

Jerome commented the new signs for the facilities look really good.   Lou said Love, Inc. needs volunteers to answer phones or for odd jobs.   They are open four hours a day, three days a week.

 

The meeting ended with a prayer by Mike Klamm.  The next meeting will be November 11th at 7 p.m.  Jerome will give the opening prayer.

 

 

 

 

Meeting notes courtesy of Dorothy Haynes