St. James Pastoral Council Minutes
November 10, 2003

 

 

OPENING PRAYER:  Jan Agee

 

MEMBERS PRESENT: Jan Agee, John Alvey, Ed Barlett, Doris Cadd, Mike Klamm, Chuck Koesterer, Kim Lay, Ken Platt, Larry Stanley, John Talbot, Chris Venditti, Father Ron Will, and Ken Oyen

 

ABSENT: Youth Representatives Diana Keck and Chris Oldenburg

 

The meeting was conducted by Chairperson Mike Klamm.   There were two corrections to the October minutes.  A correction was made to spelling of Diane Backhaus’ name in agenda Item 2 as the letter “k” was omitted.  The Administration ministry report listed Harrison Trinidad and was corrected to read: There will be a Planned Giving Seminar put on by Hamilton Trinidad and Steve Wolcott.  There was one addition to the November agenda by Father Ron: Request from Conception Abbey to add a link to the St. James web page.

 

AGENDA: 

 

1)      Continue discussion of strategic planning: Reports back from Father Ron, Mike, and Doris

      Father Ron contacted four references given by Larry Kramer, and received positive responses from all.  Doris said the diocesan office seemed very interested in helping, and requested several statistics of our parish so they can make the best recommendation for our needs.   Father Ron said there were two responses to the bulletin ad for volunteers for strategic planning.  Mike suggested setting up a brainstorming meeting with the volunteers, and Father Ron thought it was a good idea for the executive committee from the council, Mike and Chris, and Ken Oyen to attend this meeting.

     

2)      Feedback from Diane Backhaus regarding adding “Parish Nurse”

Chris reported that Diane met with Ginny Feeny, Director of Pastoral Care, at St. Therese’s for ideas on needs of a Parish Nurse.  She said she thought the next step would be to meet with the different parish ministries for their ideas.

3)      Continue sharing on what did you learn from Diocesan Day for Councils worth sharing with the rest of us?

Ed commented on several topics from the session “Engaging in Difficult Conversations” which included discussion on homosexuals and sex scandals in church.  He also attended “Young Adult Ministry.”  Len shared handouts and activities from the session he attended, “Faith Formation-Cradle to Grave” which he found a fun and interesting topic.  He said he also enjoyed the session “Stewardship-Becoming Stewards and Responsibilities” including what works and what doesn’t, buy-in process, and group efforts.  Father Ron noted as a follow-up to “Discovering Gifts for Service” there would be a meeting at the Chancery office November 19th, and he would contact Lou Carey to see if she can attend as he won’t be able to go.

 

4)      Project 2010 Review of Strategy #2 

Ed reported many Actions of Strategy #2 are in place. 

Goal A. Diversify the Mass

Action #1: Initiate a choir exchange will not be completed until Sister Mary Jo has had time to develop a quality exchange choir. 

Action #2: Explain portions of the Mass in the worship aid and newsletter. Sister Mary Jo plans to do this.

Action #3: By 2005 half of our liturgy ministers will be under age 30.   Sister Mary Jo said we need more liturgy ministers.  We have a real shortage of communion ministers.  It was suggested by council members to look into having a communion minister training meeting at St. James in the near future. 

Goal B. Promote a Variety of Prayer Experiences

Action #2: Hold parish pilgrimages at least yearly.  This hasn’t been done, but will look at other prayer opportunities.

Goal C. Provide a Vast Array of Catholic Teaching Resources

Action #4: We will have a functional parish library/Catholic study room, etc. by July, 2007.  This action is on hold due to adequate building space. 

 

5)      Email Forum Update

Ed reported most council members are signed on to the Yahoo pastoral council group, however, if anyone needs his help to get signed on he will gladly assist. 

 

6)      William Jewell Ministry

Doris reported she and several others are very interested in this ministry.  Father Keith has set up some Mass times at the college.  Mary Ellen Hughes is interested in getting families to adopt students.  Doris said she would like to provide a meal after the 6 p.m. Sunday Mass about two weeks before finals, and will see if this can be arranged. 

 

7)      Future process for Pastoral Council Elections/Discernment: perhaps appoint a committee to develop proposals

Doris plans to put an article in the newsletter regarding pastoral council elections by discernment.  Mike, Doris, and Chris will form a committee to put together guidelines for this process and report back to the council in January.

 

8)      a) Report on El Pinar mission trip

Father Ron reported the mission team was given a very warm welcome on arrival in Lima, Peru by the Commission of El Pinar.  El Pinar is one of 12 base communities in Our Lady of the Light parish of 85,000.  Only 8% are practicing and involved.  They have a chapel with a thatch roof and dirt floor, and Mass is celebrated there every 15 days.  Father Joe Deardorff is their only pastor with three priests dividing duties of the main parish.  The mission committees spent quite a bit of time discussing their desire to establish a covenant, and to stay in touch by mail, email, and pen pal letters by school students.  They also talked about celebrating each other’s feast days and putting bulletin boards in each church to display articles or photos.  The first year goal is to establish a relationship between the two parishes getting to know each other.   Father Ron said he hopes to someday bring some of their parishioners here for a visit.    

 

b) Request from Conception Abbey to add a link to St. James web page

Ken Oyen said the parish received a request from Conception Abbey to add a link to our web page to their Printery House to order cards, etc.  He said they are willing to give 7% of proceeds to St. James for business generated from this link.  Ed was concerned if this would open the idea for others to request links from us as well.  It was decided by the council to develop a written policy on web page links, and Ed and Ken will write the policy.

 

MINISTRY REPORTS:

†     Prayer: Some concerns were raised to council members of training process for Renew leaders.  John Talbot will follow-up with Renew leaders and report back.

†     Youth: A search for replacement of Willy Fontanez as Youth Director has begun by advertising in several newspapers.  They have two applications, and it is hoped to have someone hired by January 1st.

†     Liturgy: Sister Mary Jo is working with a theme for school Mass each week with involvement of the students.  Advertisements will be placed in the bulletin to recruit new liturgy members.

†     Communication: The school website is getting more functional.  Doris plans to attend the next PTO meeting, and will talk to Molly Doherty about getting more involvement in getting information to Howard Henry for posting on the web site.

†     Christian Formation/Religious Education: Fran Riley reported the Glory Be Tea will be coming up soon.

†     Catholic Organizations:  Knights of Columbus is getting group together for a Ladies Tea.  They will also host an Appreciation Dinner in January for Eucharistic Ministers, etc.  The recent membership drive gained 4 or 5 new members.

†     School:  Enrollment is at 316 students.  The School Auction raised $72,000. 

†     Internal Human Concerns and Outreach: Carol Winkelbauer is the new short-term meal ministry head. She said she could use new names to help with this ministry.  Lynn Galetti reported all Stephen Ministers are currently assigned as active ministers.  There are 14 parishioners in the new class.  Andy Lehr is visiting the sick and shut-in parishioners.  A follow-up letter has been sent to the ministry heads concerning volunteers.

†     External Human Concerns and Outreach: No report

†     Parish & Family Life: Mike reported there was a poor turnout for the last parish work day.  Suggestions for the next parish work day were: (1) List specific projects in the narthex with a sign-up sheet, (2) Have ministry heads post work day on monthly calendars, (3) Combine date with Prayer Garden work day, and (4) Contact Grand Knight and tell him we need a certain number of workers.

†     Administration:  Ken Oyen reported discussion at the last Administration meeting on parish finances are that the level of contributions are stagnant, and that budgeted expenses are being cut.

 

Pastor’s Remarks:

1) Father Ron distributed “Wanted” flyers to raise bail of $1,050 by November 19th for the Muscular Dystrophy Association before he is locked up at the Liberty “Fall Ball 2003.”

2)  The communion distribution changes initiated at last week’s Masses should make the flow easier once everyone becomes familiar with the change.

 

The next meeting will be Monday, December 8th at 7:00 p.m.

 

December Agenda:

§         Strategic Planning Report

§         Strategy #3 Update (Larry and Kim)

 

Sending prayer was by Father Ron.

Meeting notes courtesy of Dorothy Haynes