Parish Council Minutes 9/20/2006

Church:
Home
Contacts & staff
History
Sacraments
The saint
Links

Council:
About
Mar 2007
Feb 2007
Dec 2006
Nov 2006
Sep 2006

Other sections:
Calendar
Church & ministry
Scenes
School
Organizations

In attendance: Fr. Hagedorn, Fr. Schaut, Fr. Pednekar, Mr. Stroh, Lynne Zullo, Pat Singleton, Ron Ruble, Nikkie Legler, Donna Charlton, Lynne Fischer, Carol Masek, Mary Zavoda, Bob Walsh, Steve Kovach.
Excused:
Meeting Start Time: 7:00 PM
Gospel Reading and Reflection
August minutes were reviewed, corrections noted and approved as corrected.

Old Business

Updates on capital campaign, VPL II

Capital campaign meeting is scheduled for August 25th, still coordinating some things with Joe Kelly. Tax information for capital funs contributions will be available as with the regular donations. The total pledged is not our target, but it's a solid number to work with. Some new roof work needs done, and estimates are being collected. Holy Name has offered to work on the lower church, and additional help is being recruited. Some of the work we'd like to get done in the lower church is made more difficult by the accordion doors.

Fr. Hagedorn handed out the parish bulletin insert for Sunday, as well as a summary. We discussed some of the criteria the diocese wanted considered in clustering; number of households, baptisms/funerals, and proximity to each other. In addition to our proposals, we are on some of the proposals of OLA, Ascension, and Annunciation.

Fr. Hagedorn proposed discussing this in his homily on Sunday, and council agreed this was a good idea, which could allay the concerns of some parishioners. The suggestion was also made that priests might visit other parishes so the parishioners might get to know the priests at the neighboring parishes.

New Business

Council elections, school, welcoming ministry

We discussed the duties of the council officers. Lynne Zullo was nominated and elected President; Pat Singleton and Ron Ruble were re-elected Vice-President, and Secretary.

Mr. Stroh presented information about the school, including copies of student packets with faculty lists, masses, and mission statement. He then presented information on current enrollment, technology improvements, and programs to keep parents more involved and enhance school programs, as well as new ideas other schools are trying.

Fr Greg presented some of the findings of the welcoming committee, and presented plans for putting their findings into practice. Fr. Hagedorn decided to implement the committee's suggestions, but to take a little more time with greetings before Mass, since many people arrive later, and to keep greeters ready to present the gifts, but wait so others can bring the gifts if they choose. The priest can signal the greeters if needed. The priests will begin inviting people to greet one another.

Donna is scheduling the greeters, starting with Parish Council, and will be asking other groups soon. Suggestion made to ask the PTU in addition to the groups mentioned. Lynne Zullo reminded everyone that this is a work on progress, and they should offer suggestions and solicit opinions from the parishioners.

We also discussed having people visit new members to the parish after they register; just a brief and non-intrusive welcome, perhaps publish names in the bulletin.

Wrap up

We discussed the cost of tuitions at the school and at other schools in the area, and the changing population and demographics in the area.

Fr. Hagedorn told us the clustering prayer the diocese provided for VPL II has been put in the hymnals, to read at Mass after petitions.

Next meeting set for November 15, and Fr. Greg read the closing prayer.