ST. MONICA PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

7:00 P.M. ~ Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Ministry Center Conference Room

 

Members Present:

Fr. Jerry Herda             John Schreiber                          Paul Nowakowski

Sandy Harris                            Rollie Keuler                            Christy Callahan Pfeifer          

Ben Radoszewski                     Norma Herbers                        Kerry Shaffer  

Ann Chrusciel                           Karen Jeffries

 

Member Excused:  Jim Brennan

 

Staff Present:

Joseph Niswonger

Charles Short

 

I.  We Assemble in God’s Name

            Meeting was called to order by Chair, Ann Chrusciel, at 7:05 P.M.

 

II. We Proclaim God’s Word

            Prayer was proclaimed by Norma Herbers.

 

III. We Celebrate Our Past

A.     August Meeting (June 27) Minutes were approved.

B.     Pastor’s Report -

a.       A special thank you from Fr. Jerry was given for his Installation Celebration.

b.      Deacon Gene celebrates his 25 years as a deacon in January.  It is suggested that Council plan something for him.

c.       The parish handbook has been updated and is now in a smaller booklet format.  Booklets will be at the back of the church to be picked up starting the last weekend of September.

d.      Father attended the New Pastors Workshop in which a speaker from the Catholic Herald talked about how Catholics can live a catholic world.  The Catholic Herald is a simple way to be educated about what is going on in the archdiocese and there is a special leadership rate of $25 for an individual subscription.  There are currently 93 parishioners that have subscriptions.  The Herald is a weekly publication and is offered online for free.

C.     Karen Rambadt Thank You

·        Karen Rambadt, former school principal, sent the parish council a card

thanking the council for the generous gift.  The card was read at the meeting.
    

IV. We Present Our Offering                       

A.     Annual Financial Statement given by Charles Short

·        Charles Short presented the financial statement for the parish which will be published in the Monicazette.  It must be made available to parishioners by order of the archdiocese. 

B.     Parish Picnic Recap

a.       A special thank you to Kerry Shaffer for her organization and motivational skills. 

b.      There were about 400 people between 6:30-7:30. 

c.       Overall the picnic went well.  Things that went well: mass signup for volunteers, entertainment volunteers, Saturday for the day to have the picnic, and Save the Date cards.

d.      Thank You notes have been sent out.

e.       A preliminary financial summary was presented by Rollie Keuler. 

C.     Focus Group Summary Report

a.       Reports were distributed to Parish Council Committee liaisons.  Staff members have received the summary of the results.

b.      Liaisons will need to report back in December about what their committees will do or what action will be taken based on  the committee report. 

D.     Liaison Responsibilities and Committee Schedule

a.       Members had no questions on liaison responsibilities.

b.      Committee schedule will be finalized at the October Meeting. 

E.      Organization Chart

·        Organization Chart was updated and given to Council Members for the fiscal year. 

F.      Committee Reports

·        Administrative Services ~ Paul Nowakowski reported no updates. 

·        Christian Formation ~ Karen Jeffries reported that will be a meeting next week.

·        Communications ~ Christy Callahan Pfeiffer reported that the committee had met.  November 20 will be the next meeting and the deadline for the next Monicazette.  There will be the option of having the Monicazette emailed instead of mailed if parishioners would prefer the option.  The pledge drive will start in October.

·        Human Concerns ~ No report (Jim Brennan was excused). 

·        Prayer and Worship ~ Kerry Shaffer reported there is a meeting on September 18th.

·        School Board ~ Norma Herbers reported that the committee had met on August 8th.  At this meeting, the by-laws were revised, and food allergies discussed.   It was decided that Financial Planning would be the main goal for the committee this year.  The endowment fund will be a big focus for this planning.  A diversity subcommittee has been formed but plans are still forming on how this committee will work and what they will address.  The next school board meeting is September 13th. 

G.     Parish Wide Theme

a.       “One Family in Christ” is the theme for the year.  Prayer cards have been made with this theme addressed and a prayer composed. 

b.      Ways we see this theme in action in the Parish: references in homilies during mass and in the Sunday bulletin, announcements in church, prayer after mass for recently departed, parish picnic, volunteers, meeting with parishioners, parish handbook, and baptisms during liturgies.

H.     New Business-Open Discussion  

·        Parish Council Manuals

 Each member will be assigned a section of the manual to read.  That person will be a “master at the section” and briefly present that section to council.  At the October meeting, sections will be assigned and binders will be updated.  

 

 

V. We Give Thanks

A.     Closing Prayer was presented by Norma Herbers but said by all present. 

B.     Meeting was adjourned at 8:49 P.M.

 

 

NEXT MEETING: Wednesday, October 3rd

7:00 P.M. Parish Ministry Center

Please bring Parish Council Manuals

 

 

 

 

Chairperson                                  Corresponding Secretary                              Recording Secretary

Ann Chrusciel                                       Rollie Keuler                                               Lisa Tatsak