MEETING MINUTES
Present: Fr.
Romanus,
Not Present:
The meeting began with Paul leading the Council in the opening prayer.
Anne Uecker was welcomed to the Council as a new member.
The minutes from the June meeting were approved.
Increasing Mass attendance was the first item discussed. Following are the ideas that were presented:
Giving certificates for a semester of free religious education or free Confirmation classes to parents as their babies are baptized.
Bringing families together to study our faith. Other parishes have used the “Generations of Faith” program and have seen an overall increase in Mass attendance.
Discuss ways the parish can become more welcoming at the liturgies.
Linda and Human Concerns are discussing the idea of setting up a fund to help families of the parish financially who find themselves in need due to illness or any other devastating occurrence. One way they are considering for raising funds is bringing back the Corn Roast.
Canvassing homes in the area with information about our parish i.e. developing a “hanger” type of card to place on peoples’ doors.
Fr. Romanus
Anointing of the sick once a month, inviting people to greet each other at the beginning of Mass, welcoming new parishioners/visitors at Mass, starting a Bible study group, and developing a bereavement ministry.
Paul suggested every standing committee pick one option
from the list we were given (Some Ideas for Increasing Mass Attendance) and try
to accomplish it during the next year.
He also wants the Council to focus on a task list over the next
year. (1) Evangelization. (2) Stewardship. (3) Finishing the Gathering Book. (4) Time and Talent weekend to take place
this fall.
(5) Finishing the new Parish Directory.
(6) Renovation of the SE meeting room. (7) Church renovation. (8) Bringing social/religious activities back
to
The pros and cons of an automatic deduction system for making contributions was discussed. St. Veronica’s is currently using this as an option. It might prove to save money, as envelopes can stop being printed and mailed to parishioners who would choose to contribute in this way.
OLD BUSINESS
Sherry and Katrin have been working on the new parish directly. After all information has been checked, Fr. Romanus will then send it to be printed.
Paul, Katrin, and Pat will continue to work on the
Gathering handout, which will be put into the welcoming packet that is given to
new parishioners for their information.
During one weekend this fall, the Time and Talent handouts will be given
out at all the Masses. Historical
pictures from
Katrin compiled a list of things to be done to spruce up the SE meeting room. Some re-plastering needs to be done and Len Konkel is getting estimates. The idea of asking for donations for such things as VCRs or people who would be willing to devote their time and talents to helping make the room usable was discussed.
Updates from Fr. Romanus
A bishop and some fellow priests from
Charles Rehorst will be given a raise for his work as one of our two organists.
Fr. Romanus led the prayer for the festivities on July 4th at a St. Francis park.
The Capital Campaign that will be taking place throughout
the Archdiocese has four levels of entry.
The Parish Council chose levels 2 (July-December 2008) and 3 (January-
June 2009) for
Father reported the evaluation of the transition came back from the Archdiocese with a good report.
Paul oked the proxy letter written by Fr. Romanus, and after the parish trustees sign it, it will be mailed to the Archdiocese for approval to begin our church renovation.
The meeting ended at
Respectfully submitted by: Pat Sciano, Parish Council Secretary
ADDENDUM:
Referring to the Capital Campaign note above,