MEETING MINUTES
Present: Father
Romanus, Sherry Kaminski, Katrin Kempowski, Vince Sciano,
Sue Dolkiewicz, and Pat Sciano
Not Present:
The meeting began with Pat giving the opening prayer. Sherry Kaminski, as Vice-Chair, led the
Council meeting in
Minutes from the July meeting were reviewed, amended, and approved.
The first item of business discussed was the initiatives of increasing Mass attendance. Each parish committee will be asked to pick one item from the listing previously supplied by Paul, and implement it during the next year.
The Parish Council would like to establish an Evangelization Committee. A notice is going to be placed in the bulletin asking for parishioners’ help in forming and becoming a part of this committee, or it may become a subcommittee of the Parish Council depending on parish response.
Using greeters before Masses and monthly blessing of the sick by Father Romanus during the Mass are two ways already being implemented to help foster evangelization. Some parishes are contacting inactive parishioners by phone in order to address specific needs that may be missing. This is something we may consider doing.
For next month’s meeting, Parish Council members were asked to bring their ideas on how to develop the door hangers, ideas/concepts, and what information about our parish should be stated on them. Jerry was asked to design the final product.
Long-term planning: Is to place a notice in the bulletin for a nurse who would be willing to dedicate time after the Masses to give the elderly a chance to have some health issues addressed i.e. blood pressure checks.
Bulletin Thank You Notices: Katrin and Chris Fogarty will continue writing them.
Gathering Handout: The Gathering Handout will be distributed the last weekend of September during all the Masses. Parish Council members will assist the ushers.
Parish Directory: Sherry has completed compiling parishioner information and corrections are complete. Publication of the new parish directory is set for December. An insert is going to be placed in the bulletin soliciting advertisers for the directory. Also, a waiver will be added as an insert for people who do not want personal information (i.e. phone number, address) listed. She also thought adding information about the sacraments our parish offers would be beneficial.
Time and Talent: The Time and Talent form needs to be reworked and will be taken up at the September meeting.
Liturgical needs: The most pressing need right now is finding a replacement for Kay Vitrano as sacristan.
There was no response to a bulletin announcement asking for help in fixing meals for the sick of our parish.
Sherry thought of adding
Pre-Marital Inventory (
The Human Concerns Committee is in the process of bringing the Corn Roast back. The thought was to put the monies made from this event into a special fund to help parishioners in need. It was thought that these funds should be distributed by the St. Vincent de Paul Society so as not to infringe on their ministry.
Rob Hahn, from Hahn’s Badger Carpet Service, stopped by with carpet samples. We previously got an estimate from his company for removal and disposal of the church’s existing carpeting, moving the pews, and the new carpet installation in the sanctuary area, church, and sacristy. Len Konkel took Mr. Hahn to church to measure the choir loft and the two staircases leading to the choir. He will get an additional estimate to Father Romanus for this area as well.
An idea was introduced for developing a Garden Club for anyone interested in working around the parish grounds to help keep them looking their best.
The suggestion was made to get a pager for Neal, our maintenance man, instead of a cell phone, which he is currently using, as it would be more cost effective.
Sherry noted there is quite a deep hole in the parking lot near the school building that presents a hazard. It needs to be patched. Vince will bring this up along with needs for the southeast meeting room at the Buildings and Grounds meeting on August 13.
Father Romanus presented last year’s expenses along with the proposed expenses for next year. The Archdiocese is requesting a balanced budget from the parish. A financial report will be presented to parishioners in the form of a bulletin insert.
The Trustee-Secretary position is now open, as Chris Fogarty’s term has expired. Father Romanus will nominate someone for the position and announce his nomination to the parish. The nomination process will then be open to the parishioners. After the nomination process is complete and candidate is voted in for the position, the Archdiocese must then approve the selection.
The Archdiocese has given its approval to the proxy letter sent by Father Romanus for the church redecorating.
Parishioner response to the Catholic
Stewardship Appeal has been somewhat slow.
The amount collected so far is $13,464.26 with the goal for
Father Romanus signed the contract for the company that will be printing our updated parish directory. The company needs three months to complete and the finished directory should be available sometime in December.
A substantial check was received this week as a gift to the parish from the estate of a deceased parishioner.
The meeting ended at
The next Council meeting will be
held on
Respectfully submitted by: Pat Sciano, Parish Council Secretary