Pastoral Council Minutes

January 5, 2009

Attendees:  Rose Braun, Matt Bolton, Tate Cooper, Chris Gebhart, Jerry Koehne, Kevin Kohls, Brian Krause, Debbie Meinhardt, Claudia Miller, Cindy Muron, Joan Siebenick, Ray Sousa, Barb Utrata, Fr. Mark Burger, Fr. Don West, guests Kathy Guenther and Kathy Mack, and scribe Mary Ann Lampe.

Preliminaries:  The Council Meeting opened with the Pastoral Council prayer at 7:00 pm.  The reflection was led by Debbie Meinhardt. 

Agenda Items:

1)         Approval of minutes from November meeting – all  The minutes were approved as written. 

2)         Pastoral Associate – Kathy Guenther   

a)  Overview of Current Topics    Kathy is in charge of faith formation for grades 1-8 and the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist.  We had 108 for First Reconciliation and at present about 100 children for First Eucharist which will probably increase by May.  At this time we have scheduled five masses in the month of May for First Eucharist.  Loreto will be June 12th-16th this year.  The diocese requires that we do an Assessment of Catholic Religious Education annually.  We must do one grade each year and we do fifth grade.  When we get the results, we can address the areas which need improvement.  This year we are conducting the test Feb. 3 & 4 (snow – 10 & 11).  There is a game similar to “Jeopardy” that covers the questions on the test and the children love it.  Kathy demonstrated.  Kathy passed out a printout with the results of the last ACRE test.

b)  Issues/Needs/Challenges

c)  Feedback    Kevin – do we evaluate the children in any other way?  Kathy – we ask for feedback from the parents, but rarely receive anything.  With regards to home schooled families; as they finish a chapter, they go to the publisher’s website and answer questions. Jerry - how many children are enrolled in the different programs?  Kathy – a total between 600-700.  Rose – where do we get the materials?  Kathy – the homestudy materials we get from a publisher and the Loreto program is a set of binders purchased eleven years ago, which we update periodically.  Joan – I think  we are very blessed to have Kathy G. 

3)      January Retreat Details – all  Joan passed a menu for those who wish to volunteer to bring a menu item.  We will gather at 8:30 am. at Joan’s house and the retreat starts at 9:00 and winds up with Mass at 3:00pm 

4)      Pastoral Council in the Community – all  The group discussed ways that Council is utilized within the community.  Chris Gebhart proposed some ideas ,which might result in Council’s activities being more apparent to the parish.  The ideas that Chris presented will be taken back to the finance committee for further discussion as they fell mostly into areas Finance is already assessing.  Fr. Mark elaborated as to Council’s role (as well as the Finance Committee) as bodies that exist to assist/support him, rather than as a service group such as K of C or the Tanzania Project.  Council is the “visionary group” and while there may be some overlap between Finance and PC the two are really separate groups, each with its own mission to the Pastor.

Other ideas that came out of the discussion seemed appropriate for the Parish congress concept that Fr. Mark spoke about at our Sept and Oct meetings, which is to respond to people’s needs and faith.  Chris Gebhart and Matt Bolton will be collecting ideas centering on a Parish Congress and present possibilities at a Council future meeting.  Brian Krause should receive any ideas that members may have regarding fundraising/finance.

6)  Fr. Mark’s Comments  Fr. Mark will preach at all masses the weekend of the  17th trying to give a shot in the arm to the small faith community.  There will be seven priests ordained this year and there is talk about assigning Parochial Vicars to deans.  There will be 2 or 3 in our deanery.  Fr. Mark will be named temporary administrator of St. Susannah in February so the current administrator can take a break. 

Rose – parishioners are asking if we are going to do a permanent memorial to Fr. Ray?  Fr. Mark – not that I know of.  Some of the CRHP teams feel strongly about doing something.  Cindy – how did the Eucharistic adoration go, Matt?  Everyone that participated had a good time.  Cindy – it was a wonderful evening and I thank you for it.  Barb – I would like to thank whomever organized the 3 pm. Mass on Christmas eve, it was very special.  Tate – we had two scouts that earned their Pope Pius 12th award. 

7)         Adjournment and Closing Prayer of Thanksgiving – Cindy Muron  Cindy led the closing prayer and we adjourned at 8:20 pm.

Next Meeting:  Monday, February 2, 2009

- Reflection by Joan Siebenick      

- Prayer of Thanksgiving by Kevin Kohls

- Pastoral guest – Debbie Kreiner