March 2007
Mon, 2007-03-05 16:17 — dan
Pastoral Council Minutes
March 5, 2007
Attending: Rose Braun, Fr. Mark Burger, Connie Girard, Steve Gross, Tim Harmon, Denise Kick, Jerry Koehne, Tom Kroger, Steve Meinhardt, Jane Mueninghoff, Ann Perry, Tim Reed, Barb Utrata, Jerry Kohls, Scott Steinke, Mary Ann Lampe (scribe).
Visitor(s): Jerry Kohls (present for Agenda items 1 through 3).
Preliminaries: The Council meeting opened with the Pastoral Council prayer at 7:00 PM. The reflection was led by Tom Kroger. Steve Meinhardt will lead the reflection next month.
Agenda Items:
1) Approval of minutes from February 5th meeting – all
2) Pastoral Associate – Scott Steinke
a) Overview of Activities and Current Topics
Oversees many ministries, the biggest of which is the Liturgical Ministries. Oversees and schedules all positions including Eucharistic ministers, altar attendants and sacristans. Other ministries include Stephen Ministers (we now have 17), CRHP, Baptism Coordinators, Bereavement Ministry (including funeral liturgy planning), Annulments, Nursery, Worship Aids, and Audio/Video. Many of these are facilitated by volunteers, whom Scott oversees and helps out as necessary. With regard to counseling, Scott sees if it is something in his field of expertise; if not, he can refer to Fr. Mark. Scott says his main job is to make sure that things run smoothly.
b) Issues/Needs/Challenges
Looking at options for upgrading video system in Church. Has been working with Mike Dailey tweaking sound system in Church. Since Fr. Ray has retired, Scott will become very involved with CRHP, trying to fill Fr. Ray’s spot.
c) Feedback
Tim- We are short of Hospitality Ministers at 8 AM Mass, to the point that Hospitality Ministers who have volunteered for multiple ministries are scheduled exclusively as Hospitality Ministers. Scott - I am working it into the bulletin. When we have a need such as this, I find if we let people know, they will come forward. Running it in the bulletin three times seems to help. Jerry –when do we currently use the video system? Scott - We use for whatever we can, such as baptisms. It’s an old system and is not a good picture – grainy. Jane - What are the purpose and responsibilities of Worship Commission? Scott - To see how to enhance worship of the parish. Educate parish on changes in the Mass, etc. Tom- There are a lot of Eucharistic Minister no-shows at 11:30 AM Mass. Scott - I send out e-mails and put in bulletin. We need to recruit new blood through Stewardship Program. Rose- It might be a good idea for Stephen Ministers to take on Welcome Home Program. They would be better prepared to handle the questions put forth by attendees. Scott – I will take that suggestion to Pastoral Staff. Thank you, Scott.
3) Millennium Promises Villages Project – Update
a) Sign Contract to Support Villages vs. Non-Binding Support of Cluster?
Fr. Mark – Only the Archbishop can sign that kind of contract. Non-binding support is what Good Shepherd and we will be doing. Our commitment will be a moral one, after we get other groups to commit. Rose- Do we need other groups if we are doing non-binding cluster support? Fr. Mark- Yes, we want to do something significant.
b) Optional: View 20 minute DVD on Sauri, Kenya village progress
Council voted not to watch this month.
4) Pastoral Council 2007 Election – Rose Braun
2007 elections will be May 19/20. In order to be ready at that time; our schedule will be as follows:
March 17/18 and March 24/25 – announcements in the bulletin
March 31/April 1 – nomination weekend
April 21 (Saturday) – potential candidate meeting at 10 AM
April 24 (Tuesday) – potential candidate meeting 7 PM
Tim Reed will be assisting Rose with the election process; any other interested council member should contact Rose. Tim will also be responsible for obtaining the digital photos of the final candidates for the biographies and postings in the bulletin.
With regard to the Pastoral Council Website: We should have one e-mail address for parishioners to communicate through. Also, we should post a calendar of meeting dates. Rose will communicate with the Website committee regarding these issues.
5) RCIA Catechumen/Candidate Letters – Jane Mueninghoff
On the morning of Easter Vigil, we have a morning of prayer with the Catechumens and Candidates (now both called “The Elect”) and they receive a letter of welcome from the parish. Pastoral Council members volunteered to write letters to individual candidates.
6) Relief Effort for Hurricane Katrina Impacted Family – Tim Harmon
We contacted Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Louisiana. There is a family consisting of Mom, Dad and seven children living in two FEMA trailers. Their house is being rebuilt, but underinsured. They are going to need help financially. Tim suggests a collection on Sunday, 2 weeks prior to Easter. We need a means of channeling funds down there. Suggest going through the parish. Let’s put in the bulletin three consecutive weeks prior to collection. Jerry – Is there interest in a mission trip? Tim – should we send a group? How do you coordinate this? Tim will research the feasibility of such a trip and how to coordinate same.
7) Saints John/Max/ Michael/ Susanna Upcoming Cluster Meeting – Tim Harmon
Fr. Mark - Does St. Michael’s still participate in these meetings, as they have left our Cluster? Tim – the last meeting was held there. The next meeting is at St. Max on April 18th at 7 PM. Parish Council is invited to attend to see what they are doing and what we are doing. Four or five of us should try to attend.
8) Fr. Mark’s Comments
Finance Council is in the process of forming a strategic plan for retiring the debt. Nick Bitter is chairman and has several ideas. We need one or two Pastoral Council members to attend Finance’s meeting. If we pay off the debt, it would free up funds for other things. On Ash Wednesday we were too crowded in the Chapel for Mass. In the future, 6:30 AM. Holyday Masses will be held in the Church. The Archbishop has issued an edict that all meetings must end with a prayer of thanksgiving. In the future, Pastoral Council will end with a short prayer and several members will say for what they are thankful. St. Max will have available on their website recordings of this year’s Lenten retreat. I will be preaching a retreat here for married couples on March 31. We will be doing the same traditions in Holy Week – Council does washing of feet at the Holy Thursday liturgy.
9) Adjournment and Closing Prayer
We adjourned at 8:00 PM.
Next Meeting: Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at 7:00 PM in Undercroft D. (Steve is looking to change this since the office will be closed that day.)
March 5, 2007
Attending: Rose Braun, Fr. Mark Burger, Connie Girard, Steve Gross, Tim Harmon, Denise Kick, Jerry Koehne, Tom Kroger, Steve Meinhardt, Jane Mueninghoff, Ann Perry, Tim Reed, Barb Utrata, Jerry Kohls, Scott Steinke, Mary Ann Lampe (scribe).
Visitor(s): Jerry Kohls (present for Agenda items 1 through 3).
Preliminaries: The Council meeting opened with the Pastoral Council prayer at 7:00 PM. The reflection was led by Tom Kroger. Steve Meinhardt will lead the reflection next month.
Agenda Items:
1) Approval of minutes from February 5th meeting – all
2) Pastoral Associate – Scott Steinke
a) Overview of Activities and Current Topics
Oversees many ministries, the biggest of which is the Liturgical Ministries. Oversees and schedules all positions including Eucharistic ministers, altar attendants and sacristans. Other ministries include Stephen Ministers (we now have 17), CRHP, Baptism Coordinators, Bereavement Ministry (including funeral liturgy planning), Annulments, Nursery, Worship Aids, and Audio/Video. Many of these are facilitated by volunteers, whom Scott oversees and helps out as necessary. With regard to counseling, Scott sees if it is something in his field of expertise; if not, he can refer to Fr. Mark. Scott says his main job is to make sure that things run smoothly.
b) Issues/Needs/Challenges
Looking at options for upgrading video system in Church. Has been working with Mike Dailey tweaking sound system in Church. Since Fr. Ray has retired, Scott will become very involved with CRHP, trying to fill Fr. Ray’s spot.
c) Feedback
Tim- We are short of Hospitality Ministers at 8 AM Mass, to the point that Hospitality Ministers who have volunteered for multiple ministries are scheduled exclusively as Hospitality Ministers. Scott - I am working it into the bulletin. When we have a need such as this, I find if we let people know, they will come forward. Running it in the bulletin three times seems to help. Jerry –when do we currently use the video system? Scott - We use for whatever we can, such as baptisms. It’s an old system and is not a good picture – grainy. Jane - What are the purpose and responsibilities of Worship Commission? Scott - To see how to enhance worship of the parish. Educate parish on changes in the Mass, etc. Tom- There are a lot of Eucharistic Minister no-shows at 11:30 AM Mass. Scott - I send out e-mails and put in bulletin. We need to recruit new blood through Stewardship Program. Rose- It might be a good idea for Stephen Ministers to take on Welcome Home Program. They would be better prepared to handle the questions put forth by attendees. Scott – I will take that suggestion to Pastoral Staff. Thank you, Scott.
3) Millennium Promises Villages Project – Update
a) Sign Contract to Support Villages vs. Non-Binding Support of Cluster?
Fr. Mark – Only the Archbishop can sign that kind of contract. Non-binding support is what Good Shepherd and we will be doing. Our commitment will be a moral one, after we get other groups to commit. Rose- Do we need other groups if we are doing non-binding cluster support? Fr. Mark- Yes, we want to do something significant.
b) Optional: View 20 minute DVD on Sauri, Kenya village progress
Council voted not to watch this month.
4) Pastoral Council 2007 Election – Rose Braun
2007 elections will be May 19/20. In order to be ready at that time; our schedule will be as follows:
March 17/18 and March 24/25 – announcements in the bulletin
March 31/April 1 – nomination weekend
April 21 (Saturday) – potential candidate meeting at 10 AM
April 24 (Tuesday) – potential candidate meeting 7 PM
Tim Reed will be assisting Rose with the election process; any other interested council member should contact Rose. Tim will also be responsible for obtaining the digital photos of the final candidates for the biographies and postings in the bulletin.
With regard to the Pastoral Council Website: We should have one e-mail address for parishioners to communicate through. Also, we should post a calendar of meeting dates. Rose will communicate with the Website committee regarding these issues.
5) RCIA Catechumen/Candidate Letters – Jane Mueninghoff
On the morning of Easter Vigil, we have a morning of prayer with the Catechumens and Candidates (now both called “The Elect”) and they receive a letter of welcome from the parish. Pastoral Council members volunteered to write letters to individual candidates.
6) Relief Effort for Hurricane Katrina Impacted Family – Tim Harmon
We contacted Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Louisiana. There is a family consisting of Mom, Dad and seven children living in two FEMA trailers. Their house is being rebuilt, but underinsured. They are going to need help financially. Tim suggests a collection on Sunday, 2 weeks prior to Easter. We need a means of channeling funds down there. Suggest going through the parish. Let’s put in the bulletin three consecutive weeks prior to collection. Jerry – Is there interest in a mission trip? Tim – should we send a group? How do you coordinate this? Tim will research the feasibility of such a trip and how to coordinate same.
7) Saints John/Max/ Michael/ Susanna Upcoming Cluster Meeting – Tim Harmon
Fr. Mark - Does St. Michael’s still participate in these meetings, as they have left our Cluster? Tim – the last meeting was held there. The next meeting is at St. Max on April 18th at 7 PM. Parish Council is invited to attend to see what they are doing and what we are doing. Four or five of us should try to attend.
8) Fr. Mark’s Comments
Finance Council is in the process of forming a strategic plan for retiring the debt. Nick Bitter is chairman and has several ideas. We need one or two Pastoral Council members to attend Finance’s meeting. If we pay off the debt, it would free up funds for other things. On Ash Wednesday we were too crowded in the Chapel for Mass. In the future, 6:30 AM. Holyday Masses will be held in the Church. The Archbishop has issued an edict that all meetings must end with a prayer of thanksgiving. In the future, Pastoral Council will end with a short prayer and several members will say for what they are thankful. St. Max will have available on their website recordings of this year’s Lenten retreat. I will be preaching a retreat here for married couples on March 31. We will be doing the same traditions in Holy Week – Council does washing of feet at the Holy Thursday liturgy.
9) Adjournment and Closing Prayer
We adjourned at 8:00 PM.
Next Meeting: Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at 7:00 PM in Undercroft D. (Steve is looking to change this since the office will be closed that day.)