Pastoral Council Minutes

February 4, 2008

Attending:  Rose Braun, Tate Cooper, Steve Gross, Jerry Koehne, Kevin Kohls, Brian Krause, Tom Kroger, Debbie Meinhardt, Claudia Miller, Cindy Muron, Jane Mueninghoff, Ann Perry, Ray Sousa, Barb Utrata, Fr. Linh, Scott Steinke, Mary Ann Lampe (Scribe).

Preliminaries:  The Council Meeting opened with the Pastoral Council prayer at 7:00 pm.  The reflection was led by Jane Mueninghoff.  Volunteers to lead the reflections for the remainder of the year are:  March – Ray Sousa; April – Steve Gross; May – Kevin Kohls; June – Cindy Muron; July – Barb Utrata.

1)  Approval of minutes from Jan. meeting – all

2)  Pastoral Associate – Scott Steinke   Scott is the Pastoral Associate of Liturgy.

a)  Overview of Activities and Current Topics    Scott oversees things like Eucharistic ministers, altar attendants, lectors, worship commission, wedding facilitator, supplies for liturgy, etc.  He is upgrading the program for scheduling liturgical ministers.  He is, also, the wedding coordinator, baptism coordinator and does the bereavement ministry (funerals and liturgy for funerals).  He, also, does some counseling and is working on the Stephen Ministry.  The Stephen Ministry has come a long way.  We have fourteen active participants with twenty going through training now.  Commissioning is March 20.  The Stephen Ministry is here to help free up Fr. Mark and Fr. Linh for other duties.  Christ Renews was Fr. Ray’s project and Scott has taken over as lead coordinator.  He, also, coordinates the Nursery and children’s liturgy.

b)  Issues/Needs/Challenges   Scott is working on updating the audio/video capabilities in the church.  He wants to acquaint himself with what’s new out there and how we can utilize it in the church. Hopefully, will have a central location for all audio and visual equipment and can then establish a committee who can run the sound/video system. 

c)  Feedback   Jerry – has there ever been any discussion on incorporating a statue of Mary and Joseph in the church?  Not recently.  Jane - What’s happening with Worship Commission?  It’s going well.  We have called some of the Liturgical Ministers and will have eight to ten new members.  Will the new audio/video setup be on DVD’s?  Yes.  There will be a lot of work getting it set up and then will need volunteers to do the taping.  Brian – time line and cost?  We already have some funds in the budget and, hopefully, some of it will be up and running by summer.  Jerry asked if we had documentation guaranteeing current system installation and operation and will we have something along these lines for new system.  Scott – installed before I came and so far, I have not added anything, just moved things around.  Jerry – could you address the two speakers above the choir that are not working?  They are turned down because there was feedback coming through.  All – thank you Scott.

3)  Miscellaneous Council Items – all

a)  Hurricane Katrina family – the Hursey’s    Jerry Barney informed
Rose that Hursey’s have moved back into their home and the yard and landscaping is next.   They have used most of the funds we sent and will write a letter to the parish which we will publish in Eagle’s Wings.

b)  Tanzania Project – current status, plans for future “displays”   We will receive quarterly reports from the city.  Rose passed out some info used to educate PSR children.  If each child can raise $4.00 during lent, they can purchase 100 mosquito nets.  We have over $300,000 in pledges and $110,440 in cash.  We are making quarterly payments begun in January.  Rose has asked the team to keep us apprised of what’s going on with this in the event we can be helpful in some way.

c)  Acoustics project – this topic was covered as part of Scott’s presentation/discussion.

d)  Plans to replace athletic fields?  Kevin – We used to have softball and soccer fields where our parking lot is now.  We talked about moving them up to where we park during the festival.  Has anyone looked into this?  Maybe get K of C involved.  Cindy will e-mail Kathy Mack and see about getting something started. Jerry – we have put in two ball fields throughout the years and the boosters took care of much of the work.  Rose – could it be profitable?  Keenher Park is very crowded.  VOA has twenty plus soccer fields, but charges $5.00 for parking.  Brian will take it to the finance committee. 

e)  Stations of the Cross/dinner – March 14   Rose – we are committed to lead the Stations on Friday, March 14.  Rose passed out a program with readings and council members volunteered to read at each Station.  We will try to reserve a room at Champps for dinner. 

f)  Council in the parish community   Rose presented some ideas.  Coffee and donuts after Mass once a month?   Council taking over the responsibility for the Welcome Committee new parishioner bread delivery  once every three months?  Please e-mail her if you would like to help with this.  There are a number of positions on the Festival Committee that need to be filled – chat it up.  The first Sunday in March is the next Festival Committee meeting.

g)  Time & Talent forms – Rose would like to see these updated.  Could be done on a spreadsheet by a committee.  Members of PC were willing to volunteer their time to assist with this function.  Rose will contact Karen Hake.

Multi-Parish super meeting on March 4 at 7 pm.  Please advise Rose if you can attend.  She needs to hear from staff.  Four to five people from Council will attend.

4)  Fr. Mark’s Comments   Father Mark was unable to attend.

5)  Adjournment and Closing Prayer of Thanksgiving - Kevin Kohls

We adjourned at 8:30 pm.  Volunteers to lead the prayer of Thanksgiving for the remainder of the year are:  March – Jerry Koehne; April – Barb Utrata; May – Brian Krause; June – Tate Cooper; July – Jerry Koehne. 

Next Meeting:  Monday March 3, 2008 at 7:00 pm. in Undercroft D                     

            - Reflection by Ray Sousa

- Prayer of Thanksgiving by Jerry Koehne

- Pastoral Staff guest – Jerry Barney