Pastoral Council Minutes

March 3, 2008

Attending:  Rose Braun, Jerry Barney, Tate Cooper, Steve Gross, Kevin Kohls, Brian Krause, Tom Kroger, Debbie Meinhardt, Cindy Muron, Jane Mueninghoff, Ann Perry, Ray Sousa, Barb Utrata, Fr. Mark Burger, Mary Ann Lampe (scribe). 

Preliminaries:  The Council Meeting opened with the Pastoral Council Prayer at 7:00 pm.  The reflection was let by Ray Sousa. 

Agenda Items: 

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

2)  Pastoral Associate – Jerry Barney

a)  Overview of Activities and Current Topics    In addition to his duties as pastoral associate, Jerry performs duties consistent with his Diaconal Ministry; preaching and presiding at prayer services, funerals, weddings and baptisms.  He oversees the Evangelization Committee whose goal is to jump start small faith groups.  He oversees RCIA (7 adults, 2 children are being baptized), the Sponsor Couples (for engaged couples), and adult confirmation.  He works with the Campton mission project.  The fifth year for summer camp for at-risk children at Campton will be June 18 – 21.  It is very popular both with the children and parish members.  ESOL is a well-attended program.  A grant from the federal government provides us with the teacher.  He is back up for the Bereavement Ministry and works the first two fish fries.  He oversees the Justice and Peace Commission, which now has a solid group.  He is the liaison for Project RESTORE.  RESTORE will, hopefully, be revitalized with a small project in the spring.  The “Come Home” program had six people attend this year.  Jerry is certified with the diocese to process annulments.  He performs pastoral counseling relieving Fr. Mark and Fr. Linh when possible.  He is staff liaison for the Tanzania Promise.  He does Adult Faith programming and works with St. Max and St. Susanna to coordinate activities such as Lenten Sacrament of Reconciliation. 

b)  Issues/Needs/Challenges   Getting small faith groups up and going.

c)  Feedback   Has Sister Amy of Campton Mission ever come to meet with the Parish?  Yes, several years ago.  She now runs the Campton Mission alone.  About 10 adults and 14 or 15 teens from the parish typically attend Summer Camp at the mission.  Jerry will attend a workshop in Dayton on April 15 to learn how to jump start small faith groups.   How can council help you?  Brainstorm what types of programs you would like to see in the parish that you, yourself, would attend; e.g., parenting issues, theological issues, etc.

3)  Miscellaneous Council Items Follow-up – all

a)  Plans to replace athletic fields?  Cindy contacted Kathy Mack concerning athletic fields.  Previously, the boosters took care of this.  There are many concerns such as parking, insurance, etc.  It does not seem feasible at this time.  We should approach the boosters and then approach Kathy again.

b)  Stations of the Cross/dinner – March 14   Pastoral Council is leading the Stations of the Cross at 7 pm. on March 14 followed by dinner at Champps.  We will prepare a handout so everyone present can follow along. 

c)  Council in the parish community   This Saturday is our first Pastoral Council bread delivery.  We have 46 new families since Oct. 2007.  Meet in the Pavilion at 9 a.m., plan to leave for deliveries around 10.  Debbie suggested we have a “Parish Council” badge to identify us.

 d)  Time & Talent forms     Rose e-mailed Karen Hake about updating the time and talent forms suggesting volunteers would be happy to help with in-putting the data.

4)  2008 PC Election – Rose/Cindy   We need to contact Dan Evans about scheduling the election for the weekend of May 17/18.  Jane – some people were not happy with the process last year.  Collecting the ballots before Mass left some votes not turned in and therefore not counted.  Ann – some were in the collection basket.  Council decided to pass out ballots at the beginning of Mass and have a ballot box in the gathering space for parishioners to drop their ballots when exiting after Mass.  We will meet with prospective candidates the week of April 20 -24.

5)  Fr.Mark’s Comments   The pastors of the Mega Parishes have been working on ways to free-up time for their pastoral obligations.  We would like some advice from PC on ways in which this could be accomplished.  For example, should we, mega parishes as a group, hire someone such as a personnel administrator so Pastors can administer to their staffs only as their pastor?   I would like PC to work on a job description for a human resource-type person.  In the next few weeks, council members will receive a packet.  How are we going to maintain the level of ministry with the priest shortage?  As dean, I must oversee here and 22 other parishes.  Some parishes are in real crises.  Priests are being overwhelmed.  They are getting older and have three times the work.  In the future, Parochial Vicars will be assigned to deans instead of parishes. How do we make daily Mass available to parishioners when priests are permitted to say only one Mass a day?  How are we going to meet the Sacramental needs of the people?  What are some of the needs of the parish, especially spiritual, that we are not meeting?   This is not the end of the Church.  It is a transformation of the Church.   Archbishop Pilarczk will retire in 1 ½ years.  He has requested an adjudacator; who, typically, would work with the Archbishop and then replace him upon retirement.  This year we will begin establishing pastoral regions.  Seven of our large parishes will be regions to themselves. 

6)  Adjournment and Closing Prayer of Thanksgiving – Jerry Koehne   Jerry was unable to attend, but provided one which was read by Rose. 

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

            - Reflection by Steve Gross

            - Prayer of Thanksgiving by Barb Utrata

            - Pastoral Guest – Debbie Kreiner