St. Mary Church

Pastoral Council –  Mar 16, 2010

Attendees: Julie King, Ted Scheidel, Mary Lou Ungs, Bob Bauman, Jeff Heineman, Ron Cruise, Steve Phyfe, Pat Deike, Angie Beck, Barb Anderson, Fr Mike Tauke. Also present: Dixie Jacobs.

Faith Sharing/Minutes: Fr Mike led faith sharing with the question of the week. The minutes were approved as written.

Finance & Building Update: Offertory continues to run above budget by about $7000, as well as above last fiscal year’s giving. The finance council is guardedly optimistic, and will be prepared to make a projection for end-of-year giving by next month. A draft 2010/11 budget will  be submitted to the pastoral council for approval in April. An extra loan payment on principal of $95,000 was paid this month from building funds in our checking account. The only items to complete is a heater in the stove vent, Mass sign (Anhalt memorial), resolution of the roof leaking and some erosion work this spring. The finance council will speak to the parish at the Masses in Aug or Sept. New census software for about $1500 was purchased this month due to the current software being obsolete and unstable.

Parish Elections: Julie King, Ted Scheidel, and Mary Lou Ungs’ terms end in June 2010. They were invited to run for a second term. The elections will be held in the beginning of May. Council members were encouraged to invite parishioners to run for the council or faith formation board.

Constitution: Our pastoral council constitution will need to be revised to meet the new archdiocesan guidelines. This will be reviewed at our April meeting.

Strategic Planning: A small committee was organized to draft a follow-up strategy to the parish renewal sessions. The council reviewed the “Pastoral Plan” and the “Action Plan.” The members were impressed these recommendations and expressed their appreciation for the committee’s hard work.  The “Pastoral Plan” will be distributed as a bulletin insert in the near future.

Next meeting is April 20. Pat Deike will bring refreshments.

Meeting Adjourned.

Finance Council  - April 12, 2010:

Attendees: Jim O’Donnell, Loras Jaeger, LuAnn Scallon. Dixie Jacobs

Opened meeting with Our Father. Minutes accepted as written. Correction to offertory surplus in pastoral council  minutes was noted. It will be updated before council meets.

Budget 2010/11:

Changes from last year’s budget – 3% increase in parish staff salaries, corresponding increase in payroll taxes.

Parish Income: line #7 loose offertory $22,000 to $20,000; line 16 miscellaneous income $1450 to $500 (WWC retreat was not held & those fees were recorded here).

Parish Expense: line 29 staff travel/mileage $4895 to $3200; line 37 pastor’s house gas $1300 to $1000; parish center gas $5000 to $3750; line 42 pastor’s cable $725 to $800. Line 49 liturgy was increased from $8000 to $11,000, the finance council decided to leave it at this amount due to the $2000 increase in Music Missalettes (more copies needed due to more seating).

Undecided Budget Items: The finance council will review and vote on the following items by email, after Dixie updates the budget.

Envelope Offertory is expected to come in at least at budget $421,303. Last year's April and May offertory was unusually low at about $28,000 each. However, June 2009 was unusually high at $37,000. So far April 2010 appears to be doing much better. But it is difficult to project based on the unusual flunctuations in the last fiscal year - will this year be more "normal" or have these extreme "swings" in giving? The committee may leave offertory at current budget or increase by 3% for next year to $433,942..

Loan Payment is currently $8500. We could lower those payments to $7500 and still pay the loan off in 12-15 years.

A withdrawal from the Endowment Fund of $8000 was taken last  year; the first withdrawal in about 10 years. Currently there is about $60,000 available in growth (cannot spend the principal). No withdrawal from this fund is included in the 2010/11 budget.

Building Loan: A suggestion was made to use the endowment growth of $60,000 to pay down the loan. This would take the loan to under $800,000.  The finance council will review this again at the next meeting. We have about $226,000 in general savings we are holding for unexpected/unbudgeted needs.

Roof: The leaks in our roof had not addressed by our contractor yet. Due to the extensive area affected, our parish representatives agree the entire roof needs to be replaced. The heater in the kitchen and stove hood have been installed, but need to be balanced to ensure they run properly. This should be done soon. The only other outstanding item for our building project is some erosion areas that are the responsibility of the parish. Tiedts Nursery will review this in the next couple weeks. A crack from the foundation settling was repaired in classroom A. This needs to be watched to ensure it doesn’t settle more causing a more extensive future repair.

Meeting adjourned.

Faith Formation Board - Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Members present:  Becky O’Donnell, Angie Beck, Norma Leibold, Eric Stromberg, Fr. Mike, Jenny Dunkin

Members absent:  Jenny Hulme (excused), Gerri Dix (excused), Sandy Sabelka (excused)

Approval of Minutes:  Minutes for January were reviewed and approved. Motioned by  Becky O’Donnel and seconded by  Norma Leibold.

Faith Formation Director Report:  Report submitted.  Eric recommended to start GOF in September w/ all family members instead of just adults; and children to join in October.  He also talked about a second “enrichment” session each month for those who would like more.  First Eucharist prep is underway…going well.  Eric has contacted all parents to check in on the progress and if they have any questions.  VBS date TBD once school out date is confirmed.  Parish renewal follow up: coach parents and provide conversion opportunities.

Liturgist/Director of Music & Youth Ministry Report:  Report submitted.  Jenny has been busy.

Other Business: 

• Parish renewal – committee is well underway to establish the mission and direction of our parish.    Discussion about the retreats Bill spoke of at Parish Renewal.  We feel it would be beneficial and would help provide conversion experiences.

• Parish budget is doing well.  They are in the final stages of presenting the new budget to the finance committee.

• Looking for nominations for the FFB.  Sandy and Norma’s terms will be up after May.  E-mail Eric with any suggestions you may have.

• Coaching parents workshop.  Let Eric and Mike know if you are interesting in attending.

Pastor – Fr Mike Tauke, March 2010:

Holy Week was a great event.  Palm Sunday through Easter morning we had great celebrations.  Easter Vigil we baptized one adult and received four young adults into the Catholic Church. 

Confirmation went very well.  I received this in Msgr. Wilgenbush’s reaction to being at St. Mary’s this past Sunday to celebrate Confirmation:   Good being with you again. The parish is simply alive with young families. It is so good to see that.  I think we might forget how we are doing when it comes to evangelization.

I am beginning to find people to help with our fall mini-retreats.  I hope we can create an environment where people can feel conversation and accept a personal relationship with Jesus.  The retreats will be on a Thur. and Fri. evening and a Saturday morning.  I encourage all pastoral councils to consider this in their fall calendar.  It is for the good of yourself and our mission as a parish.

We have a couple funerals with baptisms beginning now that Lent is over.  We also have First Communions these two weekends.  This brings many guests and visitors to our parish.  I constantly hear about how well our parish participates in the Eucharist.

This month we host the Waterloo Deanery Council (priests) and later that day the Waterloo Deanery Pastoral Council (pastors and parish representatives).  Darlene Pint is our deanery council representative.  We will serve a meal at 6:00.  I would like to have some Pastoral Council representatives available at meal time to give small tours of our new facility.  Please let me know if you volunteer.

Our parish continues to be resource for people in need.  Our mission statement is becoming more evident all the time.

Pastoral  Minister – Theresa Buss, March 2010:

Throughout the end of March and the first half of April, 74 visits were made.  That number is a bit higher than usual because of wanting to get the Easter bags and books delivered early in the Easter season.  72 Easter gift bags were put together for our elderly with several of our parishioners helping out in getting them delivered.  There are still a few that need to be delivered.

North Star visit was again a highlight, both for us and them.  North Star has made the decision to use our facility in December for their Christmas program.  A date has not yet been set.

The weekly Lenten Reflection time for our six or seven ladies at Waverly Manor Hi-Rise went very well.  They have stated how they have enjoyed getting to know each other and plans are forming to make these meetings a monthly event instead of weekly as it was during Lent.  The thought is that the meetings may be weekly during Lent and Advent.

The mass at Bartels was again well attended with the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick being offered for all those attending. 

The Involvement Fair again brought in several names of individuals wishing to become more active within the parish.

“No Longer Catholic” was a Lenten project that four from our parish attended.  It is good to just be together and share the stories. 

There have been several funerals – Isabelle Wiesen, Florence Deutsch, Jo Dorman and Dorothy Parsons.  I led the Wake Services for Isabelle and Dorothy. 

We have 4 people currently on Hospice and only one, that I know of, in the hospital at this time. 

Faith Formation Director – Eric Stromberg, March 2010:

Appointed to Archdiocesan Faith Formation Commission by Archbishop Hanus and elected Vice-Chairperson.

This April we have completed all requirements mandated by the Archdiocese with respect to protection of children for upcoming audit.

Preparing for the Archdiocesan workshop to be held at St. Mary, Coaching Parents to help their children.

New parish constitution on Faith Formation Board set to be discussed and adopted at May meeting and sent to Pastoral Council.

Completed April GOF on the 7^th and 10^th commandments.  May’s meeting will complete our study of the commandments with the 8^th commandment, “Thou shall not bear false witness.” 

The Pastor and Director have recommended and the Board of Faith Formation agreed that Generations of Faith Schedule will move up one month in order to begin in September and end in April. 

First Eucharist preparation is done.  We have 35 first communicants this year to receive communion for the first time over the weekend liturgies on April 17^th & 18^th, April 19^th & 25^th, and May 1. 

RCIA process has been wrapped up for 2009-2010.  It culminated with a wonderful liturgy at the Easter Vigil mass where one adult was baptized and four others were Confirmed and received into full communion with the Church.  Congratulations to Linda Schnabel on all of her hard work with the candidates this year. 

Vacation Bible School planning is underway:

I have already received our starter kit to build on last year’s successful VBS program, Crocodile Dock.  The new VBS this year is called “High Seas Adventure.”  Look for promotional material to be out in April.  We already have a number of volunteers.

Parish Renewal Follow-Up: The Pastoral Plan has been adopted.  One of the primary new things that we will be looking to do in faith formation to put the plan into place is to offer mini-retreats four our adults next year.  I will be working with a team of volunteers on this endeavor with the pastor as our leader.  The retreats will be open to all adults in the parish but we will be STRONGLY encouraging everyone in parish leadership, everyone in ministry, and everyone with children preparing for a sacrament to attend one of the retreats offered next year.  

Liturgist / Youth Minister – Jenny Hulme, Mar 2010:

Continue to play at Masses and practice with groups and cantors. Kid’s Choir continues.

Organized the funeral choir. Met with a family to plan the readings for a funeral.

Prepared music and groups for Holy Week, Easter and the Easter season.

Practiced with readers for Palm Sunday and Easter Vigil. Readings were sent out to those who were involved in other holy week events.

New ministers continue to be trained.

Many people were involved in decorating the church on April 3^rd.

2 women’s Lenten groups met during Lent. There were a total of 15 women participating in these. They want to continue meeting once a month and read/discuss a book.

Practiced with the high school students who led the Good Friday Stations of the Cross. They did a great job.

Much time was spent in cleaning, organizing, washing of towels/robes, volunteers to put together the candles for the Easter Vigil and now it is cleaning it again and putting everything away.

A Lenten Reflection and Minister Training were held March 16^th and 17^th.

Attended the Tuesday evening Masses and found volunteers to lead the Stations of the Cross those evenings.

Attended the Chrism Mass on Tuesday, March 30^th in which I picked up our oils.

Continue to attend WAYM (Waterloo Area Youth Ministers) and YMAC (Youth Ministry Advisory Council for the Archdiocese) and the Youth Rally Planning team meetings.

2 Confirmation classes were held during April, including the Palm Sunday event in which RCIA joined us. Confirmation interviews were held and one more group went to the Catholic Worker House.  22 young people were confirmed by Msgr. Lyle Wilgenbusch on April 11^th (and 1 student from St. Pat’s in Cedar Falls)

Junior High students met for an evening of a “progressive meal” in which we walked through the mass. 8 students attended, 7 from Denver and 1 from Tripoli.

Any high school senior attending Loras College were invited to complete a scholarship form, provided by the college. We have one student attending.

Invitations have been sent out to our high school graduates invited them to Mass and breakfast on May 2^nd for a blessing. Gifts have been purchased. The 11^th grade class is being asked to prepare and serve the meal.