Jan 2025

Pastoral Council Minutes, January 21, 2025 @ 7:00 p.m.
The mission of St. Mary Parish is to make Christ real in our Communities by  living the Gospel, worshipping together and serving others.
 
Present:  Elizabeth Amsberry, Michelle Even, Nathan Heitz, Val King, Sandy Risvold (ZOOM), Becky David, Phil Paladino, Fr. Doug Wathier      
Call to order: Nathan Heitz at 7:00 p.m.                                  Prayer:Fr. Doug Wathier
We reviewed and approved as written the Pastoral Council minutes from 11/19/24. We also reviewed for discussion the Finance Council meeting minutes of 11/19/24/24, the Parish Life minutes of 12/9/24, the Peace and Justice minutes of 12/9/24, and the Faith Formation minutes of 1/7/25.
Finance Council  - Becky David

• Doing well during this time of increase giving and reduced expenses. We currently have an overage form July through December of just over $46,000. An overage is typical for the first 6 months of the year.
• The year end letters to parishioners are ready to be sent out.

Building Update

• Replacing all 5 HVAC units.
• Change orders have been less than $14,000. This is low.
• We are happy with contractors. They are good about giving suggestions to save money.
• The stained-glass window will be encased within a window. We are working with a stained-glass company to have this done properly.
• The Capital Campaign is going well as funds are coming in.
• The construction timeline is right on schedule. Construction at the front of the building is planned to begin in April.
• Furnishings: We are good on chairs, whiteboards, and round tables. Some “lounge” furniture has also been donated.

Archdiocese survey
About 60% of regular mass attendees completed the survey. Results are now being tallied for sharing in the future.
 
As there were no further items for discussion, we adjourned at 7:40.  The next meeting is Tues, Feb 18, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.           
NOTE CHANGE FOR MARCH MEETING: Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. Minutes prepared by Val King

Finance Council  –  Jan 21, 2025
Present: Katie Crouse, Becky Wilson, John Holden, Adam Losey, Becky David, Fr Doug Wathier. Also present: Deacon Phil Paladino, Dixie Jacobs, Mariah Stauffer.
Faith Formation/Budgeting: Mariah, associate faith formation coordinator, asked for guidance on budgeting. The process and suggestions were shared.
Monthly Financials: Offertory at end of calendar year was strong; offertory is about $20,000 above mid-year budget. The first half of Archdiocesan taxa was paid. The church furnace was down for most of last week, but was repaired Friday. The bill has not been received for this repair. No other extraordinary expense to report.
Building Update: The HVAC heating/cooling system was lifted onto the roof last week. It will be a couple weeks before the system is ready to run. Once this permanent heat is running, the flooring and final paint can be completed. Work continues on the ceiling tiles and electric/plumbing. The beams for the canopy are on schedule to arrive in April.
Utility Discussion: An overview of the past 2 years of utilities was included in packet. We will have a couple months of bills with the new HVAC (electrical) unit before next year’s budgeting is set. We are penalized for peaks in our electrical usage. It is difficult with our scheduling to have a flat usage throughout the week, which results in higher electric bills.
Letter to Parishioners: Becky D will work on a financial letter to include with contribution statements. The statements will be mailed by the end of January.
March Meeting: The committee is open to moving the meeting up or back one week in March due to scheduling conflict. The pastoral council will be consulted and email sent when a date is confirmed.
Feb 18 Meeting: Building update, monthly finances, budgeting discussion
  

Faith Formation Commission Meeting, Feb 4, 2025,  6:30 - 7:30 PM
Members Present: Father Wathier, Natalie Even, Chris Schneider, Ted Mulert, Sandy Risvold

1. Opening Prayer
2.  Updates on Retreats

1. Walk with Christ will be February 22nd-23rd: There will be a prayer panel with 3 speakers. They are finalizing the 3rd speaker. The cost is $30.00.
2.  Hiking Retreat: They will focus on the Scripture and Mary. It will be September 19th - 21st. They will stay in a Vrbo in Onalaska, Wisconsin. It will cap at 20 people, which includes a team of 8.               

1. First Reconciliation and First Communion

1. 24 Students
2. There are 3 sessions/classes for each.
3. They will receive 1st Reconciliation on March 9th. Communal Penance will be at 1:30 PM.
4. First Communion will be the weekends of March 3rd/4th and March 10/11th during the 5:15 PM and 10 AM mass.

1. VBS Update       

1. Natalie had been talking with Deb from St Paul’s Church. 
2. We will host this year.
3. It will be in July.

1. General Faith Formation input

1. Ideas on ways to get more involved. The Trivia night through Parish Life was a success. 
2. Once we get the survey back, we will have a better idea of thoughts from the parish. Maybe survey the youth.

1. Budgeting will be coming soon for the proposed budget.
2. Catechist Formation re-evaluation and brainstorming

1. Catechist kick off in August 

 -each got a book to keep
- Started a Book Study, meets 3X/year to grow their faith
- not a high attendance - had 3 the 1st time, 2 the 2nd time; out of 30 Catechist’s
 - maybe do a 15 minute session after Faith Formation night to get more

1. Next meeting: March 4th at 6:30 PM.
2.  Closing Prayer

 
Peace and  Justice Meeting Minutes, Jan 13,  2025, 7:00 p.m.
The Peace and Justice Committee seeks to mobilize the St. Mary community to care for the  poor and marginalized in the name of Jesus through the lens of our Catholic faith.
Attendance: Lindsey Kuhlmann, Phil Paladino, Jan Kreiner
7:00 Opening Prayer :  Jan
Food Bank - The next 2 Saturday Food Bank Work Days are February 1st and March 1st.
Habitat for Humanity - no update
Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children - Wed. January 22nd

• Lindsey will send something to Dixie to include in the bulletin

Rice Bowl for lent? Yes we have them

• Poster/display in the hall TBD in February

Tithe from November 2024 included? We did not see it in the current tithe report
Local: Butler County Visions of Well Being $500, Bremer Co Holiday Shoppe $500
National: Camp Courageous $500
Clara White Mission $500
International: Bread for the World $500
Tithe: January 2025
Local: Bremer Co. food pantry $1,000.00
Knights of Columbus baby drive $500
National: Cedar Valley Friends of the Family $1,000.00
NAMI $1,000.00
International: Catholic Medical Mission $1,000.00
Catholic Relief Services $1,000.00
Closing Prayer – Hail Mary
Next meeting is Monday, February 10 at 7:00 p.m. Minutes prepared by: Lindsey Kuhlmann
 
 St. Mary Parish Life Minutes, Monday, February 10, 2025
Present:  Mindy Hart, David Voves,  Fr. Wathier, Helen Melichar
Meeting called to order by David, Chairperson
Opening Prayer: David
Review of January Minutes:  No additions or corrections
Old Business
Bingo: February 10,  Valentine themed,  60+ attended,  High school girls called. They did a nice job.   Walking tacos and bars were served.
Mardi Gras: February 7.  There was a good crowd.  Games/activities were held in classrooms.
New Business:
March Bingo:  March 1  Western theme.  Menu is pulled pork sandwiches, cowboy beans, King Cakes from February will be served (They did not arrive in time for the Mardi Gras meal.) Helen will check with Gerri about the number of bars needed.  David will check with Mariah regarding callers.
Pillow/Towel Drive: Mindy shared the months available.  We decided March might be a good month for St. Mary.  Father will discuss with staff and then it will go to the Peace and Justice Committee.  There will be a note in the bulletin.
Easter Egg Hunt: Possible date of April 5. Possibly need to use the new space.  This is the same day as the Liturgical Meeting.  Father and Gerri will need to coordinate how the space will be used and confirm the date.
      Update 2/12: Egg Hunt will take place on April 12 with Karen Kuhlmann coordinating 
Spring Tea:  Mindy will follow up with Pat Colsch regarding this activity.
Parish Picnic:  Tentatively June 3 (depends on if any snow days need to be made up).  Lynn will be in charge of potato salad.  Mindy will be in charge of games.  Additional details to be decided.
Other Business:
Web Page:  Molly has updated the parish life web page and would like our group to review it.  We took a look at it and decided that we had no additions.
Question about Welcome Bags:  Where is this now?  It is felt that we need to help new parishioners “connect” with current parishioners. How can we build relationships?   A photo in the bulletin might help to recognize new parishioners when they attend Mass.  Mindy will develop a checklist for us to review in March.  It would list the steps of what would occur when a new parishioner registers with the office.
Closing Prayer:  “Hail Mary”  Father Wathier.  Next Meeting:  Monday, March 10, 2025
Respectfully submitted, Helen Melichar