Nov 2023

Pastoral Council Minutes, November 21, 2023 @ 7:00 p.m.
Present:  Ellizabeth Amsberry, Michell Even (ZOOM), Nathan Heitz, Val King, Mary Jo Stromberg, Phil Paladino, Fr. Doug Wathier, Joe Barber (ZOOM)
Guests: Lindsey Kuhlmann and Teresa Moerer from Peace and Justice Committee
Call to order:      Nathan Heitz
Prayer:                 Fr. Doug
We noted in the minutes from the October Pastoral Council that Elizabeth Amsberry was not listed as present and she did attend that meeting. Minutes approved with the change to reflect Elizabeth’s attendance. Updated minutes will be sent to Dixie.
We then reviewed the minutes from the November Finance Council and Building Committee meeting the October Finance Council, the September and November Peace and Justice Committee meetings.  We noted that the October Peace and Justice Committee meeting minutes were missing for review and asked that they be available to review at the Januacy Council meeting.
Peace and Justice Parish Survey

• Concern expressed: What expectations are we setting up?  Will we do someone’s laundry if that is a need?
• What about the needs we cannot meet? We can refer to other agencies that could help.
• Do we need a request form on our website?
• Who will monitor and respond to the requests from the survey? To requests from website or any other requests submitted in the future?
• Pastoral Council supports the project and the Peace and Justice can continue to go ahead with developing a survey.
• Recommendations: Peace and Justice Committee to present a draft to Pastoral Council at future meeting after consultation with other parish committees and groups.

Finance Council  and PHASE 2:
Weekly offertory collection is still trailing behind budget, but deficit hasn’t increased. We will continue to monitor.

1. PHASE 2 recommendations – Motion #1:
   1. We will not accept any other bids at this time since we do not have sufficient funds.
   2. We will notify the contractors we cannot accept bids within the 30-day timeframe as we do not have the funds.
   3. We acknowledge that by delaying the project that bids will go up as costs increase.
   4. It is agreed that we will continue the project as submitted without compromising our plans.
   5. Motion made and approved that we will begin fundraising efforts to cover the gap between what we have raised to date and the dollar amount of the bids received.
2. PHASE 2 recommendations – Motion #2
   1. Motion made and approved to reconvene the Building Committee to begin additional fundraising and invite those who were on the committee to return. We will also invite other parishioners to help.
   2. A fundraising letter will be sent to all parishioners in December.
   3. We will contact our  fundraising consultant for their ideas and assistance in filling the gap between what we have raised and the bids received.

As there were no further items for discussion, we adjourned at 7:50.
The next meeting is January 16, 2024.
Minutes prepared by Val King
 
 Finance Council  –  Nov 21, 2023
Present: Becky David, Kelly Flege, Becky Willson, Scott Danner, Joe Barber, Fr Doug Wathier. Also present: Deacon Phil Paladino, Dixie Jacobs; and Building Committee members Mary Jo Stromberg, Todd Tatroe, Gabe Stauffer, Will Kurtt.
Phase 2 Building Update

• Building Financials: The lowest construction bid (including the expanded classroom) is $1,793,700. With the expenses already incurred for architect/fundraising fees and taxa, the total project is estimated $2,219,522. Total income received and pledged is $1,563,727. This is a shortfall of $655,800.
• The Townhall was held after the Sunday Masses, Nov 19. Feedback was positive that we could raise additional pledges/gifts to close the shortfall, and attendees did not want significant cost-saving changes to the project.
• Discussion: The finance and building members feel it will be a detriment to the parish, if the project is reduced for cost-savings. If the breezeway west wall is replaced with pillars (more open) it would be a $18-20,000 savings. The drop-off covering in the parking lot and changing the handicap parking is about $200,000 of the breezeway cost. The contractors and architect should be notified as soon as possible, if the council approves not moving forward at this time. Deacon Phil will contact the fundraising consultant to determine their recommendations for closing the shortfall. A building update needs to be communicated to the entire parish.
• Motion: Joe made a motion to recommend to pastoral council not to accept the building bids and to form a committee to do more fundraising. Kelly seconded the motion; the motion passed unanimously
  

Finance Council and Building Committee Meeting – Nov 14, 2023
Special Building Meeting
 
Present: Fr Wathier, Joe Barber, Becky David, Katie Crouse, Kelly Flege, Todd Tatroe, Mary Jo Stromberg, Gabe Stauffer, Will Kurtt, Deacon Phil Paladino, Dixie Jacobs.
 
Building Bids received Nov 8. Lowest bid $1,793,700 including the classrooms with the (option #1) expanded classroom, breezeway, and covered drop-off.
Summary of Financials:
        Income received $1,111,814 plus outstanding pledge balance $451,913 = $1,563,727
        Expenses: Fundraising, Architecture, taxa expenses =  425,822
        Lowest Construction Bid = $1,793,700
        Shortfall =   $655,795
Breezeway Discussion: Are there options for reducing this cost?

1. Remove breezeway’s west wall; breezeway roof supported by pillars.
2. No drive through drop-off; breezeway with supports, no walls, end at sidewalk.

These do not address the drainage issues in the sidewalk/entryway area, which cause icy conditions and “flooding” of the vestibule and office entrance. The savings are not significant unless remove the changes to parking lot including moving handicap spaces closer, sidewalk redesigned, etc. This would still not make up the shortfall.
Shortfall: A small portion of the shortfall could be recouped with eliminating the expansion to the classroom ($117,000), changes to the breezeway/drive-through, and additional minor changes. However, this would not eliminate the shortfall completely. Parishioners divided on some seeing the classrooms as first priority, and others seeing the breezeway as the most important to them. Unsure how parishioners would feel about changes to the breezeway; would this affect the outstanding pledge gifts or regular offertory giving?
Loan: The parish approved for a $1M loan through the Archdiocese. It can be used to cover the (2-4yr)  gap between construction/billing and the pledges being paid. We can still take out the full loan to cover a shortfall in pledges, but we would have to submit a plan with the Archdiocese to repay the loan through additional fundraising or other means.
Consensus: This Sunday, Nov 19, is building update to parishioners. Need to get input and opinions on the project concerning cost reductions to project and additional fundraising to shrink the shortage.
Motion: Mary Jo made a motion to present bids to the parish asking for volunteers to form a Fundraising Committee to cover the shortfall. Gabe seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Next Meeting: Combined finance and building committee on Tues, Nov 21, 6pm in classroom B and zoom.
 
 
Peace and  Justice Meeting Minutes, December 11, 2023 @ 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, Wayne Green, Teresa Moerer, Val King
Opening Prayer :  Teresa
Food Bank - This quarter’s Food Bank Day has been changed to Saturday, December 16
Habitat for Humanity - Wayne
-    ReStore

• Starting to sell purchased products in Restore that we get wholesale at a good price, then sell for a little mark-up.
• Approaching $1 million in sales.

• Eighteen homeowners are working on sweat and equity hours.
• Goals for 2024: 15 new houses built and 65 home repairs.
• “Neighborhood Impact Coordinator” - increase interest in neighborhood revitalization in the Walnut and Church Row neighborhoods in Waterloo.
• A lot has been purchased in Waverly and the homeowner has been identified.

Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of the Unborn Child:  “In all the Dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 (or January 23, when January 22 falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion.” USCCB Secretariat of Pro Life Activities

• Monday, January 23 with Eucharistic Adoration from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with ½ hour Prayer Service at 7:30.
• Lindsey:  E-mail Fr. Wathier to see if we can include “Prayer for Pregnant Mothers” at Masses on the weekend of January 21 and 22. When would be the appropriate place in the Mass to include?
• Lindsey: Contact Molly for the prayer notebook
• Val: Check USCCB website for wording for the bulletin announcement. Tie in with  articles on Social Teachings.
• Sign-up sheets in church hall for the 13 & 14 and 20 & 21 for adoration hours.

Val has created a table of Significant Social Justice dates for the year to be used for planning events and bulletin articles. She will send out with minutes.
Peace and Justice education and parish survey:
1.      Catholic Social Teaching: All the articles for Catholic Social Teaching are completed.
2.      Parish Survey
A.    Teresa and Lindsey: went to the Pastoral Council meeting on Tuesday, November 21 at 7:00 p.m. to present goals for survey. Pastoral Council approved going ahead with the survey. Present draft to Pastoral Council after consulting with other groups in the parish. 
B. A long and very good discussion of survey:

1. January meeting of Parish Life is on January 11. Reach out to other groups.
2. Put surveys in pew, on bulletin flap and/or online?
3. We discussed a draft of survey questions and specific wording.
   1. What needs do you have that are not being met by our parish community?
   2. What needs do you see in our community that we as a parish are not meeting?
   3. Do we list specific needs?
   4. What did the last Time and Talent survey cover?  Do we incorporate our questions in next Time and Talent survey?
      
   5. What about liability when we provide services? How concerned do we need to be about this?
   6. What is the goal?  To identify needs of parishioners and the community at large.

In the end we concluded in this discussion that perhaps we should just use the Social Justice Corner to bring to light certain parish activities instead of a survey.. For example:
          Did you know the parish does/provides ____________________________?
If you are interested in doing or receiving this ministry, call ____________ ?
Or, use the questions in c.i and c.ii?
Tithing:    State/National:              NE Iowa Food Bank $1000                          
Next meeting is January 8 at 7:00 p.m.  Minutes prepared by: Val King