Nov 2024

Pastoral Council Minutes, November 19, 2024 @ 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, Leo Beschorner, Nathan Heitz, Val King, LuAnn Scallon, Mary Jo Stomberg, Dixie Jacobs, Phil Paladino, Fr. Doug Wathier
Call to order: Nathan Heitz at 7:00p.m.                                    Prayer: Fr. Doug Wathier
We reviewed and approved as written the Pastoral Council minutes from 10/15/24 and the  Finance Council meeting minutes of 10/15/24. We also reviewed and approved as written minutes from the 10/14/24 and 11/11/24 Peace and Justice Committee and the 10/21/24 Parish Life Committee.
Finance Council  - Dixie Jacobs

• The monthly financials are looking good. Offering collection was strong in October. Utilities were within budget.
• The parking lot retaining wall is in. The rest of this project will be completed next spring in conjunction with the installation of the covered entrance.
• Building pledges continue to come in as scheduled. Our write off percentage is very low – less than 5%.

Building Update

• Two air conditioning units are leaking and moving the other 3 units will be hard on the units. The decision has been made to replace all 5 units.
• An electric furnace is in the plans. Because our electric bills are so high, we are investigating putting in a gas furnace instead.
• Flooring that will not need to be stripped and waxed on a regular basis is going to be placed in hallways and bathrooms at an additional cost of approximately $4000. This will save many dollars in labor in the years ahead.
• The cost of hanging a stained-glass window at the west end of the current south vestibule is being investigated. It will be more cost effective to hang this in front of the windows that will replace the doors in that area.
• It has been decided to leave the brick and stone exterior wall in the new hallway.
• We project the classrooms will be in use by late spring 2025.
• The “flat” roof has been a concern raised by parishioners. The roof actually has a sufficient slope for water drainage.

Archdiocese survey

• A link and QR code will be included in the Advent flyer sent out to parishioners and bulletin announcements.
• The survey is quite long and will probably take more time than the suggested 20 minutes. It has to be completed all at once.
• We need to encourage others to take the survey.
• The results of the survey will be used by the Diocese for parish planning.

The parish seems to be growing! Good group of Wartburg students has been attending Masses.
As there were no further items for discussion, we adjourned at 7:30.
No December meeting. The next meeting is Tuesday, January 21, 2024 at 7:00p.m.                                                            Minutes prepared by Val King

Finance Council  –  Nov 19, 2024
Present: Joe Barber, Katie Crouse, Becky Wilson, John Holden, Adam Losey, Fr Doug Wathier. Also present: Deacon Phil Paladino, Dixie Jacobs.
Monthly Financials: Offertory continues to be strong; it is about $2000 above budget-to-date. We received our 6mo. interest on savings at the Archdiocesan deposit & loan. Unrestricted savings interest was almost $8000 and building savings interest was almost $16,000. No extraordinary expenses to report. Utilities had been running slightly above budget, but with the mild weather, utilities are at budget levels. Discussion on the utilities with the addition will continue in January to determine impact on budget. Less than 5% of pledges were written-off; much less than the typically capital campaign.
Building & Grounds Committee – Parking Lot: The drainage tile will be installed in the spring when the canopy and south entrance work is done.
Building Update: Two of the five current air conditioning units. Acquiring bid for replacement of units. Recommendation is to replace all five units. They are all original to building. Due to their age, they are like to have or develop issues from age and moving them during the addition construction can cause leaks on old units. The additions furnace will be electric. We are researching the cost of substituting a gas furnace, because our electric bills are so high. This may not be feasible as the unit may already be in production. A few change orders have been approved including upgrading the addition’s hall floors to vinyl plank $4000 which will not need to be stripped or waxed and windows upgrade $2250 to prevent future water-infiltration. An angel stained glass from the old church (stored in attic) was to installed in the vestibule. This was not included in the bid; researching cost of this installation. Had concern about leaving exterior brick in hallway; construction crew suggested replacing it with drywall would be more practical. After a discussion on the added cost, the architects and construction crew decided the brick would remain.
Jan Meeting: Building update, review utility budget mid-year, monthly finances

 
Parish Life Minutes, Monday, December 9, 2024
Present:  Mindy Hart, David Voves, Mariah Stauffer, Liz Poock, Mary Lou Ungs, Fr. Wathier, Helen Melichar                                                                                                        
Meeting called to order by David, Chairperson
Opening Prayer: Mariah, Vice-Chair
Review of November Minutes:  No additions or corrections
Old Business
Wartburg Finals Outreach- Treat bags provided to Wartburg students during masses of 12/7 & 12/8 were well received.
December 7 Bingo:  Candy Cane Theme - 70 people in attendance with many new faces, 4 confirmation students who called bingo did a nice job; Gerri made maid rites and Helen arranged desserts; Gerri, Lynn Darnold and Mary Lou Ungs helped serve meal.
Fresh Christmas Wreath Making Class; Thursday, December 5 - 13 people in attendance; soup prepared by 4 volunteers, lots of wreath embellishments donated; participants shared laughter and enjoyed the evening.  It was suggested that we do this again in 2025.
New Business
Deck the Halls (Mindy)
-Saturday, December 14, 9:30-11:30; Santa’s arrival at 10:00, no buddy
-Gerri will take photos w/ Santa; Mindy’s Gingerbread Shoppe Backdrop. She will 
  need help with the sign up sheets for this activity.
-Planning for 70 kids w/ 3 different crafts for each child; Mariah checking on having
  high school students help on December 11 to prepare the materials and again on
  Saturday during the event.  
-Grace Ivey has games, will secure the volunteers, and will put together goodie bags.
  She has asked the KC’s for a donation; $100 Budget
-Mary Lou, Liz P., Helen, and Amy P. will work in the Sweet Shop.  Nestle to donate   
  hot chocolate; Gerri has purchased the following: marshmallows, chocolate chips,
  whipped cream and sprinkles.  Still need more bakers.  There will be an 
  announcement at week-end masses and also on facebook.
-Still need volunteers for the decorating/set-up (Dec. 13 at 2:00) and for cleanup. Also, need door prizes for kids….possibly Christmas books, nativity sets, etc. 
- Need to check with someone to take photos of the day’ activities.  Gerri will be busy   
  taking the photos with Santa.
- There will be an article in the newspaper.
Trivia Night: (No Bingo in January)   January 11                                                                           Location: Fredericks @ No Charge with 60+ people . Teams of 6, $ 30 /team;Maximum of 60 people.  Mariah will put out a “Save the Date” announcement.  She has designed a flyer.  May be able to do online registration.  Discussed a way to invite the different church councils to see if they would want to put together a team. Information will be in the Dec. 21, 28 and Jan. 6 bulletins.  Mariah and David in charge of Trivia Night.  Checking on the possibility of having a trophy.  Helen will get back to them.  Possibly will have “phone Father” opportunity.          
Update on Archdiocese Survey (Father)                                  Began December 5 and will go through early January.  There will be a record of how many complete the survey.  There are two computers  and a tablet in the gathering hall for people to use to complete the survey.  There are paper copies that can be completed and put in the collection baskets.  There is also a QR code in the bulletin that can be used.  It will take about 10-15 minutes to complete the survey.  Results will be back in March. To date, 4000 surveys have been completed within the archdiocese.  Results will be used for planning within the archdiocese and the local parishes.
Closing Prayer:  “Hail Mary”  Father Wathier.  Next Meeting: Monday, January 13, 2025
 
 Peace and  Justice Meeting Minutes, December 9,  2024 @ 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, Phil Paladino, Jan Kreiner, Val King
7:00 Opening Prayer :  all
Food Bank - The next 2 Saturday Food Bank Work Days are January 4th and February 1st.
Habitat for Humanity - 
House of hope partnership work w/ them to help women
103 families served
71 home repairs
2025 goal 114 families
723 families helped since beginning (1990) 
Need volunteering b/c of aging
Spring/Fall volunteer projects??
Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children - check with Mollie and Natalie for Liturgy committee plans for January 2nd. Lindsey will email the Peace & Justice committee to update them before the next meeting in January.
Rice Bowl for lent? YES
Taking a hiatus from Mary’s Meals in 2025
Monthly group discussions in 2025
Establish Talking points
Bulletin articles begin again in January
No Tithe
Closing Prayer – Phil.  Next meeting is Mon, Jan 13 at 7:00 p.m. Minutes prepared by: Lindsey Kuhlmann