Pastoral Council Minutes, March 11, 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, Leo Beschorner, Michelle Even (ZOOM), Nathan Heitz, Val King, LuAnn Scallon, Becky David, Sandy Risvold, 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 1/21/25. We also reviewed for discussion the Finance Council minutes of 1/21/25, the Parish Life minutes of 2/10/25, the Peace and Justice minutes of 1/13/25 and 2/17/25, and the Faith Formation minutes of 2/4/25 and 3/4/25.
 
Finance Council  - Becky David

• We are still doing well with approximately $38,000 over budget.
• Budget discussions are starting. Council will review all accounts, especially offertory income, electricity expenses.

Building Update

• We continue to be happy with the contractor, Huff. They have found some savings for us.
• The Capital Campaign is going well as funds are coming in as well as some new donations. Only 3 write-offs to date.
• Classroom will be completed before Palm Sunday.
• The plan is to begin construction in the front of the church after Easter.

 
As there were no further items for discussion, we adjourned at 7:13.
The next meeting is Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. This is a change from April 15 because of Holy Week
Minutes prepared by Val King
 
Faith Formation Commission Meeting,  April 1, 2025
Members Present: Father Wathier, Mariah Stauffer, Ted Mulert, Sandy Risvold

1. Catechist Appreciation

We are looking for ways to show appreciation to our Catechists.
Ideas – serving a meal at the kickoff of Faith Formation, giving them Waverly Bucks, invitations to speakers as ways to build relationships and have them feel connected.

1. Survey for Faith Formation

Debating whether this is a good time to do a survey for feedback on the Faith Formation program since we just finished the DMI survey. Possibly doing a half page or few questions on the survey/evaluation on what their thoughts are on the new classrooms.
We could do a sneak peek into the new area and hand them the survey at that time.

1. DMI is currently being analyzed.
2. VBS updates – July 13th – 17th

We are in need for a small group to lead and coordinate the games.
We also need a group to prepare and serve the Thursday, July 17th, night meal for the families.
We decided that the Faith Formation Commission would coordinate the food and serve the meal Thursday night. Snacks will also be needed.

1. Faith Formation Outlook

They will be starting to prepare the materials to use for next year’s Faith Formation.
They are looking to split Edge into 5th/6th grade and 7th/8th grade.
Starting to plan the dates for 2025-2026. Looking at having the classes on the same night and/or time to cut down on travel time for some. Right now, the High School meets opposite the Confirmation class.

1. Checking with Dixie what each member’s term is so we know if there is anyone who will be going off. The terms are 3 years with 1 renewable term. Becky, Sandy, Chris, Ted, Sue, Jess
2. Next meeting, Tuesday, May 6th at 6:30 PM.

Finance Council  –  Mar 11, 2025
Mar Meeting Present: Katie Crouse, Becky Wilson, John Holden, Adam Losey, Becky David, Fr Doug Wathier. Also present: Deacon Phil Paladino, Dixie Jacobs
Jan. Minutes were approved as written. Noted Feb meeting was cancelled due to weather.
Monthly Financials: Offertory for Feb was strong; we are about $24,000 above last year’s giving. We believe as parishioners are completing their pledge, they are increasing their offertory gifts. Utilities and snow removal expenses are significantly below budget due to the mild winter. No extraordinary expenses to report. Joe made a motion to approve the financials as presented; Katie seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Building Update: The HVAC system is installed and passed testing. Flooring will begin in the next few days. On schedule to complete rooms by Easter, and work will begin on the canopy area after Easter. Our change orders are about $35,000 plus we replaced the current 5 air conditioning units for $41,600. Building gifts and pledges received are $2,100,00 and we have $207,000 outstanding pledges for a total of $2,307,000. Fr Wathier, Deacon Phil, Will Kurtt, and Dixie met with the architects to discuss the additional fees. We paid their 8% fee on the latest, lower bid after cost-saving changes. The architects are assessing the 8% fee on 85% of those cost-savings, because they did incur design costs on the cost-savings even though we are going forward with those items. They are discounting the fee to be fair to the parish (basing additional fees on 85% of the cost-savings instead of the full 100% of the cost-savings deductions).
Budget 2025/26 Discussion: Reviewed a draft budget. We do not have our first electric bill with the additions HVAC running. A tentative 20% increase was added to the draft budget. By April’s meeting, we will have a utility bill with the new unit running. An estimate on tuckpointing the brick was $14,415 and to seal the exterior of the building for $8,430. If the building is sealed to protect it from moisture every 5 years, it will eliminate or greatly reduce the need for tuckpointing. Offertory will be reviewed to determine if that budget can be increased. Dixie will put together a history of the return on general savings (Archdiocesan deposit & loan savings account) for budgeting.
April Meeting: April meeting is during Holy Week. The council suggested moving it back a week to Mar 22, if the pastoral council agrees with this date.
Apr Meeting: Building update, monthly finances, budget 2025/26, potential candidates for finance council (2 vacancies in July 2025).

Peace and Justice Meeting Minutes for March 17, 2025  7 PM
Present: Teresa Moerer, Wayne Green, Lindsey Kuhlmann, Phil Paladino, and Jan Kriener
Opening prayer: Jan Kriener
Habitat for Humanity: Wayne reported they had a successful annual auction and dinner. Habitat offers micro-grants to help neighborhoods. Some examples are : Thanksgiving dinner, planting flowers, crafts. Gearing up for women’s crew to work on houses in May. Rural coordinator is doing talks to try to educate people regarding how people become Habitat home owners, with main focus to remove stigma that the homes are a hand-out to the poor.
Food Bank: There were about 20 people helping in March. April work day is cancelled due to scheduling conflict. Discussion of whether to continue work days during summer and it was decided to continue even if there were less volunteers. Next work day is May 3rd.
Discussion of how to attract more committee members and ideas for activities:
Lindsey will talk to Food bank volunteers. Phil will ask Julie to ask people that attended Walk with Christ retreat. Jan will contact several people that have attended Impact.
Friends of the Family Shelter are asking for pillow and towel donations. Each church is asked to list 3 possible months that they would like to do that. They will contact us with the month they picked for us. We gave options of June, August, or October.
Teresa will talk to Bartel’s personnel regarding possible mentoring for patients or other activities that our church could volunteer for.
Tithe: State/National: N.E. Iowa Food Bank $1,000 and Birthright $500.  International: Mary’s Meals $1,000.
Next meeting: April 14, 2025.  Closing Prayer: Jan Kriener  Meeting adjourned: 7:50 PM. Minutes Per Jan Kriener
 
St. Mary Parish Life Minutes, Monday, March 10, 2025
Present:  Mindy Hart, Fr. Wathier, Helen Melichar, Mary Lou Ungs, Liz Poock, Gerri Dix , Will Kurtt                                                                                                                
Meeting called to order by Mindy Hart
Opening Prayer: Mindy.  Review of February Minutes:  No additions or corrections
Old Business
Bingo: March 1,   Approximately 60 in attendance
Pillow/Towel Drive:  No Report This will be on the April agenda
New Business:
Bingo:  April 5. Spring theme.  This will be the last one of the year.  Gerri will organize the making of subs, also will have chips and Helen will call for bars.
Easter Egg Hunt:  April 12. Karen Kuhlman (and family) is in charge.  She gave us an update via a phone call.  Activity is from 9:00-11:00, for ages 0-10- years of age.  There will be games and prizes as well as snacks, juice and milk. The outdoor hunt will begin at 10:45- weather permitting.  Kids will get candy baskets when they leave.  Karen says they need donations of small prizes and candy.  Gerri will put out a sign-up sheet for volunteers and donations.  22 volunteers are needed.  Liz P. and Mary Lou will be in the kitchen.  Supplies from the attic will be brought down on April 1.  Friday, April 11, will be final preparations.  Karen will speak with those in charge of the fish fry to let them know how many tables will need to be left up.
Spring Tea:  Saturday, May 4.   Article has been in the bulletin the past two weeks asking for volunteers.  Really need a coordinator for this event.   A team could also do this. Mindy will speak with Dixie about another announcement in the bulletin on May 15-16.
Parish Picnic:  Sunday , June 8 at 11:30.  Lynn will be in charge of potato salad and also help Gerri.  Gerri will speak with Troy Merkes about grilling.  There will be cowboy beans, and soft serve ice cream if Mary Lou can get the machine reserved.  Different toppings will be available. Mindy will be in charge of games.  There will also be bingo along with activities for kids.
Care Packages for Wartburg Finals Week: These will be handed out after the April 12-13 Masses.  Helen will call for 20 dozen cookies.  30 bags will be made.  The treat bags will be assembled on Friday, April 11,  in the afternoon.  Treats will need to be in the office by noon on that Friday. Mindy will prepare the tags, Father will furnish a prayer card and Helen will purchase the bags.
Graduation Breakfast:  May 25 after the 10:00 Mass.  Parents of juniors will be asked to be involved.  Invites will go out to high school seniors.  Menu will be egg bakes, cinnamon rolls and fruit cups.
Parish Welcome Protocol:  Tabled..will be on the April agenda. 
Other Business:
 It was suggested that a card be sent to a family on the one year anniversary of their child’s baptism.
Closing Prayer:  Father gave Mary Lou a birthday blessing and then closed the meeting with “Hail Mary”.
Next Meeting:  Monday, April 14, 2025.   Respectfully submitted, Helen Melichar