Pastoral Council Minutes, Oct 21 @ 7 pm
Present Nathan Heitz, Elizabeth Amsberry, Mary Jo Stromberg (via Zoom), LuAnn Scallon, Ron Reusche,  Theresa Buss, Becky David, Phil Paladino, Fr Doug Wathier

1. Call to order:  Nathan Heitz at 7 pm. Journey in Faith Prayer led by Father
2. We reviewed and approved as written the Pastoral Council minutes from 9/16/25.   We also reviewed minutes from Finance Council  9/16/25, Peace and Justice 10/13/2025, Parish Life minutes 9/8/25 & 10/13/25. 
3. Becky reported on the latest finance council meeting, noting that offertory “still going strong”- IRA gifts are boosting this.  Phone system replaced with a refurbished one.   The tractor and mower had repairs.   Hail damage repairs are completed.   Cabinets, Refrigerator and Sink are being added and finished in John classroom as this is the space that can be rented.  
4. Next Journey in Faith Meeting will be Nov 2nd at 11AM.  This will be a condensed review with questions taken.   The general overview from the previous meeting was “we’re okay” but there were many comments about other parishes being more effected.  
   
5. Dixie provided Annual Parish Statistics that were reviewed and discussed.  
6. Next Meeting- Tues Nov 18 at 7pm 

 
 
Finance Council, Oct 21, 2025
Present: Becky David, Adam Losey , Katie Crouse, Regina Peters, John Holden, Fr Doug Wathier. Also present: Deacon Phil Paladino, Dixie Jacobs.
Meeting opened with Journey in Faith prayer.
Monthly Financials: Offertory is about $16,000 above budget. More parishioners are making donations from their IRA’s, which have an added tax benefit. A few non-budgeted repairs were incurred recently. The tractor and mower needed repairs this fall for $1,090. The office phone system failed last week, and will be replaced with a refurbished system $4200 with a 5 yr warranty. The nave furnace repairs have not been billed yet. Katie made a motion to accept the financials as presented; John seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Building Addition &  Hail Update: The construction and hail repairs have been paid. Hail insurance payout was $160,485, the repairs cost $164,445. Two building addition expenses are outstanding. The second half of the stained glass (vestibule) $15,900 and cabinets in room John. The lowest bid for cupboards on the east wall in room John is $3500, which match the existing sink cupboard and be installed by our building contractor. Adam made a motion to accept the bid for $3500; Katie seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The recommendation will be sent to the Pastoral Council.
Journey in Faith: The Oct parish meeting had about 60 attendees. Parishioners expressed their understanding of the changes, but expressed concern for other parishes which will not have a weekend Mass. St Mary will have 2 weekend Masses in both models. The feedback will be shared with the Archdiocese. The next and final parish meeting is Nov 2. Decisions will be shared by the Archdiocese in March-April.
Parish Statistics: A statistics sheet was shared with the finance and pastoral councils, and will be included in the faith formation commission. 
Agenda for Tues, Nov 18. Monthly financials, Journey in Faith, update on nave furnace and stained glass.
 
Faith Formation Commission Committee Minutes, November 4, 2025, 6:30 PM – 7:40 PM
Present: Father Wathier, Laurie Masters, Sandy Risvold, Sue Rand, Ted Mulert, Levi McClimon, Kelly Behrends, Kayla Tatroe, Jessica Haas
1. Opening Prayer – Journey in Faith Prayer
2. Election of Officers
     - Chairperson: Chris Schneider
     - Vice Chairperson: Ted Mulert
    - Secretary: Levi McClimon
3. Subs and Saints went well after mass Saturday night. This was the 3rd year.
    - 12 students had a Saint
   - 130-135 people attended
4. Totus Tuus weekend
     - We usually alternate every other year with St Pat’s. They hosted last year.
     - It can cost $2,170 - $3,100 for materials/fees, food, etc and this doesn’t cover staff
       salary in this. The missionaries also need housing for this event. The 1st payment would
       have been due in November.
   - We decided to skip this event next summer due to low numbers and cost
5. Faith Formation Statistics
    - The Confirmation schedule is changing a little
  - We continue to increase in numbers
     - Confirmation – 17
     - High School – 27
       - Edge - 81
       - Elementary – PS = K 33   and   1st – 4th = 91
      - no financial concerns for Faith Formation Program
6. Archdiocesan Women’s and Men’s Conferences
    - Women have a watch party at church Saturday, January 31st from 9 AM – 2 PM. This year is called
      “Grace for the Journey”. There are breakfast and lunch provided. Last year there were 12 in attendance.
      We are looking for someone to oversee this event if we want to have.
   - Men is an in-person event in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, March 28th at St Pius X.
7. Celebration of First Reconciliation dates and numbers
   - There are 33 students
   - March 8th at 1:30 PM with the parish at 3:00 PM
   - There are classes on February 1st, 15th and March 1st
8. Brainstorm service opportunities for Middle School and Elementary
    - 3rd and 4th cleaned the Nave. It took 15 minutes
   - Middle School will put Journey of Faith cards in the Bulletin
   - have them decorate plain placemats for nursing homes, homebound, etc
9. Other Business
 - OCIA - 4 are participating now, 1 just finished, 2 want to start
                  - in need of sponsors 
                  - meet once a month on Sunday from 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM after mass
                  - have a topic to discuss and have breakout topics
10. Next meeting is January 6th, 2026, at 6:30 PM
11. Closing Prayer
 
 
Peace and Justice meeting minutes, Oct 2025:
Attendance: Lindsey Kuhlmann, Phil Paladino, Wayne Green, Sharon Denner
Opening Prayer: Wayne 
Food bank : Ask Dixie for contacts if there are any last minute updates
       Next date November 1st
 Habitat for Humanity 
       - Board build this Saturday. 6th October in Parkersburg. 
       - 31st October raffle, trick or treat at Restore. 
       - 4th St house for home ownership training, skills, classes, etc. 
       - November 22nd St. Mary volunteer day 8:30-3
Immigrant prayer in bulletin before October 28th - send to Dixie
Tithe
Local : Bremer Co. Food Pantry $1,000? Not at this time.
National : NE IA Food bank $1,000
International : Bread for world $1,000
                          Catholic Legal Immigration Network $1,000
Closing Prayer: Sharon
 
Peace and Justice Minutes for November 10, 2025
Present: Lindsey Kuhlmann, Phil Paladino, Wayne Green, Sharon Denner, and Jan Kriener
Opening Prayer: Wayne lead a prayer regarding St. Leo, the Great, patron saint for today.
Food Bank: 10-15 volunteers helped in November. They worked in cold storage. Lindsey will communicate with Dixie, so workers will be informed each time if they need to dress to work in the cold. Next work day is Saturday, December 6th.
Habitat: November 18 there is a program called Blueprints, which teaches financial skills. November 20, there is a volunteer training camp. Explanation about Habitat and teaching of simple skills is done. November 22, is St. Mary’s work day. Wayne is organizing a group to work on a house in Waterloo. So far, 8 are signed up. Carpooling will probably be an option. Work day is from  8:30-3:30.
Discussion of Lenten project: Discussed possibility of Mary’s Meals, Rice Bowl, or any other ideas. Group to think about it and make a decision in December.
Discussion of activities for next year: Jan 22, 2026 is Day of Prayer for Legal Protection of the Unborn. In the past, there has been very low attendance. Some ideas offered as to how to possibly increase attendance. Lindsey will check past minutes where this was discussed. Plan to continue with discussion of this next meeting.
Tithing: Local: $500 to Bremer County Holiday Shop and $500 to Butler County Holiday Shop
National: $1,000 to Clara White Mission
International: $1,000 to Catholic Relief Services.
Closing Prayer: Hail Mary
Meeting Adjourned: 7:50 PM    
Minutes written: Jan Kriener
 
St. Mary Parish Life Minutes, Monday, October 13, 2025
Present:  Mindy Hart, Fr. Wathier, Helen Melichar, Cindy Franzen, Liz Poock, Gerri Dix                                                                                                                 
Meeting called to order by Co-Chair Liz
Opening Prayer: Liz led  the “Journey in Faith Prayer”
Added to the Agenda:  Bingo Checklist Draft
Review of September minutes: Corrected Church Dedication to Church Addition Dedication
Old Business:

• Bingo:  October 4    40 attended, Joe and William Amsberry were callers, Cindy Franzen
• helped in the kitchen.   Menu for December 6 Bingo includes pulled pork, chips, bars.  The theme is St. Nicholas.  Callers are needed.    
• Spring Tea:  April 25, 2026  Mindy is pulling together a committee.  Liz P. and Mary Lou will assist Mindy.
• Deck the Halls: To be put on the November agenda. Mariah will work with high school students for help with games.
• Subs and Saints:  November 1 (No Bingo) After 5:15 Mass  -   Liz, Mary Lou, and Gerri will make subs at 2:00 on Saturday.  Gerri will get all the supplies needed.  Helen will call for bars and cookies. Lester and Cindy Franzen will help in the kitchen that evening.

New Business:  

• Journey in Faith: 60 stayed for the October 5 meeting.  Will do 2 fewer egg bakes for the November 2 meeting.
• Trivia Night:  January 10 at the Waverly Amvets Post. Possibly 100 people would participate. Mariah and David will co-chair.  More discussion at November Parish Life meeting.  A “Save the Date” announcement will go out.
• Wartburg Outreach:  Finals Week Goodie Bags will be handed out after the December 6-7 Masses.  We will plan for 35 bags.  Bags to be filled on December 5.  Helen will call for cookies and buy the bags.
• Other: Mindy shared a draft of the Bingo Procedures Checklist for hosting Bingo nights.  The group offered input.
  

Pastoral Council Minutes, Sept 16, 2025 @ 7 pm
Present Nathan Heitz, Elizabeth Amsberry, Mary Jo Stromberg, LuAnn Scallon, Ron Reusche,  Theresa Buss, Becky David, Phil Paladino, Fr Doug Wathier

1. Call to order:  Nathan Heitz at 7 pm.   Prayer by Father
2. Theresa Buss is welcomed as a new member
3. We reviewed and approved as written the Pastoral Council minutes from 9/19/25.   We also reviewed minutes from Finance Council  9/19/25, Peace and Justice 9/8/2025, Parish Life minutes 8/11/25, and Faith Formation 9/9/25.

Regarding Parish life inquiry at last meeting -  Fr will relay to Mindy that the activities planned are important for community building.   Regarding help, it was recommended to make personal asks, along with encouraging potential new members to assist and then lead.  
Regarding tithing – every quarter the peace and Justice committee chooses organizations that support our church’s mission to give charitable contributions.   We approved annual distributions as determined by the Peace and justice committee. 

1. Becky reported on the latest finance council meeting, noting that offertory has been good.    Enrollment for faith formation is up so will affect the budget a little.    Also, while awaiting a full-time coordinator for faith formation, pay will increase some for the current part time staff helping to fill in.  

 Regarding the building – the $75,000 loan came in which they are hopeful to pay off in a couple of years.      The old HVAC needs repairs.    The parking lot is complete.    The roof has been repaired from hail damage, while siding has yet to be completed.  

1. Journey in Fath Regional Meetings will be taking place in the next month.   Fr encouraged us to attend.   There is information available online.   There will be follow up meetings at St Mary Oct 5th and Nov 2nd at 11AM. 

Next Meeting- Tues Oct 21 at 7pm 
 


Finance Council, Sept 16, 2025
Present: Becky David, Adam Losey , Katie Crouse, Regina Peters, Fr Doug Wathier. Also present: Deacon Phil Paladino, Dixie Jacobs.
Meeting opened with prayer. Welcomed new member Regina Peters.
Monthly Financials: Offertory continues to be strong; about $10,000 above budget and last year’s giving. Gifts from IRA’s are becoming more common. It is a great tax advantage for retirees; this does make the offertory have more fluctuations due to these annual gifts. The HVAC for the church was not working last week. It will be repaired before the weekend, but we don’t have a repair estimate on it yet. Katie made a motion to accept the monthly financials as presented; Adam seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The parking lot tiling and asphalt patching is complete.
Building Addition Update: The addition’s roof has been replaced due to hail damage. The windows and siding have not been replaced yet. Will have an update in Oct on these repairs. The final construction invoice has been received. Oct meeting will summary of the building financial report. The $75,000 loan has been received. The interest will be billed quarterly through the Archdiocesan online billing and we will make monthly principal payments (no set amount established).
Journey in Faith: The regional meetings are complete; two parish meetings will be held in Oct and Nov. Feedback can be given at the parish Journey in Faith meetings or on the Archdiocesan Journey in Faith webpage.
Agenda for Tues, Oct 21. Close out building, hail repairs, nave furnace, statistics for faith formation.

St. Mary Parish Life Minutes, Monday, September 8, 2025
Present:  Mindy Hart, Fr. Wathier, Helen Melichar, Cindy Franzen, Mary Lou Ungs, Liz Poock,  Gerri Dix                                                                                                                 
Meeting called to order by Co-Chair Liz
Opening Prayer: Liz
Added to the Agenda:  Pillow and Towel Collection
Old Business:

• Review of August Minutes:  
• Added that Cindy Franzen agreed to take the leadership role of Vice-Chair. Thank you, Cindy.
• Wartburg Welcome: No students on Saturday.  On Sunday 24 students- mostly at 10:00 Mass. Lots of first year students.  Mariah took the remaining 6 bags to Wartburg. The students’ parents were pleased with the welcome.  Michael Gleason is liaison for the Knights.
• Presentation to Parish Council: Mindy spoke to the parish council. She shared details on the parish life happenings. She  posed questions and asked for feedback. She received the following:

-Need to emphasize that it is a parish life community and not a committee.
-There is a good group of activities spanning the various ages.
-Possibly have a sign-up for bingo like there is for coffee Sunday.
-Provide parameters of time commitments and details for each activity.
SO…Liz and Mary will write out the kitchen details for Deck the Halls and the Easter Egg Hunt
        Gerri will ask Karen Kuhlmann to detail the Easter Egg Hunt
              Gerri will list the details for the Wartburg Welcome
        Mindy will list the details for Bingo
These details will be in a Google Folder.  Details need to be completed for/after each event this year.
Church Dedication: Went well. Cookies were well received.  ⅔ of the second was cake left on Sunday.
 October 4 Bingo   Theme St. Francis of Assisi   Meal is walking tacos, chips and bars.  Mindy will check with Mariah about possible callers.  Mindy will arrange for the prizes. Helen will call for bars. November 1 Bingo  Saints and Subs   150 subs will be made on Saturday.  Gerri will get the  supplies.
Deck the Halls: Santa and Buddy have been scheduled. Sign up for the bake sale will be put out 3 weeks before.  Need a person to chair the games and activities.
Easter Egg Hunt:   Confirmed March 21 with the Kuhlman family.
Pillows and Towel Collection Update:  An activity of the Peace and Justice Committee for the Friends of the Family.  $230 in gift cards, $289 cash, 32 pillows, and 120 towels.
New Business:

• Journey in Faith:  Liz and Father will go to a meeting at Blessed Sacrament on September 17.  Gerri will go to St. Ed’s on the 23rd.   There will be follow-up meetings  at St. Mary on October 5 and November 2. These will be after the 10:00 Mass and egg bakes will be served.  The egg bakes will be purchased.
• Spring Tea: Possibly April 25.  Mindy is willing  to be a co-chair if someone will co-chair with her.

Other:  Father will say Mass the first Thursday of the month at the Denver Sunset Home at 3PM.
Gerri will accompany him.  Mary Lou will also join them the first time.
Father closed the meeting with “Hail Mary.”  Next meeting: October 13 at 7PM.  Respectfully submitted,    Helen Melichar 
 
St. Mary Parish Life Minutes,  Monday, October 13, 2025
Present:  Mindy Hart, Fr. Wathier, Helen Melichar, Cindy Franzen, Liz Poock, Gerri Dix                                                                                                                 
Meeting called to order by Co-Chair Liz
Opening Prayer: Liz led  the “Journey in Faith Prayer”
Added to the Agenda:  Bingo Checklist Draft
Review of September minutes: Corrected Church Dedication to Church Addition Dedication
Old Business:
Bingo:  October 4 -    40 attended, Joe and William Amsberry were callers, Cindy Franzen helped in the kitchen.   Menu for December 6 Bingo includes pulled pork, chips, bars.  The theme is St. Nicholas.  Callers are needed.
Spring Tea:  April 25, 2026  Mindy is pulling together a committee.  Liz P. and Mary Lou will assist Mindy.
               Deck the Halls: To be put on the November agenda. Mariah will work with high school students for help with games.
Subs and Saints:  November 1 (No Bingo) After 5:15 Mass  -   Liz, Mary Lou, and Gerri will make subs at 2:00 on Saturday.  Gerri will get all the supplies needed.  Helen will call for bars and cookies. Lester and Cindy Franzen will help in the kitchen that evening.
 
New Business:  
Journey in Faith: 60 stayed for the October 5 meeting.  Will do 2 fewer egg bakes for the November 2 meeting.
Trivia Night:  January 10 at the Waverly Amvets Post. Possibly 100 people would participate. Mariah and David will co-chair.  More discussion at November Parish Life meeting.  A “Save the Date” announcement will go out.
Wartburg Outreach:  Finals Week Goodie Bags will be handed out after the December 6-7 Masses.  We will plan for 35 bags.  Bags to be filled on December 5.  Helen will call for cookies and buy the bags.
Other: Mindy shared a draft of the Bingo Procedures Checklist for hosting Bingo nights.  The group offered input.
KC’s Spaghetti Supper possibly on February 13, 2026, with Mardi Gras theme by Parish Life.
Closing Prayer:  Father Wathier led “Hail Mary”
Next Meeting:  Monday, November 10, 2025, at 7:00PM.  Respectfully submitted, Helen Melichar
 
Peace and Justice meeting minutes: Oct 13, 2025
Attendance: Lindsey Kuhlmann, Phil Paladino, Wayne Green, Sharon Denner
Opening Prayer: Wayne 
Food bank : Ask Dixie for contacts if there are any last minute updates
       Next date November 1st
 Habitat for Humanity 
       - Board build this Saturday. 6th October in Parkersburg. 
       - 31st October raffle, trick or treat at Restore. 
       - 4th St house for home ownership training, skills, classes, etc. 
       - November 22nd St. Mary volunteer day 8:30-3
Immigrant prayer in bulletin before October 28th - send to Dixie
Tithe      Local : Bremer Co. Food Pantry $1,000? NO
National : NE IA Food bank $1,000
International : Bread for world $1,000
                          Catholic Legal Immigration Network $1,000
Closing Prayer: Sharon