Sept 2025

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