Sept 2024

Pastoral Council Minutes, Sept 17, 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, Becky David (ZOOM), Fr. Doug Wathier  NOTE: Michelle Even, Mary Jo Stromberg, and Sandy Risvold tried to join meeting with ZOOM and were unable to make connection.
Call to order:      Nathan Heitz at 7:05 p.m.                           Prayer:       Fr. Doug Wathier
 
Peace and Justice tithing. Val passed around a list of our approved organizations for tithing. This list is recently updated and includes services offered, how the organization meets Catholic Social Teaching, and current ratings by charity raters. This list will be reviewed every 2 years. Recommendation that this be sent out to Pastoral Council members and included with the minutes. Dixie also sent out the current  Parish Tithe summary.
Val made a motion, seconded by Becky, giving the Peace and Justice Committee authority to submit tithes directly to the Business Manager for prompt payment. Requests do not need to be reviewed and approved by the Pastoral Council. Motion approved. This is to be reviewed yearly.
Finance Council
Becky David is the new chair and Katie Crouse is the vice-chair. Becky reported that monthly financials are looking good. Offering is ahead of budget for July and August. Totus Tuus came in higher than budgeted, but the overage will be absorbed throughout the year. Building fund pledges are coming in.
Phase 2
Fr. Wathier reported the team met with the construction company this morning. They will meet regularly every two weeks throughout the project. The construction is about 3 days ahead of schedule. They will begin working on the rest rooms next week. Two of the four air conditioners will be turned off next week.
We have been gathering items for the classrooms from other community businesses. The conference rooms have not yet been furnished and furniture will need to be ordered.
 
The parking lot footings have been completed. 
As there were no further items for discussion, we adjourned at 7:35.
The next meeting is Tuesday, October 15, 2024.                                      Minutes prepared by Val King
 
Finance Council  –  Sept 17, 2024
Present: Becky David, Joe Barber, Katie Crouse, Becky Wilson, John Holden, Adam Losey, Fr Doug Wathier. Also present: Dixie Jacobs.
Election of Officers: Becky D was elected nominated as chair, and elected unanimously. Katie was nominated as vice, and elected unanimously.
Monthly Financials: Offertory has been strong this fall; we are about $5,000 above budget. Utilities were slightly above budget.  No extraordinary expenses to report.
Building & Grounds Committee – Parking Lot: The parking lot retention walls has been completed. The drainage tile will be installed in the spring when the canopy and south entrance work is done.
Building Update: The foundation work is a few days ahead of schedule. Finance will put on budgeting process the added cost of insuring, heating and cooling the new addition when it is complete. The bid did not include furniture, but the staff procured enough classroom chairs and wipe-off boards for the classrooms for free or fraction-of-cost from schools/businesses’ donations and online auctions. The canopy at the south entrance will begin in April, weather permitting, when the beams arrive.
Oct Meeting: Building update, parking lot update, review utility budget mid-year, monthly finances
 
Faith Formation Commission Meeting Minutes, Oct 1, 2024, 6:30- 7:30 PM
Members Present: Father Wathier, Natalie Even, Sandy Risvold, Sue Rand, Jess Hass. Guest: Mollie Muntefering

1. Opening Prayer
2. Mollie talked about possibly starting a smaller version of LOCTEC that would be within a few hours from here and a 3 day trip from Friday through Sunday.     

• This would be a hiking weekend similar to LOTEC. It is in the initial phase and Mollie is working on getting a committee together. The goal is to start planning in January. One example of a location would be around the Mississippi River or Pike’s Peak.

1. All Saints Day - Friday, November 1st

• There will be mass at 6:00 pm followed by the “Saints and Subs”. Confirmation students will be booths again showcasing their saint. There will be subs to eat.

1. Advent materials: We are planning on giving books again this Advent.

• There is a need for some to be in larger print

1. Faith Formation Numbers

• Elementary: 115 kids  (55 kids in 5:00 session and 60 in 6:30 session)
• Edge has 79 kids

            - Faith Formation Commission thinks it’s better to leave the 5th graders with  
              Edge instead of moving them with the Elementary. In Edge, they start as a
              large group, then break into smaller groups with a Catechist that they will have
              for the school year. This way they can continue to build relationships.

• They did serve pizza for Edge last time. The pizza cost $153 and they collected $112.75.
• High School Youth: 28 enrolled for topic night/game night. These alternate.

- The High School youth can give ideas for topics to discuss.

• Confirmation: 21 are getting Confirmed this fall, there are 26 enrolled for the new group starting this winter.

1. Thoughts on Bibles and Catechisms

•   Right now, the church provides each Confirmation student a Bible. We may change this by giving a Bible to all 7th graders to help deepen their faith at an earlier age. There were ideas discussed on how to keep the Bible safe since they would need to bring it back and forth from home. Using leftover cinch bags, making a cover on a paperback, buying one that comes in a box and with gilding, etc were some ideas for the Bibles.
• If we implement this, we would need to do a catch up year by giving all 7th  - 12th grade a Bible, unless they are in Confirmation. By doing this with a paper cover, it would be $112 over the budget. This is still in the planning stages and will look into costs of some of the other options.

1. Summer Camps and Conferences

• There are several camps and conferences that are available.

            -Steubonville Conferences
           - Catholic Heart Work Camp
           - Damascus Youth Summer Camp
           -Notre Dame Vision
           -One Bread, One Cup

• These will be discussed more at a later date.
• Closing Prayer

Next Meeting is Tuesday, November 5th at 6:30 - 7:30 pm.
 
Peace and  Justice Meeting Minutes,  September 12,  2024 @ 6:00 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, Jan Kriener, Val King
6:05 Opening Prayer :  Wayne (The Holy Name of Mary)
Food Bank - approximately 15 people participated on Saturday, September 7 bagging potatoes onto smaller bags. The next Food Bank Day is October 5.
Habitat for Humanity - for the Day of Caring on September 11, Habitat volunteers worked on siding a house in Waverly.
 Pregnancy Resources - Val reviewed the information she has gathered so far for an informational spreadsheet. This included those resources listed on the Archdiocesan website: The Gabriel Project, Catholic Charities, Project Rachael, Walking with Moms, and Birthright International.
Season of Creation - Val has provided Dixie with an article for each Sunday in October.
Respect Life Month - this is October. There are lots of resources online. It is also Rosary Month with a rosary planned for World Peace. Jan agreed to look at the information and submit an article or more for the bulletin.
Tithing
Local: Butler County Food Bank - $1000
State/National:         Habitat for Humanity - $1000;  Special Olympics - $500
National:  Self Help International - $750;  Sister Water Project - $750
Peace and Justice education
Phil was scheduled for this month and not able to attend. We will move everyone a month ahead for the rest of the year:
-     Phil in October: Catholic Social Teaching #1 - Life and Dignity of the Human Person.
-    Wayne in November. Catholic Social Teaching #4 - Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
-    Teresa in December: Catholic Social Teaching #3 Rights and Responsibilities- 
Closing Prayer at 6:35 (Hail Mary) with adjournment following.
NOTE: We are moving our meetings back to the second Monday of the month.
Next meeting is Monday, October 14 at 7:00 p.m.                        Minutes prepared by: Val King