No Meetings in December
Pastoral Council Minutes, October 17, 2023 @ 7:00 p.m. The mission of St. Mary Parish is to make Christ real in our Communities by living the Gospel, worshiping together and serving others Present: Michell Even, Nathan Heitz, Val King, Elaine Lawler, Fr. Doug Wathier, Sandy Risvold, Joe Barber, Call to order: Nathan Heitz at 7:02 p.m. Prayer: Fr. Doug We noted in the minutes from the September 17 Pastoral Council that Elaine Lawler was not listed as present and she did attend that meeting. Also updates to Parish Council Members: remove Kris Dunkin, Elizabeth Amsberry’s new address is 801 9th St. NW, Waverly, Mary Jo Stromberg no longer resides at address listed. Minutes approved with these changes. We then reviewed and approved the minutes from the September Finance Council. We reviewed the Faith Formation Commission minutes from September 5 and October 3. These were approved after the addition of Chris Schneider as Vice President in the October minutes. Finance Council: The operating shortage has been noted and will be further investigated. PHASE 2:
As there were no further items for discussion, we adjourned at 7:40. The next meeting is November 21, 2023. Minutes prepared by Val King Finance Council and Building Committee Meeting – Nov 14, 2023 Special Building Meeting Present: Fr Wathier, Joe Barber, Becky David, Katie Crouse, Kelly Flege, Todd Tatroe, Mary Jo Stromberg, Gabe Stauffer, Will Kurtt, Deacon Phil Paladino, Dixie Jacobs. Building Bids received Nov 8. Lowest bid $1,793,700 including the classrooms with the (option #1) expanded classroom, breezeway, and covered drop-off. Summary of Financials: Income received $1,111,814 plus outstanding pledge balance $451,913 = $1,563,727 Expenses: Fundraising, Architecture, taxa expenses = 425,822 Lowest Construction Bid = $1,793,700 Shortfall = $655,795 Breezeway Discussion: Are there options for reducing this cost?
Shortfall: A small portion of the shortfall could be recouped with eliminating the expansion to the classroom ($117,000), changes to the breezeway/drive-through, and additional minor changes. However, this would not eliminate the shortfall completely. Parishioners divided on some seeing the classrooms as first priority, and others seeing the breezeway as the most important to them. Unsure how parishioners would feel about changes to the breezeway; would this affect the outstanding pledge gifts or regular offertory giving? Loan: The parish approved for a $1M loan through the Archdiocese. It can be used to cover the (2-4yr) gap between construction/billing and the pledges being paid. We can still take out the full loan to cover a shortfall in pledges, but we would have to submit a plan with the Archdiocese to repay the loan through additional fundraising or other means. Consensus: This Sunday, Nov 19, is building update to parishioners. Need to get input and opinions on the project concerning cost reductions to project and additional fundraising to shrink the shortage. Motion: Mary Jo made a motion to present bids to the parish asking for volunteers to form a Fundraising Committee to cover the shortfall. Gabe seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Next Meeting: Combined finance and building committee on Tues, Nov 21, 6pm in classroom B and zoom. Peace and Justice Meeting Minutes, November 13, 2023 @ 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, Jan Kriener, Teresa Moerer, Phil Paladino, Val King Opening Prayer : Val @ 7:02 Lindsey: Send September and October meeting minutes to Dixie for inclusion in the Pastoral Council packets for their meeting on November 21. Peace and Justice education and parish survey:
Food Bank
Local: Bremer County Food Pantries - $500 Bremer County Holiday Shop (Giving Tree) - $500 Butler County Visions of Well-Being “Christmas Cheer” - $500 State/National: Camp Courageous - $500 Clara White Mission - $500 International: Self Help International - $1000 Bread for the World - $1000 Closing: Our Father @ 7:55. Next meeting is Dec 11 at 7:00 p.m. Minutes prepared by: Val King Peace and Justice Meeting Minutes, September 18, 2023 @ 7:00 p.m. Attendance: Lindsey Kuhlmann, Jan Kriener, Teresa Moerer, Phil Paladino, Wayne Green Opening prayer - Wayne Food bank follow up - Lindsey
"Walking with Moms in Need" - Phil
Tithe – report not updated with last month's tithing. Lindsey will email Dixie to update this before we make any further additional tithes. Closing prayer - Jan
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Pastoral Council Minutes, St. Mary Catholic Church, August 22, 2023 @ 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: Leo Beschorner, Michell Even, Nathan Heitz, Val King, Elaine Lawler, Mary Jo Stromberg, Sandy Risvold, Joe Barber, Phil Paladino Call to order: Nathan Heitz at 7:00 p.m. Prayer: Phil We reviewed and approved minutes from the May Pastoral Council. We then reviewed and approved the minutes in the packet from the May Finance Council, the May Faith Formation Commission, and the June, July, and August Peace and Justice Committee. Mary Jo noted that the Parish Life Committee minutes were from June of 2022 and we denied our approval. We need to verify if there are any minutes from the Parish Life Committee that have not been approved (the last approved were the March minutes) and submit for approval at the September meeting. Election of Officers Nominated and approved: Nathan Heitz, Chair; Michelle Even, Vice Chair; Val King, Secretary Peace and Justice tithing. A motion was made and approved by the members present to give the Peace and Justice Committee authority to submit tithes directly to the Business Manager for prompt payment. This is to be reviewed yearly. Finance Council
PHASE 2:
OPEN POSITIONS: Natalie Evan has been hired and has started as our Faith Formation Director. Plans are to introduce her to the parish at the masses this coming weekend. OTHER: The Fall Dinner is scheduled for October 15. Sign up sheets are in the hall. Menu consists of turkey, mash potatoes and gravy, biscuits, corn, coleslaw and pie for dessert. Mass attendance has been steadily increasing. Council members would like to see breakdown of parishioners participating in online giving versus envelope giving on Sundays. As there were no further items for discussion, we adjourned at 7:40. The next meeting is September 19, 2023. Minutes prepared by Val King Finance Council – Aug 22, 2023 Present: Becky David, Kelly Flege, Katie Crouse, Joe Barber. Also present: Deacon Phil Paladino, Dixie Jacobs, Will Kurtt. Election of Officers: Joe was nominated as chair and Becky D. as vice-chair. Both accepted the nomination. The vote was unanimously for chair and vice. Monthly Financials: The Christmas and Easter for 2022/23 was under budget by about $8,000 each. Dec 22 we had a snow storm and Christmas was on a weekend, so these may have affected the Christmas giving. Reporting on the first month, July, of the fiscal year. Offertory is on budget. The faith formation staffing hours increased since the budget was finalized in the spring. The budget was amended to reflect these changes. The budgeted endowment withdrawal was not taken last fiscal year; this year’s budget will be amended to include that withdrawal in addition to the 2023/24 withdrawal (4% each year) for a total of an 8% withdrawal to offset the staffing changes. No unusual expenses were incurred this month. Kelly made a motion to accept the financials as presented with the amended budget changes; Becky D. seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Phase 2 Building Update: The architects do not have the construction drawings completed. The meeting with the Archdiocesan Building Commission cannot be scheduled until the commission receives these drawings. We are stressing to the architects this needs to be completed soon as the commission will not schedule a meeting Sept-Nov. Faith Formation: Natalie Even joined our staff as coordinator of faith formation on Aug 21. Laurie Masters will continue assisting Natalie with PK-8th. Mariah Stauffer has increased her hours, and will coordinate high school, confirmation and NCYC. We had 65 St Mary youth at VBS this summer and have 176 youth registered for faith formation this fall. Sept Meeting: Phase 2 update, monthly finances, parish statistics. Meeting adjourned. St. Mary Parish Life Committee, August 17, 2023 7PM Present: Mindy Hart, Gerri Dix, Mary Lou Ungs, Helen Melichar, Jan Kriener, Ruth Schluter, David Voves, Veronica Fink, Nancy Carlson, Liz Poock, Lynn Darnold, Tom Johanns, Fr. Wathier Mindy opened the meeting with a prayer. May meeting minutes were reviewed. No corrections or additions. Updates Mindy reported that a thank you had been received from a parishioner for the graduation breakfast. A couple of thank you notes for the Spring Tea had also been received. The Sweet Adelines sent a thank you for inviting them to sing at the Spring Tea. Gerri reported that the few who attended the movie night “Trouble with Angels” enjoyed the evening. The potato salad served at the parish picnic was a great hit. All the food served was very good and enjoyed by all. Thanks to all the parishioners who were involved in the preparation. Revisit Outreach to Homebound: Ruth S. and Jan K. are sharing visits to parishioners. Problem is in identifying who might need a visit or a contact. Discusssed the possibility of putting a note in the bulletin. Grief/Funeral Planning: Possible date is October 29, a Sunday afternoon. Gerri will make contacts to possible panel members. Upcoming Events: Welcome Back Wartburg at St. Mary: In the past, students were given a goody bag, cookies, magnet with St. Mary information. This year we will add a card with the Holy Spirit dates, possibly a drink token, and a time and talent sheet. Attempting to make a contact with the Wartburg Knights so that information can be put out at Wartburg’s Welcome Fair. A faculty advisor is needed for the Wartburg Knights. David V. will take the lead on the Wartburg Student Welcome Back. Involvement Fair at Wartburg is September 5. Bingo: October – April The first Saturday of the month after 5:30 Mass. Lynn will call Wal-Mart for subs to be served on October 7. Helen will call for bars. Gerri will contact Mariah about possibility of confirmation students/families helping. Would like more people to sign-up to make bars. Gerri will put a sign-up sheet out. Fall Dinner: October 15 11:00-1:00 Veronica attended the KC meeting last week. They are planning food for 500. Traditional turkey dinner will be served with pie for dessert. Turkey will be purchased from the Charles City Hy-Vee. Corn has been frozen and is in the freezer. Adults $15. Children 6-12 yrs $7.50 5 and under free. Tickets will be sold in advance. Mindy will co-chair the Silent Auction. Looking for a person to assist her. Gerri will put a note out asking for someone to help Mindy. KC’s will take care of publicity. Lynn will assist Veronica as part of the Core Group for the Fall Dinner. Sign-up sheets will be out the weekend of September 2-3. Need some people to be in charge of the sign-up sheets that first weekend that they are out. Gerri will send out a request. Future Events: Deck the Halls: December 16. Mindy will schedule Santa and Buddy. Other: Welcome Packets: Mary Jo is in charge. Bios need to be updated. We do have directories for the packets. Mindy will contact Mary Jo. Parish Life webpage needs to be updated. Mindy will work on this with Gerri. There was discussion on the need for a survey of parishioners and discussion on how to get this accomplished. Idea Think Tank - Things that we need to stop doing…. Things that we may need to be thinking about….something you have experienced in another parish that we might want to try at St. Mary??? Meeting ended with “Hail Mary” Next meeting: Thursday, September 14, at 7 PM. Jan K. will lead the opening prayer. Respectfully submitted, Helen Melichar |