Apr 20, 2021

Pastoral Council Minutes,  April 20th, 2021:
Present: Dixie Jacobs, Phil Paladino, Father Doug Wathier, Wayne Green
Zoom: Kelly Flege, Jeff Keen, Elaine Lawler, Trent Lockard, Jenne Seward, Jennifer Siech
Not present: Kris Dunkin,  Ruth Schluter

• Meeting called to order by Trent
• Father Doug started with prayer.
• The March 16th minutes were reviewed. Elaine moved to accept the minutes, Kelly seconded, and the Council approved.
• Phase 2 Committee Update: Architect Proxy was submitted to the Archdiocesan Building Commission.
• Peace and Justice committee submitted the following tithe recommendations.

National: $1,000 to BirthRight
International: $1,000 to CRS Rice Bowl
 
After discussion, Kelly made a motion to approve the tithe recommendations, seconded by Jenne, and approved by council.
 

• Kelli reviewed the 2021/2022 Budget:
  • COLA for staff included
  • PPP Loan forgiveness will be taken this year
  • Giving was budgeted at 90% of previous year
  • Any shortfall will be taken from savings

 
After discussion Jenne made a motion to accept the 2021/2020 budget, seconded by Jennifer, and approved by council.
 

• Wayne gave Faith Formation report
  • Sessions wrapping up this month.
  • 1st Communion will be held the weekend of May 1st and 2nd.
  • Confirmation was held on April 18th, with the Archbishop attending.
  • NCYC fundraising in progress during April and May.
  • Plan to continue current year programs next year..
  • Catechesis of the Good Shephard will not be offered.
  • Discipleship Coordinator position has been posted and first interview is next week.

 

• Covid: Archdiocese remaining cautious and lifting of mitigation will be done slowly.
•  Council member terms expiring this year are Trent, Ruth, Elaine, and Jennifer. We were encouraged to recruit potential candidates for the upcoming elections in May.
• Kelli made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Jeff, and approved by council.
• Father ended the meeting with the Hail Mary.
• Next Council meeting will be Tuesday, May 18th at 7:00pm

Submitted by Wayne Green
 
Finance Council Meeting – Apr 20, 2021
Attendees: Kelly Flege, Joe Barber, Becky Willson, Becky David, Scott Danner, Fr Doug Wathier.  Also present: Dixie Jacobs, Deacon Phil Paladino
Began meeting with Our Father.
Monthly Financials:  Offertory was strong in March, and we also saw a significant increase in in-person attendance. If the offertory continues  at current level, the offertory should end close or on budget for the fiscal year. The 1st PPP forgiven loan has compensated to the reduced income, so income overall is on budget. The utilities and other expenses are still running below budget. We expect to end the year better than budgeted due to the PPP and the reduced expenses.
Update Roof Vent & North Automatic Door:  The vent has been installed and the crew did a good job cleaning up. The north automatic door mechanism has been replaced with a heavy duty version. It is significantly stronger, and is working better with strong winds buffeting the door.
Budget 2021/22:  The proposed budget includes:

• Building & Grounds  - Annual parking lot crack fill $3800, annual weed control $800, and replacement of 2 furnaces (#5, #7) $8,000.
• Staff Salaries: Cost of Living (COLA) 3.9% for last fiscal year, which was waived due to expected financial restraints related to covid, and this year’s.
• New Staff Position - A full-time staff position for young adult and middle/high school faith formation with emphasis on creating programming for 18-35yr old parishioners. This was approved by the pastoral council last month.
• Offertory – For this fiscal year was budgeted at 90% of 2019/20 budget. The finance council decided to leave the 2021/22 offertory at this same level $4643,500. It is expected to take several months yet for attendance and giving to return to pre-covid levels. Also, households impacted by covid financially will still be recovering through the coming fiscal year.
• PPP 2nd Loan: We can request the forgiveness of the Payroll Protection Program’s 2nd draw of $54,000 this week. The finance council recommended setting this aside in savings to be used in fiscal year 2021/22 to offset expenses until offertory returns to pre-covid levels.

Motion – Budget 2021/22: Joe made a motion to approve the budget as presented; Becky D. seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Transfer to Savings: We have $146,500 in checking. Joe made a motion to move $80,000 from checking to unrestricted savings; Scott seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
New Finance Members:  The bylaws will be reviewed to determine if two terms or 6 years is the maximum members can serve. This will be emailed out, and the council will work on balancing the terms so no more than two members’ terms end per year.
NCYC Update: 19 teens, 4 chaperones and a staff member will attend NCYC this Nov. This is a significantly shorter signup, planning and fundraising schedule due to the delays related to pandemic. The fundraising is going well. The budgeted parish support of this event will be sufficient.
Phase 2 Update: A parish mailing with an update  was mailed every parishioner a couple weeks ago. A proxy has been sent to the Archdiocese requesting permission to interview architects and fundraising companies. The committee is waiting on the approval of these proxies.
Meeting adjourned. Next meeting May 18. Agenda – monthly financials, discussion of members’ terms and potential finance council members, staffing/hiring update, Phase 2 update.
 
May Faith Formation Commission Meeting (5/4/2021)
Angie Beck, Father Doug Wathier, Wayne Green, Bill Flege, Jennifer Nus, Becky Prostine, Mariah Stauffer, Terri Cruise
 

1. Opening Prayer (attached)
2. Faith Formation update from Angie

Catechist thank you and appreciation was given to all the volunteers at April sessions
Sacramental Preparation

• First communion: 26 children prepared with their families and received this sacrament on May 1, 2 & 4
• One child (age 7) will begin an individualized preparation for baptism with parents in May.
• Confirmation - 18 teens Confirmed this year.  20 will continue preparation for Confirmation next year when they are juniors.

NCYC  

• 19 teens 5 adult chaperones, & 1 staff officially registered.
• Service - 5 hours together required
• Fundraising / donations / fees - Dixie is working on financial reports!
• Totus Tuus

• June 13-18, 2021
• Help needed!  Volunteers and adult monitoring, host families, food/snacks
• I am working on a mailing to go out soon and will share this with you at the meeting.
• 2017 enrollment: Grades 1-6: 50, Grades 7-12: 15
• 2019 enrollment: Grades K-6: 34, Grades 7-12: 20  

VBS

• We have only partnered with the evangelical churches for 2 or 3 years. Many years ago (downtown) we partnered with the area churches for VBS at Heritage United Methodist. Otherwise, we have always been on our own. 
• 2017 VBS enrollment: 54 Registrations and attendance records have not been kept. Concerns with COVID protocol and with teachings that aligned with Catholic teachings.
• Suggested partnering with St Pauls if they have a program this year.  It would be in July.  If they decide to not have it, we will not offer vacation bible school

Looking ahead

• Lots of great feedback on this year’s programs, see the scanned copies from the elementary parents. Attached below
• I’m working on early registration information to mail out with Totus Tuus registration and will share this with you at the meeting also.

 

1. Discipleship Coordinator position update

2 interviews conducted.A candidate is visiting the Parish

1. Other topics

• Suggestion the next meeting is August instead of June.  This was agreed upon by the group.

1. Closing prayer (attached)

 
 
Social Justice Meeting Minutes,  May 10, 2021 @ 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.
 
Present:  Becky David, Phil Paladino, Wayne Green, Lindsey Kuhlmann, Jan Kriener, Ted Mulert, Mollie Muntefering, Val King
Opening Prayer at 7:05:  Mollie
 

1. Val has volunteered to be secretary for the group.  Minutes on Google drive under Peace and Justice - Meetings and Agendas under this link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/Peace and Justice

 

1. Mary’s Meals - 
   1. Per e-mail from Rob, our contact, we need a phrase for the school. Group discussed using part of the Magnificat as displayed on our church wall - “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.”  Group discussed and agreed.  Phil will send e-mail to Rob with phrase. 
   2. Of the $11,749 raised, all but $900 has been sent to Mary’s Meals. The excess over our goal of $8546 will most likely go to their general fund.  Phil has just opened Year 2 for the $900 to give us a start on next year’s goal.

 

1. Habitat for Humanity
   1. Two volunteer dates for working on the current house are set for May 22 and June 26. Wayne has volunteers set up for both dates but can always use more help.  
   2. Wayne shared that there are multiple floor plans to choose from when building a home. 
   3. He also shared that John Deere recently had a volunteer crew make the walls for the Waverly homes. They are on-site and ready to be placed in the new homes.
      
      
2. Human Equity Task Commission

Amy reported to Jan that we are listed as a resource for the taskforce.

1. Summer Service Project
   1. United Way Projects
      1. Spruce Up for Spring.  This is a new program that helps families by providing cleaning supplies to keep their home clean and sanitary.
      2. Christmas in July - Val will call the United Way and find out more about this project and the Spruce Up for Spring.
      3. Natural Family Planning Week, July 25 - 31.  Mollie/Phil will discuss with Angie Beck, Coordinator of Faith Formation, about having a speaker during this week to address this topic.
         
         
2. Solar Energy

Val discussed with Duane Schwickerath and sent him the article. Duane replied that he would talk to Fr. Doug about this and get back to Val.  Phil is also involved in the project discussions and can mention adding solar.  Attached is the article about a similar project and possible assistance with such a project.  

1. Tithe
   1. Dixie to move Butler County Christmas Boxes to “Local” from “National”
   2. Tithing for 4th Q:
      1. Local:  

Waverly Veteran’s Homeless Shelter - $500

1. State/National:  

Retrieving Freedom     - $500
Feeding America - $500
Guiding Star - $500

1. International:  

Caritas - $1000
c.    Ted will begin updating the”Scheduled Quarterly Tithe Designation” list.  We will review in light of insights gained through our discussion of “Toxic Charity.”
 
Business meeting ended at 7:50 p.m.
Book discussion from 7:50 to 8:35 p.m.
Promote kindness to neighbors.
Develop criteria to evaluate organizations we support (what are outcomes, how measure outcomes, percentage of dollars to administration). See Oath, pages  96-97. Page 138and 183.
Give more to fewer organizations.
 
TO DO:
Ted to update list
Becky to share notes
Jan will research World Vision and report to group next meeting
All jot down possible questions we want to use to evaluate organizations.
Closing prayer:  Mollie
 
 
St. Mary Parish Life Committee Meeting Minutes -  April 9, 2021    7PM
Present:  Amy Price, Jan Kriener, Helen Melichar, Gerri Dix, Liz Poock, Teresa Moerer
Amy opened with a poem and a prayer.
Review of March minutes:   Amy led the review of the March minutes. No corrections or additions.
Reports:
New Parishioners:  There have  been a couple since last month.  Each month Gerri will be asked to report on the number and the names of new parishioners.  Mary Jo is working on this with Gerri.  Pictures in bulletin are not advised…some new parishioners may not want this.  Amy shared a newcomer bag that could be used to put various items in for them.  Possible items are the latest bulletin, book mark, church magnet, Rosary with handouts, time/talent information and maybe a tea towel.
Easter:  Successful event.  60 eggs with peeps and sealed candy were handed out..also had filled plastic bunnies.  All candy was donated.  Volunteers wore bunny ears.
Rosary Group:  Jan and Teresa reported that some progress has been made.  The copyright issues have been resolved. Rosary group information is on the website. Gerri will add a facebook presence once or twice a month.   Any further ideas for sharing ..please contact Teresa, Jan or Gerri.  There will be a Rosary Rally in October.  Possibly one will be the second weekend in May..May 8 on St. Mary grounds.  A shrine to Mary will be set up in the church hall by Mother’s Day weekend.  Teresa will check with Angie about possible religious ed activity.  Jan will speak at the May 1-2 Masses to promote.  Gerri will do a flyer to put in the April 24-25 bulletin (We added it to the front of the bulletin – gmd).
Phone Pals:  Jan K., Nancy C. and Ruth S. along with Gerri are involved with this.  Feedback has been good.  Gerri asks that callers report back to her.
New Babies: Pictures of new babies are in the bulletin when baptized.  Currently onsies are given to babies who are baptized.  This will be changing as soon as all the onsies are given out.  We will possibly go back to bibs that are embroidered.
Parish Directory:  Hopefully a fall activity.  Due to Covid, the process may be quite different than it has been in the past.  At this point Gerri is not sure what the process will be.
Grieving Families:  Support will possibly be given through Hospice.  Hospice is reaching out to the churches.  The church office needs to know of family members of any parishioners have passed, even if the family member is not a member of St. Mary.  It was suggested that a sentence or two be put in the bulletin about getting this information to the office.  There have been some condolences listed on facebook -this is helpful,  and also needs to be listed on the webpage.
Plans for the Future:
Hospitality:  Much depends on COVID, but we need to plan and be ready to go as soon as we are free to do so.  Amy is willing to work on hospitality…possibly welcome new members once a month, recognize birthdays once a month.  Possibly have food from 9-9:30 to pull from the 8:00 and the 10:00 Masses.   We need to think about ways to unite the parish.
Summer:  Hopefully by fall we will be able to have picnics and /or game nights.  We need to do brainstorming and planning now.
Winter:  Molly does the planning for caroling. Discussion is needed on how to involve more people.  Can we figure out a way to involve family in cookie decorating as a family activity?
Other 
Masses are getting fuller.  There was a discussion of the problem of getting people back to Mass in person after the COVID livestreaming.
We will meet in May, skip a meeting in June and will plan a meeting in July.  If needed, we can also meet in August.
 
Amy closed the meeting with a prayer.  Next meeting date:  Thursday,   May 13, 2021     7PM