January 2023

Pastoral Council Minutes,  January 17, 2023 @ 7:00 p.m.
Present:  Elizabeth Amsberry, Leo Beschorner, Nathan Heitz, Val King, Elaine Lawler (via ZOOM), Mary Jo Stromberg, Joe Barber, Sandy Risvold, Father Doug Wathier
Call to order:      Nathan Heitz at 7:00 p.m.   Prayer:  Father Doug
Minutes from November meeting reviewed and approved as written. Reviewed Finance Council and Peace and Justice Committee minutes of meetings held since our November meeting.
 
PHASE 2:

1. Over $1 million in pledges to date. About 40% of these pledges have been collected.
2. Total Income Plus Outstanding Pledges: Just over $1.4 million.
3. Approximately 25% of parish families participated.
4. Full amount must be pledged to begin project.
5. The Phase 2 committee will make recommendations for the next steps to include the review of the construction plans to solidify costs and comparison of those costs to funds raised.

 
Finance Council

1. Joe reviewed recent communications between estate attorney and St. Mary Parish. After consultation with our parish attorney, we determined the most accurate value of the estate for tax purposes is the original assessment made and not the amount of proceeds from the sales.
2. We budget to replace our furnaces on a rotating basis. Furnace #4 was services today and small part replaced. Assessment is that this furnace should last a while longer. Building and Grounds will evaluate in February and make recommendations. May just be air intake issues that can be adjusted instead of replacing any furnaces at this time.

 
Staffing:

1. Will Kurtt began as Building and Grounds Manager on December 1 and is doing fine.
2. No additional changes in office staff at this time.
3. March and April are high times for candidate recruitment at colleges and we will continue recruitment via college sites, the Archdiocese, and electronic job boards for ministry positions.

 
As there were no further items for discussion, we adjourned at 7:25.  The next meeting is February 21, 2023 @ 7:00 p.m.  Minutes prepared by Val King
 
 Finance Council –  Jan 17, 2023
Present: Steve Phyfe, Becky David, Kelly Flege, Becky Willson, Joe Barber, Fr Doug Wathier. Also present: Deacon Phil Paladino, Dixie Jacobs.
Monthly Financials: Offertory is about $6,000 above budget. The first half of taxa to the Archdiocese was paid, and is about $2,000 below budget. The estimated taxa on large gifts and building gifts is deposited in savings to pay the taxa incurred on those gifts (taxa is based on the previous fiscal year’s income). It was noted the Christmas offering is $12,000 as of Dec compared to the $22,000 budget. Dixie reported a large portion of these gifts were received in Jan. due to weather, and is $19,000 at the time of the meeting. Furnace #4 was serviced twice this year involving minor repairs. The service tech and Will Kurtt determined it does not need to be replaced at this time. Steve made a motion to accept the financials as presented; Kelly seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Bequest Update: The estate attorney and executor requested a financial report on the sale of the contents to determine the final taxes on the estate. After consulting the parish’s attorney, an email reply was sent declining this request. The estate attorney has a more accurate value based on 2 auctioneers evaluating the contents a couple months after the Mr. Place’s death and has the estimated value he filed with the courts a few months later. The auctions were more than a year later, and the parish had invested in improvements to the motors to make them more appealing. These factors make the auctions less accurate for valuation.
Phase 2 Building Update:  The total income plus outstanding pledges is $1,481,971 with a goal of $1,500,000. The capital campaign pledges raised about $1,000,000, which is the lower of the estimated range. The next step will be construction drawings then meeting with the Archdiocesan Building Commission.
Staff: Will Kurtt has joined the staff as building and grounds manager. We have received lots of good feedback on the condition of the facility and grounds since his hire. We are still actively pursuing candidates for the faith formation positions. We thank the interim staff who are keeping our faith formation programs strong during the search process.
Feb Meeting: Phase 2 update, monthly finances, review building and grounds budget recommendations.
Steve made a motion to adjourn; seconded by Kelly. Motion passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned.

Faith Formation Commission, Tuesday, February 7, 2023, 6:30-7:30
Members Present: Fr. Wathier, Angie Beck, Sue Rand, Ted Mullert, Sandy Risvold, Christ Schneider, Becky Prostine, Jessica Hass
Meeting Notes:

1. Opening Prayer (attached)
2. Review Programming
   1. Elementary: Pflaum Gospel Weeklies currently used; looking at Discover! by St. Mary’s Press; Children Celebrate for Children’s Liturgy of the Word (15 people currently signed up to help)
   2. Middle: continuing Edge for next year; focusing on the Mass this year and the Sacraments next year
   3. High School: Mariah using some of Chosen as well as self-created material; what can we offer after/outside of Confirmation? Youth Ministry? Something just a few times a year? Brainstorm ideas- possibly something off-site
3. Promote Adult Formation
   1. Archdioceses Men's and Women's Conferences
   2. Exodus 90
   3. Anthony Digmann- 20-25 people in attendance for both sessions; possibly continue more with Introduction to the Devout Life- Angie will look for a study guide that accompanies it
   4. Catechism in a Year podcast
   5. Looking at 10 Great Dates or Eight Dates for couples
   6. Ted Mullert report that there was not a great turnout for Catholicism Series
4. Closing Prayer (attached)
5. Next meeting on Tuesday, March 7, from 6:30-7:30

 
 
Peace and  Justice Meeting Minutes, February 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: Ted Mulert, Phil Paladino, Wayne Green, Lindsey Kuhlmann, Val King
Opening Prayer :  Phil @ 7:00
Food Bank volunteer day on March 4, 2023:

• Lindsey will contact Dixie for bulletin announcement and to have her update date in the body of the info on the website.

“Walking with Moms” video

• Val will send out an email with a link to the video.
• Members should watch and evaluate.

Habitat for Humanity

• The Spring Benefit Auction is March 3rd at the Hilton Garden in Cedar Falls.
• Wayne will get some information together to promote Habitat activities and volunteer opportunities for the St. Mary bulletin board

 
Mary’s Meals for Lent 2023 - Goal $8000

• Announcement in Lent newsletter.
• Mollie will get more envelopes printed. We will need to check if this was done.
• The parish collection for Ash Wednesday will be Mary’s Meal
• We were unable to put together the bulletin board as planned as we could not locate Mary's Meals information. We have a nice picture of the school to use this year.
• Lindsey and Val will work on the bulletin board on Friday at 10:30. Val will send e-mail to Jan and Mollie and track down the information to make the board.

 
Tithing:
International:  International CRS (Caritas)  $1500 for earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria.
 
We agreed to transfer the $663 in the Local account to the Immediate Needs account where there is a $3000+ deficit.
Next meeting is March 13 @ 7:00 p.m.  Closing Prayer @ 7:30:  Minutes prepared by: Val King
 
 
St. Mary Parish Life Committee Meeting Minutes January 12, 2023 7PM
Present: Gerri Dix, Helen Melichar, Megan Gleason, Mindy Hart, Amy Price, Liz Poock, Mary Lou Ungs, Mary Jo Stromberg, Jan Kreiner
Amy opened the meeting with a prayer. November meeting minutes were reviewed. Correction: The first Simple Supper is on February 28, not the 21 st.
Updates

• Bingo: Attendance was 75 in January. Next Bingo is February 6. Meal will be subs. No Bingo in April or May. There will be Bingo at the June Parish Picnic.
• Cards: 18 people were in attendance today.
• Funerals: All Team Leader Groups are complete. Updated information will be emailed to all team leaders within the next week.
• Deck the Halls: Successful day. $1100+ was collected from bake sale. 67 kids were entered into the door prize drawing. Plans are underway for 2023. Possible date: Dec. 16. Will ask to have Santa arrive at 9:30.

Current Events:

• Capital Campaign: Company is recommending a couple of small celebrations to recognize successes. Jan K. was asking for ideas. The first will be the weekend of February 4-5. There will be coordination with Bingo and Coffee and Donuts. An Ice Cream Bar will be on both days. Gerri will ask for donated toppings. Mary Lou texted the contact for the ice cream machine/ingredients.
• Winter Blues: Nothing scheduled in January and April
• February 18 —9:00 Painting with Angie Steuer. Cost is $35 per person. 16x20 canvas and all other materials will be provided by Angie.
• March 4- 9:00 Freezer Meal Preparation
• January 14 Soup. Supper (KC's) Ted Scheidel phoned in to the meeting and discussed the upcoming January 14 Soup Supper starting time as well as the KC's Spaghetti Supper (February 11). Concerns were heard and ideas for a solution were discussed. Gerri will visit with Father.
  
• Spaghetti Supper (February 11) Mindy is working on the theme of Mardi Gras for this event. Mary Jo is working on games.
  
• Simple Suppers: Gerri will put out sign-up sheets on Feb.l There will be a Simple Supper after Mass on the last Tuesday in February and all four Tuesdays of March.

Looking Ahead

• Easter Egg Hunt: April 1 @9:00 Mindy will contact Grace Ivey
  
• Spring Tea: April 29 @I:OO Mindy will confirm entertainment. Still need miniature tea sets. Will use the glass trays like were used last year.
• 2023 KC's Fall Dinner: Veronica Fink is the Parish Life liaison.

Additional Information that was shared:

• KC's Fish Fry on March 10 and March 31 KC's looking for people who will *'head up" one of these times.
• January 28 Archdiocese Women's Conference will be held virtually at St. Mary.
• January 29-30 Anthony Digmann will be at St. Mary. 3:00 pm on Saturday and 6:30 pm on Sunday.
• Meeting ended with "Hail Mary"
• Next meeting: Thursday, February 9 at 7PM.   Respectfully submitted, Helen Melichar