April 2003 PASTORAL MEETING MINUTES

PASTORAL MEETING MINUTES

April 2003

St. Michael's Pastoral Council
Meeting Minutes
April 2, 2003

Attendees

George Bardsley, Tamra Barton, Ted Burkhardt, Peter Churchyard (guest), April Danchik (guest), Don D'Valle, Theresa Fisher (guest), Gary Fulmer, Mary Fulmer, Mary Ann Gehle, Vince Ippolito, Kathy Knutson, Vince Kirchner, Veronica Maronica (guest), Amy Myers (guest) Dennis Moore, Jim Onaitis (guest) Tony Nelson, Linda Raines, Fr Mike Ruane, Renee Smith (guest), Amy Sorensen, Jody Tata, Donald Warfield (guest), George Yager.

Opening

The meeting started at 7:05pm with a prayer to St Joseph led by Vince Kirchner (Attachment K).
MaryAnn Gehle introduced guests: Peter Churchyard (Technology Committee), April Danchik, Jim Onaitis (Renewing The Vision), Amy Myers (Liturgy Committee), Veronica Mariani (125th Anniversary Committee), Teresa Fisher (Bingo), Donald Warfield (Cemetery), Tony DeMattia (confirmation video), Rene Smith (scouts) and several boy scouts (attending the meeting to earn a badge).
The March 12th Pastoral Council meeting minutes was approved.
Tony DeMattia presented an audio/video that chronicled the 51 youths recently confirmed.
Ted Burkhardt thanked Tony DeMattia for the video and all his efforts with the youth confirmation group.
Mary Ann Gehle distributed and discussed the Presidents Report (Attachment A).
The Presidents Report include updates on: council meetings (April 23rd Executive Council, May 7th - reports due+Tamra Barton to lead, all council members required to attend planning session on June 11th), parish business cards, CYO sports, parish organization task force meeting (April 16th), Time & Talent weekend (Sept 13+14), elections (Sept 20+21), parish mission (April 6-9), thank you for service personnel prayer (Don D'Valle), technology committee, welcoming party+coffee, parish directories, pastoral council badges.
Tamra Barton distributed a copy of her call for reports and budget request to all committees (Attachment L).

Information - Pastor Report & Building Report

Fr Mike distributed the Pastor's Report and Building Report (Attachments B+C).
The Pastors Report included updates on: Church Cemetery (records being placed on computer), Building Operations (dedicated rooms 1+3 for K of C, Ladies Aux, Scouts), Prayer For Peace (small church open, daily mass etc), Remembering Our Soldiers (prayer board in atrium), Church Library (additional architecture details), Cardinal's Lenten Appeal 2003 (low keyed), Parish Mission (family invitation letters, Apr 6-9) and Holy Week Schedule (bulletin insert).
The Building Report includes updates on: schedule (finalized liturgical set-up, space use, library rqmnts), construction (34% complete), furnishings (finalized orders) and operations planning (continual planning on use+scheduling of new bldg).

Information - Resource Database

Dennis Moore distributed the latest St Michaels Resource Database (Attachment D).
Recent updates included: horizontal lines between resources to make reading easier, Library and Nominating Committee.
The database will also be distributed to administration (staff) and all other resource contacts.
Updates and additions will be asked for at the beginning or each pastoral council meeting to keep the database accurate.

Action

No action or decisions were made at this meeting.

Discussion/Discernment - Planning Committee

Mary Ann Gehle distributed Planning Committee and Vocation Awareness discussion items (Attachment E)
Possible committee responsibilities include oversight (conscience), evaluation, and master planning per Ministry of Pastoral Planning Manual.
Jim Onaitis was re-introduced who coordinated the 500 man-hours that produced Renewing The Vision Aug 2000.
Renewing The Vision helped the parish focus on certain objectives (e.g. Technology, Communication).
Charlie Hebler coordinated the parish planning session in 2002 and planned for 2003. The June 11th Planning Session will discuss what has been accomplished, what's in progress & what needs to be done. After the meeting, recommendations will be given out again. This includes internal and external assessments meaning strategic planning.
St Michaels has adopted the 5 Mission Priorities as overall goals and established specific objectives for 2003.
The June 11th Pastoral Council Meeting will be devoted to parish planning for 2004. All council members are required to attend.
At the June meeting, we will review what's been done, what's in progress and what still needs to be done.
There is an open question whether St Michaels needs a separate planning committee or go with status quo.
George Bardsley asked if the type planning being discussed was strategic or operational.
Jim Onaitis reviewed how Renewing the Vision was accomplished using a special focus group.
Don D'Valle asked if the planning being discussed was involved with Evangelization.
Evangelization is 1 of the 5 Mission Priorities that we need to establish objectives & measure to see if we accomplish them.
Don D'Valle asked if the planning committee would overlap with Fr Mike's weekly planning meeting with administration.
The planning committee should go beyond these weekly meeting to set long objectives.
Fr Mike suggested that everyone is responsible for some aspect of planning and there could be redundancy.
Amy Myers remarked that the parish has had no separate planning committee except for special projects (e.g. new bldg).
George Bardsley suggested that any planning committee be established "ad hoc" (temporary) when needed.
Vince Ippolito asked who would implement the planning committee recommendations.
Vince Ippolito suggested that Pastoral Council serve the same functions as a separate planning committee. We monitor ourselves very well, but we need to get all the committee chairs working with us.
A planning committee might be necessary if a parish has no priest.
Jody Tata asked if the June 11th planning meeting is still needed if we decide on no planning committee. The answer was yes because we need to focus with a prayerful environment. Using our past Parish experiences to help with future planning, evaluate where we are, coming up with ideas and plans to move ahead.
George Bardsley suggested a parish survey be done before the June 11th planning session. Surveys are important part of planning and should be specific in nature. Maybe we could use a survey after the Planning Session.
Ted Burkhardt suggested that the reports presented in the May meeting be used in the June 11th planning session.
Mary Ann Gehle read St Michaels Mission Statement.
Group consensus is no separate planning committee is needed and at this time the Pastoral Council along with Fr Mike will continue "status quo" with planning activities. If any large need occurs, a temporary "ad hoc" planning team will be established.

Discussion/Discernment -Vocations

Amy Sorenson distributed Vocation information and led all in a prayer for vocations (Attachment F).
A discussion following on the meaning of religious icons displayed at the meeting and what are vocations.
An icon can be something that evokes spirituality, the gospel put into pictures, represent a leader to look up to.
Icons are usually ornate, may tell a story and remind some of Russia, Egypt and Eastern art.
Ted Burkhardt passed out vocation information for the web (Attachment G).
Mary Ann Gehle passed out 100 General Intercessions for Vocations and 100 Proven PVC Projects (Attachments H+I).
Vocations examples: Stephanie Myers work in Paraguay, 3rd Order of Franciscans, Sunday school teachers and marriage.
The Catholic Review can inspire vocations with its various articles.
It would be beneficial to hear how Don D'Valle was called to his missionary vocation in Paraguay.
All Catholics have vocations by the nature of our baptism however Amy Sorenson suggested we focus on vocations to the priesthood at a parish level. Perhaps over time, we will see results of increased men in the priesthood.
The church can only do so much to encourage vocation in 1hr/week youth religious education. The parishes need to do more to reach into homes. Individual Catholics also need to do more.
Parents need to view vocations as "special" to be recognized and to nurture them in the young children.
Priest should be viewed as a sacred icon for Christ and spiritual leader, not as an administrator.
Ted Burkhardt said most youth group activities have no special focus on vocations.
He suggested several ideas that would focus the youth on thinking about vocations (e.g. seminarians basketball game).
April Danchik spoke about how her family (and several others she knows) encourages vocations (e.g. Kids For Youth class at St Joseph Sykesville, older boys sports Catechism class at Woodmont Academy) and that it is a parent's role to help their children hear His call.
The Knights of Columbus financially supports 2 Seminarians and are available to help other youths in vocations.
The Elijah Cup has been discussed with some students and encouraged in their families (Attachment J).
Veronica Maronica commented that some youths may change their minds if they become involved too young with vocation choice.
Tamra Barton commented that some people just need to be asked to join the religious life.
The Catholic Church should advertise more for religious vocations.
Mary Fulmer commented that elementary religious education textbooks introduce vocations in 3rd grade.
Gary Fulmer suggested that "To Be Church Together" curriculum taught at St Michaels may encourage vocations. (Church Leadership Institute)
The attendees split into 5 small groups to discuss ways to encourage vocations and reported their suggestions to the group.
It was suggested that Fr Mike deliver a homily on how he was called to the priesthood in May (vocation awareness week).

Open Forum

Teresa Fisher asked the council if it was ok to raise the bingo food prices to cover cost (all agreed).

Closing

The meeting ended at 9:30 pm with each individual reading one of the general intercessions for vocations.
The next meeting will begin at 7pm on May 7 in 2003 in the parish hall.

Dennis B. Moore - Pastoral Council Secretary
(Attachments A through L on file with original meeting minutes)