March 2003 PASTORAL MEETING MINUTES

PASTORAL MEETING MINUTES

March 2003

St. Michael's Pastoral Council
Meeting Minutes
March 12, 2003

Attendees

George Bardsley, Tamra Barton, Ted Burkhardt, Peter Churchyard (guest), Don D'Valle, Mary Fulmer (excused), Mary Ann Gehle, Vince Ippolito, Garr Isacco (guest), Kathy Knutson, Vince Kirchner, Dennis Moore (excused), Veronica Mariani (guest), Amy Myers (guest), Tony Nelson, Linda Raines, Matt Regan, Barbara Riley (excused), Fr Mike Ruane, Amy Sorensen (excused), Jody Tata (excused), George Yager (excused).

Opening

The meeting started at 7:10pm with a prayer led by Don D'Valle. Vince Kirchner will lead next meeting prayer.
MaryAnn Gehle introduces guests: Peter Churchyard (Technology Committee), Veronica Mariani (125th Anniversary Celebration), Garr Isacco (Finance Committee) and Amy Myers (Liturgy Committee).
George Bardsley motioned, Linda Raines seconded and all approved a motion to approve the Feb 5th meeting minutes.

Information - Pastor Report

Fr Mike gave the Pastor Report (Attachment A).
Fr Mike met with The Library Board (Barbara Clagett, Lynda Gaidis, Doug Pindell) on 2/12/03.
The initial Library budget for all equipment is $30,000. Two other estimates are being sought.
St Michaels Parish Mission will be conducted by Fr Tom Forest April 5th to 9th with the Wednesday talk ending with confession and a universal call to Holiness and Mission.
The 4.6mi Crop Walk for Hungry will take place Sunday April 27th at Larriland Farms Route 94 from 2-4pm.
97 plots have been sold in the church cemetery. Lori Churchyard is working with Fr. Mike to enter cemetery information into computer software.
100% of our parish share of the Cardinal Lenten Appeal for 2003 will be forwarded to diocese of Mandeville in Jamaica.
The Ecumenical Good Friday Service will be held April 18th, 1pm at St Andrews Parish House on Rt97 in Glenwood.
Congratulations to Martin & Chris Luchansky, proud grandparents of Megan Olivia Shotwell born Feb 27th.
Ted Burkhart's old office will be used as Fr Mike's office and a Religious Goods Gift Shop, when Ted moves to the new religious education wing.

Information - Lenten Appeal Video

Letters will be sent to all parishioners the end of March encouraging them to participate in the Cardinal Lenten Appeal for the poor.

Information - Building Report

Matt Regan gave the Building Report (Attachment B). The building is 2-weeks behind schedule.

3 items originally due on 1/03 and still incomplete as of 3/12/03 are: Space Use Designation Plan, Liturgical Set-up Requirements and Library Operation Requirements.

The kitchen equipment has been sent out for bid and the storm water management plan revised.

Some changes have been made to space requirements including liturgical setup in hall and library.

Wall panels should arrive March 17th closing up 70% of the building

The building committee meeting on March 17th will finalize plans for furnishing to place orders.

The building should be all enclosed and weatherproof in April.

Basketball programs for CYO leagues are being looked into by Paul D'Angelo.

Several operation planning items will be taking place including: deactivating the old kitchen and using it for a hospitality kitchen, bingo relocation, youth activities room, telephone and computer systems.

No space will be rented in the new building for the 1st year to see how much space is utilized internally by St Mikes.

Sports programs including Paul D'Angelo for CYO Basketball league must be contacted about their planned use.

Don Beall has coached basketball and maybe able to help.

Chris Luchansky will be responsible for scheduling the use of space and will be sending out a memo in the spring.

Ted Burkhardt mentioned that space planning should be based on past usage (e.g. church calendar) and future activity projections by more committees and organizations. A policy and guidelines need to be established for use of space.

Operation planning needs to take place regarding space setup for different activities.

Wall receptacles and ornamental lighting may need to be added for masses (e.g. above altar) in the multi-purpose building.

The utilization of space and occupancy requirement is controlled by Howard County Fire Marshall.

Classrooms will be sized for 30 students.

George Bardsley reported that building drawing and information has been provided for the library, liturgy request, multipurpose room for liturgy but not dinners or dances and theater.

No speaker system is being installed. Instead a portable address system will be utilized.

The parish staff and operations groups have been asked for wiring and lightning requirements ASAP.

Ted Burkhardt will provide more requirements for speakers, outlets and liturgical lighting.

Any new building requirements should be provided in the next 2 weeks (e.g. by April 1st).

Information - Finance Report

Garr Isacco gave the finance report (Attachment C) with 5-year realistic projections from 2003 to 2007.
Heritage of Hope building project is projected at $3,832,805. Currently available sources and expended expenses total $1,940,416.
This means $1,195,384 will need to be borrowed from the Archdiocese in May 2003 resulting in adjustable rate mortgage payments of approximately $11,555/mo at 5.75% over 12 years.
A balloon payment from the GIFT campaign has not been addressed. Garr Isacco recommends that if money comes in faster we should pay down the loan to decrease interest expense.
Several optional projects will now be completed as a result of recent donations.
The previously announced land gift has been rescinded and replaced with a $100,000 cash donation.
There are untapped funds in the Heritage of Hope families that have not finished their pledge and may pledge to the G.I.F.T. Campaign. Pledges are not legally binding but most usually pay them off.
No stewardship campaigns are planned for 2003 to 2007, however a sacrificial giving campaign may be held in 2004.
The goal for the G.I.F.T. Campaign is 2 million dollars. A special collection has been taken up for paving and fans, in the past to pay as we go. A maintenance fund should slowly be built up to replace equipment.
The biggest projected expense item will be increase repairs and building maintenance.
Since some of the existing equipment is old, an emergency fund will be established for replacement.

Action

No action or decisions were made at this meeting.

Discussion/Discernment - Electronic Giving

St Louis has 4500 parishioners. 154 use electronic giving.
The Westminster Bank does not offer electronic giving, therefore St Michaels would have to use another bank to process electronic deposits.
Some parishioners who give electronically drop empty envelops in the collection basket to show a good example.
It is estimated that 50 parishioners in St Michaels would actually use it. However this convenience could increase over time with parishioners. The Finance Committee will continue to investigate.
The consensus of the Council was to offer electronic giving unless fees are too high. Finance will make the final decision.

Discussion/Discernment - 125th Anniversary of St Michaels

Veronica Mariani provided a report on the 125th Anniversary Celebration of St Michaels.
Veronica has talked to 36-50 parishioners concerning the planned celebration and welcomes continuing dialogue.
A donation box could be placed to help defray cost.
One event will be a solemn celebration with dignity that anyone can attend. Bishop Malooly will be presiding at the 12:30pm mass on Sept. 26, 2004 and light refreshments could be provided afterwards.
Another event could be catered dinner with potluck desserts. Music may not be provided as some think it is too loud.
An open house could be planned with the facility open for parishioners to walk through with cards placed for information.
A parish cook book and history book could be assembled and made available.
1979 was the 100th anniversary with original parish families attending from afar as well as current families.
Sacred Heart Parish in Reisterstown sold Holy Family Medallions with picture of their original church in stone and provided meals for all families during their anniversary celebrations.
The Knights of Columbus, Pastoral Visitors and Ladies Auxiliary could perhaps provide transportation for any elderly, for evening functions.

Open Forum

Tamara Barton has been sharing her gifts and talents not only with St Michaels but also with Mt Airy. She has been nominated as 1 of 5 finalists for "Person of the Year" award in Mt Airy.
A sample wall sheet was were shown which could be used to side the current hall's exterior walls. The cost of this project could be compared to an all brick façade, however the product would not match the church exterior brick. Matt Regan said the Archdiocese may not approved of this material.

Closing

Ted Burkhardt motioned, Kathy Knutson seconded and all approved the meeting be ended at 9:00 pm with a prayer led by Mary Ann Gehle. The next meeting will begin at 7pm on April 2nd in 2003 in the parish hall.

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