May 2006 PASTORAL MEETING MINUTES

PASTORAL MEETING MINUTES

May

ST. MICHAEL'S PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING
Meeting Date: 5/3/06 Time: 7:00 p.m.
President: Denny Moore, President Recording Secretary: Barbara Riley
DISTRIBUTION AND ATTENDEE LIST:

X Daniel Bartolini
X Kathie Blanchard
X Martha Brodsky
X Ted Burkhardt *
X Noreen Christian
X Bob Clark
X Dave Daigle
Don D'Valle - Excused
Anna Esposito *
X Gary Fulmer
X Mary Fulmer
X Mary Ann Gehle
X Amy Kulesa *
Jim Kurdziel, Development Chairman *
Julie Landsman - Excused
Jack Lawler, Jr.
X Jim Lilley
Dennis Moore - Excused
X Amy Myers *
X Jim Myers *
Kim Myers - excused
X Barbara Riley
X Father Mike Ruane
X Nanci Santiago
X Guest: Carole Eber
X Guest: Tom Christian
* Non-Voting Staff Member or Committee Chair

TONIGHT'S AGENDA AND MINUTES

Opening

Recording Secretary Barbara Riley opened the meeting.
The prayer was offered by.
The April minutes (Appendix A) were approved as amended.

Pastor's Report

The Holy Week and Easter Liturgies were well-attended Father wished to thank Anna Esposito and the music ministry as well as Amy Myers for the coordination of ushers and eucharistic ministers, the liturgical decorations committee and the R.C.I.A. team.
The Hoedown to Bring the Mortgage Down was a huge success and Father conveyed his thanks.
Father also recognized and gave thanks to the following staff and parishioners:

In addition, Father praised the efforts of the Religious Education Ministry, specifically Deacon Gary, Amy, Mary, Ted and Pat and all catechists and helpers.

Information Updates
Holy Week/Easter Attendance - Amy Myers

Amy passed out a report outlining the attendance numbers for Ash Wednesday, Holy Week and Easter services and a comparison of 2006 to the 3 previous years (Appendix C). In general, there were extremely positive reactions and compliments received for the backdrops and other liturgical decorations. The only improvements that were suggested concerned this year's palms, which were dry. Amy reported that the committee will see what they can do about separating, sorting and storing the palms so that they remain fresh for Palm Sunday morning, next year.

Parishioner Communication Program - Council

Noreen Christian reported that one parishioner that she talked to has been coming to St. Michael's for most of his life and doesn't think negatively about the Parish. Another parishioner said he knows the love of the Lord at St. Michael's. When asked what could be better, his only comment was that there could be more "verve" in the liturgy.

Barbara Riley received many favorable comments about the Church decorations during Holy week, especially the backdrop design. Jim Myers said that the drape was pinned and re-pinned many times, indicating the amount of hard work that was necessary to achieve the final beautiful product.

Church Backdrop Project - Father Mike for Anna Esposito

Father Mike included the following in his Pastor's Report:

Some have expressed a desire to see a change. Person or persons have even offered to donate the monies. If it is done well in accord with liturgical guidelines and will enhance the worship space, and if the proposed change is favorable to our parish community (as was the case with the sanctuary crucifix), I am open to a possible change. So I've asked Anna Esposito, with the help of a few individuals of her choice, to study this project, come up with one or two designs for the parish's consideration and to get some estimates. Need for a change of this sort and costs will always be factors to consider.

Hoedown Report - Mary Ann Gehle

Mary Ann recognized several Council members along with the staff, Father Mike and the community at large who offered their assistance, contributing to the great success of this year's Hoedown event. The final tally of $56,000 translates to approximately 5 mortgage principal payments. Mary Ann invited suggestions for improvements for next year's Hoedown. Volunteers ensured improved organization and efficient setup before and cleanup after the event. The monthly breakfast, which was held the Sunday after the Hoedown did not report reduced attendance due to the scheduling closeness of the 2 events.

Mass Time Survey - Dave Daigle
With the new Mass schedule, there will only be one Religious Education session on Sunday. Dave reminded the Council that the original objective of the Mass time change proposal was the overcrowding at the 10:00 Mass. Hopefully, the new schedule will satisfy this objective. Mary Ann Gehle motion to accept the recommended Mass schedule was seconded and approved. Therefore, beginning the second weekend in September (9th and 10th), the new Mass schedule is as follows:

Saturday evenings: 5:00

Sunday mornings: 8:00, 10:30, and 12 noon

Ted Burkhardt suggested providing refrigerator magnets, printed with the new schedule, to the families in the Parish. Announcements will be made in the bulletin and at the Masses to publicize the new schedule.

Round Robin and Parishioner Communication Program

Barbara Riley welcomed Bob Clark back to the Council meetings. She also gave a word of welcome to Council guests Carole Eber and Tom Christian.

Martha Brodsky praised Mary Fulmer's efforts on the balloon Mass.

Jim Myers invited Council members to the reflection area and urged them to tell others of its existence. He reported that there are thermostat controls in each room to raise or lower the room temperature. The main unit will not be running 24/7. Volunteers are welcome to tackle the beautification effort of the hill outside of the library area.

Bob Clark apologized for his absence from the Committee and is happy to be back.

Jim Lilley visited St. Louis recently and said that the Church is beautiful but the acoustics are lacking. The only place that one can hear what is said or sung is the atrium.

Nanci Santiago praised Father Mike for recognizing that Gigi Ippolito's fundraising efforts could be repeated in the form of the Hoedown.

Father Mike felt that we had a good year. He wished everyone a great summer and congratulated the efforts of the staff and hoped that they would all return next year. He also recognized Anna Esposito 80th birthday.

He thanked Carole Eber for the great job she does with the newsletter.

Closing

Father Mike led the closing prayer.
The 5/3/2006 meeting was adjourned at 8:05.
Barbara Riley - Pastoral Council Recording Secretary

Action Items Create Date Action Item Status 4/5/06 Barbara Riley will call Bob Clark. Completed 3/8/06 Denny Moore will conduct follow up review with Father Mike and ensure that items appear in the newsletter. Completed 3/8/06 Denny Moore will finalize objectives with Father Mike. Completed 3/8/06 Barbara Riley will contact Bob Clark regarding Parish Council service. Completed - Email sent 3/19/06. 2/3/06 Dave Daigle will email Denny Moore with any questions regarding the mass time subcommittee just formed. Completed 12/7/05 Father Mike will talk to the Knights about removing reserved signs on pews that are not occupied by their members during the special Masses that they attend. Completed 11/2/05 Keep a running track of Council questions in a separate Q & A document. Ongoing 11/2/05 Prepare an appreciation card for the Schwarz family for their efforts on the recent Children's Halloween party. Completed 9/7/05 Mary Beth will call Tom Murray to take pictures of the new Council, at the next meeting Completed 8/3/05 Ted Burkhardt and Julie Landsman will confer to discuss how to present the youth services section of the Welcoming Booklet and will give their feedback to George Bardsley Completed 5/4/05 Ask Connie Bly to run a notice in the bulletin to educate the Parishioners as to the cost to the Parish of the Catholic Review. Completed 5/4/05 Add action items back and retain for a year. Completed 3/2/05 Steve Miller will ask for a Knights' vote as to whether they will spearhead Parish Picnic efforts Completed - The Knights will not be able to do this due to the fact that they have other commitments, at that time. 2/3/05 Recruit replacements for Bob and Jamie Prestel for the Welcoming Committee. Completed - 2 volunteers 2/3/05 Recruit volunteers to increase sponsorship of the Parish Newsletter. Completed 2/3/05 Check into arranging a Medivac chopper demo for the Parish Picnic. Completed-Full Police Display arranged. 2/3/05 Solicit recommendations for entertainment for the Parish Picnic. Completed - Picnic Plans suspended. 2/3/05 Examine solutions for the lack of coverage for the Blessed Sacrament exposition Completed - First Fridays 2/3/05 Recruit replacement for Barbara Clagett, Library Board Chairperson Communication Program

Create Date	Item	Submitter	Follow-Up
3-8-06	Expand CCD to teach more	Denny Moore
3-8-06	Edit or delete prayer of the faithful messages that may be offensive.	Denny Moore
3-8-06	Move the tabernacle from the side to the sanctuary.	Denny Moore
3-8-06	Offer coffee and fellowship gatherings after all Masses.	Denny Moore
3-8-06	Update the website more often	Denny Moore
3-8-06	Communicate Mass and religious ed cancellations more effectively.	Denny Moore
3-8-06	Offer preschool in the new wing	Denny Moore
3-8-06	Need a bigger church	Denny Moore
3-8-06	Holy Water requested at the side entrances/exits.	Kim Snyder
2-1-06	Less confusion about First Penance and First Communion.	Denny Moore
2-1-06	Move the tabernacle behind the altar; shows more respect.	Kim Myers
2-1-06	Need kneelers.	Denny Moore, Kim Myers
2-1-06	The atrium is for conversation before and after Mass not for services. Silence should be respected before Mass.	Kim Myers	The 6/3/06 newsletter contained an article encouraging silence before the Mass.
2-1-06	Why should I volunteer when I perceive that I won't make a difference because the Church will continue to operate the way it has in the past	Dave Daigle, Denny Moore
2-1-06	Will the Parish hold a picnic, this year?	Nanci Santiago
2-1-06	Music too dynamic for a funeral.	Don D'Valle
2-1-06	Need more acoustical tiles for the gym	Don D'Valle
2-1-06	Suggestion to include in the announcements a reminder to turn off the cell phones during Mass.	Jim Lilley
2-1-06	Parents should control disruptive children during Mass.	Jim Lilley
2-1-06	Mass at 10:00 is too crowded.	Ted Burkhardt	At the 5/3/06 meeting, a schedule change was approved.
2-1-06	Desire for youth Mass.	Ted Burkhardt
2-1-06	Do a survey for Mass time preferences	Barbara Riley	A committee was formed to study the issue and to propose alternatives.
2-1-06	Couldn't get through when they needed a priest for a family member in the hospital.	Noreen Christian