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PASTORAL MEETING MINUTES

November

ST. MICHAEL'S PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING
Meeting Date: 11/8/06 Time: 7:00 p.m.
President: Denny Moore, President Recording Secretary: Kelly Garofalo
DISTRIBUTION AND ATTENDEE LIST:

E George Bardsley - excused
Kathie Blanchard
E Martha Brodsky - excused
E Ted Burkhardt - excused
X Bob Clark
X Dave Daigle
X Don D'Valle
Anna Esposito *
X Gary Fulmer
X Mary Fulmer
X Kelly Garofalo
X Amy Kulesa *
X Jack Lawler, Jr.
X Jim Lilley
X Regina Long
X Dennis Moore
Amy Myers *
Jim Myers *
X Kim Myers
X Barbara Riley
X Father Mike Ruane
E Nanci Santiago
X Guest: Jim Buzzelli, Finance Committee
X Guest: Garr Isacco, Finance Committee
X Guest: John McKenna
* Non-Voting Staff Member or Committee Chair

TONIGHT'S AGENDA AND MINUTES

Opening

President Denny Moore opened the meeting.

Don D'Valle offered the prayer.

The October minutes (Appendix A) . Amy Kulesa asked for clarification on Ted Burkhardt's comments (Round Robin notes pg. 5 of 9). Council clarified & agreed to reword for better understanding. Minutes were approved as amended.

Pastor's Report

Highlights of Father Mike's report (Appendix B) included:

Information Updates

2006 Pastoral Council Assesment/2006-2007 Objectives

Based on a recent assessment by the council on Proposed 06/07 Council Objectives &" What Could Be Better", Denny Moore asked the Council, via email, which do we feel most strongly about. Responses are below:

    1. Better understanding of the budget
    2. Focus on communication everywhere (w/in the council, with the parishioners,) communicate to the parish how successful we were with our objectives \ the previous year, encourage parishioners to come to Council meetings, contact a council member, add suggestion box slip into the bulletin as a reminder.
    3. Increase Volunteers - Father Mike reported we currently have 600 STAND trained parishioners. Might be a good place to start for getting an idea of whom & where the volunteers are.
    4. Look into new backdrop behind the altar. Donation was offered last year specifically for this purpose & nothing has been done yet. Barbara Riley agreed to follow up with Anna on Thursday & report back.
    5. Specific suggestions for reverence

A Welcomed Guest John McKenna stopped by & ever so graciously thanked the committee for listening & considering his request for early mass times on Saturdays. John wrote a letter a year or so ago, asking the Council to consider his request for several reasons: 1. As a senior citizen, he doesn't like to be driving later than he has to in the evening and 2. The 6 pm mass was a difficult time for planning his evening meal. Having dinner before mass was too early & after mass was much too late. He feels more seniors in his community are now coming back to St. Michaels because of this change. John concluded by thanking the members for their time and contribution to our church.

Quarterly Financial Review

Jim Buzzelli & Garr Isacco reviewed & answered questions on the quarterly financial statement. The Council raised questions on:

2110 Accounts Payable $28,395 - This is what we owe to the Archdiocese

5020 Ordinary Repairs & Maintenance - $43,451 in addition to building repairs & maintenance throughout the facility, this also includes grass cutting, snow plowing, salary for 2 p/t maintenance employees

1

170 Cash on Deposit - $83,032.21 is the church's emergency fund that we are hoping to increase drastically each year. Anticipated use for new HVAC unit in older building.

100% Hoe Down, Pancake Breakfast proceeds go directly towards Mortgage, despite whatever rumors are circulating.

The Finance Committee meets the 2nd Thursday of the month - 7pm. All are welcome to attend.

Round Robin and Parishioner Communication Program

Denny Moore received two suggestions from the Suggestion Box.

1. A large part of the church's debt is from the education wing. Any thought on increasing cost of Religious Education? Committee agreed there is a misunderstanding with the new wing. A Multi-Purpose Wing is a more appropriate name since we use it for many, many other things.

2. Please consider switching the 12:00 mass back to 12:30 to obtain more ushers & Eucharist Ministers. Committee member suggested we do what other churches do & ask for volunteers when we are short.

Kim Myers continues to receive positive feedback on new mass times.

Kelly Garofalo also receives positive feedback on new mass times as well as the multi-purpose addition, which includes the basketball court area.

Gary Fulmer noted the interest rate was an excellent reason to have the loan with the Archdiocese.

Mary Fulmer has had positive feedback on the 2nd Tuesday religious education class added. Not as congested, early times better for the younger kids & makes Sundays more manageable.

Regina Long has noticed the attendance at the 8 am mass has definitely increased from the earlier 7:30 mass.

Dave Daigle reiterated we communicate back to the parishioners. (i.e., 2 suggestions read from the Suggestion Box)

Barbara Riley has received numerous questions on the interest rate, rumors of the Hoe Down money not being put aside 100% for the mortgage.

Closing

Denny led the closing prayer.

The 11/8/2006 meeting was adjourned at 8:45.

Kelly Garofalo - Pastoral Council Recording Secretary

Action Items Create Date Action Item Status 11/8/06 Denny Moore to include Suggestion Box notice in Sunday Bulletin ongoing 11/8/06 Dave Daigle continuing to comprise numbers for mass attendants to review with last years numbers. onging 11/8/06 Finance committee will update Church's financial status at upcoming masses completed 11/8/06 Barbara Riley to follow-up with Anna regarding altar backdrop status ongoing 10/4/06 The executive committee will explore the issue of reverence and possible actions that may be taken to educate the parish on the subject. ongoing 10/4/06 Follow up on "none or poor" and "could do better" items on the Pastoral Council Assessment. completed 8/2/06 Jack Lawler will call the committees who have not contacted the Council with reports. 8/2/06 Denny Moore will contribute an item to the newsletter. 8/2/06 Denny Moore will ensure that the budget review becomes a quarterly agenda item Ongoing 8/2/06 Denny Moore will contact Martha Brodsky about coordinating the September 2006 Council elections. Completed 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