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PASTORAL MEETING MINUTES

October

ST. MICHAEL'S PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING
Meeting Date: 10/4/06 Time: 7:00 p.m.
President: Denny Moore, President Recording Secretary: Barbara Riley
DISTRIBUTION AND ATTENDEE LIST:

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

Opening

President Denny Moore opened the meeting.

Jack Lawler offered the prayer.

The September minutes (Appendix A) were approved as amended.

Denny welcomed the new Council members, Kelly Garofalo, Regina Long and Nanci Santiago who has volunteered to extend her service. He also thanked the outgoing members Mary Ann Gehle, Dan Bartolini and Noreen Christian.

Martin Luchansky, of the Knights of Columbus, invited the Council members to attend a dinner event in benefit of Operation Second Chance which is to be held after the 10/21/2006, 5:00 Mass.

Operation Second Chance is a nonprofit foundation formed to assist the returning wounded, who will be undergoing rehabilitation at Walter Reed Medical Center, and their families.

Pastor's Report

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

• Father thanked the members leaving the Council, the executive officers and welcomed the new members who stepped up to serve. Father commended the Knights of Columbus members who assisted with the non-partisan voter registration effort the weekend of 9/30 through 10/01.
• Parishioners may have noticed a new face dressed in the Trinitarian religious habit. This is Bob Kurian, a candidate for the priesthood. Father Kurt would like Bob to have the opportunity to share in the pastoral experience, here, as part of his training.
• The parish will be leasing classrooms for 2 days a week for about 30 weeks to the Holy Family Apostolate (a cooperative of Catholic homeschoolers). Holy Family Apostolate coordinator, Linda Wholey, has been happy with the response she has received from St. Michael's pastoral and administrative staff.
• Father praised the hard work of Jim Myers and Gary Fulmer in their continual efforts to keep up with the maintenance needs of the parish.
• Father also thanked Jim Onaitis for weeding the area around the grotto site, making it more presentable for the 2nd Annual Living Rosary.

Information Updates

Pastoral Council Executive Committee Elections

The Council cast their ballots and elected the following members for the Council's Executive Committee:

Parish Council Assessment - Denny Moore

Denny Moore disseminated the results and analysis of the Pastoral Council Self Assessment (Appendix C), which was compiled, based upon survey responses of 86% of the Council members taken at the last meeting (September).

The top three items the Council does well are advising the pastor, representing the parishioners and providing a forum for discussion.

The top three areas where the Council could improve are by changing the status quo, by taking more actions and by increasing enthusiasm and volunteers.

Overall, the assessment indicated that the Council is performing satisfactorily, however, it should strive for improvement and an action item was recorded to follow up in the areas where there were poor or improvement needed scores.

Round Robin and Parishioner Communication Program

Kim Myers received feedback through her husband regarding the financial condition of the Parish and the expression of surprise that the need is so great. In addition, other parishioners felt that money could have been spent in other areas rather than the building addition, especially if the Parish was unable to pay for it. There was also criticism for the expense of building a multipurpose room.

Jack Lawler received similar feedback regarding the financial decisions of the Parish.

For the benefit of the new Council members, Dave Daigle explained the goals of the Communication Program and the Round Robin.

Martha Brodsky explained the new car raffle to be conducted as part of the next Hoedown. The ticket price is $50.00 and the goal is to sell 1000 tickets. If the Parish can't meet this goal, the raffle will convert to 50/50. Miller Ford of Ellicott City is supplying the car which is a 2007 Mustang. The raffle winner, who need not be present to win, has a choice of the car or may take the cash value as their prize. Martha asked for volunteers to help sell the tickets. No more than 1000 tickets will be sold.

Kelly Garofalo has received favorable feedback concerning the new Mass times.

Jim Myers reminded the Council that there was a committee formed to discuss the new building and the accompanying expense. He expressed his concern that those who are upset about the decisions of the Parish don't get involved.

Mary Fulmer reported that the religious education numbers dictate an additional session on weeknights. Mary suggested that forms for STAND be included with parish registration forms thus easing the burden on those attempting to solicit volunteers ready to serve.

Regina Long expressed the need to know what is expected of a Pastoral Council member. She feels that the parishioners should respond to the parish's financial needs and said that she likes St. Michael's.

Dave Daigle reminded the Council that it committed to a quarterly review of the budget.

Nanci Santiago asked about recruitment of Council members and whether this should be done from the pulpit to encourage more participation in the process.

Amy Myers issued a passionate plea for help in the recruitment of ministers. A volunteer crisis is evident. Denny responded that he had signed up 3 people by asking for a show of hands in Mass. The need is still great and similar methods should be employed to fill the ever-increasing vacancies in readers and eucharistic ministers.

George Bardsley has received great comments on the breakfast and more requests for kneelers. There will be another newsletter and the next one will include spouses' names. He also commented that he has been to many parishes that have asked for funding and felt that Father's letter expressed what needed to be said.

Ted Burkhardt urged the Council to take that "step in faith" and try to help the parishioners fully understand the programs and the mission of St. Michael's. Some of the feedback he has received, recently, is reflective of a possible misunderstanding of what the Church is trying to do. With patient explanation and guidance from the Council and staff, misunderstandings and concerns may be clarified and addressed. He added that the growth projections of the parish may not have been accurate and has possibly exacerbated the money problems. He has received feedback on the gym that it is a "kid-friendly" place to play basketball. People are fighting to get into the gym and he feels that it should be viewed as favorable for the parish. Two additional people asked about the kneelers. Communication and education about these issues should be ongoing and continuous. An alternative to the kneelers could be a unified reverent posture in the pews during parts of the Mass, specifically the consecration.

Barbara Riley did not receive negative comments regarding the new space. If anything, the feedback she received centered more on the underutilization of the building addition.

The 10/4/2006 meeting was adjourned at 8:30.

Barbara Riley - Pastoral Council Recording Secretary