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St. Isaac Jogues Pastoral Council
Meeting Minutes
Monday, January 26, 2009
Fireplace Room 7:00 – 9:00 pm

Pastoral Members: Father William Donnelly, Father Patrick Murphy

Council Chair: Denise Stout, 3rd yr Vice-Chair: John Richter, 2nd yr
At Large Members: Tom Lavins, 2nd yr; Anna Embree, 1st yr; Joan Brennan, 1st yr.
Commission Members: Rob Wentland – Administration and Planning; Ed Pound – Worship; Susan Draddy - Religious Education; Jim Murray – Parish Staff; Nancy Laser - Christian Service; Janet Waring - Parish Life. Absent: Larry Fitzgerald – SIJ School

Guest: Wally Miller – Adoration Committee

Opening Prayer: Father Bill
Reflection: John Richter

Old Business
Parish Council Survey Report – Anna Embree

Three main topics rose to the top of the survey: Mass, Music &Hospitality
Topline feedback included the following:
- Welcoming: wanting people at the door. Can ushers take on this role? Greeters/Ushers should be more welcoming. Eucharistic Ministers will be asked to be greeters if they arrive early. Need to reinforce to captains to greet when they pick up their crosses.
- Music: want better, more up-to-date music. Is there too much music? A few responses indicated a desire for quiet time for reflection after communion.
- Hospitality: seems to have the biggest impact i.e. coffee and donuts, meeting parishioners, connecting with people.
- More Family Events: less expensive events, more casual and family-oriented, e.g. spaghetti dinners, pancake breakfasts, luncheons.
- Children: more youth events. Combine both school and non-school children. There are no children’s programs outside of Religious Ed i.e. Lenten Bible Study, Vacation Bible School, etc.
A question was asked whether the survey represented the population of the parish. Does it reinforce things that have become lax?
The next step should be a communication of results to the parish, identifying what can be done short term, acknowledge to parishioners that they were heard, indicate that we want to make improvements and advise them that the survey will be available on-line for those that did not complete it the first time. Let them know what will be done. Ask old St. Pat’s how they give feedback from their regular surveys they conduct.
The survey is still on-line although there have been no additional responses. Should we keep the survey on line? Update it?

March 14th Parish Cluster Meeting Update – John Richter

The meeting will be held in The Loft. All council members will be invited. There will be a report from each parish. Possible guest speaker.

Hospitality Sundays – Joan Brennan

The January 11 Hospitality Sunday, held after the 10:30 Mass, was well attended. It was coordinated with the Christian Service Commission and highlighted the Transitional Housing Ministry. We received positive feedback on the speaker who was a successful recipient of Transitional Housing. A table of information on the program was provided.
Need to increase the quantity of donuts. People came for the donuts and socialization.
Joan is looking for feedback. Should we continue Donut Sundays next year, collect donations, keep the same schedule the rest of the year, spread out through the year with the summer months off, etc? Decision was made to monitor attendance and re-evaluate the program at the end of the year.
Can each commission address a Mass? Limit to two minutes. Use a written script.
Distributed Donut Sunday schedule submitted to all council members.

Handicapped Access Follow-Up Report

There is no budget available to install a chair lift as requested by a parishioner who brought a signed petition for installation in the church.
Father Bill told us there is no money in the budget for this lift which was estimated at about $26,000.00
Parking on the street during Mass was investigated but a special ordinance was required. Need to wait for the new Village Board and revisit.
Ushers can be sent to help people if needed. Can they also post courtesy signs? Tom Lavins to follow up on signs that ushers can put out for handicapped parking on the east side of Clay Street for Sundays only.
The Council will send a thank you to Marilyn Halasz for her research on the chair lift.

Vestibule Kiosk Update – Tom Lavins

The new kiosk is very nice. It has six sides that should accommodate all Commissions, who should make a point to utilize. The procedure is yet to be determined. The content needs to be monitored to keep fresh.
A notice needs to be put in the bulletin in time for Lent.
At the same time that the kiosk was installed in the vestibule, a new book case/table was installed in the Adoration Chapel.
Tom donated both Kiosks and the Cabinet for the Adoration Chapel. Thank you, Tom!

Adoration Chapel Restroom Update – Rob Wentland

The immediate resolution is a gate to wall off the sanctuary. The gate is under design.
A question was asked whether a door could be moved for entrance to the bathroom from the sacristy. However, it was noted that there would be a need for an architect and the fire marshal. Rob is to look at options.

New Business

Welcome Ministry “Come Home for Christmas” Report – Denise Stout

Jim Murray SIJ Liturgist, is leaving for a new position. Budget concerns cut Jim to part time staff with no benefits in July of 2008 and he had been looking for a full time postion with benefits. The Council thanked him for his wonderful liturgies, music and overall work for SIJ with a small reception during the meeting.
Denise thanked the Council for its “Come Home for Christmas” message. We received many positive comments for the banner in Burlington Park. Notices in the bulletin were well received.

Bishop Sartain’s Mass Celebrating Adoration Chapel Anniversary – Father Pat

The Bishop is celebrating 12:00 Mass on February 1. Seven members of the Adoration Committee are participating in the Mass. There will be a small procession from the altar to the Chapel and a very brief meet ‘n greet in the Narthex. Keep it simple.

St. Patrick’s Celebration (Saturday, March 7, 2009) - Janet Waring

Selling tickets after Masses in Feb. $25.00 each. Celebration to include Celtic singers, Trinity Dancers. Tried to have a pancake breakfast but parking would have been difficult and the Parish Center was not available.

Parish Lenten Mission (Sunday, March 8th, 15th & 22nd)

Three Sunday Evenings during Lent but not a Mass.
John made a recommendation to send a letter to Father Ron to wish him well on his chaplain’s assignment in Afghanistan.

Stewardship Report – Denise Stout

Denise presented research on Stewardship reporting complied from her research of eight parishes with similar demographics. Weekly Collection could be better, more detailed, simple but precise. Why? For transparency and level of accountability to the parishioners. Remind our community to use envelopes to support the parish.
Need to determine what financial need messages are important. Keep in mind level of competency in parish. Try to balance the financial report to the parish with the areas that are the greatest need.
Rob to share with Finance Committee the council’s concerns.
Rob reported the parish has not run deficit since 1995. Need improved annual report letter. Recommend line item detail.
Questions arose about issues surrounding maintenance
Christmas flowers thrown away too soon that were donated by parishioners. Adoration Chapel, changing light bulbs, etc. Church front entrance lighting very poor at night.
Clarification by the maintenance personnel as to who does what.
Tom Sullivan, the parish business manager seems very busy. More accountability from Tom regarding supervision of maintenance personnel.
Issues with cleanliness of school. The parents did the cleaning for the Open House due to lack of proper upkeep of the school cleanliness.
Do we need to make inquiries into more cleaning personnel for the parish?
Issue of management. To reduce confusion, need job descriptions to establish a framework. Questions about who supervises who in order to do a better job.
Tom coming to Executive Meeting next month to explain this issue in detail.
Issue with the school cannot wait. Do not need to hire more people, just need to address.

Worship Commission – Ed Pound

The Commission would like recognition for all volunteers parish-wide. He requested a Parish Appreciation Celebration for this year. Council is taking this under consideration for the spring. Wally Miller came to report on the lack of cleanliness in the adoration chapel and asked if we needed a woman’s touch to keep it sparkling.

Pastor’s Remarks – Father William Donnelly

It is a hectic time of year.
The Joliet Diocese is conducting school evaluations. A Study group is reviewing demographics and finances for all 56 parochial schools. The report is due in May and may recommend consolidations, closings, and regionalization. Bishop Sartain is committed to acting on the report.
The Finance Committee is doing projections. There is no debt but struggling. Being proactive at looking ahead.
The Endowment Fund took a huge hit due to the stock market declines.
Retirement contributions for lay people and priests going up this year for the diocese.
Will be a tough year for the diocese and our parish contributions.

Closing Prayer Led by John Richter

Next Meeting: February 23, 2009 Fireplace Room 7:00 pm
Prayer Reflections: Rob Wentland
Refreshments: Janet Waring

Minutes Submitted by: Mary Muñoz, Pastoral Council Secretary