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St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church
Parish Council Meeting Minutes
January 28th 2007 7:00 pm
Meeting held in the Parish Center Fireplace Room
Attendees Present
Pastor: Father William Donnelly, Associate Pastor: Father Patrick Murphy
Council Chair: Michele Alberts, Co-Chair: Karen Lofreddi
At Large Members: Denise Stout, John Richter, Tom Lavins, Claudine Schramko
Commission Members: Janet Waring, Parish Life, Rob Wentland, Administration & Planning, Melanie Sarros, Heidi Dresher, RE –K thru 5, Anna Embree, RE- Jr. High, Kevin Callahan, SIJ School, Jim Murray, Parish Staff, Joe Geiger, Sharon Ritcher, Worship.
Absent: none
Opening Prayer /Gospel Reflection- Janet Waring
Janet gave a reflection from Sunday’s gospel about The Beatitudes and discussed
the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas celebrated on January 28th.
Approval of November PC Minutes
Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Update from Sharon Ritcher
Commission Reports
Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Update: Sharon Richter
Sharon presented the chart with the names of parishioners that have signed up for Adoration. To date over 450 parishioners have made a commitment to be adorers. The Chapel will officially open for the first time on Ash Wednesday with a procession into the chapel during the 7:00 pm Ash Wednesday
Mass.
Administration and Planning – Finance Commission member, Rob Wentland reported that the Finance Committee had been meeting for the past few months to address the Stewardship proposal for the parish. Several new members of the Finance Commission had volunteered at the Ministry Fair in September and include, Terry Toth, Tom Driscoll, Rich Phillips, Mike Conors, and Ken Quass. There was some concern that the PC had not been advised that the Finance Commission had begun planning their campaign. At the first PC meeting in September, the PC invited Ken Quass to help define the leadership role of the PC. We committed to help develop a plan for Stewardship for the Parish. There was discussion as to the responsibility of the Finance commission to update the PC before any proposals where presented to the parishioners. The parish web site development is under construction for the parish for communication and promotion of our parish.
Christian Service – Father Bill mentioned all of the Funerals that had occurred since January and that there were two in one day on Saturday, January 12. Transitional Housing has a meeting scheduled.
Parish Life - Commission member, Janet Waring reminded the Parish Council of the upcoming events in 2008. Matthew Kelly, Catholic Author, and Teacher will be our Parish Mission retreat leader starting on March 9, 10 and 11th in the church. He will have all of his books and CDs for sale at this event. The Men’s Christ Renews His Parish Retreat on January 19th & 20th attracted 25 men and was presented by a group of 30 men from previous CHRP group formed in January 2007. Many young men in their 20’s and 30 participated in this retreat, which is a good sign of the attraction of CHRP to men of all ages who want to renew their faith.
Worship – Commission member, Joe Geiger thanked Heidi Dresher and Jim Murray for the beautiful Christmas décor and especially to Jim for the Worship Aids for the Masses. On February 16 all Parish Eucharistic Ministers, Lectures, and Ushers are invited to a presentation by Father Hutmacher of St. Peter’s in Chicago. There is an 8:00 Mass followed by a continental breakfast. Father Hutmacher will discuss the Transformative Power of the Eucharist. There was discussion about the practice of Eucharistic Ministers giving a blessing to parishioners during Communion. Jim reminded us that practice is only for priests and deacons and that as Eucharistic Ministers, we are not supposed to give blessings. Only ordained priests and deacons may give this blessing. Vesper training with Father Doug Martis will begin in February with four volunteers. Taize Prayer would be led by Jim on January 31. Ash Wednesday Masses and Services were published in the bulletin. Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration will start on Ash Wednesday in the new Chapel thanks to the dedicated diligence of Father Pat and the committee. Thank you!
Michele Alberts and Anna Embree formed a PC Core Team to begin reactivating the babysitting program for the 9 and 10:30 am Sunday Masses at the end of 2007. As of February, an Adult paid babysitter trained in Protecting God's Children program will be available with paid aids to assist her at these Masses. Thank you to Michele and Anna for listening to the needs of our parents with young children that have requested the parish to continue this tradition in our parish. Having a new sunny room on the first floor is so convenient for parents to drop off their kids before Mass. This is a great gift to parents of toddlers who wish to utilize this service.
Religious Education - K – 5 grade Parent Commission member, Melanie Sarros gave an update about the 4:00 pm Ash Wednesday Family Liturgy. It will include a pizza dinner, family craft, and discussion with Father Pat about Lenten practices for families. The Commission members decided that all information to parents in RE would be sent home along with a copy of the weekly bulletin for other parish events. They will restrict e-mail info to RE materials only. They want to keep the parents from getting too many e-mails. The report from RE includes changes in the times, days and structure of classes. There will not be any RE classes on Sundays starting in the fall of 2008 to encourage families to attend Mass as a family. This summer a vacation bible school will be offered to children of St. Isaac Jogues in June. More info to come on that topic.
Middle School & High School Teen member, Anna Embree gave a brief report that 6th, 7th and 8th grade RE students will be meeting on Wednesdays from 7:00 - 8:45 pm and on Saturday mornings from 8:00 – 9:45 am starting in the fall of 2008. Changes in the structure of leadership for projects and catechists were in the report submitted to the PC. Janet Waring and Suzie Woerner will be leading a Bible Study during Lent for Middle School students in the Loft. They will offer dinner and study for those members welcomed to participate.
Parish Staff – Jim Murray gave an update on the Staff meeting on January 21. Tom Sullivan had a meeting with the Charity and Mission groups that want to approach our parishioners for donations.
Vocations Committee: Karen Loffredi commented on the success of the fundraiser and Mass. They raised $42,000.00 for the vocations program in our diocese. On April 10, Bishop Sartain will host a Mass and presentation on Vocations at St. Isaacs that will include Notre Dame and Holy Trinity. All high school age students and their parents are invited to attend. Karen has a group of volunteers preparing for Bishop Sartain’s visit.
SIJ School – guest member, Kevin Callahan told the PC that the school’s Open House for Catholic Schools Week was successful. The festivities included Teacher Appreciation and visitation by parishioners interested in attending our wonderful catholic school. Principal Cronqist presented to parishioners at all the Sunday Masses the benefits of catholic education and the excellent parish school we offer. Many of the St. Isaac school students attended all of the Sunday Masses in their school uniforms and participated as greeters, lectures, and altar servers. He reported that the School Auction was planned for February 9 at McDonald’s Lodge. Kevin told the PC that Full Day Kindergarten was to begin in the fall of 2008 at the school. They will be one of the only schools in our district to offer a full day program. Kevin was asked to try to have a regular member of the School Commission come to the PC instead of a different member each month. The Diocesan guidelines require that Commission members are expected to be active participants in the PC and not just reporters of their commission meetings minutes. They will need to have a regular member be appointed or selected.
Pastor Remarks - Father Bill Donnelly reminded the PC that we are still facing the loss of Father Pat Murphy being assigned to a new parish in June of 2008. We may not be assigned an additional priest here at St. Isaac and that possibility may force changes in Mass schedules. Father Bill is planning a Town Hall Meeting for the parish. The date and topics are to be announced at a later date.
Closing Prayer: Janet Waring
Next Meeting – Monday, February 25, 2008 at 7:00 pm for Taize Prayer in the church
Meeting immediately after in the Fireplace Room of the Parish Center
Reflection: Claudine Schramko Refreshments: Joe Geiger
Minutes faithfully submitted February 21, 2008 – Denise Stout, PC Secretary
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