Parish Committees > Parish Council > Minutes

St. Isaac Jogues Parish Council
Meeting Minutes
April 26, 2010
Fireplace Room 7:00 - 8:35

Pastoral Staff: Father William Donnelly
Council Chair: Tom Lavins, 3rd year
Vice Chair: John Richter, 3rd year
At Large Members: Anna Embree, 2nd year, Steve Turlek, 1st year, Tim Rivelli, 1st year
Commission Members: Pat Kenney - Religious Ed. (K-5), Joe Geiger - Worship, Ken Quaas - A & P, Ed Shishem - School, Nancy Laser - Christian Service, Mike and Susan Woemer - Guests.

Reﬂection: Father Bill

Approval of Minutes: Meeting minutes from March 22, 2010 were approved.

Commission Reports

A & P Ken Quaas reports that the budget is a not ready yet. He points out that A & P no longer does the budget. It is handled by the ﬁnance committee which is lead byDave Schabes. We will see the budget at the council meeting in May. Father Bill noted that the budget is tight, but not as tight as last year. There are still a number of items not yet set. Father Bill also announced that Father Pat will be leaving, but we do notknow where he will go. He is still being told that SIJ will get a replacement associate.
Tom Lavins stated that the ﬁnance committee will have a phone conference with members of Parish Council before the budget is ﬁnalized. Discussion pursued as to theuse of capital campaign funds that are still being received. Ken Quaas stated that thecapital campaign funds were given for the physical structure of the church andtherefore, could be applied to the current building needs.
Ken Quaas explained a need that A & P feels to communicate the changes that are fast approaching our parish, i.e.; Father DeSalvo starting in September. Father Bill leaving in June, and Father Tivy ﬁlling in June to September. Father Bill stated that all known information has been communicated in the “Bulletin”. Speciﬁc dates should bedecided by June 5th, but it is hoped that decisions are made in the next weeks.
Tim Rivelli would like to see some type of transition team as this is a very unusual time. Father Bill has full conﬁdence that Father Tivy will be in full control with the help ofTom Sullivan. Tim Rivelli suggested a late June Parish Council meeting to welcome Father Tivy, and introduce ourselves. Also, an August meeting should be scheduled for Father DeSalvo to meet Parish Council.

CHRISTIAN SERVICE Nancy Laser reports that the Forgiving Tree served 153 families from Hinsdale Community Services and our Transitional Housing families. Donations were slightly lower than last year. CSC would like to see the tree displayedin the church next year as it is more visible there than in the Narthex as it was this year.
The Care Net Walk for Life is set for Saturday, June 19.
A Blood Drive is scheduled for June 27.
Celebration Party for Father Bill and Father Pat is scheduled for June 6.
Speaker Jason Everett was fantastic and was attended by many students in and outsideour parish.
Transitional Housing has been asked to take on a fourth apartment. Julia Wade reports that we have the ﬁnancial resources to do so, but would need parishioners to volunteerto be mentors.

Religious Ed Pat Kenney reports that:
Together in Faith program ended April 14.
Families of Faith will have their last workshop Sunday, May 23.
Registrations for 2010 - 2011 were mailed last week.
First Communion on April 24th went very well. There are two more groups to go next Saturday.
Vacation Bible School is looking for high school students or even middle schoolers to volunteer. A full staff of adults is set.

SCHOOL Ed Shishem reports that new School Commission members are BillOʼMalley, Mike Lee and Sheila Moser.
PSA is ﬁnancially a little better off than last year. They raised $351,000, spent $57,000and so, netted $293,000.
$34,000 has been returned to the endowment fund, with remaining funds being held forthis coming year.
The parish transfer will be reduced by $100,000. This represents two teacher salaries.Academic policy in respect to athletic participation is being reviewed.

Ed and Tim Rivelli have investigated the maintenance issues. There are 5 full time and 1 part time maintenance people including John . Some spaces such as the Rectory arenot scheduled for cleaning. We may need to add additional people, but that could be difﬁcult in a time where we have to reduce other staff such as teachers. Tom Sullivan has made some communication improvements. An item that could greatly help thesituation is for parishioners who use the facilities to take better care of them. A “Leave the room as you found it” policy will be addressed to parishioners when they schedulethe use of a room. It could be included on the reservation form, and signs could beposted in the various meeting rooms.

In order to get a professional view of our maintenance department, Ed has acquired thehelp of one of his clients, the president of Dartmouth Business Services. For free, hewill do a walk through and consultation with both John and Rick Cronquist, and thenadvise us on the issues.

The Student Mass Project scheduled for May 19, has now been moved to the Fall. This has been quiet a learning experience for Ed. The initial 3 masses were moved once,then consolidated to two masses, then to one mass. Now, that date will not work because the parish center is not available for the social planned after mass.

YOUTH Anna Embree reports that the last 4:00 youth mass was in April. Father Mario will be here May 2, and he will be back next year for masses. Janet Waring is working on a retreat to Minneapolis in July. She is looking for 10 interested high schoolstudents.

Pastoral Remarks

Father Bill reports that the diocese has new software programs for ﬁnance andaccounting. Some parishes will be selected to be “guinea pigs”. New software is also available for the school.

Problems have occurred when a last minute event uses a facility immediately before ascheduled event. Maintenance may have set up the room in advance, only to have thelast minute event change the whole set up. A policy to address this should be developed.

The diocese auditor has reviewed all ﬁnancial aspects of the parish and has found all tobe in good order.

Teacher contracts are almost ready.

Old Business

The Dinner Dance will be at the Westin in Lombard, in November.
Staff Appreciation Lunch is Monday, May 24, at 12:30.
Discernment for Parish Council is Wednesday, April 26th. Tom Lavins will give interested parishioners an idea of the time commitment necessary.

New Business

Joan Brennan will be the new Council Chair.
New council members will be invited to the May meeting.
Tim Rivelli has drafted a prayer of consecration and entrustment to present to Father Billfor possible use in May.

Closing Prayer: Ken Quaas

Minutes submitted by Nancy Laser, Secretary

Next Meeting: May, 24, 2010
Gospel Reﬂection: Janet Waring
Refreshments: Joan Brennan