Parish Committees > Parish Council > Minutes

St. Isaac Jogues Parish Council
Meeting Minutes
May 24, 2010
Fireplace Room 7:00 - 9:45

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, Joan Brennan 2nd year, Mike Woemer 1st year, Liz Nunley, 1st year
Commission Members:  Pat Kenney - Religious Ed. (K-5), Ed Shishem - School, Nancy Laser - Christian Service, Joann Kamp - Parish Life, Janet Waring - Religious Ed. (6 - 8)
Guests:  Marty Finan - Finance, Barry Craig - School commission,  Kathleen Wilson - President School Commission

Approval of Minutes:  Meeting Minutes from April 26th were approved.

Reflection:  The Lords Prayer

Commission Reports

CHRISTIAN SERVICE     Care Net Hike for Life will start and end at SIJ on June 19th.
A Blood Drive is scheduled for June 27th.
Soup Kitchen is back to using adult volunteers and continues through the summer.
PADS is done for the year.  Next years dates are set.
Charitable Contributions gave donations to 52 charities.
Love Christian Clearing House is celebrating its 20th aniversary.
Some issues concerning the workability of the parish kitchen were discussed.

PARISH LIFE     The committee is done until September.  
Summer Bible Study is june 19th and July 21st at 7:30 in the Fireplace Room.
Newcomers party was May 14th
Book Club is reading “Spirituality” by Jim Martin
Senior Group is floundering
RCIA is starting with a new group
CHIRP is going strong

RELIGIOUS ED     Eight students are attending a youth conference in Rochester MN in an effort to get a youth ministry going here.

SCHOOL    A Wisconsin priest has been named the new superintendent of schools for the Joliet Diocese. 
The PSA auction will be Feb. 11, 2011 at the Oak Brook Marriot.
27 5th graders qualified for advanced math program.
Kindergarten admission policy will remain the same:  5th birthday must fall on or before Sept. 1st.
School enrollment for next year is the same, despite the decreasing national trend in Catholic schools.  New families are touring every day.  Marketing is publishing an add highlighting the success of SIJ graduates.
School commission will continue to monitor the parish tuition program.
The school commission supports maintaining the parish transfer at last years level.  It is felt that a drop in the transfer will reflect negatively on enrollment, class size and marketing efforts.
There is one teacher that needs to be replaced.

MAINTENANCE ISSUES     Ed Shishem and Tim Rivelli have completed their study of the maintenance department.  A four page report has been filed with Parish Council.
The end recommendation is to try and use the assets we have more efficiently before increasing employees and costs.  The following is a BRIEF summary of each recommendation.

  1.  Enhancement of the job description of the facilities manager to include performing maintenance work in addition to managerial tasks.
  2.  Quickly replace the broken boiler that is requiring continual maintenance.
  3.  Implement a “Leave it as you found it”  policy for anyone using the parish facilities.
  4.  For some events it would be more feasible for the sponsor to arrange clean-up with a    temporary cleaning company as the space is provided for free.
  5. Dictate an advance reservation policy with one person in charge of scheduling events.  This would prevent last minutes changes to facilities already set up.
  6.  Continue budgeting deep cleaning over the summer and possibly Christmas.
  7.  Walkie Talkie System connecting school office to maintenance staff.
  8. Teacher requests should be made through the school office.
  9.  The part-time employee should check in with school office upon arrival.

Should these measure not be enough, the parish should employ part-time help staggered as needed.

Father Bill approves these recommendations and would like them implemented by January 1, 2011.  Ed Shishem and Tim Rivelli will follow through with the recommendations.

Pastoral Remarks

Father Bill reports that both Father Tivy and Father Desalvo attended the staff luncheon.      
Effective dates of changes are still not exact. We could know who will replace Father Pat by Friday, May 28.  Father Pat will be the hospital chaplain for Edward Hospital and Elmhurst Hospital and will continue his work at Hines.

We have received the official document from Rome for our perpetual adoration Chapel.

Contracts have been handed out.
He is awaiting finalization of the budget.
Parish Council is hosing a reception honoring Father Bill and Father Pat on June 6, 1:00 - 3:00.
All parishioners are invited to attend.

Thanks to Anna and Joan Brennan for the staff luncheon today, May 24th.

Tim Rivelli has organized a consecration prayer to be said at masses May 29 and 30.

FINANCE     Marty Finan of the Finance Committee presented the recommendations for  the proposed budget of April 19, 2010.  The following items generated discussion.

*A 1% increase in budgeted weekly collections is proposed.  Father Bill noted that Sunday collections for April and May have been $5000.00 - $6000.00 short of budget.  He does not believe an increase is warranted as it could set up significant shortfalls for the coming year.  It was agreed upon to keep the current year budgeted amount of $38,0000 per week for the next year. 

*The fundraiser budget is raised to 65,000.00, vs. the 40,000.00 budgeted initially. Father Bill thinks that this an unrealistic goal and a huge burden for the event chairs.
It was agreed upon to budget $50,000 for the dinner dance.

*Budgeted capital expenditures are being removed.  They will be addressed via targeted fundraising organized by Rob Wentland and A & P.  Father Bill notes that there were no capital expenses this year because of concern for meeting regular bill payments.   He is not sure that targeted fundraising will work, especially considering economic conditions.  
Anna Embree added that there exists $150,000.00 in capital expenditures that are not being addressed.  $75,000.00 is most pressing.  A major fundraiser is needed to raise $250,000.00.  Depending on what is raised, the work is then prioritized.

*School commission:  It is proposed that the parish transfer to the school remain at $755,000.00, unchanged from last year given that church revenues have been slightly higher and enrollment remains the same.  Father Bill feels that there is a need to raise tuition as salaries and insurance costs have gone up.  Ed Shishem said that the goal of the school should be to flourish by brining in as many students as possible.  Raising tuition and cutting funding most likely will adversely effect enrollment.  It was noted that this past year the $1050.00 per family donation to the church to receive  in parish tuition rates was finally collected from all.  Barry Craig suggested raising that amount to $1200.00.  The school would be willing to try that as that fee is tax deductible, unlike tuition.  Tim Rivelli suggested that YCF families be required to give $200.00 in donations to the parish similar to school families.  Discussion pursued concerning the $49,000.00 endowment fund to be used in the new fiscal year. It is not included in the current budget.  Barry Craig stated it would be OK to use that money for the parish to avoid reducing the parish transfer.  Father Bill raised concerns of other ministries that are underfunded.  Staff has been reduced to part time, no benefits and employee moral is low.  In an effort to find additional money, Pat Kenney asked about a tuition increase of $50.00.  With agreement on a small tuition increase Barry Craig determined that the budget could be balanced with the parish transfer remaining the same and a slight tuition increase of $25.00. 

Increase church contribution per school family to $1200.00     brings in additional $15,000.00
Increase school tuition by $25.00        brings in additional $15,000.00
Additional $45,000.00 from maintenance
Additional $23,000.00 from math errors

The $49,000.00 in endowment money would be earmarked for the schools portion of capital expenses.

*Worship Commission:  It is proposed to reduce salaries in the preliminary budget by 30,000.  Father Bill would like to see funds available for Father DeSalvo to hire if he needs. 

Anna Embree summed up issues as follows:
Keep weekly collections the same as preliminary budget
Keep worship the same as the preliminary budget
Budget the fundraiser at $50,000.00
RE increase will be addressed by Father Bill with Helen
Talk to Rob Wentland about targeted fundraising for capital improvements. 
The executive Committee will go through the budget when it is ready.  The diocese would like it by June 4th. 

Anna Embree presented gifts to John Richter and Tom Lavins in thanks for their service.
She read a prayer sent by Ken Quaas from China in their honor.

Minutes submitted by Nancy Laser, Secretary

Next Meeting:  September, 2010