Parish Council Meeting Minutes February 14, 2016 The meeting was called to order by Mike Reis at 7:00PM
Members Present: Deb Buckels, Joan Budd, JoAnn Hedrick, Donna Ramage, Mike Duffy, Mike Reis, Ellen Turano, Father Bill Graney, Joe McClory, Deacon John Falkowski, Elaine Little, Mary Louise Chesley-Cora, Chip Schussler, Cory Zolandz, , Dolores Lepori, Tom Leitch, Ellen Pringle, Michelle Little
Members Absent: Patty Zaza , Rich Mayes
Opening Prayer: Joan Budd, read Leonard’s Prayer, “Now Lord you’ve known me a long time. You know me better than I know myself. I am growing older… Release from trying to straighten out everyone’s affairs…Keep my tongue free from the recital of endless details… I ask for grace to listen to others… Keep me reasonably kind…Please give me the ability to see good in unlikely places and talents in unexpected people.
Minutes: The minutes from the January meeting were approved as written.
Parish Buzz: Michelle Little provided an Youth Update that the Winter Arts Festival was a success. Fundraising is on track to meet the goals set for the year.
New Business: Sandy Landoll gave an update from the Outreach Committee. Sandy reported it is very difficult to vet monetary requests for help with utility payments. He suggested an alternative proposal listed below:
After discussion and a motion was made and approved to accept proposal.
Finance Council Report: Chip Schussler prefaced his report with the following comments:
• Pastor and Staff are good stewards of costs.
• Offertory Collection is always important and will always be a challenge.
• External events such as Dow-Dupont merger/ Unemployment always have an effect.
• On a positive note special gifts were high this year
• Currently a 24,000 shortfall which is expected to be reduced to 5 to 10K by end of year.
See full details in budget attachment.
Election Committee: Donna Ramage led discussion and asked for volunteers to organize Parish Council. Tom Leitch, Ellen Turano, Ellen Pringle, and Joe MccLory agreed to help.
Old Business: Parish Renewal is on schedule for March 13 to 16. Fr Bill and Staff worked hard pulling this together. Parish Council will help get word out by being present at tables in gathering space after Masses weekends of February 28 and March 6. On March 13, parish council will have an abbreviated meeting at 6:15 PM, then help with greeting duties for the first night of the Renewal and attend session.
Pastors Comments: The Bishop and his staff have been evaluating a few different models for providing pastoral leadership when a priest leader is not available. See attachment on Alternative Pastoral Leadership for full details.
For the near term Father could use “point persons” for parish activities such as a Coordinator of the care of the sick and homebound and the welcoming new parishioners. This will lighten the load of responsibilities on Fr. Bill which would be greatly appreciated.