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PRINCE OF PEACE COUNCIL MINUTES
January 19, 2006
Walking Together, Growing in Faith”
Opening Prayer: Sister Mary Ann Phelan and President Joe Leonard led us in the opening prayer, a reading from the Book of Genesis, Reflection on Time, and New Year’s Prayer. We ended with a closing prayer said by all.
Roll Call: Members present: Father Tony Herold, Father Thom Hennen, Fran Cornwell, Jim DeMong, Kathleen DeMong, Kathy Eggers, Denise Laufenberg, Joseph Leonard, Marlys Lyons, Beverly Putman, Mark Regenwether, Charles Rutledge, Tom VanBuer, Bart Vander Bleek, Lenny Weih, Odelia Schrunk, Michael Rastrelli and Sister Mary Ann Phelan.
Deacons Present: Jeff Schuetzle
High School Representative: Kara Seitz
School Board Representative: None
Faith Facilities: Dick Roberts
Staff Present: Brenda Bertram, Annette Lyons, Betty Mantsch, Dave Schnier
Finance Commission: Ed Kross
Excused Absent: Mary Beth Butt
Guests: None
Approval of Agenda: Approved as printed
Communications: President Joe Leonard received a letter from a parishioner asking a question about which church should be closed. Discussion followed and Joe will respond to her questions.
Approval of Minutes: Minutes of 11-17-2005 approved as amended. Under “Faith Formation”, second sentence, change from catechumens service to “Catechists In-Service”.
Pastor’s Report: Father stated that since our last meeting in November we have celebrated the Advent and Christmas seasons. Father thanked all who had anything to do with the major feasts of the Church. Father mentioned attendance was up this year for the Christmas Masses. Father also mentioned his interviewing of the freshman preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation and he came away quite hopeful at their depth of faith. Father is also involved in helping the Liturgical Design Committee reflect on the document “Built of Living Stones.” He mentioned we will be taking a trip to St. Alphonsus Church in Mt. Pleasant on February 2nd and is encouraging all council members to join in the trip if at all possible. Father also mentioned the Irish Auction coming soon and the need to look at the “culture” of our parish and how well we welcome new people and how to create a hospitable environment.
Open Discussion: “What does the council feel we should do with our current church buildings?” Joe mentioned that there has been some interest in different articles within our churches and that we need to be ready to go forward if we receive some offers. The finance council will make the final decision. The Faith Facilities group is working towards trying to decide what will be saved from each of the churches and will work with the architects on what can be used in the new church. The options of what a church can be used for are very limited according to canon law. After a very lengthy discussion, the consensus of the council was to move forward and keep what we want and to coordinate efforts to be ready to move forward if we get any offers. We will be in favor of closing both North End churches on or before the end of October 2006. It was suggested we have a final liturgy in both churches by October. They have to be officially closed by the Bishop. There has been no official word to demolish these churches, but it is an option.
Old Business: None
New Business:
Choose Discussion Topic for February 16, 2006 meeting: It was suggested that we have the Liturgical Design Committee come and give a discussion on the needs of the new church. They will cover the items that are non-negotiable versus the negotiable items.
Faith Facility Report: A written report was submitted. Dick Roberts stated that all four (4) sub-committees are functioning well. They are planning a Question-Answer session after Masses on either Feb. 25-26 or March 4-5. There have been monthly inserts in the newsletter. The Contractor Committee has selected six general contractors to be interviewed January 25-26. It will be slimmed down to two or three contractors to be interviewed by representatives of the Pastoral Council, Finance Commission, Faith Facilities, Pastor, Business Administrator and RDG. The Liturgical Design Committee has been studying and discussing “Built of Living Stones”. They also have a trip planned to St. Alphonsus in Mt. Pleasant to the newest church in the diocese. Someone asked about the next campaign and how much will be needed. Before we begin construction, we need 50% in the bank and 50% pledged which means the next campaign will need to be around two million dollars. The total cost is approximately 5.5 million dollars. We should have approximately 3.5 million dollars at the end of this campaign, if pledges continue to come in as expected.
Prince of Peace School Report: No report since our last meeting. Their meeting is scheduled for next week.
COMMISSION REPORTS:
Parish Life: No written report. Sister Mary Ann reported on the pictorial directory. Sister stated that there were 636 families that will be listed in the Directory and it should be out in Mid-March.
Liturgical & Spiritual Life Commission: No report to give. Denise said the next meeting would be January 28th.
Social Action Commission: A written report submitted. Lenny reported on PAX CHRISTI and the interest in forming a local chapter. Next meeting is Wednesday, January 25, 2006. Chuck Rutledge reported on the Charities Committee. The funds available for distribution are $4398. The Peru fund is $2134. Chuck reported they had several acknowledgments from organizations receiving funds. The distribution of $2500 was given to Information Referral, Pantries United and the Victory Center.
Finance Commission: Ed Kross stated we had pledges of $3,506,196 and of that amount $2,372,166 is paid for a total of 68% with about 15 months to go. The ADA is about $1100 from goal. The extra collection that is taken for heating costs averages about $1000 per weekend. Envelope giving is down about $27,000. The utilities are up approximately $21,000. Ed stated that each year the lowest quarterly giving is July, August and September. St. Patrick’s property is for sale at $87,500.
Faith Formation: A written report was submitted. Marlys stated all the information was in the report.
Father Thom led us in closing prayer.
NEXT MEETING: Thursday, February 16, 2006, 7:00 p.m. at St. Boniface Hall.
Respectfully submitted: Beverly Putman
PRINCE OF PEACE COUNCIL MINUTES
January 19, 2006
Walking Together, Growing in Faith”
Opening Prayer: Sister Mary Ann Phelan and President Joe Leonard led us in the opening prayer, a reading from the Book of Genesis, Reflection on Time, and New Year’s Prayer. We ended with a closing prayer said by all.
Roll Call: Members present: Father Tony Herold, Father Thom Hennen, Fran Cornwell, Jim DeMong, Kathleen DeMong, Kathy Eggers, Denise Laufenberg, Joseph Leonard, Marlys Lyons, Beverly Putman, Mark Regenwether, Charles Rutledge, Tom VanBuer, Bart Vander Bleek, Lenny Weih, Odelia Schrunk, Michael Rastrelli and Sister Mary Ann Phelan.
Deacons Present: Jeff Schuetzle
High School Representative: Kara Seitz
School Board Representative: None
Faith Facilities: Dick Roberts
Staff Present: Brenda Bertram, Annette Lyons, Betty Mantsch, Dave Schnier
Finance Commission: Ed Kross
Excused Absent: Mary Beth Butt
Guests: None
Approval of Agenda: Approved as printed
Communications: President Joe Leonard received a letter from a parishioner asking a question about which church should be closed. Discussion followed and Joe will respond to her questions.
Approval of Minutes: Minutes of 11-17-2005 approved as amended. Under “Faith Formation”, second sentence, change from catechumens service to “Catechists In-Service”.
Pastor’s Report: Father stated that since our last meeting in November we have celebrated the Advent and Christmas seasons. Father thanked all who had anything to do with the major feasts of the Church. Father mentioned attendance was up this year for the Christmas Masses. Father also mentioned his interviewing of the freshman preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation and he came away quite hopeful at their depth of faith. Father is also involved in helping the Liturgical Design Committee reflect on the document “Built of Living Stones.” He mentioned we will be taking a trip to St. Alphonsus Church in Mt. Pleasant on February 2nd and is encouraging all council members to join in the trip if at all possible. Father also mentioned the Irish Auction coming soon and the need to look at the “culture” of our parish and how well we welcome new people and how to create a hospitable environment.
Open Discussion: “What does the council feel we should do with our current church buildings?” Joe mentioned that there has been some interest in different articles within our churches and that we need to be ready to go forward if we receive some offers. The finance council will make the final decision. The Faith Facilities group is working towards trying to decide what will be saved from each of the churches and will work with the architects on what can be used in the new church. The options of what a church can be used for are very limited according to canon law. After a very lengthy discussion, the consensus of the council was to move forward and keep what we want and to coordinate efforts to be ready to move forward if we get any offers. We will be in favor of closing both North End churches on or before the end of October 2006. It was suggested we have a final liturgy in both churches by October. They have to be officially closed by the Bishop. There has been no official word to demolish these churches, but it is an option.
Old Business: None
New Business:
Choose Discussion Topic for February 16, 2006 meeting: It was suggested that we have the Liturgical Design Committee come and give a discussion on the needs of the new church. They will cover the items that are non-negotiable versus the negotiable items.
Faith Facility Report: A written report was submitted. Dick Roberts stated that all four (4) sub-committees are functioning well. They are planning a Question-Answer session after Masses on either Feb. 25-26 or March 4-5. There have been monthly inserts in the newsletter. The Contractor Committee has selected six general contractors to be interviewed January 25-26. It will be slimmed down to two or three contractors to be interviewed by representatives of the Pastoral Council, Finance Commission, Faith Facilities, Pastor, Business Administrator and RDG. The Liturgical Design Committee has been studying and discussing “Built of Living Stones”. They also have a trip planned to St. Alphonsus in Mt. Pleasant to the newest church in the diocese. Someone asked about the next campaign and how much will be needed. Before we begin construction, we need 50% in the bank and 50% pledged which means the next campaign will need to be around two million dollars. The total cost is approximately 5.5 million dollars. We should have approximately 3.5 million dollars at the end of this campaign, if pledges continue to come in as expected.
Prince of Peace School Report: No report since our last meeting. Their meeting is scheduled for next week.
COMMISSION REPORTS:
Parish Life: No written report. Sister Mary Ann reported on the pictorial directory. Sister stated that there were 636 families that will be listed in the Directory and it should be out in Mid-March.
Liturgical & Spiritual Life Commission: No report to give. Denise said the next meeting would be January 28th.
Social Action Commission: A written report submitted. Lenny reported on PAX CHRISTI and the interest in forming a local chapter. Next meeting is Wednesday, January 25, 2006. Chuck Rutledge reported on the Charities Committee. The funds available for distribution are $4398. The Peru fund is $2134. Chuck reported they had several acknowledgments from organizations receiving funds. The distribution of $2500 was given to Information Referral, Pantries United and the Victory Center.
Finance Commission: Ed Kross stated we had pledges of $3,506,196 and of that amount $2,372,166 is paid for a total of 68% with about 15 months to go. The ADA is about $1100 from goal. The extra collection that is taken for heating costs averages about $1000 per weekend. Envelope giving is down about $27,000. The utilities are up approximately $21,000. Ed stated that each year the lowest quarterly giving is July, August and September. St. Patrick’s property is for sale at $87,500.
Faith Formation: A written report was submitted. Marlys stated all the information was in the report.
Father Thom led us in closing prayer.
NEXT MEETING: Thursday, February 16, 2006, 7:00 p.m. at St. Boniface Hall.
Respectfully submitted: Beverly Putman