Sts. Joseph & Paul Catholic Church

Parish Council Minutes
October 2, 2006

 Meeting began at 6:32 p.m. in the Fr. Tucker Center.   

Members present: Tony Kraus, John Little, Mike Hagan, Pete Johnson, Carol Alvey, Debbie Luedke, Connie Caceres, Juan Fernandez. Staff members present: Fr. Carl, Rick Rhodes, Martha Little.
Members absent: Ron Greene, John Wells, David Danhauer, Tom Hayden, Hal Mischel.  

1.  Opening prayer led by Pete Johnson. 

2.  Minutes from August 7 meeting were approved. 

3.  Fr. Carl reviewed pages 10-11 of the Diocesan Guidelines for Parish Pastoral Councils. We will continue to review portions of this document at future meetings. 

4.  Committee Reports: 

A.  Rick Rhodes– Stewardship  

• A discussion was held concerning a comment from the Stewardship Committee that any purchase over $3,000 be approved by either the pastor, or the Stewardship Committee or Pastoral Council. Fr. Carl mentioned that any purchase over $5,000 must be approved by the bishop. The Council felt this was an idea that held merit. The Stewardship Committee will bring a formal recommendation to the November Council meeting.
• An audit was recently held and one recommendation made was that loose cash be counted right after each Mass. This was only a recommendation from the auditors. It was decided that safeguards were already in place and this would be an unnecessary step at this time.
• A letter will go out in mid-October to all parishioners. For those who have not previously made a capital campaign commitment, they will be asked to donate $3 per week. For those who have made a commitment, they will be asked to add $3 per week to what they have already pledged. If everyone participates, this will make up the difference between pledges and actual costs.

B. Mike Hagan– Building and Grounds 

• We have received diocesan approval for building the parish hall.
• A new Building and Grounds Committee has been formed. Phillip McCarthy is chairing this committee.
• There is a need for one or two volunteers to be on-site at the parish hall construction. A search continues.
• There will be an Open House for the church, parish offices and rectory on October 15. John Little will write a press release inviting local media.

 C.  Pete Johnson – Social Concerns 

• The Homeless Shelter will be open again this year from Dec. until March. Volunteers are needed.
• The Good Samaritan Home work continues. Volunteers are still needed. The dedication date will be discussed at the next Social Concerns meeting.
• There will be a Mandeville collection in Oct.
• There is a proposal for a Community Garden to raise food for area members. The Council thought this was a good idea and encouraged the Social Concerns Committee to pursue it further.

D. Martha Little – Education 

• Faith Formation is going very well this year with a large turnout of young people and an excellent teaching team.

E.  Carol Alvey – Owensboro Deanery Council 

• Carol brought up the Deanery Council’s goals and objectives for 2007-2011. A sheet was handed out to all members asking that they review the goals/objectives and give comments or recommendations. Each parish council person is asked to fill out the attached sheet and bring it to the November Council meeting. Those who were not present at tonight’s meeting will receive a packet from Carol.
• As of 6/30/06, $104,523 has been raised for Mandeville.

F.  Rick Rhodes (substituting for David Danhauer) – Family Life 

• There is a big need for new members to the Family Life Committee.
• The singles are a loose-knit group, which has been hard to organize. The new parish hall should help in this effort.
• There is a continued need to reach out to seniors. Scripture study and potlucks are currently being held. Hopefully social trips can be arranged in the future. There is a need for someone to work in this area.

5.  Old Business 

Hispanic Ministry Update 

 ü      Fr. Carl noted that the bulletin is now bilingual. There is also a bilingual version of the children’s bulletin.
ü      Pastoral Planning Sessions were held amongst the Hispanic Community and an excellent report was issued. In upcoming months, the parish and the diocesan will work towards taking these recommendations and putting them into action.
ü      We now have two representatives from the Hispanic community on the Parish Council - Connie Caceres and Juan Fernandez.
ü      There is a plan to work with the Owensboro Catholic schools to provide educational opportunities for the Latino community.
ü      Fr. Carl is making announcements (through an interpreter) at the noon Hispanic Mass.
ü      It was noted that there was a large turnout from the Hispanic community at our parish picnic.
ü      There is a need for a representative from the Hispanic community on the Sacred Liturgy Committee. 

Joan Frey - the date for Joan Frey to speak about billboard ministry (pro-life) is scheduled for January. A specific date will be announced. 

 Block Party – Debbie Luedke said things are going well for this Saturday’s Block Party. Flyers were distributed throughout the neighborhoods this past Sunday. 

6.  New Business 

Koinonia – tentatively scheduled for March 2-4 if the Parish Hall is completed. Fr. Carl said he wants it held prior to Lent. 

 Bus Ministry – There was a proposal to change the Mass that the bus ministry is provided from the 7:30 a.m. Mass to the 9 a.m. Mass. The Council agreed. This change will take place the first weekend in November. Also, the carport will move to a new location on parish grounds in the near future.

 Handicapped spaces – Fr. Carl mentioned that we probably need more handicapped spaces. The Building and Grounds Committee is asked to look into this matter.

New parishioner welcome social – was held on Sept. 30. Approximately 12 new members attended a very nice social. 

Parish Nursing Ministry – Nancy Oelze is hoping to begin a new nursing ministry. The council supports this idea. Practical matters need to be researched regarding liabilities and other issues. The Family Life Committee is asked to continue working on this idea. 

Liturgical Ministry handbooks. Fr. Carl said the bishop has asked that all parishes begin following the General Instruction on the Roman Missal (GERM). This would bring some changes to the way we practice our ministries; i.e.,  

  Ø      The bread and cup ministers would all be lined up in front of the altar steps.
Ø      Eucharistic Ministers would no longer be in the procession.
Ø      After the Sign of Peace, the ministers would go nearer to the altar (but not go on the altar until the presider has received Communion).
Ø      Once the ministry is completed, the minister would return to his/her seats (except for the captain).
Ø      The Book of Gospels would precede the presider in the procession.
Ø      The person reading the Prayers of the Faithful would move to the ambo right after the Creed. 

The Council recommended that these changes be made. Training sessions for all ministers will be held in November and changes will take place the first week of Advent. 

Director of Music and Liturgy – it was announced that Heather Hayden has resigned from this position. Mark Baehl will return to this position beginning on Oct. 11.  

7.  Tom Hayden will lead the discussion from the Diocesan Parish Council handbook at the November meeting. 

8.  Ron Greene will lead the opening prayer. 

9.  Fr. Carl closed with prayer. Meeting adjourned at 8:32 p.m. 

10. The next Council meeting will be held on Monday, November 6 at the Parish Office.

Respectfully submitted,

John Little – Council Secretary

sdrose@bellsouth.net
12-16-2006