ST. MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH, Lanesville, IN PASTORAL COUNCIL MINUTES –June 15, 2016
Council Members Present: Eileen Timberlake, Lisa Thomas,Lynn Harbeson, Meg Hiser,Barbara Murray
New Members Present:Jim Evrard, Dawn Hublar
Regrets: ,Michael Clark, Charles Ringle, Melissa Schellenberger, David Henke, Chuck Hess
Others Present: Fr. Bob St. Martin,Lisa Reed, Steve Smith, Dan Schmelz, Larry Schremser, Jane Stewart,
Martha Felton,Christine Myrick
Opening Prayer
Lynn Harbesoncalled the meeting to order at 7:00. Father Bob said the opening prayer.
Lynn had everyone introduce themselves around the room because two new members of next year's council were present.
Approval of Minutes
Members reviewed the minutes from the May meeting. Megmade a motion to approve the minutes. Lisa seconded the motion. The minutes were approved.
Committee Reports
Buildings and Grounds
Dan Schmelz was present to deliver the report from the Building and Grounds meeting.
- They have not finished the gutters.
- They shortened the hand rails on Fr. Bob's path.
- Steps to parking lot are in the planning stage.
- Tim Hunter will help with erosion and start attending meetings.
- Still working on a maintenance list.
- Still looking into choir light switch.
- A work day took place to trim shrubs.
- They hope to have Schickel restoration on grotto.
- A/C unit okay.
- They looked into reversing the fans at top of the church and it can't be done. They recommend leaving the fans off during the summer since they are pushing hot air down.
- The parking lot has holes in it. The holes need patching, then the parking lot needs to be resealed if given approval.
We have several out buildings. We need to get rid of barns by picnic or repaint them. They are going to put it in the bulletin. There was discussion about the barns and whether items were being stored there. Dan said he didn't think the barn had a roof.
- They will also be doing something with the shed by the pantry.
Faith Formation
Lisa Reed was present to deliver the report from the Faith Formation Committee. She passed out the May 4th meeting minutes and shared notes from the Junemeeting.
- The new members are Ben Cassabella, David Curl, Margie Stilger and Donna Hublar
- Newly elected officers are Pam Conrad continuing as Chairperson, Vicki Sizemore is Vice-Chair, Ben Cassabella is Secretary, and Louise Richmer is Pastoral Council Representative.
- Youth activities planned for summer include Deanery Bell Cruise June 13-15 with children/adults attending, Breakfast club for middle school on Friday mornings and Deanery Holiday World trip on July 6.
- Several adult children called the office to thank us for providing a social group for their widowed parent through the Widows & Widowers program. There will not be a July meeting but it will start again in August.
- They discussed parish staffing changes and new office hours effective after July 1 as outlined in Fr. Bob's letter dated June 3, 2016 in the bulletin.
- There's no VBS due to staff changes.
Finance Committee
Steve Smith was present to deliver the report from the Finance Committee.The May revenue and balance sheet was attached to the agenda.
- The budget was sent to the Archdiocese to approve. It met the deadline.
- The bequest of $117,790 was deposited in the account. The balance of funds increased due to the bequest.
- Since there were 5 weeks in May, the collections were up by $1,000.
- We're at 94% of budget, last year was 91%.
Liturgy Committee
There was no representative from the Liturgy committee.
St. Anne’s
Jane Stewart was present to deliver the report from St. Anne’s.She gave a summary from October of 2015.
- Last October they held a KofC appreciation dinner.
- They provided dinner in November and February for each cohort meeting, feeding about 115 each time.
- They purchased 3 more crucifixes for Religious Ed downstairs classrooms.
- 12 reserve signs were purchased. They are cloth and go over the back of the pew. Dawn said they are embroidered with the word Reversed and will be nicer.
- They've been making a $10 a week donation for cleaning supplies.
- They are in the process of purchasing more Vestments for Deacon Rick.
- 25 baskets for shut-ins were made for October and April. Pam Speck makes new member baskets.
- Leroy made the new chair for Deacon Rick.
- They applied to get a gaming license for quilt raffle for Heritage.
- $500 Pennies from Heaven for Hosparus.
- They are $9,000 in their till.
Youth Committee
There was no representative from the Youth Committee.
Archive Committee
Martha Felton andChristine Myrick were present to give the report from the Archive Committee.
- They thanked us for approving purchase of markers. They are not ordered yet. There will need to be 543.
- They asked us if we wanted to renumber rows N43-A1. We voted to keep the row numbering the same, to stay with the As after N43.
- They think they have all graves on the website now.
- They need information from 1993 to present for the History Book.
- They need a spot where historical items would be on display, like old pictures of former priests and St. Anne books from the 1800s. They would like a cabinet made with glass doors. Currently they mark items and put them in a closet. Lynn wondered whether this would fall under Building & Grounds. Steve said this could be possibly be part of the long range plan. Their goal is to have the cabinet ready by 2018, which will be the 175th anniversary of the parish. Lynn said that perhaps some members of the committee could see their artifacts and come up with options.
Old Business
Windows in church.
- David said he would look into it. No word yet.
Endowment fund review
- It was established December 1, 2014.
- $4,966 available right now.
- Need to take a draw by December 1 of this year. If we don't, we will lose the matching from HCCF.
- The fund is set up for the maintenance of the grounds.
- There's a form to withdraw the money. Rena has a copy. It requires 2 signatures. Then it goes to the approval process.
- We might want to put an announcement about the endowment fund in the bulletin so that people can contribute to it.
- Steve will talk to Rena about using the $4,966 for cemetery markers.
New Business
Archdiocesan Pastoral Council Update - Larry Schremser
- The Archdiocesan Council is a new advisory function in the Diocese.
- The Archbishop asked Larry to come to parish councils and get guidance as to what it is the Archdiocese should be concentrating on.
- There was discussion of several areas: youth, life-style, diversity, Muslims, Catholic education, divorce and remarriage, adoption, Catholic charities.
- The next meeting for Larry is in September. Lynn suggested that Larry come back in July. Larry said we can contact him with ideas.
- Larry has met 3 times with parish councils.
- July next year is the last of the reorganizations.
We will elect next year's officers first thing at the July meeting. There were not enough members present to vote (the outgoing members could not vote). Lynn was not sure if he could attend the next meeting so he gave Meg all of the folders and books that he has. He will try to attend. Rena will update the new officers.
Special thanks were given to our outgoing members, Eileen, Lisa and Lynn, for being on the council for three years.
Closing prayer was said by Fr. Bob.
The meeting was adjourned by Lynn.
Next Meeting: Wednesay, July 20th @ 7:00 pm
1