Saint Gabriel Catholic Church

Pastoral Council

Meeting Minutes

March 22, 2018

Attendance: Father Felix, Alex Kozlowski, John Christensen, Vince Kokal, Lisa Gorton, Todd Kuhn, Deacon Roy, Jessica Wise

Absent: Myna Dillon,Marianne Piera

Opening Prayer: St Gabriel Prayer

Parishioners in attendance:None

Old business: Reviewed and approved minutes of November 30, 2017 with no further comments or additions.

  • New Pastoral Members:
  • Talking to two youth and one adult; no decisions as of the March meeting.
  • Welcoming Table – Lisa spoke to the Finance Council and they not interested in manning the table. Maybe more appropriate to just have questions to council/ushers. Do not establish staffing the table or starting a new ministry.
  • Usually some of the staff at all Masses.
  • Drawback is very few parishioners new/oldhave been coming to the table when we had it with Council members in 2017
  • Council members wearing badges will help
  • Does the Finance Council have badges? This may help to be more recognized.
  • The bulletin has better information about where to go for help.
  • Should we have badges return to all parishioners?
  • Could the Scrip team also address any members?
  • Could the ushers handing out the Bulletins also serve as a means of information?
  • Front Entrance enhancements – a new landscaping plan at the front sign with small retaining wall and shrubs was developed by Adele Judson and presented to the council for the Winterpock road enhancement. The estimated cost of the wall was such that the construction will be put on hold for now. The following comments were added to the discussion:
  • Hold till after the preliminary building study done on where we are going and how best to use the current site for the next stage of growth?
  • Vince proposed a budget of $500 for, curbing trim, plants/flowers only for the 2018 season and will confirm with Adele. All agreed to go to this level.
  • Church Expansion
  • Study being developed to find out if the site will work for expansion.
  • Deacon Paul will be oversite from the Diocese.
  • Cost to perform study is below budget, an architect and civil engineer are being contracted to perform and have a report by June 2018.
  • The architect will look at existing structures, new and big picture.
  • Church Commons Usage Policy
  • We are going to keep with the current policy of not being used parishioners for events, but subject to review.
  • Church Security Update
  • Prayer leaders to be talking to all leaders for exiting strategy on emergency situations.
  • Safety officer from Chesterfield County to meet with Ministers to discuss
  • Still looking at video cameras in 2018.

Father Felix’s Comments:

  1. Liturgy council is filled with members from.
  2. Ushers
  3. Lectors
  4. Prayer Leaders
  5. Deacon and Fr Felix meet weekly
  6. Planning liturgy
  7. Music Committee Monica, Vicki will also lead the ministry during the search for new minister.
  8. Music Minister Transition Plan
  9. Suzanne Maerz resigned – Staff members surprised but moving on with Monica and Vicki will handle.
  10. Monica is working with the youth Mass and will cover for the Youth during transition.
  11. Confirmation Mass with Bishop
  12. April 22nd at 3:00 PM. would like the parish and finance councils to be there and stay after Mass to meet with the Bishop.
  13. Presiders Chair – would like a larger liturgical chair for special occasions such as when the bishop visits for confirmation –The cost is approximately $2,000 and the parish is currently looking for a donor.

Lisa Gorton’s Comments:

(The following notes were from the Parish Staff’s 2018 VisioningMeeting)

Communication:

  1. Mission of the Parish and monthly Pastor’s Corner added to the bulletin

Laity Support:

  1. Sharing Gifts – building culture
  2. Spiritual Gifts workshop in the adult formation offering
  3. Homily that may speak to sharing our gifts.
  4. Stewardship Drive held for all ministries. (Done in February)

Facilities

  1. (Included in Pastor’s Comments)

Liturgy

  1. To keep mass from delayed start if people should speak they need to do so 5 minutes before.
  2. Need a presidential chair – look for potential donor
  3. Will change the colors of the banners and altar cloths on weekdays as well as weekend ideally.
  4. On Holy Thursday no longer have community washing each other’s feet. 12 representatives from the community will have their feet washed by pastor only.
  5. Offer mass for all those who have died in parish – All Souls Day or a mass only for these intentions.
  6. Add intentions to the weekly masses for those who have died if a funeral has not yet been held.
  7. Looking at cost effectiveness/logistics involved with having music books from a publisher at masses.
  8. Commissioning Liturgical Ministers at Pentecost – this is for all new and renewing ministers.
  9. Each liturgical ministry to meet 2 times a year – September/October and February/March. Opportunity to review any improvements and hear from ministers on concerns.
  10. Specific changes within the ministries:
  11. Prayer Leaders will be on the altar during the start of communion to coach to ensure all are set to distribute communion. Also, need one more prayer leader at the 5:30 p.m. mass.
  12. Communion Ministers will go to a stand behind the chairs on altar platform for hand sanitizer.
  13. Lectors will process both in and out of mass when we have a guest priest or bishop presiding.
  14. Ushers – have a head usher at each of the masses who is the go-to person for the prayer leader.
  15. Servers - change Ringing of the bell to only three times for the trinity… not continuously. Recruit adults as well – bring forward this extension of the server ministry in the ministry drive. (done) Will need to get some adult size server gowns. (Done)
  16. Kitchen – expand this responsibility to other parish groups. Hold at Sunday masses only.

Rites and Sacraments

  1. Separate masses for Anointing of the Sick in February and in August or September
  2. Need more baptism teams; okay for families to have a photographer as long as unobtrusive and no flash.
  3. First Reconciliation and First Eucharist Sacramental Prep - look to change from 4 to 6 weekly sessions in spring to use a new Blessed curriculum. And then an assessment session.

Prayer Opportunities Outside of Mass

  1. Add a Lenten retreat to offerings. (done)
  2. Add a guided Stations of the Cross on Good Friday at noon (actually at 3 pm.) Next year, will move to 6 p.m. so children can also attend.
  3. First Saturday Exposition/Adoration/Benediction will shorten to 9 a.m. – Noon with Benediction at 11:45 am. Begins April 7.
  4. Arts and Environment - Need more altar linens created – look at costs and we can see if we have a donor for this. Also ensure having flowers at Mary Statue on feast day

Formation

CHILDREN

  1. VBS – Vacation Bible School – working with 5 churches we partner with and will attend a training session and build décor. June 25-29. Theme is Shipwrecked.
  2. Adaptive program for Children with Special Needs

YOUTH

  1. Middle and High School –Next year study of the Mass using Altaration DVDs.
  2. Incoming students next year will receive a bible from St. Mary’s Press
  3. Youth Mass – rotate masses next year with a rehearsal each month. Will still hold rehearsals over the summer too but this will allow for us to add music throughout the year.

ADULT

  1. Liturgical Ministry Training - Offered every other month now
  2. Marriage Enrichment (Dependent on room in the calendar)
  3. 9 dates for our ministry in 2018 - 2019. Sept, oct, nov, dec, jan, feb, march, april and may.
  4. 5 Saturdays for an enrichment course using 10 great dates.
  5. A December family night – best to do Christmas caroling and link to previous practice of visiting families who lost loved ones over the past year. Bring a poinsettia to the family too.
  6. 3 more date/social nights for social events contingent on room in the calendar…
  7. Divorce and beyond – offered every other year so will be off in 2018-19.
  8. Mission – will look at potential speaker for 2018-19. Might be good to give promo video of speaker at mass, and/or on website. We did promote in Catholic VA, with neighboring parishes, on posters, on Facebook, website and bulletin.

Leadership

  1. Pastoral Council - Still need two members – Youth Ministry: look at adding two (will get 4 prospects and Fr. Felix will Choose 2) and Jim Haug to represent Hispanic Community.
  2. Will post photos of each council periodically in the commons to build community awareness of who serves on their councils. Also post in the bulletin and on website.
  3. Finance Council - would like to add lawyer on council.
  4. Liturgical Council - began this year and has music subcommittee. Focus on effectiveness of the liturgies and how to improve. Includes liturgical ministry heads, staff and clergy.

Christian Care

  1. Funeral and Bereavement Outreach – have a parishioner or group of parishioners to serve as a liaison for grieving parishioners. They will attend the initial meeting to coordinate the funeral mass, serve as prayer leader at the mass and then do outreach a month after.
  2. Ministry to the Sick and Homebound – we have met with ministers who serve the homebound and now have a list of those who are sick to keep the clergy aware and so they can visit pastorally if requested.

Misc.

  1. Look for a Holy Land Pilgrimage in 2019– could be done before Lent starts.
  • Parish Statue –
  • Lisa passed out a rendering of the St Gabriel’s statue. We have a little over half of the $20,000 needed for the statue. Hope is to have it by completed by July.
  • Directory Status
  • Approximately 200 families taken pictures. Can submit a photo of yourself and $10 to get a directory.
  • Hope to have it printed by Pentecost

Upcoming Dates:

Friday March 23- Exposition, Adoration, Benediction, Stations of the Cross, Lenten Meal and Talk, 9:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Sat. and Sun., March 24/25 – Palm Sunday Masses – note that 11 moves to 11:15 a.m.

Thursday, March 29 – Holy Thursday Mass at 7 p.m. with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament to follow until midnight

Friday, March 30 – Self-guided Stations of the Cross from Noon – 3 p.m. with Guided Stations at 3 p.m. Good Friday Liturgy begins at 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 31 – Basket Blessing and Egg Hunt at Noon. Vigil begins at 8 p.m.

Sunday, April 1 – Easter Sunday masses with 11 a.m. mass moved to 11:15 a.m.

Monday, April 2 – Parish offices closed

Saturday, April 7 – Exposition, Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament from 9 a.m. – Noon

Sat/Sun April 7 and 8 – Food Weekend

Thurs. April 12 – Catholic Uncorked on the Eucharist at 7 p.m.

Sat. April 14 – Youth Mass at 5:30 p.m.

Sun. April 22 – Confirmation Mass with Bishop Knestout’s first visit to parish – 3 p.m.

Friday and Saturday, April 27 and 28 – Yard Sale

Saturday, May 5 - Exposition, Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament from 9 a.m. – Noon

Thursday, May 10 – Catholic Uncorked with Fr. Felix on topic Why Innocents suffer, 7 p.m.

Saturday, May 12 – First Eucharist Mass, 11 a.m., Youth Mass at 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 15, - Marian Taize Prayer Service, 7 – 8 p.m.

Friday, May 18 – Grades 4 and 5 Late Night Out, 7 p.m. – 11 p.m.

Saturday, May 19 – First Eucharist Mass, 111 a.m.

Sunday, May 20 – Commissioning of all liturgical ministers for the year at 5:30 p.m. (Saturday) and 9 and 11 a.m. masses. Multicultural feast follows 11 a.m. mass

Thurs., May 24 – Parish Council Meeting

New Business

  • Jessica asked about having snacks after the 5:30 Youth Mass as a means to keep them after Mass. No decision or path forward made at this time.
  • Financial Peace University – Dave Ramsey program. John Christiansen and wife have offered to facilitate this 9 week program. No decision or path forward made at this time.

Closing Prayer: Fr. Felix

Respectfully submitted;

Vince Kokal

St Gabriel’s Catholic ChurchPastoral Council Meeting Minutes March 22, 2018