Minutes of Parish Council Meeting
February 21, 2008

 

    Joe Zolecki, the Council Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.

 

Present:                      Father Bob Betz, Father Steve Varghese, John Bordak, Tracey Borzick, Joe Dulka, Gary Hamilton, Larry Haskin, Chris Kujawa, Rich Lussier, Sean Nuyda, Steve Raflik and Joe Zolecki

 

Excused:                     Joe Amrhein, Dennis Irwin, Dean Kick, and Elaine Tessmer

 

Guests:                       Alice Berezinski, Gregory Meka and Marilyn Stewart

 

Opening Prayer:         Chris Kujawa distributed a written Prayer to Know Jesus Christ and all members read it aloud.     

 

Welcome/Review Agenda:

 

            Joe Zolecki welcomed the council members to the meeting and stated that the report of the Nominating Committee for Council Membership would be withheld until next month because the two council members on that committee were both excused from tonight’s meeting

 

Open Forum/Welcome of Guests/Visitors:

           

The guests were welcomed to the meeting by Joe Zolecki.  After identifying themselves by name, one of them asked why the organists play the organ and/or piano so loudly; Father Bob stated that each organist plays differently and/or must get used to the different church organs on which they play.  The same guest mentioned that there is a rumor that the day school children will be transferred from College Avenue to the 16th Avenue site; the appropriate response to that type of rumor is that the people should either call the parish office for correct information or attend the council meetings.

 

Approval of Minutes of the January 2008 Meeting:  

                                   

There being no additions, corrections or deletions to the proposed minutes, upon motion duly made and seconded, the minutes of the meeting of January 17, 2008 were approved by the Council as prepared.  


 

Pastors’ Reports:

 

Father Steve reported about his very enjoyable trip to India with his visits with family, friends, parish and the community with which he worked before coming to the States.  He visited with the priests who received monetary support from some of our parish collections and stated they were very grateful for that support.  Shortly after his return to this area, he attended a three-day workshop for international priests.  Referring to the parish, he reported that about sixty families attended the first recently initiated monthly Sunday Mass for day school children and their families, and this will continue for the coming months.  He stated the pastoral staff is working very hard on projects, including Judi Backes and Judy Greene doing workshops for the school children.  He also mentioned that in attending various meetings he has learned that many good things are happening here and sometimes he is still trying to understand what many others just take for granted. 

 

Father Bob talked about the weather and the cabin fever having an impact on people not only in regard to more complaints but in attendance at weekend Mass; contributions are down about $5,000, contributions for a couple weeks in February were not good because of the weather, we are about $9,000 over the snow plowing budget, and the staff has put in more overtime because of the snowfalls; there is thought of having a second collection next month to address that issue.  He is hopeful about the direction of the parish and believes there is a vision for the future; that will be reported on later by the Long Range Planning Committee.  There will be informational meetings for the parishioners on March 11th at 10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. at the 16th Avenue site to explain the upcoming campaign and where the parish is going.

           

Contemplative Break: 

 

The parish bulletin’s question of the week was:  “How does knowing Christ transform your own life?”  The discussion immediately following the question was lead by Chris Kujawa.

 

Committee Reports/Updates:  

 

            Copies of minutes of the following committees were made available to council members prior to this meeting:  Building & Grounds Committee of 1/7/08; Human Concerns Committee of 2/7/08; Life Long Formation Committee of 2/7/08; Parish Life Committee of 2/7/08; Prayer & Worship Committee of 2/708; and School Committee of 2/7/08.  Also provided was the Finance Committee’s Weekly Collection Report for the month of January showing contributions for the fiscal years 2007-08 and 2006-07 and the variances between the two.

 

            Joe Dulka of the Finance Committee reported that we lost about $7,000 for each of the last two weeks, but the loose collections did not go down so much; the drop was in the envelopes.  It was stated that electronic giving has increased since the January commitment cards were sent out in January.  Joe said that the cost of snow plowing was really rough this year although $9,000 had been budgeted for the year.  Regarding a council member’s query as to how much money we should have as cash reserve, Joe said the archdiocese suggests that at least six months of budgeted expenses, or a minimum of three months of budgeted expenses, be held in reserve, and we have no problem with that.  Other discussion disclosed how many other parishes are presently in debt, and also disclosed that the school has an enrollment of over 200 students.  A number of council members recommended that statements be included in the weekend announcements regarding the decrease in donations because of the weather-related drop in attendance with the added suggestion that parishioners make up the difference in their contributions.  It was also recommended that electronic giving be included when preparing budgets, it will now be so included.  Father Bob remarked that none of the 500 parishioners who received specific letters in January about making no donations for the past three years, about not receiving any packets of envelopes in the future, and about being put on an inactive list of parishioners unless they called the office, has responded to that letter.  He also said discontinuing sending the packets of envelopes to these 500 people will save about $13,000.

 

            Chris Kujawa on behalf of the School Committee reported that a meeting was held at the school in an attempt to get more parents and kids to participate at Mass; the meeting was not mandatory but families were expected to attend; it was well attended - about two-thirds of the families were there; positive statements from the families were received.  Father Bob, Judi Backes and Judy Greene all spoke at the meeting.  Chris said the activity room carpeting “stinks” and they are also looking for pads for the walls.  It was further stated that the open house held during Catholic School Week was attended by only four families in an entire afternoon; although the weather was nasty and may have been a factor in the few people attending, most people don’t think of registering kids at this time of year.

 

            Father Bob stated that at the school meeting there was supposed to be a committee to handle the requirement of each family making a $15 per week contribution but that was not the case, so today he prepared a letter to each family who has not fulfilled that requirement; he said 26 families contributed nothing.  One council member said some people just must be reminded.  There is a question of who is on the Policy Subcommittee.  Chris told the School Committee to be prepared to do what the Council wants.  After discussion, the council members said the School Committee must deal with the issue of the $15 requirement from each family, and Chris said he would so advise the committee.

 

Tracey Borzick on behalf of the Building & Grounds Committee said the next workday of the committee would be on Saturday, March 15th at 9 a.m. at the Christian Formation Center on 16th Avenue.  They will be cleaning out more rooms.  There was a question of whether to keep or sell the bingo equipment, and some said to get rid of it. 

 

Rich Lussier on behalf of the Long Range Planning Committee said the committee recommends to the Council: (1) that the parish remodel the worship site which will include a gathering space, parish offices and religious education facilities; and (2) that the school site, and for future consideration only, consist of classrooms, gym, an area for festivals, and the TOTs program.  The committee would like something put in the parish announcements.  A council member said that while the Council has agreed that the parish would consist of two sites, a worship site and a school site, that was not reported to the parishioners.  Parishioners must also be told that we don’t know what is going to be done as far as the school site is concerned.  The committee wants the Council to tell them what to do now because they believe they have done their work.  It was then said that this information will be given at the informational meetings above referred to, that we know where the worship site will be, but nothing definite has been decided about the school site and we don’t know about the TOTs.  We won’t go to one super site because there was not enough support, the cost would be prohibitive, and the parish will not go into debt for a super site.  At some time all of the buildings and sites will have to be assessed, but that will be put on hold until after the campaign.  It was agreed that the Long Range Planning Committee is to remain inactive or “on hold” until after the campaign.  One council member believes the Long Range Planning Committee should consist of different and various professional people; others disagreed with that suggestion and said council members representing people from the four original parishes should come to agreement on issues by consensus.  Still another member, recalling the relatively recent merger of Cudahy churches in which he was involved, opined that the Council must consistently work together.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

 

            Faith in Our Future Capital Campaign.   Joe Zolecki reminded everyone of the listening sessions which have been scheduled for March 11th at 10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. at the 16th Avenue site and suggested that every council member attend them.  The planning committee will meet on February 26th at 9 a.m.  Joe Dulka and Tom Wisniewski will lead the informational meetings.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

            Report on SPA evaluation of Divine Mercy School (if available).   Father Bob said that a meeting with the people relating to this evaluation is scheduled for February 26th at 12:30 p.m.

 

OTHER NEWS, NOTES, COMMENTS AND/OR ANNOUNCEMENTS:

           

            A sign-up sheet for presentation of the Council’s report to be given at all Masses the first weekend in March was circulated before and during the meeting.

 

            The Ushers’ Pancake Breakfast is scheduled for Sunday, February 24th at the Christian Formation Center on 16th Avenue.

 

            Rich reminded everyone of the Good Friday Fish Fry on March 21st, 2008 at the Christian Formation Center on 16th Avenue.

 

            Because of Holy Week being the third week in March, the next council meeting will be held on the fourth Thursday, March 27th.

 

Give Thanks. 

 

Closing Prayer:  Chris Kujawa distributed a prepared Catholic Prayers, Visit with Jesus, and all members read it aloud.     

 

Adjournment:  The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:05 p.m. 

 

                                                                        Respectfully submitted,

                                                                        Marcy Gramza, Recording Secretary

                                                                                            March 21, 2008