Communications
Parish Council Meeting Minutes - 6/10/2003

Meeting called to order by Tim Pilat at 7:06pm.
Group tour of new church
Pray: Parish Mission statement.
Minutes approved for May meeting.
Guests: Bob Hollman

Pastors report – Fr Art Heinze

Church:
Our liturgies have been fairly well attended considering the parking challenges. Mass schedule change will begin August 2, 2003. The new times will be as follows: Saturdays @ 4:00 PM, Sundays @ 7:30, 9:00 and 11:00 AM. Parishioners requested an earlier mass on Saturday. It is expected that by the year 2008 there will be 1/3 less priests than we currently have. St. Mary’s will not be able to count on the current level of support from outside priests. Therefore it has become necessary to drop one of the Sunday masses.

School:
Eighth grade graduation from our parish school was a great success. The 35 graduates participated with spirit. The retreat was well done and the students seemed touched by the experience. The new principle, Jeanne Siegenthaler, was introduced at the 10:30 mass on June 3rd.

She comes to us with a Masters in School Administration and currently teaches Special Education at the K-6 level. She is strong in the curriculum area. She will be moving here soon. Her contract start date is July 1, 2003. A teacher has been hired for the four-year-old kindergarten position. A search is ongoing for a new science teacher. The new principle will take part in filling this opening. Classrooms have already been moved. The fourth grade will now be downstairs. The upstairs will house the younger students. St. Mary Youth “Youth Works” Trip Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, SD: The group is ready to go. Dates for the trip are June 21-28, 2003 and 21 people from St. Mary’s will be going. The experience includes: painting houses, maintenance work, and working with children at the “kids club”. This trip provides a retreat atmosphere. It helps participants develop skills in meeting people from other faiths and immersion into a different culture. The kids work hard from morning to night with very little break. A night “club” meeting gives them an opportunity to process the experiences of the day and to bond with each other.

Building:
The kitchen and parking lot will be available for our festival in July. Five “soft” spots were discovered in the process of leveling the parking lot. More fill was needed than expected. First “lift” of parking lot will be laid down before the festival, second after. Two conduits with breakout boxes for pull lines were installed close to the edge of the parking lot were put down (200amps). Other electrical lines will run overhead and will be connected every year for the festival. One third of the tile for the church floor is installed, the rest to be completed soon.

Other:
Father Art reported also that Father Gary is in Michigan with his mother who is ill. He is hoping to be able to be back on Friday. Father Art and Mary Matestic will be at a pastoral summit next week. Check out the website where you can see great pictures from the “floor signing”.

Prayer and Reflection
We read and discussed Acts: 2 1-20. It is true that the “Spirit is contagious”.

Parish Council Assessment – Archdiocesan Preaching Assignment
Tim Pilat explained that the Archdiocese of Milwaukee reviews the effectiveness of personnel approved to give reflections during our masses every three years. They requested that our parish council fill out a short questionnaire for Mary Matestic’s review. A positive discussion ensued. Council members said that Mary’s voice helps us to reach out and connects us to the Word. We felt it is important to have a female voice and she strengthens us as a community. Mary’s ‘prophetic’ voice, called her to give one controversial reflection in regard to (at the time) the potential of war in Iraq. Tim Pilat will fill out the assessment for the council showing our strong support.

Archdiocesan Organizational Plan
Tim Pilat explained that the Archdiocese is beginning the process of reviewing all parishes and schools in order to develop a plan for the future. August through March planning materials will be sent to all parishes. On Saturday, September 27, a leadership day will be held entitled “Planning for the Future”. October through March recommendation will be discussed. In March 2004 an implementation commission will be appointed.

Revitalization Ad Hoc Committee Report
Catherine Kearn reported about all of the exciting things that are being planned for the “Dedication Year”. Catherine will be taking on the role of support and coordinating the efforts. We will have a new communication center with tri-fold brochures highlighting the many groups and activities in our parish. Tour guides and volunteers to man the communication center will be utilized to help capture the excitement of moving into our new church. Many ideas are being considered to improve communications such as: open house, Mardi Graz event, magnets, and fliers at dinners. The communication committee is helping. Catherine also reported that everyone who makes a contribution from the Stewardship event would get a Thank you with a blue insert updating them. Father Art has agreed to let parishioners sponsor him for the Century Bike Ride September 7th and 8th. Money raised will go toward Human Concerns, our crisis fund, celebration activities and the general operating fund.

Stock Box Program
Bob Hollman came to the meeting to introduce a food program run by Hunger Task Force called “Stock Box”. Qualified people (60 years or older) can receive a full box of healthy food once a month. St. Mary’s role in this would be to provide volunteers to coordinate the program and a place for distribution. The cheese in the boxes needs to be refrigerated. The idea is that the truck would drop off the boxes of food and the people would come to pick it up at the same time. There is a definite need in our area. Other locations near St. Mary’s have also been asked to participate. After discussion, it was decided that Bob Hollman would see what kind of response a sign up booth gets at our church festival. Council showed an interest in this program if staffing and space issues can be addressed.

School Retention
Bernie Van Dinter reported that a brochure to advertise our parish school should be distributed on Friday. It will be printed and available for a marketing effort. He also reported that we have 253 families in our parish school and the breakdown of cities where they reside.

Officer Discernment for 2003-2003 Terms
Mary Matestic led the process to discern a calling to serve the parish council as officers for the upcoming term. After discussion the following council members accepted the positions: Tim Pilat – Chairperson, Pam Lownik - Co-chairperson, and Tom Grinker – Secretary.

Next Meeting Date: August 12, 2003 7:00 PM

Tim Pilat thanked everyone for serving the past year.

Meeting Adjourned at 10:15 PM

Prayer: Our Father

Respectfully Submitted by: Pam Lownik