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ST. BONIFACE PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL MINUTES – NOVEMBER 20, 2008
The meeting was opened at 7:00 p.m. For Faith Formation, Father Joe read an article about Advent, including how the observance of the season had developed through the years and that Advent is a time of waiting, conversion and hope.
Roll call was taken. Members Present: Father Joe, Tim Banish, Ted Boliske, Jeanne Guenthner, Jim Kuhn, Scott Rice, Rosemary Welz. Ed and Judy Gettler, Jenni Lindgren, Carol Roosa, and Kathleen Sonderman were also present.
The minutes of the September 25 meeting were approved as published.
Old Business:
CPR Classes -- Scott Rice reported that the CPR training on October 4 went fine. Scott and his cousin conducted the class. Approximately 18 people attended. Scott said that they can do the class again if the need arises.
Thanksgiving Festival -- Tim Banish reported that everything is ready for the festival. Set-up will be Saturday, November 22, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Anyone wishing to help with the set-up will be most welcome.
New Business
Young Adult Ministry -- Jenni Lindgren reported that the kick-off for the Young Adult Ministry will be Sunday, December 7, at 7:00 p.m. Appetizers, drinks, and babysitting will be available. 130 invitations have been sent out and a follow-up postcard will also be sent. The group will begin as a social organization and may develop into something more. Meetings will probably be held once a month if that is agreeable with the members. As a ministry project for the LPMP program, Jenni hopes to perhaps have a day of reflection for the group with other parishes in our deanery included.
St. Vincent de Paul -- Kathleen Sonderman distributed a financial report for the St. Boniface St. Vincent de Paul Society for the fiscal year, October 1, 2007 to September 30, 2008. During that period the society provided food and assistance to 3,352 people. The Sunday food collections helped reduce the food costs by almost $1,200. The society also provided food and gift certificates to 31 families with children in St. Boniface School for Christmas 2007. They expect to spend approximately $7,000 to assist school families with Christmas 2008. They are also able to get vouchers from CAIN for mattresses; however, a home visit must be made to verify that there is actually a need for the mattress. Volunteers are needed for these home visits and for the food pantry.
Parish Assessment -- Ed and Judy Gettler, who are handling the RCIA Program, reported that they are also working on a project for the LPMP program. They are thinking about a parish assessment of things that need to be done. It was suggested that an insert asking for ideas be included in the bulletin. Another suggestion was to have an “instructional Mass”. In this Mass, Father would describe the various vestments and why he wears them and also describe each part of the Mass and why it is included. Another suggestion was to resume interviewing parishioners/staff members and having the interviews in the bulletin.
For the Good of the Parish:
Father Joe and Council members reported the following.
· There are currently 157 students enrolled in St. Boniface School. We may pick up a few more students from the charter school that closed recently. The Heritage Committee is working on additional activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary of our current school building. The school Christmas Musical, “Angels Aware” will be Tuesday, December 16, at 7:00 p.m. in the school auditorium. Everyone is invited to attend. · Our October count averaged 549 people attending the weekend Masses. This has been about the same for the last three years. · Father feels that the Forty Hours Devotion, including having the closing ceremony immediately following the 12:00 noon Mass went well. About 75 people attending the closing ceremony and luncheon. · November 30 is the first Sunday of Advent. This year we will be reading the gospels of St. Mark. · Monday, December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, is a holy day of obligation. · The new platform for the piano has been installed in front of St. Joseph’s altar. The piano will be moved after the Vocal Arts Ensemble performance which will be Saturday, December 13, at 8:00 p.m. · The Mass schedule for Christmas and New Year’s Day will be the same as last year. There will be a 4:00 p.m. Mass on Christmas Eve, Midnight Mass, and Masses on Christmas Day at 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon. There will be a 4:00 p.m. Mass on New Year’s Eve and Masses at 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon on New Years Day. · A financial report for the year to date was distributed. We are currently about $35,000 ahead; however, the archdiocesan assessment of $24,000 is due next month. · The back porch of the rectory will be replaced and some additional concrete work will be done at a cost of approximately $4,500. The upper parking lot will be re-blacktopped at a cost of approximately $4,100. The built-in refrigerator in the rectory needs a new compressor and motor which will cost approximately $3,590. The protective glass for the church windows will be installed in spring at a cost of approximately $100,000. There are 5 windows in the school that need to be replaced. In December Father will publish a financial report for the parish. · Blood pressure screening will be the weekend of November 22-23. · Father Joe reported that he enjoyed the Spiritual Book Club meeting on November 16. The guest author was Father Murray Bodo. The author and editor of the book, Saints at the Dinner Table, will be present at the January meeting. · There are currently 3 non-Catholics and 1 Catholic in the RCIA program. · The time of the CCD class has been changed from Monday night to Sunday morning from 11:05-12:05 · There was a good response to the Northside House Tour on Sunday, October 5. About 130 people toured St. Boniface Church and rectory. · Archbishop Dennis Schnurr will be arriving in Cincinnati on November 30 and will be living at the Athenaeum. The new Archbishop will be installed on Sunday, December 7. · A representative is needed for the Archdiocese Education Commission which meets 4 times a year. Anyone interested in serving on the commission should contact Father Joe.
The next meeting will be Thursday, January 22. The meeting was closed at 8:25 p.m. with prayer by Father Joe.
Respectfully submitted,
Rosemary Welz, Secretary |