ST. BONIFACE PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL
MINUTES – MARCH 15, 2005
The meeting was opened at 7:00 p.m. For Faith Formation Father Joe related that, at the Catholic Men’s Conference, Mathew Kelly had spoken about happiness. The message was that most people look for happiness outside themselves. However, happiness can be found by taking care of our physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual selves.
Roll call was taken. Members Present: Father Joe, Tim Banish, Missy Craig, Kathie Fahey, Jerry Finke, Tom LeSaint, Doug Mercer, Roberta Michel, Amy Robinson, Doug Robinson, Ruthann Sammarco, Rosemary Welz, Mike West. Carol Roosa was also present.
The minutes of the January 15 meeting were approved as published.
Roberta Michel distributed some handouts from CAIN. One flyer asked for volunteers and the other publicized a Hunger Walk. Proceeds from the Hunger Walk will go to the Freestore Foodbank.
Old Business
:Sign
-- A new proposal was received for the sign. The new sign will be lit from the inside. The cost will be approximately $6,300.00. After discussion, Council voted to proceed with this project.Parish Pastoral Council Elections
-- So far there are five confirmed candidates for Parish Pastoral Council. The nominating committee is seeking additional candidates. Candidates’ bios will be posted on the website and will appear in the bulletin two weeks before the election. The election will be held the weekend of May 14-15.Lighting
-- The architect, Andrew Piaskowy, of Piaskowy & Cooper, will stage a light show on the bell tower and the façade of the church on Wednesday, April 6, at 9:00 p.m.New Business:
Pastoral Regions
-- Father Joe reported that the archdiocese projects there will be 100 priests in the archdiocese by 2010. Consequently, as Canon Law requires each parish to have a pastor, the archdiocese will be divided into 100 pastoral regions. St. Boniface is in the Cathedral Deanery and our deanery has been allocated five priests. Assuming the Franciscans, Jesuits, and Precious Blood orders will continue their present ministry in several parishes, there are still 10 parishes to be served by those five priests. That means St. Boniface will some day have to share a pastor with another parish. As the deaneries are to present a plan to the Archbishop by July 1, 2005, Council was asked to offer possible choices as to whom we would like to share a pastor. After considering the possibilities on the basis of proximity, relative size of each parish, and the relative extent of pastoral ministry that each combination would require, Council’s first choice was Sacred Heart, second choice would be St. Bernard, and third choice was Annunciation.Church Models
– We were contacted by a company that manufactures scale models of churches that can be sold by parishes as a fundraiser. The parish would be required to purchase a minimum of 30 models. After discussion it was decided not to proceed with this at the present time but to perhaps consider it for the parish’s 150th anniversary.
For the Good of the Parish:
Father Joe and Council members reported the following.
·There are currently 145 students enrolled in St. Boniface School. There are over 100 students already registered for 2005-06. Current school families who registered before March 7 did not have to pay the $25.00 registration fee. Toni Mayne, a second grader at St. Boniface, will be received into the church at the Easter Vigil.
·The Four Chaplains Mass went well and was well attended.
·The parish Penance Service will be March 16. Father encouraged everyone to participate in the Holy Week services, especially the Triduum. Deacon Jerry Yetter will be preaching on Holy Thursday.
·Father Barnabas Gillespie, a son of St. Boniface Parish, will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of his ordination on Sunday, April 17, at the 12:00 noon Mass.
·A financial report for the year to date was distributed. The parish is currently showing a profit of $27,000.00. The Finance Committee recommended subsidizing the school in the amount of $30,000.00 for the 2005-06 school year. This money will be used for utilities and insurance for the school and the parish should still come out ahead financially. After discussion Roberta Michel moved that the school be given the $30,000.00 subsidy for 2005-06. Mike West seconded the motion and Council approved it.
·The Archbishop’s Annual Fund Drive contributions are coming in slower than in previous years. $13,582.00 has been collected. Our parish goal is $16,235.30.
·There are five people who will be participating in the RCIA program next year.
·The Parish Nurse Program is moving along and a health cabinet is being formed. Anyone wishing to serve on the cabinet should contact Father Joe.
·The Greater Cincinnati St. Vincent de Paul Society is beginning a capital campaign. They will be building a place to better serve the poor downtown.
·Both the Thursday bingo and the Lenten fish fries are doing well.
·There will be a deanery meeting in April regarding planning for the future. The Deans will be meeting with the Archbishop on March 16.
·Father Joe is serving as temporary administrator for St. Joseph Parish and is attending their staff meetings.
·The owners of the Marathon station at the corner of Chase and Kirby hope to enlarge their business. The plan is to buy the two houses on Chase Avenue abutting the green space behind our new parking lot. Since they are restricted as to how closely to our property line they can build, they will first try to get a variance from the City that would allow them to build close to our property line. If they cannot get a variance, they will look into getting an easement along that area. Either of these possibilities would allow us to retain ownership of the area and still allow them to expand their business. There was no objection to this plan.
The next meeting will be May 31. The meeting was closed with prayer at 8:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Rosemary L. Welz, Secretary