St. Antoninus Parish Council Minutes from 11/28/05 Meeting

7:30 PM to 9:00 PM

School Conference Room

Facilitator:

Mike Rolfes

Note taker:

Julie Heil

Members:

Fr. Christopher Armstrong, Mike Rolfes, Julie Heil, Vince Meyer, Vince Olding, Dave Weber, Tom Reichtin, Dan Fries, Mark Jackson

Guests:

Mollie DiGiacomo, Education Commission

Opening Prayer

Fr. Armstrong

Faith Formation

Vince Olding

The theme of this months Faith Alive / Formation sections of the Catholic Telegraph focused the Christmas season and the ability to make memories that are rich and rewarding rather than sour.  The articles emphasized the importance of creating memories, using common experience and reliving positive experiences, particularly with the youth.  “I’ll be here” – coming home at Advent and Christmas reminds us to stay grounded in what is really important.

Next Faith Formation discussion.

Dan Fries

Review of October Minutes

Mike Rolfes

The October Minutes were accepted as written.   Motion to accept the minutes: Vince Meyer  / Seconded:  Dave Weber

Resignation of Joan Squeri

Mike Rolfes

Joan Squeri resigned from her position on Parish Council due to a family matter.  Joan provided a letter detailing her decision to the Council Members and Fr. Armstrong.  All expressed appreciation of Joan and her insight over her tenure. 

Mike Rolfes will contact the person with the next highest number of election votes to fill Joan’s vacancy until June 2006.

Julie will send a thank you card to Joan from the Council.

Sunset Clause

Fr. Armstrong

Constitution / Bylaws

Fr. Armstrong

Voting on the changes made to the Constitution and Bylaws was tabled until the revisions could be posted on the parish website.

David Weber presented an outline which linearized the duties of the Pastor, the Business Manager, the Finance Commission and Parish Council as well as providing insight to what the people expect from priests.  It was determined that this discussion will be appropriate as we continue to discuss the future with fewer priests in our deanery.

Mike Rolfes will ask Peggy James to attend the January meeting to discuss her role in our parish. 

It was suggested that the Business Manager and other positions should be spotlighted regularly in the bulletin to provide parishioners with a better understanding of the functions of the parish staff.

Additionally, volunteers, such as those in the Building and Grounds Commission, provide great expertise in other areas of concern for our parish and its property.

Fr. Armstrong believes that the parish is running smoothly and would do so even in his absence.  Staff and volunteers are to be commended for their diligence.

Fr. Armstrong will draft the proposed plan.

Organizational Reports

Building and Grounds Commission (Vince Olding):  Rectory renovation- volunteers have painted and cleanup the garage-COMPLETE. Additional insulation for crawl space walls- in progress. Undercroft lighting-  1 estimate from TJ Williams.  Windows for rectory- planned for end of December. Church large windows- getting quotes. Awnings at school- 1 estimate received; getting more Kevin A. is refurbishing the outside nativity set-plans to have completed by Advent season.

Worship Commission:   No report.

Finance Committee (Vince Meyer):  A summary of current income and expenses was presented line by line for the first quarter.  The report was generated with new software in cash basis accounting format.  Some figures did not convert and will require revision. 

NEXT MEETING:  Vince Olding / Vince Meyer and Peggy James will report on how the Building & Grounds Commission, Finance Committee and Business office work together.

Education Commission / PTO (Julie Heil):   Education Commission met on November 21^st.  Mr. Leisring’s review is in progress.  Tara Nova results are trickling in.  Too early to report.  St. A historical data of salaries and tuition was presented.  Parish satisfaction survey summary was also presented.  This resulted in a parent-teacher feedback form and a communication protocol policy.  Publicity reported 3 articles in the Delhi Press.  A concern was raised that teachers should return test copies to students for studying purposes.

Scouting (Tom Rechtin):  Boy Scouts: Sunday Nov 13, 05 at Glenmore bowl a morning of bowling. Troop Christmas party will be Tuesday Dec. 6 in the Church undercroft.    Campouts, Miami White Water Dec. 2, 3, 4 weekend and Governor Bebb (cabin) January 6, 7, 8 weekend. Fish Fry Remind all of the fish fry.

Girl Scouts: The Girl Scouts just did a clothing drive and a collection of donations to our sister parish for  Thanksgiving grocery gift certificates. There's a sock hop and a possible Santa breakfast or bingo scheduled this winter by the seventh grade troops. February - Thinking Day is an event put on by the fifth grade troops for all of our Brownie troops.

Cub Scouts: 4th Annual parents/leaders vs. the cub scout flag Football Turkey bowl was a huge success.  Three games went on at once, had a nice Flag Ceremony and Food and 65 degrees of warmth. Thanks to Nick Guetle for contributing shirts for all the players. The Scout Committee and Leaders meeting will be held This Wednesday Nov. 30th 7-9 in the scout room. Christmas Cub Scout Pack Meeting will be Friday December 9th in the undercroft. Food drive - We will be giving can goods to  St. Peter Claver School – the annual Christmas Project.

Athletic Commission (Mike Rolfes):  10/20/05 Athletic Club Mtg.

-          Coordinators made reports and Fall sports coming to an end.  FB – all three teams made playoffs.  Soccer – three teams made the SAY tournament, one team won Delhi Tournament.  Boys BB – stack tryouts in progress.  Coordinator for next year identified. Girls BB – girls tryouts in December.  Volleyball – will need girls coordinator next year.  Baseball – discussed success of stack tryouts in October.

-          Gym Coordinator – the gym will be closed on 12/15 and 12/16/05.  School needs gym for Science Fair 1/30 and 1/31/06.  Dates set aside for Thanksgiving BB tournament.

-          Gym Improvements – lights costing approximately $5500 to install.  Job hoping to be complete by 11/25/05 BB tournament.  Also researching prices to charge for advertising signs in gym.

-          Thanksgiving Basketball tournament update and officer-in-charge sign-ups.

11/17/05 Mtg.  Cancelled since not enough officers present/out of town

Baseball uniforms are not be collected.

Adult Social Group (Dan Fries): There is a trip scheduled for Dec. 3^rd to visit the Kentucky Horse Park.

Ways & Means (Mark Jackson):   Current projects include: TKO sales / Sale of Entertainment books.  Night at the Races.  This annual event will be help February 18^th 2006.  This will be two Saturdays before lent this year.  This will be advertised in the next few weeks.  The committee is always looking for volunteers.  For this year, the job of handling all the food for the event is in need of a chairperson.

Pro-Life / Pro-Family (Dave Weber): 

Old Business or Results:  Vote NO on Issue 1 in November. “Third Frontier”. The issue passed. This issue was promoted as a “Tech Jobs Bill”, however, it has added funding for Embryo Stem Cell research.

New Business: (Next St. A. Pro Life meeting is 12/12/05) St. A Pro-Life Man or Woman of the Year Award: We are considering this year’s award to be presented to a disabled man or woman at St. A, who reflects by his/her life a strong Catholic witness for the sanctity of life. This will be awarded in January 2006.

Continuing Business or Activities: Fall Legislation Agenda: The Senate will be debating the confirmation of Mr. Samuel Alito for the Supreme Court.  “Embrace the Children” – We encourage all to attend Mass at Holy Name Church and participate in a prayerful rosary procession in front on the Planned Parenthood Abortion Clinic on Auburn Avenue. This is held on the 2^nd and 4^th Saturdays at 8:00am. Future Business or Activities: Father Provone: We are looking into having Father Frank Provone, Founder of Priests for Life, to preach at St. A during the weekend masses in the Fall of 2006.