ST. JOHN PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES FROM MARCH 1, 2004

Msgr. Art Valenzano opened the meeting with a prayer.  The January minutes were approved.
Council members in attendance:  Bob Andrews, John Bryan, Tom Greene, Terry Jones, Mike Oster, Peggy Rager, Fran Rock, Mike Rodgers, Pat Scheper, Janet Tenney, Frank Tontala, Dawn Walsh, Clolita Williams, Gail Young	
Council members absent: Joe Rankin and Paul Rock	
Staff in Attendance:  Msgr. Art Valenzano, Fr. Brian Nolan, Fr. Leo Patalinghug, Seminarian Jim Sorra, Paul Gallagher, Ruth Hartman, Scott Link, Jordan Tippett and Pat Brink

Parishioner Concerns:  Frank Tontala stated parishioner complaints concerning lack of parking during crowded masses.  Terry Jones said there are plans for additional parking in front of the school and a small number behind the parish center.  Gail Young suggested the possibility of having more masses on Sunday. 

Religious Education – Paul Gallagher and his team gave a comprehensive presentation with the following highlights.  When classes switched to Tuesday/Thursday, there was a decline in enrollment, but the program is bouncing back.  Tuition in 2000 was increased and increases will continue in the future; $55,000 in tuition was collected this year.  The number of first Communicants is rising slightly.  Jordan Tippett reported that the Confirmation program is available to 8th graders thus increasing our numbers in the last few years.  A 2005 class of 225 students is predicted.  Paul mentioned there has been an increase in Home Study students, but there are concerns about the effectiveness of the program and the commitment of the students.   RCIA II which runs from February to November has 20 participants, and combined with RCIA, we welcomed 50 new people into our faith this year.  Scott Link reported that “Youth Alive” and “The Edge” are in need of more adult volunteers.  A new program for parents of teenagers, “Parents for Life”, meets on the 2nd Sunday of the month after the 6 PM mass.  Paul reported that human sexuality education is a pressing issue that will be addressed in the near future.  Paul is also working with the Spanish ministry for possible religious education opportunities for the Spanish speaking community.  Peggy Rager inquired about the possibility of a more formal program for preschoolers on Sunday morning; Paul will investigate.  

OLD BUSINESS:

Nursery & Cafeteria signage – Terry has developed low profile signs for the entire campus.  Fr. Leo would like to change the main entrance for the cafeteria away from the dumpster.  Mike Oster suggested moving the dumpster.  Nursery signs will be placed in the back of the church.  

Lenten Appeal – Pat Scheper reported that we will be calling previous Lenten Appeal donors and encouraging them to donate again this year.  The parish goal is $115,000.  Commitment Sunday will be on March 21st; a deacon from Haiti will speak.  On March 15th at 7:30, a meeting will be held to call donors.

ST. JOHN MASTER PLAN – Terry Jones displayed the new Fellowship Hall drawings.  The hall will be handicap accessible with 2 entrances and a full size commercial kitchen. The renovation budget is $1.7 million.  The proposed sale of the pews from the old church didn’t happen. Projected completion is February 2005 which will complete the 10 year plan.   Three round stained glass windows were put in the new church.  

Long Term Service Award – Fran Rock, reporting for John Bryan, said the award is quite complicated; there will be 2 awards, one for youth and one for long term service to the Church.  Nominations will be accepted.

Brick Pavers - $86,400 worth of bricks have been sold thus far.  Bricks will continue to be sold in the future.

Religious Education – Pat Brink reported that this a critical time for the school; kindergarten and re-registration is beginning.  The students have been involved in a concentrated study of Lent and have been working on an Outreach Program that has collected $2,000.

Outreach & Evangelization – Frank reported that the Welcoming Ministry has moved to a single 10:30 AM session in the St. Luke room of the school.  Loaves and Fishes is now part of the St. Vincent DePaul Society.  This year, Adopt -a - Family served 490 people. The parish sent 60 people to the January 22nd Pro Life event in Washington.  Filiae Mariae’s winter breakfast was successful.  Maria Johnson, the Archdiocesan Spanish ministry representative met with the Pastoral Staff and expressed the need to expand the program.  

Development - Pat Scheper reported that the focus of the committee has been The Lenten Appeal.  

Liturgy – Fr. Leo reported that we had a very successful retreat in January.  Our annual retreat for 2005 will be on January 29th, with Bishop Gordon Bennett as the keynote speaker.

Management & Finance – No report

NEW BUSINESS:

Nomination for Pastoral Council Elections – Mike Rodgers will chair this committee, with help from Gail Young and John Bryan.  Terms of Gail Young, Bob Andrews, Joe Rankin and Fran Rock are ending.

Volunteer Training for Pastoral Council – Fran would like 100% participation from the council; Paul will be letting us know about the availability of dates and more training opportunities for the whole parish.

Announcements:  Msgr. Art asked for our prayers for Fr. Ray Harris who will be presenting our parish mission this year.  He also thanked Fr. Peter Jerst on his encouragement of Perpetual Adoration.  

Clolita Williams was concerned by the lack of reverence from some parishioners when receiving the Holy Eucharist; there will be attempts to educate parishioners in this matter.  

Meeting adjourned.

						Submitted by,
						Peggy Rager, Recording Secretary