ST. JOHN PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 5, 2003

Msgr. Art Valenzano opened the meeting with a prayer.  The March minutes were approved.  
Council Members in attendance:  Bob Andrews, Joe Cinquino, Terry Jones, Mike Oster, Peggy Rager, Joe Rankin, Fran Rock, Paul Rock, Mike Rodgers, Pat Scheper, Frank Tontala, Dawn Walsh, Gail Young, and Ken Yuhas.  Council Members Absent:  Tom Greene, Clolita Williams  
Staff in Attendance: Fr. Leo
Guests:  Charlie Swinderman, Janet Tenney		

Parishioner Concerns: None

OLD BUSINESS:
	Master Plan 2003 – Terry Jones reported that because of delays due to bad weather, the dedication for the new church will now be October 26, 2003.  Everything is running on schedule; the crew is working full days on Saturdays.  We are working on a contract for completion of the Fellowship Hall; the work on the “old church” will take about 1 year.  The Fellowship Hall will have folding partitions and a small kitchen suitable for use by caterers.  The 10 year plan will be complete.
	Religious Education – Bob Andrews reported that the Confirmation program had 171 students..  The First Communion program had 186 students.  Registration for the Religious Education program for the coming year has begun and is going well. Vacation Bible school will be held the week of June 16th.  Life Teen is going to Steubenville this summer.  We now have 2 RCIA programs available in the parish. 
	Development – Gail Young  announced that on May 6,  12, 22, and 28, a Phone-a-thon will be held at BB&T to raise the remaining $1.2 million for the new church.  There will be scripts available to aid volunteers.  Calls will only be made to those who have given previously; we are asking for people to give another $2500.  Ken Yuhas encouraged members of the Pastoral Council to attend one of these sessions.  
       Liturgy – Joe Rankin reported that his committee is continuing to work on increasing mass attendance.   They are also working on a schedule for the new church and will probably do some practice runs before the Dedication.  The retreat for next year is scheduled for the 3rd Saturday in January.  There was much discussion about the mass schedule in the new church.  We may have 2 lectors at masses on Sunday.  Sue Scheper will continue to investigate ways to assist the deaf community in our parish.
	Management & Finance – Paul Rock reported that the committee is responding well to the objectives in the management letter.  Ken mentioned that the weekly collection has increased recently.
	Outreach & Evangelization – Frank Tontala reported that the new issue of “The Evangelist” will be coming out in July.  The nursery has good attendance at the 10:30 mass.  A pulpit announcement will be made at the 6 PM mass to determine interest in the nursery at that mass. The Welcoming committee is progressing well, registering 15-20 families a month.  The Spanish ministry is also going well with about 100 people at the last mass.  We are in the process of working on a Spanish Welcoming ministry.  
	Sesquicentennial Committee – Fran Rock reported that the Gala (300 people in attendance) was a success and proceeds from that event will be used to finance other Sesquicentennial events.  The Alumni Reunion is also going well.  Pat Scheper reported that at the parish picnic, a quilt will be raffled and proceeds from the raffle will cover the cost of the picnic.  We are still pursuing the Pictorial Directory.  There will probably be a lottery for tickets for the Dedication of the new church.  Thank you to Kathy Deux for handling the sale of the Memorial Bricks; sales totaled $63,075. All proceeds go to the new church, and all bricks will be installed prior to the Dedication of the church.

NEW BUSINESS:
Mike Rodgers commented that the “Men in Black” basketball game was well attended and a great success; he suggested that it become an annual event. Gail Young thanked the Sesquicentennial committee for the success of the Gala and suggested hosting the event every 5 years.  Terry Jones thanked Fr. Leo for all of his work in shopping for items in the new church.  
Nominations Committee – Ken Yuhas reported that 8 people will be running for 4 open seats on the Pastoral Council; Peggy Rager, Paul Rock, Joe Cinquino and Ken Yuhas have terms that are ending this year.  Ken suggested that for the Nominating process for officers in the new council; a written nomination should be submitted, and everyone agreed.
Announcements – Michael DeAscanis will be ordained a deacon on Saturday, May 8th; his first sermon will be at the 12 noon mass on May 9th.  Msgr. Art announced that the Archdiocese wants every parish safe for children and in fulfilling that requirement, criminal background checks will be required for any volunteer in the parish in the coming year.  

Meeting adjourned.

Submitted by Peggy Rager, Recording Secretary