ST. JOHN PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 3, 2004

Msgr. Art Valenzano opened the meeting with a prayer.  The March minutes were approved.
Council members in attendance: John Bryan, Tom Greene, Terry Jones, Mike Oster, Peggy Rager, Joe Rankin, Fran Rock, Paul Rock, Mike Rodgers, Pat Scheper, Janet Tenney, Frank Tontala, and Dawn Walsh

Council members absent:  Bob Andrews, Clolita Williams, and Gail Young		

Staff in Attendance:  Msgr. Art Valenzano, Fr. Brian Nolan	

Guests:  Charlie Swinderman, Ned Judge

Parishioner concerns:  Frank Tontala asked about the status of replacing the church sign at Sullivan Rd.  Terry Jones reported that we just negotiated a better contract for a new 3 year lease for the billboards on Route 140.  The company will pay $4400 towards the new $8100 sign. With spotlights for night viewing, it will have green and gold leaf lettering and a carved emblem; the mass times will be listed as well.    

OLD BUSINESS:

Status of Parking – Terry Jones reported that no additional parking will be available until they begin the site work on renovation of the old church.
Lenten Appeal – Pat Scheper reported that we raised $62,566 which was 51% of our goal.  We collected $11,220 more than last year. 13% of our families participated in the Lenten Appeal.  Calling last year’s contributors was not as effective as hoped.  The school donated $1500 to the Lenten Appeal and Life Teen donated $1000 from the sale of Passion tickets.

ST. JOHN MASTER PLAN – Terry Jones reported that they are waiting for a letter from the Archdiocese so that they can go to contract documents on the Fellowship Hall project.
Parish Mission – Thank you to Fr. Ray Harris from Mount Saint Mary’s for a wonderful Parish Mission.

Nominations for Pastoral Council elections – Mike Rodgers reported that the following people will be on the ballot:  Ralph Arnold, Jeannie Carbo, Denise Diegel, Betty Belk, Kevin Devlin, Ned Judge, Joe Rankin, Steve Torbeck, Becky Martin, and Teresa Richardson.  The slate of nominees was accepted and the election will take place at the masses over the next 2 weeks.  The Wisdom Club will help count the ballots.  

Reverence of Parishioners receiving Communion - Liturgy committee is working on education in this area.

Long Term Service Award – John Bryan distributed a handout outlining the 2 awards, Service to Youth Award and Service to St. John Parish Award.  Each award requires 3 letters of nomination.  Nominations will eventually go the council for approval, but the Pastor will make the final decision. There should be no more than 2 recipients of this award each year, except for the first year when no more than 5 should be selected.  The awards will most likely be given at the annual St. John Volunteers Mass.

Outreach & Evangelization – Frank Tontala reported that the single Welcoming Session per weekend as well as the new location in the St. Teresa room is working well.  We are getting the same number of new families.  There are new Welcoming and Nursery signs on the outside of the entrance to the school building.  The Evangelist goes to the printer on June 15th and will be mailed this summer.  The St. Vincent de Paul Society had a retreat recently with 26 members in attendance; they plan to make it an annual event. Their next project is sending school supplies to Afghanistan.  Peggy Rager suggested hiring paid and trained babysitters to work in the nursery on Sunday mornings as well as purchasing pagers so that parents can be contacted in case of an emergency.  Fr. Brian wondered if the nursery would be more popular if it were in the church.  Msgr. Art is checking into the possibility of using one of the rooms in the back.  

Religious Education – Fran Rock suggested a more formal religious education program for preschoolers.

Development- Pat Scheper said that the committee has been concentrating on the Lenten Appeal.
Liturgy – Joe Rankin reported that there will be an “Evening of Recollection” for Liturgical ministers on 9/20/04.  Bishop Bennett will be our guest speaker at our annual retreat on January 29, 2005.  

Management & Finance – Paul Rock reported that the 3rd quarter results were the best in years; we are ahead of budget in the offertory collection and behind in expenses.  George Hinkle is working on the budget for 2004-2005.  Issues to be considered will be the impact of the mortgage, the conversion of the old church and staffing, donor fatigue and a new strategic plan.   

NEW BUSINESS:

Strategic Planning –Mike Oster suggested a facilitator to assist in this area.  

Status of Confessionals - They are complete.

Filiae Mariae – Fr. Brian said that this group would like to have a “start up” budget for various events. 

Announcements - Msgr. Art said that First Communions and the May procession went well.  MIB was a great experience with 1100 people attending, the largest attendance in the diocese.  The Parish Picnic will be August 21, 2004 at the Union Mills Homestead.  Meeting adjourned.

Submitted by Peggy Rager, Recording Secretary