Parish Home

Minutes of Holy Angels Parish Council Meeting of August 16, 2007

Parish Rectory Lower Meeting Room, 7:30pm 

In Attendance:  Fr. Jerry Brittain, Fr. Rick Wendell, Deacon Mark Jansen, Marilynn Gundrum, Don Felix, Jack Trzebiatowski, Earl VanderWielen, Paula Beine, Harry German, Sandy Lang, Mike Nowack, Colleen Mas.

Absent: Steve Albinger, Dan Hanrahan. 

Opening Prayer:  Led by Paula Beine.

Approval of Minutes:  Motion to approve by Jack, second by Don.  Approved. 

Scripture Reflection / Personal Prayer: Led by Paula, with council members. 

Committee Reports: 

Finance:  Fr. Jerry reported that the pickup truck for the parish was purchased at $40,000, which is $10K under budget.  Difference may be used to revamp “porch” as office space for Pastoral Care Minister.  Additional surplus funds will go to pay down debt and to the building fund.  This year, as a result of the stewardship campaign, giving is up +24%. Next year is projected to be +15%, while future net forward surplus may average 10%.  Fr. Jerry suggested future discussion regarding best use of this increased giving to meet the needs of the parish. 

School Committee:  School board has not met since last Council meeting.

Sister Parish Mission with La Sagrada Familia:  No update. 

Constitution, Bylaws, Committee Guidelines:  Council discussed formation of an Ad Hoc Committee to review Parish Council Constitution, Bylaws & Standing Committee Guidelines.  Volunteer members will be:  Jack Trzebiatowski, Paula Beine, Marilynn Gundrum.   

Review Discernment and Consensus Decision-making:  Fr. Jerry reviewed the scope of the Council’s responsibilities as noted in the Council Constitution, and the Council discussed “consensus” vs. “voting,” as noted in archdiocesan guidelines and recommendations for parish councils. 

Standing Committee Liaison Assignments:

Prayer & Worship – Jack Trzebiatowski                       Christian Formation:  Colleen Mas

Human Concerns – Marilyn Gundrum               School Committee - Dan Hanrahan

Finance – Mike Nowack                                              Quad Parish – Sandy Lang

Parish Life – Paula Beine

Dominican Republic Sister Parish – Earl VanderWielen

* Council proposed a more in-depth review of “Parish Life” as a Standing Committee (as per Council Constitution, above) and what subcommittees/events/etc might fall under this heading.  Each liaison will seek updates from their assigned committee re: committee’s mission/guidelines/events, possibly using the committees’ responses to the stewardship drive literature last fall.  Liaisons also were asked to address membership of current standing committees and subcommittees and bring updated lists back to council. 

Review Parish Mission Statement:  “To bring Christ’s love to our community through worship, education, service and outreach.”  Council discussed viability/vitality of this mission statement.  Council will give this further consideration for next month’s meeting. 

Parish Five Year Plan:  Parish has been informally updating the five-year plan through the course of the Stewardship Drive.  Fr. Jerry suggested moving forward with full-time Pastoral Care / Parish Life Minister (to include such activities as birthday cards to senior citizens, Communion to temporary homebound, newcomers groups, summer parish picnic, evangelization to non-Catholic parishioners, etc.) to implement ideas noted in the previous formal Five Year Plan.  Council liaisons will ask Standing Committees to review their goals for the next five years, with an overall plan to bring ideas back to Council for further discussion later this year. 

Council Goals for this year:  Council reviewed and discussed the following goals:  implement plans from social outreach, music ministry, sister mission parish, and other ideas from past few years; review parish mission; review goals of committees via guest reporting from committee chairs; increase/improve communication with non-attending parishioners; increase Mass attendance. 

Council Meeting Dates / Prayer Leaders:

            Sept. 20 (Earl VanderWielen)                           Oct. 18 (Mike Nowack)

            Nov. 15 (Jack Trzebiatowski)                           Dec. 20 (Christmas)

            Jan. 17 (Don Felix)                                           Feb. 21 (Harry German)

            Mar. 13 (Colleen Mas)                         April 17 (Marilynn Gundrum)

            May 15 (Sandy Lang)                                       June 19 (Dan Hanrahan) 

Plans for Next Month: 

Review Mission Statement

Report from Liaisons re: Five Year Plan / Goals 

Adjourned at 9:22pm. 

Respectfully submitted,
Colleen Mas, Secretary