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Minutes of Holy Angels Parish Council Meeting of November 15, 2007

Parish Rectory Lower Meeting Room, 7:30pm 

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

Opening Prayer/ Scripture Reflection / Personal Prayer:  Led by Jack Trzebiatowski.

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

New:  Review of Bulletin

ProPrint solicits its own advertisers and sets own rates in return for printing our bulletin at no cost to our parish.  Parish also receives envelopes and other stationery at no cost.  Parish receives no report of profits/expenditures from ProPrint.  Other companies also print bulletins (nationally), but at a greater cost to the parish.  Council discussed other options, not necessarily in regard to changing printers, but regarding layout, etc.  Council raised question of purpose of the  bulletin.  Fr. Jerry also noted that other publications are available which could supplement the bulletin on a regular or semi-regular basis.  A related issue is the format of announcements before Masses. Members will consider this further, and will bring sample bulletins from other parishes to continue this discussion at the January meeting. 

Committee Reports: 

Finance:  Motion passed (raised by Mike, seconded by Earl) to send $5000 to Sagrada Familia as an advance toward hurricane damage issues.  Committee further discussed 2008 budget.  Based on current monthly reports, Finance Committee is projecting a $100,000 surplus at the fiscal year’s end. 

School Committee:  School is extending the 4K class time by 30 minutes to facilitate additional reading curriculum.  Committee is looking at potentials rather than limitations for the 2008-2009 budget considerations.  A dress code survey to school parents has not been tabulated at this time.  Committee will examine this further at future meetings.  Committee is evaluating the overall wellness policy for the school, including hot lunch  menus, soda and candy sales, etc.  Additionally, Committee brought a question to the Council:  Would the council consider holding meetings in the Church Hall rather than the Rectory basement?  Council determined that location would be changed as needed for space issues.   

Prayer and Worship:  Planned Masses through the Christmas season, adding  a Midnight Mass for this year with the Folk Choir providing music.  The committee also planned ahead to Easter because the season is a bit early this year. 

Quad Parish Senior Parishioners.  Group is planning an outing to St. Anthony’s in Menomonee Falls, where Fr. Jerry Repenshek will host a tour of their remodeled facilities and the group will celebrate an Advent reflection.  Later, they will travel to Alioto’s for lunch, and on to the Greendale Historic Center for shopping, Taste of Home, etc.   

Christian Formation:  “Dinner for Two” will be held Feb. 9^th for married couples of the parish.  The evening will include dinner, a reflection on marriage, and renewal of marriage vows, followed by dancing.  Childcare will be provided by parish teens.  More info will be forthcoming. 

What’s happening:  • Paula attended the archdiocesan leadership conference and reported on the evangelization initiative, “Living our Faith,” which will be instituted throughout the diocese.  Fr. James Connell, the vicar for planning, spoke at the conference regarding planning at the archdiocesan level.  Further satellite sessions will be offered for those in the northern counties; one is scheduled for 7pm 12/4 at St. Peter’s in Port Washington.  •  The archdiocesan capital campaign is underway; Holy Angels will be included in a later phase of the campaign.  St. Frances Cabrini is part of the first phase.  Council discussed opportunity to gather insights from Cabrini’s experience, as this will be helpful for our own experience next year.  •  Council discussed potential for Doughnut Socials after Masses, hosted by different ministry groups of the parish as a means to highlight that ministry’s opportunities for all parishioners.  This might also be an opportunity for the Parish Council to communicate its role in the parish, and to encourage others to participate.  Will discuss further in January.  •  The Pope is coming to Washington, D.C. in April and will celebrate Mass at the Basilica there. 

Human Concerns:  No report.

Quad Parish:  No report.

Parish Life:  No report. 

Plans for Next Month:  Discuss purpose of bulletin, and potential of doughnut socials. 

Closing Prayer:  Paula. 

Adjourned at 9:07pm. 

Respectfully submitted,
Colleen Mas, Secretary