August 2020 Minutes

Pastoral Council Meeting

Monday, Aug. 10, 2020

Members Present:   Julie Harman, Steve Gregoire, Lou Angles, Kevin Nordhues, Dan Bacon, Patrick Schaub.

Members Absent: Marla Neal, Libby Hernandez, Arsenio Arciga, Marla Neal, Hugo Mendoza

Guests: Father Mike, Deacon Chuck & Jim Newell

Opening prayer by Dan Bacon. Julie opened the meeting at about 7:02 pm. Minutes from the June 2020 meeting were approved.

Jim Newell’s Discussions: 

• Revenue is covering about 2/3 of capital campaign budget, but monthly bills are getting paid. However, it was mentioned that revenue is always lower in the summer, and the pandemic of course is also having a negative effect.

Deacon Chuck’s Discussions

• CONFIRMATION
  • COVID has also caused a delay in getting a confirmation schedule set.
  • The Bishop’s office is looking at dates.
  • Father indicated that we ARE planning on having a Confirmation Service.
• RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
  • New Director of Religious Education – Lori Tajchman
  • Not meeting in classrooms
    • Once/month – Family Gathering
    • Once/month – Another type of class to encourage parents to get involved
  • Lori Tajchman has also brought up an idea about having a “Family Adoration” where babies can cry, and parishioners can express their views – actually speak in church.
  • Convocation Mass here on Aug. 17^th at 9 am – teachers’ mass with the Bishop

Father Mike’s Discussions:

• Total Debt Balance = $4.2M
• Capital Campaign payments remain good. Parishioners are remaining faithful to their pledges.
• The school is set to open on Aug. 19^th.
  • All grades will stay in their classroom all day with lunch served in the classroom.
  • Want teachers & students to meet in case we must go to virtual learning
• Chuck mentioned that some public-school kids in various cities are switching to Catholic schools so that they can actually attend class instead of learning virtually.

Dan Bacon’s Discussions:

• Dan began by asking Father about whether Church COVID guidelines had changed. Father indicated that they had not, but he still needed to determine whether group gatherings can continue, such as TMIY.
• Discussion on the success of the K of C’s last pulled pork drive-up dinner
  • 602 dinners served
  • Very successful and ran smoothly – never more than 3 cars in line
  • 60 pork shoulders were adopted online in only 2 hours!
  • Able to donate $6,608 to the church
• The next discussion revolved around the planning & details of the Holy Smoke BBQ and Color Run. However, at this writing, much has changed…
  • No gathering on Aug. 28^th, but food will still be served via drive-through
  • The BBQ contest will still be held on Aug. 29^th
  • The Color Run has been cancelled.
• Discussion on the fact that Judy Keisling spends much time on putting together the Bulletin on FaceBook, but there is a concern that parishioners are not seeing it.
  • Father mentioned that parishioners are really missing the paper bulletin
  • Dan mentioned that the CDC is now saying that there is less chance that COVID is being spread on paper. However, it was also mentioned that reinstating paper bulletins was not high on the Diocesan list.
  • Dan mentioned possibly sending the bulletin via a weekly email blast.

St. James Auction: 

• Libby Hernandez was not present to discuss details, but it was mentioned that the School Auction is coming back to St. James. It will be held on Oct. 10^th.

New Business: 

• Julie Harman brought up an Altar Society request sent in via email by one of the Altar Society members, Carla Travagliani. Presently, they have about 20 bins of items used for their various activities (Silent Auction, Blankets for Children’s Mercy, Bingo, etc.) in the basement of the rectory.  Many of the Society’s members are getting older and having a hard time transferring these bins from the basement to the new church.  They’re requesting an upstairs storage area instead.
  Father said he’d look for an alternative storage area and get with the Altar Society himself.
• Lou Angles reviewed information he brought up during our June 2020 meeting – the mowing of the St. James grounds…
  • Being handled by about 40 men in 3 men’s groups: K of C, TMIY & the Do-Dads
    • Tractors, mowers, trimmers & blowers have all been donated as well as the gas to run them
    • This has saved the church about $18K as compared to last year!
  • Lou asked if we could possibly do something special to thank them, like an Ice Cream Social for their families.
    • The council agreed on this idea and on signing a thank you card for the group.
    • Dan Bacon volunteered to put this Ice Cream Social together sometime in Sept. or Oct. – Thanks Dan!
• Julie brought up the fact that terms of service for six of the pastoral council members were up. These members include:  Julie Harman, Steve Gregoire, Arsenio Arciga, Hugo Mendoza, Marla Neal & Kevin Nordhues.  However, because the discernment process for selecting new member would be difficult because of the pandemic, Julie requested that these six members consider extending their service to the council for one more year.  All six of these members agreed to the extension. 

Next meeting – The next pastoral council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 15^th.  Julie
Harman will be doing the opening prayer.

Closing Prayer – Steve Gregoire