Pastoral Council Minutes

12-11-23 Pastoral Council Minutes

Sherri Porterfield

ST. JAMES PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2023

 Chairman Kevin Casel called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following council members were present: Phil Baumert, Kevin Casel, Corrine Katzer, Betsy Lewey, Yvette Lopez, Joan Peluso, and Sherri Porterfield. Dan Bacon joined the meeting via phone. The opening prayer was given by Corrine Katzer.

Old Business: 

  • Parish Survey: Council members proofread the completed survey making sure that there were no mistakes, and all questions were stated as discussed. Some minor changes were made in the wording of some questions to clarify and simplify what was being asked. A discussion led by Chairman Casel was held to review how the survey will be introduced to the parish. Council members volunteered to speak to the congregation before each Mass the weekend of January 6th/7th. The congregation will be able to access and complete the survey beginning January 6th. The survey will be sent via email to the congregation. In addition, the survey may be accessed through a QR Code in the church bulletin, on the St. James website, or on the St. James Facebook page. A limited number of printed surveys will be available for those who do not have internet access. Each family member, Confirmation age and older, should complete a survey. It was agreed by the Council that information be given to St. James School parents via the weekly bulletin. All surveys must be completed by Sunday, January 28th.
  • Hillcrest Ministries: Yvette Lopez informed the Council she is waiting to hear about additional information concerning possible Christmas gifts for the tenant in the apartment sponsored by St. James. There was a brief discussion about the possibility of sponsoring a second apartment, but no decision was reached on this matter.

 New Business:

  • Kevin Casel suggested to the Council that we consider starting some new traditions for our parish. He told the Council about his experience at Mass in Costa Rica on the first weekend of Advent. Parish families brought their Advent wreath to Mass and placed them in front of the altar to be blessed by the priest during Mass. He suggested that we consider doing this next year on the first Sunday of Advent. Members also discussed the blessing of the Christ Child from the Nativities of parish families. This was done the Christmas before Covid and the Council is considering doing this again but in a similar way to what would be done for the blessing of the Advent Wreath.

Because these traditions could not be started until Advent 2024, Chairman Casel asked the Council members to be thinking of a tradition that might be started for Lent/Easter this spring. Further sharing of ideas will be discussed at the January meeting.

Cl0sing:

Kevin Casel closed the meeting with inspiring thoughts from Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta. The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m.

The Council’s next meeting is Monday, January 8th at 7:00 p.m. in the AV Conference Room. If you have any ideas or concerns for the Council, please contact Fr. Mike or Chairman Kevin Casel. If you would like to attend the meeting, please contact Kevin Casel no later than Thursday, January 4th.

Respectfully submitted,

Sherri Porterfield, Pastoral Council Secretary