Minutes of St. Margaret Mary's Parish Pastoral Council

4 May 2010

1. Opening prayer – John Moran gave the opening prayer.
2. Approval of Minutes – It was noted that the minutes of the 6 April 10 meeting were approved.
3. Additional Agenda Items – Fr. John mentioned a request from Fr. Schulist (see Liturgy).
4. Parish Finance Council report –
   1. Landscaping: Stephen Collens reported that Phil Lindsay presented recommendations for landscaping instead of foundation work to address leakage at the storage room beside the kitchen.
   2. Assessment: Linda Gunning suggested that an assessment by an engineering firm for 10-yr planning would be prudent. Once the assessment is done, planning for the required fund raising could be done with concrete estimates.
   3. Gutters: It was noted that the North roof requires rain gutters, which could mitigate the water leakage.
   4. Expenditure: $250 approved to Kairos as seed money for the upcoming concert.
5. Committee reports:
   Liturgy –(Linda Gunning):
   1. Triduum Review: A review of Triduum with feedback from parish has begun; parish members are encouraged to email feedback to Janet or Dan Alder
   2. Banner: New material (green) for banners for ordinary time has been purchased, Linda Gunning will make the banners to replace the ones that disappeared before leaving for England from May 17-June 15.
   3. Web Site: Dan Alder has experimented with new Google web software that is user friendly and should allow more rapid updating of the Web site.
   4. Announcer training: Training is proposed for announcers and the reading of prayers of the faithful.
   5. Children Alter Servers: It was agreed that children are not being considered as alter servers according to Parish tradition; Pierre, Stephen, Maurice and Linda will be formalized as servers and try to recruit two more.
   6. Communion: The Communion process for ministers of the sick will be formalized. The recent informal “hand-off” type of distribution for communion will be discouraged; communion is to be received solely from the communion ministers and clergy.
   7. Kneelers: Linda Gunning purchased pink kneelers in support of breast cancer, to facilitate kneeling at consecration (as per Vatican II and the Archbishop's request).
   8. Greeters: Dorothy Wood asked about greeters; Stephen Collens will set up a sign up.
   9. Evening Mass: Fr. Schulist called Fr. John because he would like to have Mass for the Carleton students at our parish during the school year (from Sept-Dec; Jan-April). It was proposed to have Sunday evening Mass at 8 or 8:30 pm, which would be open to all. There was unanimous support.
   
   Pastoral Care: Dorothy Wood noted nothing to report.
   
   Christian Formation:
   1. RCIA: Stephen Collens mentioned RCIA members Stephen Collens and Anne-Marie Bazinet attended a training session entitled "Concerning the Baptized" sponsored by the parish;
   2. Sacramental Preparation: The last group of three children will receive first communion, May 16. Christine Franklin noted that the simultaneous first communion and Kairos presentation detracted from the childrens' experience and should be avoided in the future. It was noted that there remain some communication problems and that we should try to avoid this kind of conflict in future.
   3. Social Justice: The volunteer recognition for Sunday suppers was held 11 April Sunday supper. There were about 40 people, a good turnout, particularly from Group 2. Stephen Collens gave a warm speech of thanks; food, drink and door prizes were offered and appreciated by the volunteers.
   Parish Life:
   1. Strawberry social is on for June 27, Julie Sutton is organizer.
   2. Hospitality Sunday (May 2): Last Sunday (first Sunday of the month) there was Free-trade coffee, but no bake sale from the high school students whom we funded for materials to bake. There has not been a bake sale since last November; Stephen Collens will ask Tim Brennan what happened.
   Gardening: Fr. John greatly appreciates the efforts of the gardening crew to keep the grounds in great shape.
6. Correspondence / Suggestion Box – No suggestions in the box.
   
7. Old items for discussion:
   1. Parish Newsletter: The next issue is due out end of May or early June. Material has been collected and Mary-Lynn Perabo is assembling it for mid-May.
   2. Bake Sale: see Hospitality Sunday (above)
   3. Goal setting: See Liturgy above regarding greeters, announcers
   4. Sound System: Stephen Collens to ask Tim Brennan regarding changes to the Sound system and the purchase of special hearing devices for parishioners who have difficulty hearing.
   5. Kairos: NM reports that the Kairos concert is coming together, it will be on Friday May 28; volunteers are needed to promote and circulate posters; other volunteers are needed as ushers for the performance, reception, etc. Norma McCoy, Dorothy Wood and Loretta McCarthy have tickets. Local merchants have been very generous with donations for reception.
   6. Constitution review: It is decided to defer the meeting to June. The guidelines for Pastoral Council were passed around, and the constitution will be sent to PPC members by Stephen Collens. May 28 will be the deadline to return comments; June 1 is last PPC meeting, and the meeting could be the Saturday following (June 5).
   7. Banner: Stephen Collens will ask Tim Brennan. Use newsletter logo and header format. Needed for June 10 – Diocesan Feast Day.
8. New items for discussion:
   1. Fund Raising Committee: It was suggested that we need a committee or subcommittee to focus on fund-raising for building, etc. Although we have a building fund, it is not directed to specific goals. Finance council does not raise funds, but could initiate a subcommittee. Elaine Borg, Chair of Finance Council has presented a proposal at last PPC meeting, but needs help. Several ideas were discussed; a raffle for a television; contact a fund-raiser; sell to other people. It was felt that we need to attract more parishioners. We need to set concrete goals and funding targets. The idea of a musical event received lukewarm enthusiasm, since entertainment often does not make enough funding for the effort involved. It was finally decided that Stephen Collens would ask Elaine to come to the next PPC meeting for ideas or proposal to set a committee to work over summer on a fund-raising presentation to the Parish.
   2. Role of Parish Deacon: There was discussion on the role of the deacon: as member of parish he can fully participate in all activities of the parish. One area that would be well suited would be as a resource person to revitalize the social justice committee. He could participate as a member of a team, although it was noted that he is not always here because of many travel obligations with Chalice. He is appreciated for his efforts as a greeter, in reading the gospel, and participation in the Mass. Ultimately formal decisions regarding his responsibilities are referred to the pastoral team.
9. Calendar: Strawberry Social, Sunday June 27.
10. Next regular meeting - Tuesday, June 1.
11. Prayer leader for next meeting – Dorothy Wood volunteered to be prayer leader; Linda Gunning suggested using that day's Liturgical readings as prayer, but allowing the prayer leader to do something of their own for the closing prayer.
12. Closing Prayer: JM read from Song of Songs.
13. Adjournment: 9:20 pm.