St. Mary Parish Council Meeting Minutes – Thursday, October 17, 2024 at 6:30
Present: Lynn Cavanagh, Mark Godar, Linda Ollinger, Sam Peiffer, Karen Schmidt, Scot Wilson, Sharon Mealey, Lee McFee, Jane McFee, Judy Binegar, Father Scott Foley, and Darlene Doorenbos Absent: Scott Collings, John Dayton, Shane Hart and Dennis Phelps
Opening Prayer: Scot Wilson
Continuing Business: The Parish Clean Up Day has been scheduled for October 26, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. Jay and Fr. Scott are working on a list of items to be done on that day. Lynn will make sure there is coffee and will bring donuts to start the day.
New Business: Mark Godar attended the installation of our new bishop, Bishop Dennis G. Walsh. He felt that there was a good representation from St. Mary attending the event. There were around 30 bishops, 111 priests, 20-30 sisters, which was very impressive. He felt that the bishop had a good sense of humor and had a good speaking voice.
Fr. Scott said that the bishop would not be able to attend Confirmation, which will be November 17. Fr. Scott didn’t know when the bishop would visit St. Mary but predicted it wouldn’t be until next year.
The parish council will be responsible for the December 8 church breakfast. Individuals signed up for the various duties that are involved in putting on the breakfast. Lynn will send out a list of the workers and their duties before December 8.
On December 19, the usual council meeting, will be a social and the council would like to invite the St. Patrick’s parish council to this event. Fr. Scott will get the names of individuals from St. Patrick’s church who should be invited. Lynn will create and send out the invitation to the event.
Faith Formation: Report – Angelina Willard: Faith Formation classes at St. Mary are held on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:45 pm.
Catechists this year are: Carolyn Ashby, Loretta Cline, Monica Kellogg, Sandra Gruman, Jourdan Reynolds, Morgan Savant, Doria Stepanek, Michelle Otto, Danielle Lussier, Caleb Savant, Scot Wilson, Renny Crawford and Jane McFee.
PreK-6th grade has 31 students. (Preschool was added new this year.) The curriculum used is called Word of Life and it comes from the Augustine Institute. It has an aesthetically pleasing layout and well done solid content. Catechists find it easy to use. It features sacred art, an online interactive textbook as well as a physical textbook.
7th-12th grade has 19 students. There are a team of faith leaders: a social coordinator and a service coordinator. The program used is by Ascension and is called Connected: Catholic Social Teaching.
Adoration and confession are offered once a month.
Service and social opportunities are also offered each month. Service will include things that need to be done around the parish during class time as well as planning some larger community service projects.
This year an adult group was started to be in session at the same time. It will begin by listening to a reflection on the Sunday readings and then have a short discussion followed by socialization. All parish members are invited to attend.
The first OCIA (formerly RCIA) program for those entering the Church on Easter Vigil was held this past Sunday. There were three students in the group: 4th, 7th and 9th grade. Several adults were planning to be in OCIA also (exact number not known at this time.)
Commission, Committee, and Knights of Columbus Reports
SOCIAL ACTION COMMISSION:
The Social Action commission met 9/5/24 with 7 members present. Elizabeth Dobbs reported Homebound visits are going well.
No one is receiving help from Mother Teresa’s Helping Hands at this time according to Doris Hotchkin.
Connis Dayton reported the summer food drive was a big success.
Barbara LaPlaunt shared information on MICA fall needs and she will give this information to Jay to share with parishioners.
SA commission members helped with the July pancake breakfast.
The commission met on 10/3/24 with 8 members present. It was decided to host “No Room at the Inn” on the afternoon and evening of December 6. It was decided to give a donation to a young children’s nonprofit for Right to Life Month.
Members will research which group to donate to. Doris Hotchkin reported she anticipates there will be parishioners that will need support in the next months. SA commission will do the Pancake Breakfast on 11/10.
Next meeting: 11/7 at 11 am in gathering space. All are welcome! Connis Dayton
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS: Report- Kent Reed
WGK Kent’s Mission to welcome and maintain young families in church—working to make at least one progress step each month. Offered to support religious Ed however we can and planning to reinstall a
Diaper changing unit in the lower women’s restroom soon.
Mary men’s discussion group Is continuing Sunday evenings at 7 PM with open invitation to all Catholic men.
Bishop ordination— We had a very good St. Mary Church presence using six available tickets by Knights and their spouses
Good of the Order Awards: Family: Mark, Donna, & Katie Godar; Knight of the Month: Dennis Crawford
We are going to buy (12) More Grave Markers for marking our deceased member’s graves each
Memorial Day.
September brunch Went well, great turnout, especially among College Students! 15 or so. WGK Kent made a nice pitch for KC Membership to the students.
Cans and bottles collection is going to continue as we have with collection boxes downstairs and periodically announcing collection at the front deer doors prior to mass.
Knights Of Columbus Awards cabinet— Kent is continuing to look for a used one to purchase to get that much less cost than a new one or then building one from scratch.
Youth KC events—Lee & Bill are Co-Youth directors for Soccer, Free Throw and Spelling Bee– They will announce EVENTS as they are coming up.
Community meal September 19 report We had very good sign up on the sign-up genius and the meal went terrific. There were about 40 participants +10 volunteers. There is No meal in November (A Thanksgiving meal will be offered instead) so the next meal is January 16, 2025.
FUNDRAISER: February 7, 2025, Valentines Day Dinner
Mary apparel fundraiser, Rick, John, and Kent are working on ideas.
Tootsie Roll Drive—$2,600 minus expenses plus money from stores. We need a new store liaison. Volunteers Filled all but 4 of 36 slots in our schedule, very good!
Discussion about beer in the refrigerator near the Knights of Columbus storage room—we decided to add a lock to fridge
We voted to make $100 donation to St. Patrick’s Fall Feast on Oct. 6th to help with the meat cost or whatever else they need it for.
Young Member Prospects—we voted to pay for state and supreme per diems for the first year. We will work to invite them.
WORSHIP AND SPIRITUALITY:
The commission met on September 12th and October 10th.
The Saturday 4 p.m. Mass is scheduled to return to Grinnell on October 26th.
Mass for All Saints Day will be offered at 7 a.m. on Nov. 1st at St. Mary and 5:30 p.m. at St. Patrick also on the 1st.
An All Soul’s prayer service will be held at St. Mary on Sunday, Nov. 3rd at 5 p.m. All are welcome to attend.
The sacrament of Confirmation will be conferred at 10:30 Mass on Sunday, Nov. 17th.
Fr. Scott is offering Altar server training to our youth on Wednesday, Oct. 23rd from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. We have some college students interested in being involved in liturgical roles, which is very much appreciated.
Our next meeting will be November 14th.
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS: No report
Staff Reports: No report
Pastor’s Report: October 26 is the Parish clean up day. Fr. Scott and Jay are working on a list, which will include inside and outside jobs. Father suggested bringing extra extension cords and an extra vacuum would be helpful. Examples of jobs that needed to be done are washing the windows and cleaning the screens from cobwebs, cleaning the cloth chairs, etc.
The 4:00 Saturday Virgil mass will return to St. Mary on October 26.
The Immaculate Conception Holy Day of Obligation falls on Sunday, December 8. A recent decree from Rome states that if The Immaculate Conception Holy Day falls on a Sunday, it will be moved to Monday. It will continue to be a Holy Day of Obligation. There will be an early morning mass and an evening mass said on December 9. It is yet to be determined the time and which church will celebrate the morning mass and which one will celebrate the evening mass.
Karen Schmidt shared that there has been only one funeral dinner since our last meeting in August. She also shared that her sister, Barb, and herself have had the honor to serve at masses at St. Patrick and appreciated the friendliness and the support from their parishioners.
Adjournment: Reminder that the council will be in charge of the December 8 parish breakfast. The parish council social at the rectory on December 19 at 6:30 will take the place of our regular meeting. The next meeting will be on February 20, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. Fr. Scott will do the opening prayer and Karen Schmidt will do the closing prayer at the February meeting.
Linda closed the meeting in prayer and the meeting adjourned at 7:05.
Respectfully submitted by Darlene Doorenbos