Saint Patrick’s Council Minutes
Thursday, August 17, 2023
Call to Order: 7:00 pm
Opening Prayer: Fr. C.P. and All: The Prayer for Synod on Synodality
Roll Call: Fr. C.P., Pat Mertz, Henrietta Pelster, Christy Ningen, Andrew Parrott, Ann Hurt, Julie Gehrig, Larry Peetz
Absent: Scott Rolls, John Mildenburger, Rose Schoening, Dan Murphy
Approved minutes from June 22, 2023 meeting.
Fr. C.P. introduced Keith and Kathy Nienhuser who had a couple of questions for the Parish Council. Questions were: “What do you as members of the Parish Council see as your role within the parish?” “What are your roles and duties?” and “What are you doing to get the families that have left our parish back to our parish?” Replies were to address the needs of our parish and accountability as a committee member. It was discussed that Parish Council minutes would be published in the church bulletin.
The Evaluation of St. Patrick’s Life (2023) which were passed out at the Masses on the weekend of August 13 and 14 were discussed. The three priority areas mentioned by many people in the order of importance/frequency were: 1. Work towards getting more people to return to our parish, 2. Focus more on faith formation and 3. Get more volunteers especially youth for Ministries (altar servers and Eucharistic ministers). The results of this survey will be placed in the bulletin for the weekend of August 20 and 21. There will also be a church meeting on Sunday, August 27th at 7:00 pm to discuss this further.
Committee and Representatives
Faith Formation: Pat – There will be a Parent meeting for K-12 on Wednesday, August 30, 2023 from 6:00 – 7:00 pm. A Catechist gathering will be held on Wednesday, September 6, 2023 from 6:00 – 7:00 pm. First classes for K-12 will be on Wednesday, September 13, 2023. K-8 will meet from 6:00 – 7:15 pm and High School will meet from 7:30-9:00 pm.
There are no candidates for the RCIA program at this time.
Pat also introduced the possibility of a program called “Landings”. This is a Paulist ministry of Reconciliation, giving returning Catholics a “safe place to land”, a “sacred moment of return” and “an experience of faith sharing, not a religious education course.”
Hospitality: Christy Ningen reported that the Hospitality committee would be serving pizza for the Catechist gathering, cookies for the Parent’s meeting and two meals for the visiting monks and Fr. C.P. during the Eucharist Miracle board presentations on September 30th and October 1st.
Liturgy: Henrietta Pelster inquired about the book, Beautiful Eucharist. These books will be ordered and should arrive during Advent. A copy of the book will be mailed to every family of the parish.
The altar cloths have been changed to green and fall decorations will be placed on the altar on September 22, 2023.
Finance: There was no report at this time.
CCW: Julie Gehrig reported that the attendance at coffee and cookies has been growing. Coffee and cookies will be served after Mass on Sunday, August 27, 2023 and during the weekend of September 30 and October 1st when the Miracle Boards will be in our parish. CCW will also be helping the Knights of Columbus with the parish picnic on Sunday, September 17, 2023. They will be providing salads, desserts and help. Kristin Nelson, Julie Gehrig and Nyla Hobson will be meeting to finalize plans for the Fall Bazaar Dinner.
Knights of Columbus: Larry Peetz is now the Grand Knight for St. Patrick’s Council of Knights of Columbus. The Knights have started to invite the single men of the parish to join them for a meal after their meetings in hope of increasing their membership. He is hoping to have a New Youth Director and Public Chairman put in place.
Old Business: There was no old business to discuss.
New Business: Lori Foster has obtained prizes for the raffle ticket drawing for the Fall Bazaar.
As of August 17, 2023, 66 families had signed up for the picture directory. There will be sign ups after Masses on the weekends of August 20th and 27th.
The St. Patrick’s statue should be delivered by the end of August. A possible dedication date of September 23, 2023 was discussed.
Next meeting: Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 7:00 pm
Closing Prayer: Fr. C.P. and All: Prayer for Eucharistic Revival
Adjournment: 8:30 pm
Thursday, August 17, 2023
Call to Order: 7:00 pm
Opening Prayer: Fr. C.P. and All: The Prayer for Synod on Synodality
Roll Call: Fr. C.P., Pat Mertz, Henrietta Pelster, Christy Ningen, Andrew Parrott, Ann Hurt, Julie Gehrig, Larry Peetz
Absent: Scott Rolls, John Mildenburger, Rose Schoening, Dan Murphy
Approved minutes from June 22, 2023 meeting.
Fr. C.P. introduced Keith and Kathy Nienhuser who had a couple of questions for the Parish Council. Questions were: “What do you as members of the Parish Council see as your role within the parish?” “What are your roles and duties?” and “What are you doing to get the families that have left our parish back to our parish?” Replies were to address the needs of our parish and accountability as a committee member. It was discussed that Parish Council minutes would be published in the church bulletin.
The Evaluation of St. Patrick’s Life (2023) which were passed out at the Masses on the weekend of August 13 and 14 were discussed. The three priority areas mentioned by many people in the order of importance/frequency were: 1. Work towards getting more people to return to our parish, 2. Focus more on faith formation and 3. Get more volunteers especially youth for Ministries (altar servers and Eucharistic ministers). The results of this survey will be placed in the bulletin for the weekend of August 20 and 21. There will also be a church meeting on Sunday, August 27th at 7:00 pm to discuss this further.
Committee and Representatives
Faith Formation: Pat – There will be a Parent meeting for K-12 on Wednesday, August 30, 2023 from 6:00 – 7:00 pm. A Catechist gathering will be held on Wednesday, September 6, 2023 from 6:00 – 7:00 pm. First classes for K-12 will be on Wednesday, September 13, 2023. K-8 will meet from 6:00 – 7:15 pm and High School will meet from 7:30-9:00 pm.
There are no candidates for the RCIA program at this time.
Pat also introduced the possibility of a program called “Landings”. This is a Paulist ministry of Reconciliation, giving returning Catholics a “safe place to land”, a “sacred moment of return” and “an experience of faith sharing, not a religious education course.”
Hospitality: Christy Ningen reported that the Hospitality committee would be serving pizza for the Catechist gathering, cookies for the Parent’s meeting and two meals for the visiting monks and Fr. C.P. during the Eucharist Miracle board presentations on September 30th and October 1st.
Liturgy: Henrietta Pelster inquired about the book, Beautiful Eucharist. These books will be ordered and should arrive during Advent. A copy of the book will be mailed to every family of the parish.
The altar cloths have been changed to green and fall decorations will be placed on the altar on September 22, 2023.
Finance: There was no report at this time.
CCW: Julie Gehrig reported that the attendance at coffee and cookies has been growing. Coffee and cookies will be served after Mass on Sunday, August 27, 2023 and during the weekend of September 30 and October 1st when the Miracle Boards will be in our parish. CCW will also be helping the Knights of Columbus with the parish picnic on Sunday, September 17, 2023. They will be providing salads, desserts and help. Kristin Nelson, Julie Gehrig and Nyla Hobson will be meeting to finalize plans for the Fall Bazaar Dinner.
Knights of Columbus: Larry Peetz is now the Grand Knight for St. Patrick’s Council of Knights of Columbus. The Knights have started to invite the single men of the parish to join them for a meal after their meetings in hope of increasing their membership. He is hoping to have a New Youth Director and Public Chairman put in place.
Old Business: There was no old business to discuss.
New Business: Lori Foster has obtained prizes for the raffle ticket drawing for the Fall Bazaar.
As of August 17, 2023, 66 families had signed up for the picture directory. There will be sign ups after Masses on the weekends of August 20th and 27th.
The St. Patrick’s statue should be delivered by the end of August. A possible dedication date of September 23, 2023 was discussed.
Next meeting: Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 7:00 pm
Closing Prayer: Fr. C.P. and All: Prayer for Eucharistic Revival
Adjournment: 8:30 pm
