Preliminary Parish Pastoral Council Minutes
February 14, 2005 

Prior to our meeting, the following committees emailed their reports to me.  I collected the reports and distributed them to everyone on council one week prior to our meeting.   

Youth Ministry- submitted by Pat Bentley 
Publicity & Community Events by Carol Johnson

Outline of Strategic Issues Submitted by Frank Blee
Volunteers Wanted Flyer (to recruit parishioners to get more involved) submitted by Bob Senese

These reports can also be viewed at (click here)

The following committees did not submit a report for this month:

Children's Religious Education
Social Action Committee
Vocations Committee
Building & Grounds Report
Parish Outreach Committee  
Family Life
Liturgical Committee

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Pastoral Parish Council

 MINUTES
February 14, 2005

 The Meeting:
·        Meeting called to order at 7:00pm
·        Opening prayer:  Kevin
·        Attending:  Kevin Walls, Bob Senese , Ray Ring, Joan Parker , Carol Johnson, Frank Blee, Ed Walls, Rev. Mr. Bill Peters, Connie Peters, & Fr. Bob
·        Guest Speaker: Herb Kraker, from the parish’s finance committee
·        Absent:  Matt Macready, Addie Blee, Joann Malecki, , Pat Bentley, Fr. Carlton, & Rev. Mr. Joe Becker
·        No correspondence to report

Last Month’s Minutes:
            Changes: the parish council’s picture board was not left in limbo as was stated in last month’s minutes.  Carole had volunteered to head the project.  (more below)

            Other changes:  Changes to November’s minutes were requested and completed

            Motion to approve minutes:  Ray and Joan seconded

            Motion was accepted & minutes were approved

Committee/Group Reports:

Prior to our meeting, the following reports were submitted and distributed to council.  As always they can be viewed at our website www.stelizabethannseton.com

The following committees did not submit a report for this month:

 Building & Grounds Report
Publicity & Community Events Committee
Children’s Religious Education
Parish Outreach Committee
Family Life
Liturgical Committee
Social Action Committee
Vocations Committee

 Discussion of Committee/Group Reports:

Pictures will be redone at our next meeting (dress appropriately)

Instead of an expensive presentation, a simple collage picture frame would suffice.

Old Business: 

1. Appreciation Dinner: some of the points made were:
1. There were not enough serving tables were set up
2. Either there should have been more hot food or everyone should have been informed that this was all there would be
3. Caterer should have been better prepared and should have started serving earlier.
2. We will welcome various parishes to the Unity Dinner.  It will be held in our parish and be preceded with a prayer service.  A Unity Luncheon is also schedule in our parish for Wednesday February 23
3. We now have 3 volunteers to serve as volunteers on the deanery council:  Frank Blee, Bill Peters and either Fr. Bob or Fr. Carlton

New Business: 

1. Parish Visit by the Bishop:  our parish is among the first group of churches the bishop plans to visit.  He will arrive sometime between March and July.  Prior to his arrival, he will present our parish with a video explaining the purpose of his visits and topics on which we can discuss.
2. Parish Strategic Plan:  In an effort for our parish, and especially our council, to be proactive to the changes that we are facing, Dr. Blee submitted an outline (appendix) of key questions that should be researched.   Supplementing this outline was a presentation by Herb Kraker.  In short,
1. the Assumption project posses many question about its effects on our parish
2. the most recent past has shown a decrease in income, and an increase in expenses
3. Many of the increase expenses are fixed expenses that are beyond our control
4. Increased giving campaigns have worked in the past, maybe its time for another?
5. Initiating an electronic giving program was another suggestion to increase income.
6. The question whether or not the diocese has consider the Assumption project’s impact on our parish has yet to be answered
7. There is nothing the council would like more than to have some informed individual from the diocese help us answer these questions.

Open Forum

Summary of topics discussed:

Those Pending: 

 Those Closed: 

Those Tabled:  nothing noted

Next meeting
Monday  March 14, 2005  
Time 7:00 pm
Connie will lead us in prayer

Respectfully submitted by:
Bob Senese ,
Secretary

Appendix:

OUTLINE – PARISH STRATEGIC ISSUES

A)  Assumption Parish – New Church/School

1. What will be the impact on Mass attendance at Seton?
2. Will we gain new attendees from Pinehurst, Pomona , etc.?
3. Will an effective outreach program attract more attendees to Seton from Pinehurst, Pomona , etc.?

            Data Needed:

B)  Parish Boundaries – Seton v. New Assumption Parish

1. What will be the dividing lines?
2. How rigidly will the boundaries be enforced?

            Data Needed:

C)  School Subsidy to Assumption School

1. What will be the change/impact when the new school is in operation?
2. How many parishes will be sending students?
3. What is the formula for determining the subsidy?

             Data Needed:

 D)  Chapel at Stockton College

1. What is the approximate weekly attendance?
2. What has been the impact on Mass attendance at Seton?  (Saturday night/Sunday morning)

             Data Needed:

 E)  Mass Attendance at Seton

1. What have been the overall Mass attendance trends at Seton over the last 3 – 5 years? 
2. What has been the attendance at each individual Mass over the last 3 -5 years?

            Data Needed:

F)  Parish Income and Expenses

1. What has been the income (by major category, envelopes, cash, Christmas, Easter, Cyrenean Club, etc. over the last 3-5 yrs.?
2. What have been the operating expenses by major category over the last 3 – 5 years (direct parish expenses, school subsidy, repairs –roof, electrical, etc.)?

            Data Needed:

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