Preliminary Parish Pastoral Council Minutes
September 12, 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.   

Children's Religious Education-submitted by Joan Parker
Social Action Committee-submitted by Ed Walls 
Vocations Committee-submitted by Bill & Connie Peters
Building & Grounds Report-submitted by Ray Ring
Publicity & Community Events-submitted Carol Johnson
Parish Outreach Committee -submitted by Frank Blee 

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

Agenda for September's meeting
Youth Ministry- submitted by Pat Bentley
Family Life- Submitted by Ted & Joann Malecki
Liturgical Committee-submitted by Fran Fietkiewicz

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Pastoral Parish Council

MINUTES
September 12, 2005

The Meeting:

·        Meeting called to order at 7:00pm

·        Opening prayer Carol Johnson

·        Attending:  Matt Macready , Kevin Walls , Bob Senese , Ray Ring, Joan Parker , Carol Johnson, Frank Blee , Joann Malecki, Ed Walls, Rev. Mr. Bill Peters, Connie Peters, Pat Bentley, Fr. Bob, Fr. Carlton, & Rev. Mr. Joe Becker

·        Absent:  Addie Blee

·        No correspondence was reported

 Last Month’s Minutes:

            Changes: under old business, section E: the phrase  should be “conceivably lose” not “conceivable loss”

            Motion to approve minutes:  Carol and Ray 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:

Discussion of Committee/Group Reports:

Publicity & Community Events Committee:  Carol presented two maps to council.  She displayed the three churches (St. Seton, Assumption, and St. Nick’s) and the distance in both time and miles between them.  She also noted five housing developments:   Woodland Village , Stoney Brooke, one downtown, Beazer Homes, and another one in Egg Harbor Township .   Respectively, the numbers of housing units planned in these developments are:  108, 234, 88, 125, and 700.   From her analysis, it appears that even if our parish suffers a lost of parishioners from Smithville to the new Assumption church, it is more than likely that our parish is in a position to grow.   And based on the price of some of these homes, our parish probably would also be gaining affluent families.   This analysis seemed to have taken away some of the concern that our parish might  not only be losing members, but also some of our wealthiest. 

Frank followed up Carol’s presentation with a handout stating several points that he thinks that the diocese should address before going further.  First, in the past 3 years our Assumption School subsidy has increased 50% ($70,354 to $105,287) and that is based upon an OLD school.   How much more of a burden would a NEW school put on our parish.  Second, the diocese should consider a name other than “ Assumption Regional School ”; otherwise, Catholics within the region will associate the school as simply being Assumption Parish’s responsibility and not theirs.   Third, the movement of the Assumption church could create a hardship and a negative feeling for those who’s driving distance will probably more than double.

 Fr. Bob is to meet with the diocese on September 21, to discuss this project.  Council hoped that once boundaries and subsidies are set, there would be an opportunity to address themwith the diocese.

Finally, it was also pondered how many individuals register in our parish and either do not contribute or contribute elsewhere.  Beings our subsidy and assessments are based on registered families, items like this can make a difference.

Children’s Religious Education:   Joan took the opportunity to thank Kevin for his help in finger printing the catechists.

Family Life:  After trying all summer, Joanne still did not have an answer to “What should the Family Life committee be doing?”  Every attempt to contact someone at the diocese level only proved to be unsuccessful.  Fr. Bob and Frank recommended that she call Steve Bozza, the diocese’s director of Family Life.

 Youth Ministry:  Pat was happy to announce that some new volunteers have stepped forward and that the Youth Group begins this month.

 Old Business: 

1. Facilities Update. 
1. Although some have complained that it is too small, the construction of the garage is going well and will probably be done within the next 3 weeks
2. Regarding the new Parish Center , emphasis was now being placed on remodeling instead of building the addition.  Ray stated that remodeling the building, including new heating, furniture and signs could conceivably be done for less than $50,000.  Council unanimously urged Fr. Bob that this was the direction they would like to proceed.   So it appears that the addition has been scrapped and that we will proceed to look further into remodeling the building.
2. Electronic Giving (e-giving) has been tabled for now.  It makes more sense to see how the Assumption Project plays out.  At that time we will incorporate the e-giving, the Time, Talent, and Treasure program, and anything else that the Assumption Project may create (i.e. a capital campaign)
3. Council Elections:  Matt has graciously accepted to step down as president, and Kevin has graciously accepted to step up as president, thus creating a void in the vice presidency.  Assuming we can find a candidate, we will fill this void with an election in the spring.  Matt has offered to type up an amendment to the bylaws making this procedure legal.  Council will have the opportunity to review and or approve this amendment at the next meeting.  As for filling the position of secretary, I have requested that we just get through one election; we will worry about my situation next year.

New Business: 

1. October is respect for life month.  October 2 is the life chain, and Jim Davis is heading the parish’s Pro Life committee
2. There will be a welcoming party for new parishioners October 13 at 7:30 .  Invitations have yet to go out.
3. Ministry Festival was briefly discussed.  Per last meeting, we decided not to go in that direction.  Consideration was given to in-pew solicitation.  The ministry flyer that I created was brought up again.
4. Fr Bob’s Comments:
1. Oct. 29 the Catechists Congress will present “Journey through Discipleship”
2. Oct 23, Fr. Hodges will celebrate a mass honoring the 150^th Anniversary of the first mass in our area.  A reception will follow.
3. Mission is still scheduled for the beginning of Advent.  One of the masses will be a healing mass.

Open Forum

Pat mentioned that although it probably was done unintentionally, the joke (pun) in the July 10 bulletin was done in poor taste and future jokes should be scrutinized more.

 Summary of topics discussed:

Those Pending: 

 Those Closed: 

 Those Tabled:  nothing noted

Next meeting

Monday October 17 
Time 7:00 pm

Ray will lead us in prayer

Respectfully submitted by:
Bob Senese ,
Secretary