PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING
JANUARY 26, 2008

Prayer volunteer for February is Sue Sack

County Probation Office.

Ø       Due to conflicts in schedules, the Representative from the City of Trotwood and County Probation Board were unable to be present.

Ø       Fr. Bill informed us that a new Probation office will be located at the strip mall that once housed K-Mart.

Ø       Plans for the Mardi Gras (February 5) celebration are underway.  It will involve a throwback to tradition with a Pancake Supper, Pancake races; also incorporates intergenerational games, pre-Lenten crafts and resources to prepare people for the Lenten season.  Volunteers are being recruited, hoping to provide confirmandi a service opportunity.  Masks to decorate will be sent home with all PSR and PB children grades K-5 a few days before; flyers home to children in both programs.

   Ø       PSR snow days can now be announced via WDTN television.

Ø       Assessment of Catechesis/Religious Education (ACRE) testing occurred this past week for children in both religion programs, grades 5 and 8.   The annual assessment tool helps school, parish and diocesan leaders evaluate the faith knowledge and attitudes of students in Catholic schools and parish-based religious programs. It is made up of faith knowledge questions related to religious beliefs, attitudes, practices, and perceptions.   The cumulative results of the tests for the past 3-4 years are a possible source of information for future evaluation of the programs by the Faith Formation Commission.  Sharon will be conducting classroom observation for PSR in a few weeks.

Ø       Confirmation Spirit Morning #2 (January 13) included short witness talks from older teens and introduction of Junior High YM activities by Jenny Terbay.  Favorable comments have been received on both Spirit Mornings so far.  Spirit Morning #3 will feature Fr. Bill on March 2; overnight retreat is April 19-20.   Article in next issue of the FONT will feature the Confirmation preparation program.

Ø       Precious Blood School Catholic Schools Week is January 18-February 3 and includes prayer services on Monday morning and Thursday morning (Grandparents’ Day) as well as a Friday school Mass with parents invited.   Christian Unity week featured guests Chris Rowlands and Rev. Aaron Hayes from Freedom Faith Baptist Church.  Both were very well received.

Ø       January “Partners in Faith” newsletter was mailed to 200+ households; the February PIF newsletter will be mailed on February 1.

Ø       Sharon has been working with youth ministry, liturgy and school personnel to provide Lenten prayer and service opportunities as needed.

Ø       A Meeting to plan Vacation Bible School is ahead.  Sharon will collaborate with St. Paul’s and St. Rita’s to decide on curriculum/format and gather volunteers.  In keeping with the spirit of parish collaboration, Sharon will look at the possibility of holding VBS (July 28-August 1) at St. Paul’s facility.

Ø       Sharon is mentoring deacon candidate Andy Rammel to formulate a supplemental program for intermediate grades on fuller participation in the Eucharist.

Ø       IN ADDITION:

Ø       Jenny Terbay, Mark Moorman, Sharon Perkins, along with Father Bill are in the process of restructuring Faith Formation to include the Youth.  Because Dan Mecoli hasn't been available, any plans are to be discussed with him first. 

ADULT FAITH FORMATION-MARK MOORMAN

              Ø       R.C.I.A.

§         Cluster sessions on Thursday evenings have moved to Precious Blood Church until after Easter. The Precious Blood team is facilitating a Lenten Retreat for all the cluster churches this Saturday from 9:00 AM till noon at St. Paul’s Church

§         Two of the four adult candidates for full communion with the Church will be received into the Church at the Easter Vigil, and, in preparation for this, will take part in the Rite of Election on Sunday, February 10^th. The two other adults will come into the Church sometime later this year. In addition to these adults, three children will be baptized at the Easter Vigil, two of whom will receive all three initiation sacraments.

Ø       Renewals & Retreats

§         Thirty women of the parish took part in the annual Women’s Day of Reflection on Saturday, January 5^th. The feedback was very positive, so much so that a high percentage of the women made strong requests for having this Day of Reflection more than once each year.

§         The Men’s Day of Reflection, originally scheduled for early March, has been rescheduled for Saturday, April 26^th, so as not to compete with the annual Catholic’s Men’s Conference scheduled for Saturday, March 1^st. Regarding the latter, six men of the parish who have attended the conference in the past met this past Sunday to brainstorm publicity efforts for this event. A number of approaches are planned, with a heavy emphasis on extensive use of personal invitations.

§         The annual Women’s Retreat at Cowan Lake is scheduled for the weekend of March 14-16. Children’s Faith Formation Coordinator, Sharon Perkins, is the retreat master for this year.

Ø       Lenten Meditations

§         Precious Blood Church will offer reflections and meditations during the Lenten season on the powerful Gospel readings from St. John’s Gospel of the A cycle. Mark Moorman and Mike Prier will lead these meditations following the Tuesday evening Lenten Masses and the Friday morning school Masses.

YOUTH COMMISSION-Cecilia Ewers

Ø       No report to submit.

Ø       Members of her committee feel it is not necessary to meet.

Ø       This raised the question of where we are at in the Strategic Planning Process.

FINANCE

Ø       Met in mid January.

Ø       As of end of 2007 Precious Blood was in the black.

Ø       Financial forecast is favorable.

Ø       Building & Grounds

§         Reviewed last summer's projects.

§         Reviewed current projects

Ø       New windows Preschool-completed.

Ø       Emergency exit lights being replaced

Ø       Pole Barn alarm system to be fixed.

Ø       Gerard's law

§         Joe to attend workshop concerning this.

Ø       Summer projects to include but not limited to-

§         Corner of school building.

SOCIAL ACTION

Ø       St. Bonaventure

§         212 Boxes sent in 07

§         32 presently filled, waiting to accumulate 45 boxes to send.

Ø       Migrant Workers

§         Food to be collected beginning Ash Wednesday through Easter Sunday

§         Delivery of collected food Wednesday after Easter

Ø       SVDP Meals

§         Parishioners fix 220 meals 24 times a year.

Ø       Health Ministry

§         CPR classes for 5 cafeteria workers, 5 ushers and 5 greeters.

§         Defibulator for church- considering applying for a grant to help off-set cost.

Ø       Guatemala Surgical Team

§         Luanne Springhart to return again this year.

Ø       Organ Donation program

§         4/13/08-6:30 pm

Ø       SVDP Society

§         Gene Porter president

Ø       Prayer Vigils

§         Continue-contact person is Roger Emery

Ø       Respect Life

§         Display in church of infant's shoes created by Wellman.

Ø       Social Justice

§         Candidates Night 10/21/08

§         Weavers of Justice addressing the homeless issue.

§         Ohio Coalition for Responsible Lending

·         Hoping to restrict interest rate to no more than 36%.

Ø       Dorothy Day

§         84 attended January dinner

WORSHIP COMMISSION

Ø       Ash Wednesday Flyers

§         Flyers were distributed and assignments made.  Members of the Commission will get these into nearby businesses next week.  The flyer is an invitation to Precious Blood Ash Wednesday services.                     

Ø       Lector Letter:

§         Mike and Meg Lang, our new lector coordinators, are preparing a letter to be sent to all lectors.

Ø       Worship Budget:

§         The Commission has asked that the new greeter badges, the defibrillator, the Ministry Pro Scheduler with yearly updates, and additional hearing assist devices be placed on the budget for next year.  There is a sign for hearing devices that needs to be placed in the gathering space.

Ø       Lenten Schedules:

§         Bonnie Ekhart presented the Worship Calendar for January through the Sunday after Easter.  The Lenten reflections will be on the web site, no Tuesday a.m. Prayer Service,  Stations have moved to 4:00 p.m. Sundays, the remainder of the Lenten Booklet (minus reflections) will be mailed out as usual, and Mass on Tuesday Evenings.

Ø       What happens during Mass? 

§         Andy Rammel is putting together a power point presentation for fourth graders to see during Lent.  Worship hopes to view this in the near future.

Ø       Pastoral Regions Survey:

§         Many surveys are being returned.  No compilation of results at this time.

Ø       Members discussed "Goal 2" under "Renewing the Vision." 

§         We discussed how we can attract more of the youth to church.  How can we make them feel more welcome?  It was  suggested trying to get them more involved in ushering or greeting.  We are to read this over and give it more thought for next meeting. 

Ø       Liturgy Plannning: 

§         Fran Brackman reported on the Christmas counts: 4:00 p.m.821;6:30 p.m. 367;  10:30 p.m. 429;  9:30 a.m. 282.

§         The Harp Concert was a success. 

§         The crèche display was beautiful and no problems.

Ø       Environment:

§         Larry Sutherland stated that there were many wonderful comments on the Christmas decorations this year.

Ø       Lectors: 

§         Lectors have been meeting with Mike Lang to train.

Ø       Hospitality: 

§         Fred Schoenhofer stated that there were two Masses over the Christmas season where no greeters showed up.

Ø       Musicians: 

§         Jerry Moeder reported that the Christmas season was beautiful and many people commented on it.

PARISH LIFE COMMISSION

Ø       Appreciation Dinner went well, nice turn out approx. 250 attended.

Ø       50's Dance

§         Looking at holding dance sometime in April, May or June.

Ø       Leisure Club

§         Will purchase a warmer to be used at Funeral Receptions.

OLD BUSINESS

Ø       Questions arose concerning Strategic Planning Goals and Objectives.

§         What's going on with it?

§         Do we need to look at another process to see where we should go?

§         Aren't we suppose to be evaluating goals and objectives?

Ø       Discussion:

§         Sharon and Mark have discussed the possibility of a Strategic Planning Retreat with quarterly days of renewal.

§         Youth Commission members find reporting what they are doing at a monthly meeting a waste of time.

Ø       Action:

§         Pat will send the Precious Blood Parish Strategic Priority List, Strategic Map, Implementing the Strategic Map and Parish Council Responsibilities during and after the Strategic Planning Process.  These documents are to be reviewed by the members for discussion at the February Council meeting.

NEW BUSINESS

Ø       SVDP Food Distribution

§         Are there any plans in place for something like this?

§         Stillwater Methodist Church has a store front food pantry on Main St. in Trotwood which is open once a week.  Maybe we could partner with them.

§         This would be something the cluster might take on. 

§         Our Collaboration efforts aren't at this level yet. 

§         Complications could occur involving distribution of funds etc

FATHER BILL'S COMMENTS

Ø       Two High school students are participating in the Right to Life in D.C.

Ø       Two Scouts have received the Ad Altare Dei Award.

Ø       3/1/08 next CONNECTIONS will be sent out.

Ø       292 Regional Planning Surveys returned, almost all were positive.

§         Hopefully results of all three parishes will be ready for our February Council Meeting.

Ø       Sheila Dineen, single mother of 5 adopted children with health problems is having health issues herself.  She needs an adult to help her out.  Is there anyone a member of council may know that would be interested in doing this?  If you know of anyone, please contact Fr. Bill.

Ø       Paul Jones is critically ill in Indiana.

DISCUSSION

Ø       Youth attendance at Mass.

Comments-

§         Don't have commitment of parents to bring children.

·         Are there avenues we can explore to help entice youth into participation causing parents to assume responsibility of bringing youth to Mass?

§         More lively music to attract youth.

§         There has been a growth of Catholic Youth Music.

§         Liturgies don't reflect our diversity.

·         To accomplish this we would need to hire someone.  Bonnie and Skip already are overburdened.

·         This might be something that the Regional Cluster should explore.

·         Contemporary setting for the Eucharist means a new Mass time-not another Mass time.

Meeting adjourned at 9:30 pm

Next Meeting, February 25, 2008
Meeting Room of church
7:30 pm