PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church
Norton, KS
The Pastoral Council meeting was called to order on September 25, 2017, with Parish Council members Randy Clydesdale, Stuart Brooks, Karen Carter, Janelle Morel, Richard Miller, and Darla Engel present. Fr. Jose Kumblumkal and Parish Secretary Angela Burton also attended.
Fr. Jose Kumblumkal opened the meeting with prayers.
Janelle Morel moved to add Election of Officers to the agenda. Stuart Brooks seconded the motion. With all in favor the motion carried.
Janelle Morel moved to accept the agenda as amended. Karen Carter seconded the motion. With all in favor the motion carried.
Public Comments: Some parishioners have expressed the desire to remove the risen Christ from the altar area and relocate the statue in the Church. Some parishioners continue to have issues with the ceiling fans bothering their eyes.
Janelle Morel moved to accept the previous minutes as presented. Stuart Brooks seconded the motion. With all in favor the motion carried.
St. Francis Ladies Society: Ladies Society made arrangements to clean/wax the parish hall floor. Plans to clean/wax the floor over the Christmas school break are in progress. Five funeral dinners were served in the past four months. New mats for the doorways of the parish hall are on order. Fall bazaar is scheduled on October 8, 2017. Senior Citizen Christmas party is scheduled on December 14, 2017, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Parishioners and/or Society members are asked to donate a Christmas ornament or bingo prize. A date will be scheduled to celebrate the newly baptized babies of the parish.
Liturgy: Members met on August 3, 2017, and made plans for upcoming services. Chriss McDiffett and Karen Carter are assisting with the training of mass servers. Fr. Jose has provided parishioners with information concerning funerals, marriage preparation and celebrating the Rite of Marriage. Members are encouraged to come up with ideas to help our parishers continue their Catholic education.
Legion of Mary: Legion of Mary members meet each Tuesday at 4:15 p.m. in the parish hall library and are currently looking for members. Members plan on traveling to the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine at St. Germanus Catholic Church in Arapahole, Nebraska, for a pilgrimage.
CYO: Katie Johnson served as a counselor at the Jr. CYO camp at Rock Springs in May. CYO will be in charge of mass one time per month and will help serve at the fall bazaar in October. Nine youth will attend NCYC in November 2017.
Pastor's Report: Suzi Brooks is the Share Your Faith director and has met with Fr. Jose concerning the current year of SYF. Fr. Jose also conducted a meeting with the catechists. Blessing of the catechists occurred on September 24, 2017. Margaret Wetter resigned as liturgy coordinator after serving over thirty-four years. Janelle Morel has agreed to help with this area. Carla Collins is now hired to clean the parish hall. Mary Jane Wahlmeier cleaned the kitchen in the interim and has offered to help with cleaning when needed. Ray Caldwell is in charge of grounds maintenance and was assisted by Sue Hillebrand on occasion. Fr. Jose would like to hire a maintenance worker. Finance council is working on a job description and suggested rate of pay. The Priest convocation in Kansas City in September had many good speakers.
Unfinished Business: Finance council continues to work on the parish hall roof project. Weathercraft and Roofmasters submitted updated bid proposals. Council members are looking at the possibility of a pitched roof and have contacted a contractor. Bids are also sought to remove the air conditioning units from the roof of the parish hall.
New Business: Karen Carter moved and Stuart Brooks seconded a motion to appoint Randy Clydesdale, President; Stuart Brooks, Vice President; Janelle Morel, Secretary; Richard Miller, Finance Council Representative and Darla Engel, Liturgy Council Representative. With all in favor the motion carried.
Norton Glass will be contacted to look at the south door in the basement of the Church. Public Square Rosary Crusade is scheduled at the Veteran's Memorial Park in Norton on October 14, 2017, at 12:00 p.m.
A special collection for victims of hurricane Irma is scheduled on September 30, 2017.
The meeting closed with prayer led by Fr. Jose. The next meeting is scheduled on November 27, 2017, at 7:00 p.m.
The minutes are unofficial until approved by the council.
Respectfully Submitted:
Janelle K. Morel, Secretary
