St Anthony Parish Advisory Council Minutes
April 19, 2018
All members present: Father Vic, Chris Wagar, Jim Hines, Sue Cowan, John Sedbrook, Chris O Brien and Mary Brooks.
I. Opening Prayer
John Sedbrook led the opening prayer: Heavenly Father guide us in the all the decisions we make.
II. Review/Approval Minutes from March
Minutes were approved by all.
III. Pastor’s Report
May 29th is a very important date to remember as the Bishop will be here for ConfirmationFirst Eucharist. He generally only comes once a year, so Father Vic is hoping it will be a time for the whole parish to come together.
The discussion then turned to where Father would stay during the remodeling of the rectory. Father Vic said Duane Sanger had an RV he could use and was very grateful. Soon after he moved in, Virginia Brown asked him to consider staying at her house as she has a full basement apartment with a drive in garage, and other the amenities. So Father has decided to stay there during the remodeling of the rectory. Father plans to stay a couple nights a week at Madeline Falls. Father announced that he will be staying at St Anthony’s for another 6 years. We all were very excited to hear the wonderful news, a saving grace for the community of St. Anthony’s. Father is going to enjoy the new rectory for a long time.
IV. Financial Report Review
Father Vic said we received a check for $1,000 to be used as needed for the rectory. We had a great March, $12,800 in contributions. After expenses we netted $1691 for the month. Year to date: $26,542
V. Communication
a. Maintenance/Remodeling Jim Hines said the demolition is going very well. God has supplied many, many volunteers to help. It has given the congregation an opportunity to not only work together but to get to know each other. As an example; Linda Rose worked all day long bagging up old insulation. She had the opportunity to visit with Steve Wilson and get to know him. She said that it was a lot of fun. Chris Wagar thanked Jim and Jean Hines for all they are doing to oversee and organize the remodeling. We appreciate all their work. It is astounding the see what they are accomplishing!
b. St Joseph statue Pedestal has been ordered. By ordering on line we saved over $400 on the statue. It will be the same size as the Mary statue on the other side of the altar.
VI. Old Business
The Capital Campaign has been put on hold until further notice. The Priest’s Council advised the Bishop that this is not the right time for a Capital Campaign as parishes need to do some long needed repairs and upkeep. Sue Cowan said the Priest’s Pension Plan needed to take forefront in the diocese spending plan.
VII. New Business
Chris Wagar brought up the congestion in the back of the church before Mass. The ushers will be moved up to the back pew. The chair and small cabinet will be removed. The existing pedestal will remain and the one under the St Joseph statue matches so it will be placed in the back to look a little more coordinated. Also we will be getting new collection baskets.
Sue Cowan suggested having one way traffic in the parking lot. Jim said he could order some one way signs. People will come in on First Street and go out the side street. We will put it in the bulletin and mention it a few times so people realize what we are trying to do.
VIII. Placeholders:
a. Upcoming events: Confirmation/First Communion May 29th Italian Dinner is May 19th. b. Newsletter prep (May) c. Parish Picnic (May) d. Thanksgiving dinner 2018 prep (May) e. Basement updates (TBD)
IX. Next meeting/time
April 17th @ 5:00 Sue Cowan will lead prayer and bring snacks
X. Closing Prayer: John Sedbrook
St. Anthony Parish Advisory
4:00 PM
All members were present: Father Vic, Chairperson Chris Wagar, Jim Hines, Phyllis Kardos, Ray Dirks, Sue Cowan and Mary Brooks.
I.Opening Prayer – Father Vic
II.Review / Approval of June 2016 meeting minutes
The minutes were approved other than one small addition.
III.Pastor’s report
Deacon John has informed the Parish that he will be moving back to Ohio to be with his family. Mary Ann Barton will also be moving as she has received an offer on her house. She has put a note in the bulletin that we will be looking for an office assistant. No departure date has been set.
Father Vic was recently in Moscow with the Pastor there in a meeting regarding stewardship. Bishop Daly wants October 30th to be stewardship Sunday in every Parish in the Diocese. On October 17th Father will be sending out an introductory letter to everyone in the Parish letting them know about our plans for a Ministries Fair. We will be getting information from the Office of Communications before then. Father felt the timing was perfect as we are presently working on our newsletter for the Church. It will be put in a booklet form, thanks to Phyllis Kardos and Sue Cowan for all their hard work. All of the present heads of the Ministries will have a booth and present information about their duties and goals.
Religious Education is also making changes because of the loss of John Westover. There is a meeting planned after Mass this weekend.
Some of the parishioners wanted to move the Blessed Virgin Mary statue into the Chapel. That is where people meet to pray the rosary.
There was a proposal made to Father to make some changes at the old altar at the west entrance of the church. There will be track lighting installed and perhaps a plaque added to indicate that this was the altar from the old church. The area will be straightened up to make it look inviting.
IV.Financial Report Review
The Advisory Council went over the planned budget for next year. We went over any expenses that may be flexible as well as the fixed expenses. It was suggested we maintain a rainy day fund but do need to proceed with necessary expenses. Everyone approved the proposed budget for the new year.
We then went over the July and August financials. Father said the Sunday offerings were really great, some of which came from the summer visitors and the Saturday evening Mass. Financial statement was approved by all.
V.Communication
Committee Reports – Chairpersons are to report activities to Chris Wagar prior to the PAC meetings. There were changes made recently to some of the committees. The Finance Chair is still Ed Zupich, Altar Society will be Kathy Busskohl, Choir is still Bev Schloss, Maintenance will be Tom Stevens, Knights of Columbus is Steve Summer and Religious Ed is still pending at this time. Phyllis Kardos said we need to have an email folder of all our committee chairmen as well as the ministries leaders.
Father Vic did submit to Chris Wagar a report from Tom Stevens thanking everyone who donated both time and money to complete the lift project. Duane Sanger and Tim Groh did the electrical and the sheet rock. Both did a beautiful job. Jim Hines did a fantastic job of overseeing the work and completion of the elevator. The following project is to integrate the downstairs entry into the elevator from the parish hall. To make it more pleasing to the eye. There will be more volunteers needed until it takes its final form.
Other projects completed were doors and porches from Father Vic’s house into the court yard and the garage. Father is very happy with the results. Other accomplishments this year have been a new roof on the church and some new insulation in the ceiling of the Church. Ray Dirks is overseeing the sealing of the cracks in the parking lot and painting of the parking space lines for the handicap parking near the east entrance. Roland Buskohl is planning on taking care of the statue of Mary on the front of Church. Jim Hines is the Parish Council representative to the maintenance committee. We all have to work together, a collaborative effort. An altar rail is something we need to consider for descending from the altar to the main floor.
KLS – Updates for 2017 - Our goal is outreach, ecumenism, and evangelization. We are going forward with stewardship, coming up this Sunday. The outreach and ecumenism is to incorporate the community and fellowship with our local churches and to spread the Word of our Catholic Faith. October 14th is the annual KLS assembly at St. Thomas Moore Church in Spokane. Monsignor Kevin Erwin will be the Speaker who has written many, many religious books. Through Him, With Him and In Him in the Unity of the Holy Spirit and Almighty God Forever and Ever, is the theme of this year’s Assembly. There was a discussion about meeting with other Faiths to learn more about their beliefs and to share our thoughts and beliefs with them. Chris Wagar had visited a number of Catholic Churches this summer and was impressed by their outreach to other religions. Plans will be considered at a later PAC meeting.
VI.Old Business
Wheelchair lift – Jim Hines
According to Jim Hines, the lift was completed and inspected last week. They did static test, overload tests a number of other inspections to certify the lift. The inspector was ecstatic about how the lift was done. He had nothing but good things to say about the total lift. It passed with flying colors. One of the safety features of the lift, is that you have to hold the button down to keep it moving, if you take your finger off the button, it will stop. Right now we have five of the parishioners trained to operate the lift with a key. It does require a key at all the stations to start the operation of the lift
All the keys are identical for all the lifts in the country. They are ADA keys. For the first few months we will have one of the key holders stationed at the lift to assist anyone to go up or down. The cost of the lift itself was $30,411.00. We did upgrade the doors and that added $3000.00 to the cost. Duane and Tim Groh saved us thousands of dollars with the electrical and the drywall instillation. With the added expense of cutting the concrete the final cost was $38,785.
Further recommendations are the painting of 4 or 5 handicap parking spaces near the East entrance also the Knights room at the bottom of the lift downstairs is in dire need of improvement. It needs to be more of a lobby with chairs, nice lighting and drywall the sides and take out the old paneling. Sue Cowan agreed that the present room is very gloomy.
One of the lengthy discussions we did have was arranging the classrooms for Religious Ed. Father Vic was excited about using the existing classrooms for two of the classes and maybe use the cry room for the smaller children’s classes. Jim Hines is going to make this suggestion to the Maintenance Committee and then return to the next PAC meeting with their thoughts on the idea.
Review of Parish Picnic on July 31
Everyone seemed to have a really good time and enjoy the food. There was a good turnout, over a 100 people. Jim Hines was complimented on the construction of the bar, it works great for an ice cream bar or whatever. October 10th will be a luncheon by the Pilipino ladies and the 9th will be Octoberfest.
VII.New Business
Election of Officers – Chris
Ray Dirks suggested that the current slate of officers will retain their present offices. Ray Dirks made a motion that the officers stay the same and Jim Hines seconded the motion. A suggestion was made that the minutes need to be stored or downloaded on a thumb drive and kept by the present secretary until the next secretary is voted in then the flash drive will be passed on.
Review of ministries - Father Vic.
It was brought to Father Vic’s attention that we might need to have an Elder Ministry. Presently we have 12 eighty year olds and 3 ninety year olds. We have to evolve as time goes on. We discussed how much we would miss Peggy Gaylord as she was one of our oldest parishioners.
Phyllis Kardos brought up the Music Ministry. Olivia Tefft is now part of the Music group. Benjamin Kardos has been working with her for one year and now Ted Kardos is helping her during the music.
Ideas for 2017 projects – Chris
Displaying our Mission Statement: In the new lobby and at the front of the Church? Chris Wagar wanted to have it added to our bulletin, also maybe change the bulletin boards to be more appealing with the Mission Statement added.
VIII.Next meeting date/time
October 25th. @ 4:00 PM
IX.Closing Prayer - Father Vic led us in the closing prayer.