February 2, 2005 Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the Meeting of the St. Therese Pastoral Council
February 2, 2005

The Pastoral Council met February 2, 2005 in the St. Therese Parish and Education Center. Pris Pawlikowski, Tom Skorupa, Nancy Fahey, Linda Winter, Steve Hilliard, Joe Doetzl, Dennis Meier, Damian Gerstner, Fr. Mike Roach, Linda Albani and Brad Grill were present

Facilitators: Damian Gerstner and Dennis Meier
Prayer: Tom Skorupa
Scribe: Joe Doetzl

Tom led a Gospel reflection and prayer.

Damian summarized the comments received on the essential elements document:
Some comments were easier to digest than others
Some respondents confused the measuring sticks were observations
The presence of observations may have slanted the results of some responses
The Parish needs a current and well maintained list of ministries
We need a larger sample of observations
We should acknowledge the responses received

Damian summarized the overall “tone” of the comments received regarding each essential element:
Community – Positive overall, welcoming could be improved
Liturgy – mostly positive, mixed response on youth ministry
Faith Formation – challenged to do more in this area
Stewardship – positive, wish for broader participation
Leadership – more succession planning needed
Pastoral care/social ministry – more responses on pastoral care than on social ministry
Spirituality – mostly positive responses

The Council agreed on an approach to form the pastoral plan:
Collect more data
Analyze the results
Set Goals
Focus groups to formulate specific objectives

Our target is to have goals and objectives published by May.
A sub group consisting of Damian, Joe, Linda Winter and Nancy will meet to flesh out the details and schedule of the above approach. Linda Winter will provide an abbreviated essential elements document for use in mailings or bulletin inserts.

Brad Grill provided an update from the Youth Ministry sub committee. Dennis, Brad, Linda Albani and Steve met to discuss youth ministry. Brad circulated a straw man survey to be used to gather information about the state of and hopes for youth ministry. The council agreed that the immediate crisis facing youth ministry has passed and that the youth survey should wail until after the additional data collection regarding the essential elements.

The next meeting is 2/16 at 6:45. Damian will facilitate. Pris will prepare prayer. Joe will scribe. Dennis and Brad will provide an update from the youth ministry sub-committee.