MQHR Parish Pastoral Council Minutes January 10, 2013
PPC Members in attendance: Fr. Dan Noll, Fr. Jeffery Estacio, Deacon Bill Rood , Bill Drane, Walter Leachman, Steve McCauley, Cora Mudd, John Mitchell, Phil Heink, Karen Morgison, Jesus Romero , Vincente Munoz, Carol Lee, Norma Flores, Kevin Lamping, Mary Grace Allen and Brian Carlson.
Other Attendees: None
Absent: Omar Mendenz
The meeting started at 7:00pm with Fr. Dan and Bill Drane leading in praying the rosary.
Announcement of Executive Committee Assignments:
Bill Drane announced the following Executive Committee Assignments for upcoming year as: Bill Drane – Chairman; Karen Morgison – Vice Chair; Steve McCauley – Recorder; Norma Flores – Liaison to Finance Council; and Vincente Munoz – Alternate.
New Member Photos:
John Mitchell agreed to take photographs of Vincente Munoz, Mary Grace Allen and Brian Carlson to display with the other PPC Members in the church meeting area. The pictures were taken immediately following the PPC Meeting.
Task Force Status and Recommendations:
There was a great deal of discussion on the 2012 objectives and the Task Forces created to implement the objectives. The discussions culminated as follows:
Objective 1A – Cost/benefit analysis for 3rd Priest. No recommendation was made from the Task Force but all generally agreed that this objective should remain open for discussion. Walter pointed out that since the Budget Sub-committee of the Finance Council was beginning to work on the upcoming budget, if a 3rdpriest was being considered, it would need to be addressed in the budget. Given the time constraints, Norma agreed to address this with the Finance Council and other interested persons and report back to the PPC at its February Meeting.
Objective 1C – Form the parish for more unifying and sanctifying Sacrements.
One Task Force report was discussed from May 2012. No recommendations were presented to the PPC and no actions were taken by the PPC.
Objective 2A – Create policies and procedures for use of parish facilities.
The PPC Members were presented with draft of the policies and procedures from the Task Force. Walter advised that the Task Force posted an update to the draft policies and procedures earlier in the day with substantial modifications. It was the consensus decision to table this objective until the next PPC meeting scheduled January 22.
Objective 2C – Action plan based upon a study of who parish does/does not serve.
One Task Force report was discussed from June 2012. No recommendations were presented to the PPC and no actions were taken by the PPC.
Objective 2D – Create and publicize current and potential uses of ELC.
The Task Force created a 10-point plan for PPC discussion regarding publicizing the use of the ELC. It was the consensus of the PPC that this objective is closely intertrelated with Objective 2A and that they should be dealt with in unison. Further discussion of this objective was tabled along and will resume with Objective 2A at the January 22nd PPC Meeting.
Objective 3B – Utilize pre-K program as a school feeder and analyze pre-k tuition options.
Objective 3B was merged into Objective 3D and therefore no recommendations were made to nor were actions taken by the PPC.
Objective 3D – Market school and recruit new students.
The Task Force recommended to the PPC that a pre-paid tuition program should be established at MQHR. The proposal was presented to the Finance Council and was received favorably though the specifics of the program need to be further vetted and discussed. The PPC likewise favorably received the pre-paid tuition concept and recommended that Task Force 3D be reappointed to continue formulate a pre-paid tuition program with the assistance of the Finance Council and PPC as needed. Bill Rood, a representative on Task Force 3D, assured the PPC that the Task Force was willing and anxious to continue working on this objective.
Objective 4D – Unite our diverse parish.
The Task Force, through its reports and Vincente, presented a recommendation to the PPC to create a “Diversity Committee” to establish bonds between our Hispanic and Anglo cultures. The Task Force suggested at least three annual celebrations to celebrate our diversity and bring our two cultures together as one. Feast days such as the Feast of Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Lenten Fridays (involvement with fish fry) and others were discussed as possible opportunities for multi-cultural celebrations. The Task Force also recommended informal “pot luck” gatherings as a way to unite our two diverse cultures.
Discussion was held regarding the placement of a “Diversity Committee” in the parish structure/hierarchy, and further discussion was had regarding the need for a staffed and operational Parish Life Committee for the Parish. A consensus was reached regarding the importance of bridging perceived or actual diversity gaps in the parish and those willing to offer their services on the proposed Diversity Committee could work towards the reestablishment of the Parish Life Committee, which all agreed was needed and necessary.
Objective 5E – Welcome new parishioners.
The Task Force made a recommendation to the PPC as outlined in their report of September 2012. The PPC approved the policies and procedures set forth in the recommendation and the objective has been successfully fulfilled.
Objective 5F – Spread the Good News.
John Mitchell pointed out that a great deal of evangelization is presently ongoing at MQHR. He noted that our RCIA program is highly regarded in the diocese and that it along with all other forms of evangelization is an ongoing objective for the PPC and the parish at large. The PPC agreed that ongoing evangelization was important to the mission of the parish and that this objective is likewise ongoing.
Draft Proposal for parish input on five-year forecast.
Father Dan discussed his draft proposal and a timeline for the PPC to involve the parish at large into discussions of what can be done to counter the five-year financial forecast (which predicts a $675,000 shortfall, over and above 5% annual offertory increases, tuition hikes and capital campaigns). Discussion was held regarding the use of the MQHR website and online surveys to solicit parishioners input into how to raise revenue and/or cut costs. Kevin Lamping and Karen Morgison agreed to spearhead an effort to create an online survey seeking input from parishioners as to how to raise revenue, how to cut costs and what they would be willing to do/forego to help eliminate the five-year financial deficit. John Mitchell agreed to assist in getting the survey on the parish website. Some ideas of parishioner involvement included, volunteers to do work of paid contractors (landscaping or maintenance for example) and wearing a sweater to mass in the winter so the heat could be lowered.
The next meeting will be held on January 22, 2013 in the AB meeting rooms off the church meeting area.