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Saint Timothy Parish Council Minutes
November 16, 2004
Present: Marin Smith, Jerry Grefer, Rick Hoban, Joe Meiman, Larry Lense, Mary
Brzinski, Fred Bernier, Jill Canode, Father Witte, Laura Eades
Absent: Laurie Battiston, Mark Dornoff, Michelle Svec, Kim Wiehoff, Dianna
Taylor, Sarah Hoeben
1. Opening prayer read by Jerry Grefer.
2. Father Witte attended a lecture by Father Richard Vosko from St.
Meinrad in Southern Indiana. He is the artistic consultant used for the
Cathedral in Los Angeles. Father is interested in having Fr. Vosko assist St.
Timothy with our Pastoral plan. We are at the point now in our process for
taking the next step. Fr. Vosko has a web site – www.rvosko.com. He is a
designer of churches and consultant on projects to give a vision of church and
assist you in making plans work. He would help broaden our perspective in who
gets education where a broader range of people can get involved and educated on
the master plan. Vosko is used to working in a parish structure which will be
very valuable for our overall Pastoral plan . Father will keep us updated on his
communication with Father Vosko. This process will begin in the new year.
Discussion from parish council included need for someone to make overall plan
spiritual due to faith communities involved. Joan W. is our landscape architect
and Father Vosko will get plan going. Land agreement was signed on November
14th. We take possession of the land on January 15, 2005. Father Vosko will
assist in setting up the process. St. Timothy community will carry out the
process.
3. Mary Brzinski enquired what responsibility does a parish council
member have? She is from the Outreach ministry and has not reported anything to
the Parish council. Father and other parish council members commented that we
assisted in the long term vision and making the Pastoral plan work. We talk to
other people in our regions/ministries. Questions can be brought to the council
meetings. Send questions/topics to Kay Schuele and they will be included on the
agenda for the next meeting. Fr. Witte commented that dealing with the day to
day issues is not what council is expected to do. Activity at Saint Timothy’s is
staff driven. Projects are decided upon by committees and then presented to
Parish council. Parish council only meets 10 times per year. Jill Canode brought
up idea for Parish council member to greet at masses so that people will know
who we are. It was also suggested that a parish council member present
information at a mass to update the community on who is on Parish council and
how to get information to representatives. Council member pictures need to be
taken so that they can be posted on the web. Parish council minutes are posted
on Saint Timothy web site. Parish Council member rotation for 2005 is as
follows: Replace regions 2 and 6, Special events, Youth, Stewardship and
Communications. 2006 will be replace regions 7,8, and 9 and Finance and Worship.
2007 will be replacing region 1,3,4 and 5, Religious Education and Outreach
ministry. Members are on a 3 year rotation.
4. Sanctuary – Father reported that work needs to be done in the
sanctuary to adapt the worship space to better accommodate music ministry and
art and environment. An estimate from Millay Construction for $7,900 was made.
Roof in church slopes down to bring alter to center of attention. No design is
made at the present for this work. Father Witte would like to consult with
Father Vosko on this project as well.
5. Christmas Party for Saint Timothy parish will be on December 18,
2004. Information will be sent out later.
6. Mediation Process of the Diocese – Father Witte reported what he
knew regarding the Class Action law suit against the Diocese. The mediator for
the process is Mr. Fineburg who is the mediator for the 911 fund. The law suit
will affect the Diocese in some way. May be by sale of property, liquidation? We
do not know at this time. Diocese is not declaring bankruptcy so it will not
affect schools and churches. The advantage to the process is once it is
completed it will be FINAL. No more claims can be made. This is difficult
because it is a long process. They will go through each case and give a monetary
amount. Process will affect us in some way. Diocese is trying to make sure
proper information is documented. Mediation process to go to court some time in
April. Father commented that USA Today reported $14 million in abuse cases in
our Diocese. $772 million across 200 dioceses in the United States. This case
covers from 1950 to present. Father will continue to update the parish as he
gets the information.
7. There is no Parish Council meeting for December. Next Parish
Council meeting will be Tuesday, January 18, 2005 at 7:00 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Laura Eades
Parish Council Secretary
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