Saint Rita Parish |
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13 November 2006 Pastoral Council Minutes
Attendees (highlighted in bold type):
Documents Reviewed: [list the documents presented/reviewed at the meeting]§ October 2, 2006 Parish Council Meeting Minutes § Family Life Center Site Plan § List of Events for Coming Months Agenda: ________________________________________________________________________Discussion [should include all items on the agenda]§ Father Tom opened the meeting at 6:30 pm with a prayer § Minutes from previous meeting were accepted § Objective update: v Goal 1/Objective 3 RE program using bible as primary source; Lyn Waddell presented an update on current curriculum being used for RE program from K5-12th grade, as well as Confirmation, First Holy Communion, RCIA, and Adult Bible Study; New American Bible is the text book being used in all of these programs. v Goal 2/Objective 2 Develop a curriculum that will attract youth group members. Chris Flow discussed having a place for Catholic Youth to meet, share and build community among the youth of our parish. Average number of middle school/high school youth attending program each week is about nine. About 20 registered. § Hispanic group is forming a separate youth group on Wednesday night. § Youth Group: Extra curricular activities in the past have included bon fire on the beach and lock in. Bill asked if we have liabilities/safety issues when youth stay overnight or leave church campus. Father Tom and Lyn reassured him that there is a parental release forms used for these events. § Discussion to how to handle visiting non-catholic youth at our program. Lyn said she would develop a handout/guide to give to guests that accompany a current member. Lyn also informed all that forms about the Catholic Faith cannot be given directly to a minor (child under 18) but must be given to the parent of the child. § Decision was made to create a form that could invite all youth to future youth group events. v Goal 3/Objective 2 Welcoming Committee. Two meetings have already occurred by requesting volunteers from the altar each week. About 20 people helping Jackie on this committee at this time. v Goal 4/Objective 2 Habitat for Humanity. Dave discussed meeting held with Deacon Dave and a Habitat for Humanity representative. Process of raising money for the house discussed. Committee chair was selected. Process of raising money for the house may take more than a year. At that time, our parish will need to look at amount raised thus far. Decision will be made to build house on our own or to join with another church. Church group voted that we would like to sponsor a house on our own. v Goal 5/Objective 1 Parish Mission. Group has formed of about seven volunteers. Group wants to not only have one mission but two per year; Current goal is to have one in March 2007 and another in November 2007. v Goal 6/Objective 1 New parish directory. Committee formed. Wonderful talented members of St. Rita's, including a graphic artist, working on idea. Initial plan is to contact two photo studios and ask for presentations. Studios begin considered at this time are Olan Mills and Lifetouch. After presentations, committee to make selection. v Continual updates from all committees will be needed as well as to keep the parish council informed of current progress, needs and wants. § Land Update v Idea: current situation on available new land to purchase vs. staying with current architectural plans v Review of email from Matt Savoie about land that is for sale north of the current church property. Email states that cost is approximately 1.6M to purchase property. In addition, another 950,000 to mitigate and demuck land v Examination of master architectural plans by council v Church has permission to hand clear cypress swamp from Core of Engineers; land would also have to be demucked and filled. Even keeping cypress swamp the current original architectural plans includes a multi purpose gym, school building, small catholic school, and family life center. v Discussion of advantages and disadvantages of purchasing additional 10 acres to the south; Theresa pointed out the other land that diocese owns - 100+ acres outside of Freeport, in the town of Freeport 10 acres - probably for a new parish church. Father Tom confirmed. v Discussion of what would be the possible use of new 10 acre tract. St. Rita's would probably not want to build a new church but could use site to develop a school or other church buildings. v After examination of the current architectural plans, council decided that it would meet the current and future needs of our parish as seen at this time; Concerns stated by all: where do we see the church growing in the future? Will we need the additional land for development of current parish outreach programs (i.e.: St. Vincent de Paul, homeless shelter, food bank) v Father Tom stated that the Bishop encourages all parishes to purchase available land as most parishes in our diocese do not have enough land to develop as needed. v Felita mentioned cost of building is growing in our area in the last few years. Father Tom confirmed that architect Matt Savoie had recently stated that building per square foot is now up to approx. $160 sq ft. v Father Tom mentioned that a disadvantage of the additional 10 acres is that it is low lying land that will require fill and to be demucked but the advantage is that the land is being purchased for the future generations of our parish. v Bill pointed out that he felt the council should find out about all options for the sale of the land. He would like to see a meeting between Matt Savoie and the land owner on purchase options both now and in the future. He would also like to find out if the land does not sell at this time, would the owner consider selling it to the church at a future date. v Father Tom is to draft a letter to the Bishop from the parish council discussing the purchase of the land as well as the Bishops plans for future development at St. Rita's, South Walton County, and the surrounding area. The letter will also state that the current architectural drawings meets the current and future needs (as seen at this time) of the church. § Saturday Mass Times v Table question of Saturday mass time. Questions to ponder at this time: Do we need a change? It is confusing to visitors. Our current time cannot change until we change the ad in the phone book. Father Tom asked council to consider how they would set up Saturday mass schedule in the future. § Father Tom announced that he will be going away in January and February 2007 (for approximately six weeks). He will be leaving January 2 and coming back in February. Father Lequra from Crestview will be filling in while he is away. § Review of calendar for January & February 2007 v CSA will need a chairperson to handle the fundraising drive for our parish and diocese while Father Tom Collins is out of town. v Table CSA plans at this time. Discussion to take place at next Finance Committee. § Update from Hurricane Recovery Team and parish in Bayou La Batrie. v Christmas campaign under way. Zeke Bratkowski presented to council the success of the program. He also stated the on-going needs continuing through this holiday season: · Projected that 40 families need food - many will get two meals; Thanksgiving meals and tent to serve food · School children need uniforms. He has contracted with local uniform supplier - clothing should be there next week Also, 40 book bags for school children as Christmas presents – ordered from LL Bean at a discount · Dolls for the girls and any kind of balls for the boys for Christmas presents. All items to be placed on Angel Tree in MSS room for parish members § Tentative Parish Council meeting scheduled for December 18, 2006 § Parish Council Upcoming Meeting Dates: · January 22, 2007, March 12, 2007, May 14, 2007, July 9th, 2007
Action Items [fill in as appropriate]
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