St. Mary’s Church Parish Council Minutes Nov. 15, 2007 Joan Frith called the meeting to order at 6:35 P.M. The following members were in attendance: Father Jay, Tina Bidic, Rich Falk, Joan Frith, Deacon Chris Nichols, Beth Takacs, Mike Takacs, Dona Veight, and Joe Webb. Opening prayer: Rich Falk A motion was made by Joe Webb to approve the Sept. minutes. Rich Falk seconded it. The minutes were approved as written. OLD BUSINESS: Parish Directory – Rich’s phone number is incorrect. It should be put in the bulletin to notify the rectory if there are any mistakes in the directory. Rich and his wife did an excellent job making our parish directory. Many thanks. Parish Planning Update – The plan with St. Ann’s is probably dead. St. Ann’s is getting pressure to join Woodstown and Mullica Hill. We are trying to set up a meeting with Immaculate Conception. We just had the third Deanery meeting. We are breaking into committees – Clergy, Finance, Buildings. We have one more scheduled meeting at the deanery level. None of the Bridgeton parishes are large enough, so in time a new church will need to be built. There is some tension in the Vineland parishes. The plan goes to the Bishop in January. He will make an announcement sometime in mid April to May. Implementation of the plan should begin in Sept. 2008. Probably no real merger until Father Jay retires. A parish of 2,000 families is considered small by national standards. A parish of 3,000 families is considered medium and a parish of 4,000 families and over is considered large. Bylaws – No changes. Blood Drive – Our first blood drive will be held in the church basement on Thursday, Jan. 31st from 2:00 – 8:00 P.M. Roseanne and Joan will need a committee of 3 to 4 more people to assist with signups at Masses and with registrations on that day. On Dec. 4th Joan will meet with Red Cross representative. NEW BUSINESS: New heater and two new air conditioners. Total of $ 10,636.00. Paid in full thanks to the generosity of the people of the parish. Joe Webb is now leading the Eucharistic Service on Mondays. People are mesmerized by Joe. He is following in Deacon Chris’ footsteps. COMMITTEE REPORTS: Youth: Youth Group will start Jan. 20th Evangelization/Ecumenical: Usual programs are continuing. Living Rosary was held Oct. 14, and was made even more moving by addition of Cantor from Immaculate and recitation of the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Servants of the Church will meet again on Dec. 5th here at St. Mary’s. We are in the process of planning a Life in the Spirit Seminar, between Easter and Pentecost, on the four Fridays in April from 7 to 9 P.M. St. Isidore’s in Vineland will host the Seminar, with Father Chris Bakey celebrating the Mass on the 4th night. The Seminar consists of four presentations on the gift of new life in the Holy Spirit, whose presence and power is the source and foundation for real and substantial change in our lives. Family Life: No report Fund Raising: Spaghetti Dinner was a success. No figures yet until all of the bills are in. Almost as many dinners as last year. We have less adults volunteering. It could be because the schools were closed that Thursday and Friday for NJEA Teacher’s Convention. TV Raffle is in progress. We sold about 7 or 8 books at the Spaghetti Dinner. Liturgical: The Liturgical Committee met on October 30, 2007. • Mass of Remembrance will be on Nov. 4th at the 10:00 A.M. Mass. Father Jay requested soft organ music while the names were read. • Thanksgiving Mass will be at 9:00 A.M. There will be no Mass the evening before. • The Giving Trees will be put up on Saturday, November 24th at 9:00 A.M. • The Feast of the Immaculate Conception will be Saturday, December 8th at 9:00 A.M. only. • Decorating for Christmas will take place after the 10:00 A.M. Mass on December 23rd. A request for help will be put in the bulletin. • There will be a “Memorial Flowers Altar” again this year. A notice will be put in the bulletin for those who would like to purchase a plant in memory of a loved one. • Masses for Christmas will be on the 24th at 4:30 P.M., 6:30 P.M. and midnight. On the 25th there will be Mass at 9:00 A.M. (The choir asked about the possibility of moving midnight Mass to an earlier hour.) Not this year, as everything has already been printed for this year. • The next meeting will be held on December 4th at 7:30 P.M. • Deacon Chris closed the meeting with a prayer. Maintenance: Replacement of heater and air conditioner. Publicity: No report. Religious Education: There is a need for a second meeting for parents who did not attend the Confirmation meeting last month. The sixth grade has finished the ornaments for the Giving Tree. Social: Spaghetti Dinner Social Concerns: Our holiday food drive began on Monday, October 29th and will continue until Sunday, December 16th. We have asked for non-perishable items, as well as food used for making holiday dinners. Our coat drive also began on Monday, October 29th, but it will end on Monday, November 18th. Children’s coats are especially needed. At that time, the coats will be taken to Catholic Social Services in Vineland to be distributed to families in need. Our Giving Tree will be placed in the Church sanctuary on the weekend of November 24th. Gifts will be collected until Sunday, December 16th. This time frame will allow for the distribution of gifts before the Christmas holiday. The gifts will also be taken to Catholic Social Services. If anyone is aware of a parish family in need, please contact the rectory so that we might provide for them also. Vocations: No report. COMMENTS FROM FATHER JAY: The number of people attending Mass is increasing at all three Masses. Lots of new faces. We are close to ¾ full to capacity. Father will not be here for our January meeting. Closing prayer: Father Jay The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 P.M. Next meeting - Thursday, Jan. 17th, 6:30 P.M. in the rectory. Home

St. Mary’s Church

Parish Council Minutes

Nov. 15, 2007

Joan Frith called the meeting to order at 6:35 P.M. The following members were in attendance: Father Jay, Tina Bidic, Rich Falk, Joan Frith, Deacon Chris Nichols, Beth Takacs, Mike Takacs, Dona Veight, and Joe Webb.

Opening prayer: Rich Falk

A motion was made by Joe Webb to approve the Sept. minutes. Rich Falk seconded it. The minutes were approved as written.

OLD BUSINESS:

Parish Directory – Rich’s phone number is incorrect. It should be put in the bulletin to notify the rectory if there are any mistakes in the directory. Rich and his wife did an excellent job making our parish directory. Many thanks.

Parish Planning Update – The plan with St. Ann’s is probably dead. St. Ann’s is getting pressure to join Woodstown and Mullica Hill. We are trying to set up a meeting with Immaculate Conception. We just had the third Deanery meeting. We are breaking into committees – Clergy, Finance, Buildings. We have one more scheduled meeting at the deanery level. None of the Bridgeton parishes are large enough, so in time a new church will need to be built. There is some tension in the Vineland parishes. The plan goes to the Bishop in January. He will make an announcement sometime in mid April to May. Implementation of the plan should begin in Sept. 2008. Probably no real merger until Father Jay retires. A parish of 2,000 families is considered small by national standards. A parish of 3,000 families is considered medium and a parish of 4,000 families and over is considered large.

Bylaws – No changes.

Blood Drive – Our first blood drive will be held in the church basement on

Thursday, Jan. 31st from 2:00 – 8:00 P.M. Roseanne and Joan will need a committee of 3 to 4 more people to assist with signups at Masses and with registrations on that day. On Dec. 4th Joan will meet with Red Cross representative.

NEW BUSINESS:

New heater and two new air conditioners. Total of $ 10,636.00. Paid in full thanks to the generosity of the people of the parish.

Joe Webb is now leading the Eucharistic Service on Mondays. People are mesmerized by Joe. He is following in Deacon Chris’ footsteps.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Youth: Youth Group will start Jan. 20th

Evangelization/Ecumenical: Usual programs are continuing.

Living Rosary was held Oct. 14, and was made even more moving by addition of Cantor from Immaculate and recitation of the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Servants of the Church will meet again on Dec. 5th here at St. Mary’s. We are in the process of planning a Life in the Spirit Seminar, between Easter and Pentecost, on the four Fridays in April from 7 to 9 P.M. St. Isidore’s in Vineland will host the Seminar, with Father Chris Bakey celebrating the Mass on the 4th night. The Seminar consists of four presentations on the gift of new life in the Holy Spirit, whose presence and power is the source and foundation for real and substantial change in our lives.

Family Life: No report

Fund Raising: Spaghetti Dinner was a success. No figures yet until all of the bills are in. Almost as many dinners as last year. We have less adults volunteering. It could be because the schools were closed that Thursday and Friday for NJEA Teacher’s Convention.

TV Raffle is in progress. We sold about 7 or 8 books at the Spaghetti Dinner.

Liturgical: The Liturgical Committee met on October 30, 2007.

• Mass of Remembrance will be on Nov. 4th at the 10:00 A.M. Mass. Father Jay requested soft organ music while the names were read.

• Thanksgiving Mass will be at 9:00 A.M. There will be no Mass the evening before.

• The Giving Trees will be put up on Saturday, November 24th at 9:00 A.M.

• The Feast of the Immaculate Conception will be Saturday, December 8th at 9:00 A.M. only.

• Decorating for Christmas will take place after the 10:00 A.M. Mass on December 23rd. A request for help will be put in the bulletin.

• There will be a “Memorial Flowers Altar” again this year. A notice will be put in the bulletin for those who would like to purchase a plant in memory of a loved one.

• Masses for Christmas will be on the 24th at 4:30 P.M., 6:30 P.M. and midnight. On the 25th there will be Mass at 9:00 A.M. (The choir asked about the possibility of moving midnight Mass to an earlier hour.) Not this year, as everything has already been printed for this year.

• The next meeting will be held on December 4th at 7:30 P.M.

• Deacon Chris closed the meeting with a prayer.

Maintenance: Replacement of heater and air conditioner.

Publicity: No report.

Religious Education: There is a need for a second meeting for parents who did not attend the Confirmation meeting last month. The sixth grade has finished the ornaments for the Giving Tree.

Social: Spaghetti Dinner

Social Concerns: Our holiday food drive began on Monday, October 29th and will continue until Sunday, December 16th. We have asked for non-perishable items, as well as food used for making holiday dinners.

Our coat drive also began on Monday, October 29th, but it will end on Monday, November 18th. Children’s coats are especially needed. At that time, the coats will be taken to Catholic Social Services in Vineland to be distributed to families in need.

Our Giving Tree will be placed in the Church sanctuary on the weekend of November 24th. Gifts will be collected until Sunday, December 16th. This time frame will allow for the distribution of gifts before the Christmas holiday. The gifts will also be taken to Catholic Social Services.

If anyone is aware of a parish family in need, please contact the rectory so that we might provide for them also.

Vocations: No report.

COMMENTS FROM FATHER JAY: The number of people attending Mass is increasing at all three Masses. Lots of new faces. We are close to ¾ full to capacity. Father will not be here for our January meeting.

Closing prayer: Father Jay

The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 P.M.

Next meeting - Thursday, Jan. 17th, 6:30 P.M. in the rectory.

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