Members — 2009–2010

December 22, 2009 — Did not have a quorum

Parish Council Minutes – November 24, 2009

The meeting was called to order by President Terry Napolitan and opened with a prayer led by Father Vicente.

Roll Call: Father Vicente, Terry Napolitan, Joe Franta, Nancy Tracewell, and Joan Kohler

Minutes:  Joe Franta made a motion to accept the minutes as read.  Nancy Tracewell seconded the motion.

Open Forum:   It was suggested that the deacon and a person he designates distribute communion to people in the back of the church who might not otherwise be able to receive communion.

Finance:

Cash Assets October 10, 2009
Checking:                                               $10,348.81
Savings and Money Market:               $    285.25
1 CD @ Minnequa Works:                 $22,119.70
Total General Cash Reserves:           $32,773.76

Liabilities October 10, 2009
St. Benedict’s Loan:                             $185,014.75
Collection Payable:                              $       100.00
Total General Liabilities:                   $184,914.00

We paid the second installment for the third icon and the down payment for the fourth icon.  We are still holding the final payment of $3,000.00 for fourth icon in the account until payment is required.  All other expenses for the building fund have been paid.  The remainder in the account is held in reserve to meet future payments or pay down the principal of the first mortgage to St. Benedict’s.

We have received 4,800 gallons of propane but have not as yet received an invoice.  Also, we do not expect to collect any more money on the pledge balance. 

To date we are 5% to 6% down in expected collection.  The down turn is not so much in parishioner’s envelopes but rather in loose money that came from visitors over the summer months.

Religious Education:  We had to call school on the 15^th due to snow.  We made the best decision we could under the circumstances.  The next class will be on Sunday, November 29^th.  There will be two more classes in December.

1. Several children came dressed as saints on All Saints Day.  They were wonderful.
2. The high school group is continuing to sell Christmas CD’s after Mass each week.
3. Grades 9 through 12 came with their parents to cut and gather wood for Helping Hands.  We had a great time.
4. Student and parents have been told to bring canned goods to Thanksgiving Day Mass to be brought up at the Offertory.
5. Children will be studying Advent as well as their regular lessons.  I am privileged to be part of the religious education program.

Worship:  No report

Maintenance/Helping Hands:  Dave has been on vacation.  He will be back this week.  Two old fashion thermostats will be installed in the church for greater control of the heat.

Helping Hands is not getting the amount of money it used to get from the government.  However, Helping Hands has joined Care and Share.  They will be a great resource for food.  Forty turkeys and four big boxes of freezer meat were given to Helping Hands in exchange for the small cost of $20.00.  Fruits and vegetables will also be available.  Helping Hands believes that they should be able to take care of the people in need in the valley.

Father reports that the center window to be placed over the altar that Doug Bayer is creating is spectacular.  Doug is waiting for some protective glass in order to finish the window.

Paul Schlesser could not get the four wheeler with the plow started.  The carburetor is being fixed.  In the mean time, it was necessary to rely on the shovel to move the snow.

Old Business:  none

New Business:  Money in the Building Fund as well as the Harvest Collection has enabled us to pay down the principal on the loan in the amount of $10,000.  This will save us $42,317.82 in interest.   We still have $12,000 in the Building Fund.

There being no further business, Father Vicente closed the meeting with a prayer.

Respectfully submitted, Joan Kohler

Next Meeting:  Tuesday, December 22^nd at 5 p.m. -- ALL ARE WELCOME.

Parish Council Minutes – October 27, 2009

In the absence of Father Vicente, the meeting was opened with a prayer led by President Terry Napolitan.

Roll Call: Terry Napolitan, Carmel Mortensen, Joe Franta, Nancy Tracewell, and Joan Kohler

Absent: Father Vicente

Open Forum:

Finance:

Cash Assets: September 30, 2009
     Checking:                                       $15,671.61
     Savings and Money Market:         $285.25
     1 CD/s @ Minnequa Works:    $22,119.70
     Total General Cash Reserves: $38,096.56

Liabilities: September 30, 2009
     Saint Benedict’s Loan:            $185,212.41
     Collections Payable:                          910.00
     Total General Liabilities:       $186.122.41

We posted collections for September approximately $360.00 under our budgeted amount. Our posted expenses for September were under the budgeted amounts by approximately $4,500.00 due to a delay in receiving the invoice for salaries. We will have a double amount of salaries in October to make this up. Our fiscal year collections show approximately a 5% decrease over our budgeted amount and the expenses show approximately a 20% decrease over budgeted amounts. In addition to the cash reserves we have a propane pre-pay amount of $4,800.00. We are saving money by not having the heat on in the church. We are also watching and comparing the amount of gallons consumed as well as the price of propane per gallon.

Building Fund Balances: September 30, 2009
     Checking: $19,396.95
     Uncollected Pledge Balances: $15,368.50 (approx. $12,000 is uncollectible)

We are still holding the $9,000.00 donated for the icons in the account until payment is required. All other expenses for the building fund have been paid. The remainder in the account is held in reserve to meet future payments or pay down the principal of the first mortgage to St. Benedict’s.

Religious Education: Classes are underway and doing well. We did cancel classes on October 18 due to sickness. The public school had been closed and all athletic activities cancelled. We believe, under the circumstances, we did what was prudent. The class was made up on October 25.

Activities:

1. We have put up a “Tree of Thanksgiving” and the children are posting those things for which they are thankful.
2. At Father’s request, we are encouraging the children to come to All Saints Day Mass on Sunday dressed as their favorite saint.
3. The high school students and their parents will again be collecting wood this coming Sunday for Helping Hands.
4. Students will be encouraged to bring canned goods each week to make the children more aware of the needs of others. Children at the Thanksgiving Mass will be asked to bring canned goods to be brought to the altar during the Offertory.
5. We hope to get more grammar school parents involved in religious education.
6. High school students are planning a trip to World Youth Day in Madrid, Spain, in 2011. They will be selling Christmas CDs after Mass each Sunday featuring the Our Lady of Assumption Choir of which three are members. The CDs will be sold for $10 each to help defray the cost of the trip.

Worship Committee: The third icon celebrating Mother Cabrini has been placed on the choir side of the church. Doug Bayer is progressing with the triptych windows (those above the altar). The middle window is almost completed. A gracious donor will be sending money in November for the round rose window. Sylvie White is doing a weaving in three panels for the wall above the Helping Hands grocery area. Wine, grapes, and wheat are depicted.

Sunday, October 18, after Mass, we had a wine and cheese reception in celebration of the burning of the St. Patrick’s mortgage.

Liturgical and special events were planned for All Saints Day, Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas through January 10.

Tuesday Masses in November will be said for the faithful departed. Intention envelopes will be available in the Narthex. They will be put into the basket and brought up during the Presentation of Gifts.

Tuesday, November 3, Father will dedicate the All Souls Mass to soldiers who have died in defense of their country.

A poppy wreath will be placed in front of the altar in commemoration of Veterans Day on Sunday, November 8. Paul Schleser will carry the wreath and place it by the flagpole after Mass.

Thanksgiving Day Mass will be celebrated Thursday, November 26 at 10 a.m.

Christmas Eve Mass will be celebrated on December 24 at 7 p.m.

New Years Eve Mass will be celebrated on December 31 at 5:30 p.m.

Also, two more collection counters are needed as well as people to serve on the Environment Committee and people to decorate for Christmas.

Lastly, Connie Ondrejka has submitted her resignation as Chair of the Worship Committee. She has done a spectacular job for many years. Carmel Mortenson will replace her in this capacity.

Maintenance: Timers are ordered for lights shining on the bell tower that will go on automatically as the sun sets.

A suggestion has been made to put a sanitizer behind the wall to be used by Eucharistic Ministers before distributing Holy Communion.

New Business: Father is considering buying an artificial tree that could be used at Christmas each year.

Conversation has begun regarding new faces on Parish Council.

There being no further business, President, Terry Napolitan closed the meeting with a prayer.

Respectfully submitted, Joan Kohler

Next Meeting: Tuesday, November 24 at 5 PM – ALL ARE WELCOME

Parish Council Minutes – August 26, 2009

The meeting was called to order by President Terry Napolitan and opened with a prayer led by Father Vicente.

Roll Call: Father Vicente, Terry Napolitan, Connie Ondrejka, Joe Franta, Nancy Tracewell, and Joan Kohler
Also Present: Art Ondrejka

Open Forum:

Finance:
     Cash Assets 7/31/09
     Checking: $7,279.71
     Savings and Money Market: $284.99
     1 CDs @ Minnequa Works: $21,848.30
     Total Cash Reserves: $44,326.86

      Liabilities 7/31/09
      St. Benedict’s Loan: $185,604.55
      Total General Liabilities: $185,604.55

We posted collections for July approximately $600.00 under our budgeted amount. Our posted expenses for July were under the budgeted amounts by approximately $2,500.00. Our fiscal year collections show approximately a 6% decrease over our budgeted amount and the expenses show approximately a 13% decrease over budgeted amounts, however, we are only one month into this fiscal year so caution is advised. In addition to the cash reserves we now have a propane pre-pay of $4,800.00.

Building Fund Balances 7/31/09
      Checking $13,273.34
      Uncollected Pledge Balances: $15,648.50 (approx. $12,500 is uncollectible.)

      Liabilities 7/31/09
      St. Patrick’s Loan: $0.00 !!!!!!!!!!

WE HAVE PAID OFF THE NOTE TO ST. PATRICK’S, due to a generous donation from a summer resident. We are still holding the $9,000.00 donated for the icons in the account until payment is required. All other expenses for the building fund have been paid. The remainder in the account is held in reserve to meet future payments or pay down the principle of the first mortgage to St. Benedict’s.

Religious Education: Thanks to a steady plea each week from the pulpit, we have teachers in place.

• Pre-School: Kathleen Schultz and Sarah Flynn
• Second Grade – First Communion and Reconciliation: Karen Gurley
• Third and Fourth Grade: Doreen Newcomb
• Fifth and Sixth Grade: Christina Wilson
• Seven, Eight and Nine: Richard and Joan Kohler
• Tenth and Eleventh Grade: Eric Mortensen
• Twelfth Grade: Patti Schultz and Joan Kohler

Letters to the parents have been written, schedules and a class list have been created. Letters will go out the beginning of next week along with the registration form and schedule. An announcement will be made asking parents to pick up a registration form if they are new to the parish or have a child that has reached the age of four and would like their child to be included in our religious formation program. A teacher’s meeting will be held as soon as possible.

We are looking for a meaningful retreat for our high school students.

Adult bible study will begin on Friday, September 11 at 9:30 a.m.

Father will bless the catechist during Mass on Sunday, September 13.

Worship: The next meeting will be in October.

The Patronal Feast went well. The food was delicious. People seemed to enjoy themselves. We thank all the people who worked so hard and helped to make the event a success.

Bill Tschumper and Richard Hrpcha are counting after Mass every other week. This is a wonderful help to Jan and Connie who have been counting each week after Mass for many years.

Maintenance: We are having trouble with the thermostats. We may need to run them manually during the winter and see what can be done next year. There may be a flaw in the design.

Broken concrete will be replaced as well as the front walk.

Old Business:

New Business: The new cover created for the bulletin looks great. Also, a wine and cheese reception will be held after Mass on October 18th as we burn the St. Patrick’s mortgage.

The collections taken by the missionaries from Nigeria on September 19 and 20 in the diocese will be divided equally among the missionaries.

Respectfully submitted, Joan Kohler

Next Meeting: Tuesday, September 22 at 5 PM – ALL ARE WELCOME.

Parish Council Minutes – July 28, 2009

The meeting was called to order by President Terry Napolitan and opened with a prayer led by Father Vicente.

Roll Call: Father Vicente, Terry Napolitan, Connie Ondrejka, Joe Franta, Joan Kohler, and Nancy Tracewell
Also present: Art Ondrejka

Open Forum: Terry Napolitan announced that he was leaving Enxx Propane and going to work for San Isabel Propane due to some problems within Enxx. The 500 gallon tank at the yellow house and at the church will be emptied by San Isabel and picked up by Enxx. San Isabel will then install the new tanks and fill them with the gas that was left and fill the tanks to capacity.

Finance: June 30 marked the end of the physical year. July saw a better collection rate. We now have enough money to pay off the St. Patrick’s debt/loan.

Cash Assets 6/30/09 Checking: $21,784.26
      Savings and Money Market: $ 284.99
      1 CD’s @ Minnequa Works $21,848.30
      Total General Cash Reserves: $ 44,031.41

Liabilities 4/30/2009 St. Benedict’s Loan: $185,799.04
      Special Collections Payable: $125.00 (Peter’s Pence)
      Total General Liabilities: $185,924.04

We posted collections for June approximately $1,000.00 under our budgeted amount. Our posted expenses for June were under the budgeted amounts by approximately $900.00. Our fiscal year collections show approximately a 3% increase over our budgeted amount and the expenses show approximately a 10% increase over budgeted amounts.

Building Fund Balances 6/30/09
      Checking: $14,256.24
      Uncollected Pledge Balance: $ 16,293.50 (approx. $12,500 is uncollectible.)

Liabilities 6/30/09
      St. Patrick’s Loan: $12,284.15

We continue to maintain a reserve of $3,100.00 in the building fund checking account to cover our monthly payments in the event that collections do not meet the payment due. We are still holding the $9,000.00 donated for the icons in the account until payment is required and we have paid out a down payment of $1,100.00 on the contract for the fans in the church, leaving us with a balance of $1,100.00 after completion of the job. All other expenses for the building fund have been paid.

The pledge period ends in October. We will continue the second collection beyond the pledge period in order to pay down the principle on the main debt. Money has also been budgeted to make the regular monthly payments on the loan.

Insurance has gone up. The yellow house needs weather stripping and a safety check on the heating system is required. There may be a possible furnace replacement done in the future.

The next finance meeting will be September 15 instead of September 22.

Religious Education: Registration forms will be sent out to parents early in September along with a schedule of class dates and a cover letter. The forms will be collected at a meeting before Mass on September 27th. The first class will begin on Sunday, October 4th. We are in need of teachers. A notice will be put in the bulletin and an announcement will be made after Mass.

Catechetical Sunday is September 20th, however, Father will bless the teacher’s the Sunday before.

The adult bible study will begin on Friday, September 11 at 9:30 am.

Worship: The Patronal Feast will be held Sunday, August 16th after the eleven o’clock Mass. People are being gathered to setup and cleanup for the celebration. The food will be purchased the week of the 10th and a request is being made that parishioners come with a dessert to pass.

We have received the last two colors of altar cloths that will be paid for by Altar and Rosary.

There was a discussion as to how to handle weddings for people from outside the parish requesting to be married at Our Lady of Assumption. Father expressed that if there is no connection to our church, we should absolutely say no. But if for some reason we were to say yes, there should be a high end cost.

Recently there was a wedding on the Fourth of July for a couple from Colorado Springs. The priest came from Notre Dame. Documents were hard to obtain, Connie lost a holiday and time, and time consuming problems presented themselves.

Maintenance: Everything is looking good.

There being no further business, Father Vicente closed the meeting with a prayer.

Respectfully submitted, Joan Kohler

Next Meeting: Tuesday, August 25th at 5 PM – ALL ARE WELCOME.

Parish Council Notes — March, 24 2009

Attending: Father Vicente, Deacon Larry, Terry Napolitan, Nancy Tracewell, Art Ondrejka

1.   Father Vicente opened the meeting with a prayer. Roll Call is not available.

2.   Minutes not available.

3.   Open Forum: – Deacon Larry

a)  Propane tank problem, We need to remove one tank according to city ordinance. we could bury one tank and leave the other as is. Discussion postponed until next finance committee meeting.

b)  Some construction updates; we need a guard rail around the heating/cooling units behind church to protect them from autos. We are considering adding ceiling fans in the church to help reduce the cost of heating (circulate the heat down from the ceiling).

c)  DMF collection is $4,200 short as of this meeting.

4.   Finance report:

a)  Average income so far this fiscal year is a little higher than for the same period last year. However, collections for January and February are going through their usual winter slump. Expect them to pick up again in the Spring.

b)  We are holding $9,000 for the new icons.
Father suggested putting a "Wish List" in the Sunday Bulletin to raise money for specific items in the church. Perhaps we could target the summer visitors. Suggested we could start May/June to get items off the budget by July.

5.   Steering Committee – Deacon Larry

a)  Stained glass windows are being done. We have an option of getting either the final two icons or the back stained glass window.

b)  Dave Simpson is working out well, very efficient.

c)  We plan on changing the setting of the church thermostats. They will remain at 58 degrees increasing to 62 degrees during Mass. They are now set for 65.

d)  We will not be able to fund any major repairs on the yellow house, (some comment on installing a rail on the back steps for safety)

6.   Worship Committee – Art

a)  Art mentioned that RCIA candidates were planning to pick up the Holy Oils at the Chrism Mass on Tuesday April 7th. This was incorrect. The date was Tuesday March 31st, as Father said.

b)  The schedules for Holy Week have been prepared and all Masses/services should be amply covered.

c)  The next committee meeting will take place on Monday May 11th at 2:00 pm.

d)  on Tuesday March 12th, the normal Tuesday Mass will begin at 9:00 am 'instead of the usual 10:00 am because the yearly planning session for St. Ben's and Assumption parishes will take place from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm. Lunch will be provided by our Altar and Rosary Group.

7.   Helping Hands – Jan Yatch will speak at Mass this Sunday.

8.   Comment by Larry ‑ The thermostat in the Community Building was not turned down Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. It was set at 70 degrees when people returned on Tuesday. Not clear who was responsible.

9.   Next meeting of the Parish Council is set for April 28th at 5:00 pm. There will be no Finance committee meeting that day. Both Parish Council and Finance committee will meet on May 19th at the usual times.

10. Father closed with a prayer..

Parish Council Minutes — February 24, 2009

In the absence of President Terry Napolitan, the meeting was called to order by Joe Franta and opened with a prayer led by Father Vicente.

Roll Call:
Present:  Father Vicente, Nancy Tracewell, Connie Ondrejka, Joe Franta and Joan Kohler
Absent:  Deacon Larry Yatch and Terry Napolitan

Minutes:  Minutes were accepted as read.

Finance: 
Cash Assets 01/31/2009
            Checking:                                    $24,144.74
            Savings and Money Market    $     284.47
            1 CD’s @ Minnequa Works    $21,674.38

Total General Cash Reserves:         $46,103.59
Liabilities 01/31/2009
St. Benedict’s Loan:                    $ 186,755.87
Special Collections Payable:    $        100.00

Total General Liabilities:      $186,855.87

We posted collections for January very close to our budgeted amount.  Our posted expenses for January were over the budgeted amounts by approximately $1,100.00 due mainly to propane expenses, our pre buy is now exhausted.  Our fiscal year to date collections still show approximately a 14% increase over budget.

Building Fund Balances 01/31/2009
    Checking:                                       $29,784.32
    Uncollected Pledge Balances:  $20,288.50
Liabilities 01/31/2009
    St. Patrick’s loan:                        $26,786.00
     Regarding the St. Patrick’s loan, we are doing very well.

The DMF has billed us in the amount of $21,000.  We have received pledges for $14,000.  The $21,000 bill from the diocese is a refection of our increased income over the past years.

We continue to maintain a balance in the building fund checking account high enough to cover three months of payments if necessary, although it has not been necessary so far this winter to take from this reserve to make our regular monthly payment.  We were still able in January to have paid approximately $3,000 extra on the principal.  We are still holding the $12,000 donated for the icons in the account until payment is required.  All other expenses for the building fund have been paid.  Our Sunday second collection still maintains a ratio of approximately two-thirds pledge payments and one-third additional donations.

Religious Education:   We had a teachers meeting at the beginning of February to discuss plans for Lent and Easter.  Sandy Dunlap is helping Kevin May to prepare for First Reconciliation and First Communion.  The candle blessing ceremony went well.  The children enjoyed participating.  Children pre-school through high school will participate in passing out the Rice Bowls the first Sunday of Lent.  Classes are going well.  We will go ahead with The Living Stations of the Cross to be performed by seventh through twelfth grade on April 3, the Friday before Holy Week.  We are including any children that would like to participate from the Episcopal and Methodist churches.  The costumes from past performances have been found.

Worship Committee:  We met in December to plan our Lenten activities and worship.  We are working toward Easter.  Jacquie Stewart has Lenten material printed.

Maintenance:  Dave Simpson, our new maintenance man, has cleaned out the heating system making it much more efficient.

Old Business:  Doug Bayer has received the glass for the three stain glass windows to be put above the altar and is translating the sketches to life size. Hopefully the project will be completed by August and the anniversary of our church.

New Business:  The dates of Father’s visit to England have been changed from May 31 to May 24.  He will return and be here for Mass on the 26 of June.

There being no further business, Father Vicente closed the meeting with a prayer.

Next Meeting:  Tuesday, March 24 at 5 PM – ALL ARE WELCOME. 
Respectfully submitted, Joan Kohler

Parish Council Minutes—  January 27, 2009

The meeting was called to order by President Terry Napolitan and opened with a prayer led by Father Vicente.

Roll Call:
Present:  Father Vicente Terry Napolitan, Nancy Tracewell, Connie Ondrejka, and Joan Kohler
Absent:   Deacon Larry Yatch and Joe Franta

Minutes:  Minutes of the last meeting were not available.

Open Forum:

Finance: 
Cash Assets 12/31/2008
            Checking:                                            $23,868.44
            Savings and Money Market:                 $284.47
            1 CD @ Minnequa Works:               $ 21,674.38
            Total General Cash Reserves:  $ 45,941.15

Liabilities 12/31/2008
            St. Benedict’s Loan:    $186,944.15
            Special Collections Payable:  $515.00 (mainly “Campaign for Human Development”)
             Total General Liabilities:      $187,459.15

We posted collections for December very close to our budgeted amount for December 2008.  Our posted expenses for December were over the budgeted amount by approximately $3,000 due mainly to a repair to the old church office (yellow house) in FY 2007/2008 that was not billed until now.  Our fiscal year to date collections still show approximately a 9% increase over our budgeted amount and the expenses show approximately a l5% increase over budget.

Building Fund Balances 12/31/2008
Checking:                                       $23,419.97
Uncollected Pledge Balances:  $ 21,291.50
Liabilities 12/31/2008
St. Patrick’s Loan:                       $32,016.34

We continue to maintain a balance in the building fund checking account high enough to cover three months of payments if necessary.  We were still able to have paid approximately $2,000 extra on the principle this month.  We received a very generous donation for two additional icons for the church and that money is being held in the building fund until payment is necessary.  All other expenses for the building fund have been paid.  Our Sunday 2 collection still maintains a ratio of approximately two thirds pledge payments and one third additional donations.

If we can collect all outstanding pledges, we will cover our loan.  At the current rate we hope to pay the loan off by fall.

Religious Education:  A teachers meeting is planned for next Saturday to cover plans for Lent and needs for the next three months.  Father will bless the candles at Mass February 1.  The children grades preschool through the eighth grade will present the candles and be part of the procession at the beginning of Mass.  The children will also distribute the Rice Bowls on the first Sunday of Lent.  In co-operation with the high school students from the Methodist and Episcopal Churches we hope to do the Living Stations of the Cross on Friday, April 3 (the Friday before Holy Week).  First Reconciliation and May Crowning will take place on May 3 and First Communion May 10.  Kevin May is our only first communicant this year.  Sandy Dunlap will assist him through this process.

Steering Committee:  No report.

Worship Committee:  The Worship Committee met on Monday, January 19, to plan for the coming months through May.  The following are important dates to note:

February:       8 - Sunday, Blessing of Throats; 25 - Ash Wednesday; 27 - Fridays through Lent,
                                      Soup and Supper/Stations of the Cross

March:          25 - Rite of Election; 31 - Chrism Mass at the Cathedral

May:              12 - Planning Meeting with Saint Benedict’s to be held here; 25 - Memorial Mass
                                     at the cemetery

Maintenance:  Doug Gourley has resigned his position.  Dave Simpson will take over the janitorial work, and Paul Schleser will take care of the lawn and keeping the parking lot and walks free from snow and ice.

Old Business:

New Business:  Father will talk about the Diocesan Ministry Fund for the next three weeks.  Hopefully, donations will cover the required amount of $20,000.

There being no further business, Father Vicente closed the meeting with a prayer.

Next Meeting:  Tuesday, February 24 at 5 PM – All are welcome.
Respectfully submitted, Joan Kohler

Go to Parish Council Minutes — 2008
Go to Parish Council Minutes — 2005–2007