Attending: Fr.David McGuinness, Jim Altmiller, Susan Gearhart, Maxine Guerrera, Pete Konenkamp, Dana Moody, Rosemary Risse, Todd Story, Evelyn Tejada, Margarita Tejeda, and John Timmons. Excused absences: John Benca and Marty Ledenham.
Pete Konenkamp opened the meeting with a prayer.
Minutes of the June and July regularly scheduled meetings were approved.
Stephen’s Ministry: Debby Moriarty and Linda Eberenz attended a 50 hour long Stephen’s Ministry Leader Training in Orlando in June. They shared an overview of the course in the in a power point presentation. Debby and Linda will be commissioned at the 10:00 A.M. Mass on September 11. A six month training for ten parishioners to be Stephens Ministers begins in January. Applications to be a Stephens Minister are in the narthex. We were asked to pray for the leaders, those who will receive care, the parish and pastors.
Together (Planning) John Timmons reported that the planning Committee has met three times since July 26, 2005 in which the sixteen attending narrowed the search for an architectural firm to three applicants.
Site Selection Pete Konenkamp reported for John Benca that the committee continues to work with Gerry Whitworth to secure commitments from the viable options.
Capital Campaign Sue Gearhart reported that Guidance and Giving has been hired to conduct our Capital Campaign. They will conduct training for people who will be doing the calling and conduct a feasibility study to begin on September 5 and last 4 weeks. The Capital Campaign will begin around October 1 and will end before Christmas. Follow up visitations will last 4 weeks and will begin after January 1. This will be 13 to 15 weeks total. Guidance and Giving will work with the Spanish populations and seek leadership to handle that part of the campaign. August 22 is the scheduled date that a letter will be sent from our Pastor and Guidance and Giving. Appointments for feasibility interviews will be scheduled from August 29 to September 2. Michael Coats of Guidance and Giving will have a press release before August 22. By September 6 all materials (drawings, etc.) should be ready for printing and ready to put in Drive packets. All these dates proposed, however, may need to be postponed if a site is not secured in order to have proper architectural proposals, etc.
Communications: Pete Konenkamp reported that, "Forward in Faith" had been selected for the Capital Campaign slogan. The Parish Council unanimously endorsed it. He reminded us to plan for the October photo sittings for our parish directory. The next communications meeting will be on Tuesday, Aug. 16th.
Maintenance: No meeting since the last Parish Council meeting. Jim Altmiller has painted large wheelchair identification signs on the parking lot for the new handicap parking spaces closer to the church and moved several signs to identify changes. Visitor spaces are now in the Senior Citizen parking lot where the handicap spaces were before. Police have been alerted to ticket parking violations. Todd Story reported that the footings for the wall construction at the back of the church are in place. Materials for rebuilding it will be delivered this week. Jim Altmiller is compiling a "Who’s Who" 41 page book for the office’s use of individuals associated with the various ministries and activities associated with the church and school.
Liturgy Rosemary Risse reported that there was no meeting in July of the Liturgy Committee. The next meeting will be August 28 following the 6:00 P.M. Mass. The Arts & Environment committee meets August 25 at 7:00 P.M. in the sanctuary. In response to Rosie Hildebrand’s bulletin requests about thirty people have expressed an interest helping to coordinate church decoration according to the appropriateness of the liturgical season. Rosie Hildebrand has arranged for the Peace Plants that flank the altar to be replaced.
Latinos Evelyn Tejada invited the parish to come September 10 after the 7:30 P.M. Mass to a concert the Latino community has planned. There will be both English and Spanish songs sung by a woman from Nicaragua who lives in Miami. She will share her testimony and Evelyn felt it would be particularly good for the lighthouse students. A $10 admission will be collected to fund Latino activities. There will be other Latino socials in December.
School Maxine Guerrera reported that school starts on August 15th. There has not been a School Advisory Committee meeting yet. She related that Ann Mitchell is not returning to her position as Development Director at the school. There was a PTO meeting August 17th. Those attending were excited about the October 2nd Fall Picnic as a joint activity of the church and school community. The Parish Council looks forward to meeting the new principal, Barbara Bankston.
By-laws: Dana Moody, Jim Altmiller and John Timmons agreed to meet to evaluate the election process. Options will be presented at the September meeting upon which to vote.
Donovan High Community Service: Dorian Speed, as the new Religion Instructor at MDCHS, is looking for suggestions for community service for her Confirmation students. Rosemary Risse will relay the suggestion to repeat what has been done before in the support of a "Giving Tree" family in need.
Fr. McGuinness closed the meeting with a prayer.
The next Parish Council meeting will be on Sunday, September 11, 2005 at 7:30 p.m.