Pastoral Council and Commissions
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Council Members | 2011-2012 Meeting Dates and Minutes | Commissions
Meet the 2011-12 St. Maria Goretti Pastoral Council
Click here to read profiles of your Parish Council members; new profiles added monthly.
Kathy Grzybowski, Chairperson
Mark Shapleigh, Co-Chair
Linda Eckstein, Secretary
Ken Brown
Bob Bruni
Linda Eckstein
Tom Gulley
Jeff Kassing
Brian McMichen
Peter Mortenson
Frank Peregrine
Jim Shunk
Tom Young
Trustees: Sue Arthur and Fred Kinney
To contact a member of the Parish Council, please contact the Parish office. |
Front row (L-R): Jeff Kassing, Linda Eckstein, Fr. Mike Burke, Kathy Grzybowski, Fr. Chad Droessler
Back row: Frank Peregrine, Brian McMichen, Mark Shapleigh, Dcn. Dick Martin, Jim Shunk, Bob Bruni, Tim Endres, Peter Mortenson, Tom Gulley, Ken Brown, Sue Arthur (trustee)
Not pictured: Tom Young |
Update from the Parish Council:
Your Parish Council has met a number of times since the start of the new “parish year.” As part of our usual business, we hear from each of the six commissions on their activity, listen to the Finance Council on budget matters, and hear from both Fr. Mike and Fr. Chad.
For much of the past several months, we’ve been exploring options for establishing a new SMG long-range planning process. We’ve identified and are now reaching out to a few key resources that may help us with this. Soon, we expect to have a blueprint for how this will be conducted. For the content of the actual plan, of course, we will depend on YOU, the parishioner. You’ll be hearing more about this in the new year, so keep a watchful eye – we’re almost there.
In keeping with the continuing theme of Evangelization, we have been exploring how we can better “Build Belonging” at SMG. Research shows that those who are deeply connected within their parish (which is often referred to as “engagement”) are much more spiritually committed. They live out that commitment in inviting, serving, giving and thanking. How can we further experience fellowship and connectedness? How do we foster that culture of inclusion and invitation? How do we cultivate a spirit of evangelization? We invite your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions. Feel free to contact a Council member or the Parish office.
Read more about Evangelization
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To contact a member of the Parish Council, please email or call the Parish office at 271-7421.
The Parish Pastoral Council is a consultative body that works in unity with the parish and pastoral staff. The council assists the pastor in identifying parish needs and helps to plan and implement parish programs and services. Participants at council meetings include the parish priest(s) and pastoral staff, the school principal, the religious education director, nine members elected at large, committee chairpersons and representatives from other parish organizations.
The six parish commissions are extensions of the work of the parish pastoral council. Click to read about each commission.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the parish pastoral council, please notify one of its members or the pastoral staff.
Parish Council 2011-12 Meeting Dates and Minutes
August 30, 2011 - Minutes
September 20, 2011 - Minutes
October 18, 2011 - Minutes
November 22, 2011 - Minutes
(No December Meeting)
January 24, 2012
February 21, 2012
March 20, 2012
April 17, 2012
May 15, 2012
June 19, 2012
All meetings are on Tuesdays beginning at 7:00 P.M. Meetings are preceded by the Commission Meetings, beginning with prayer in Church at 6:00 p.m.
Minutes from 2010-11 meetings
Parish Commissions
Christian Education & Formation | Human Concerns & Social Justice | Parish Life | Stewardship | Vocations | Worship & Prayer
| Other volunteer opportunities
Worship and Prayer Commission
The Worship and Prayer Commission is responsible for making recommendations for the liturgical and spiritual life of the parish to the pastor and the parish council. We assist at parish liturgical seminars and enrichment opportunities. We also strive to promote other prayer opportunities for parishioners.
Commission Chairperson: Sharon Hurtgen
The commission oversees four main areas: Baptism preparations, Marriage preparations, Intercessory Prayer group and the Liturgy Committee, which coordinates all liturgical ministries and activities having to do with the celebration of the Mass.
Detailed information about this commission
Christian Education/Formation Commission
Responsible for making recommendations and suggestions of policy about education and faith formation for the total parish to the Pastor, Director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, Director of Children’s Religious Education, and School Principal.
Adult Education/Formation
Children:
Human Concerns and Social Justice Commission
Responsible for making recommendations to the Pastor and Parish Council in regards to the pastoral needs of parishioners and the promoting of social justice.
Community Meal Program
Pastoral Care:
- Funeral Lunches - donations of salads, desserts
- Funeral Lunches - servers of food, hospitality
- Home Eucharistic Minister
- Visitors to homebound/elderly
Pro-Life
Weekly Transport of Food Collection to St. Vincent de Paul
Detailed information about this commission
Parish Life Commission
Charged to enhance parish life for new and existing parishioners by supporting existing organizations, and to continually assess needs for new programs and make subsequent recommendations.
Book Club/Card Club
Boy Scouts/Cub Scouts/Girl Scouts/Brownies
Carefree Years
Evangelization Ministry
Knights of Columbus
Little People Play Group
Marriage and Family Life Ministry
New Member Welcoming
Parish Festival
Parish Newsletter
Sunday Coffee and Doughnuts
Detailed information about this commission
Vocations Commission
Responsible for keeping before parishioners' attention the fact that God calls parishioners to be diocesan priests, religious priests, sisters and brothers and soliciting help through the Parish Council and Pastor in promoting activities for vocation awareness. Click here to read more about the Vocations Commission and to find related website links.
Stewardship Commission
Responsible for making recommendations to the Parish Council and Pastor regarding parish resources (time, talent, treasure).
Planning and Communications Committee
Detailed information about this commission
Other Volunteer Opportunities
Facilities and Grounds
Assistance is always needed and welcome. Major activities include the Nazareth Carpenter Day held in June and a clean up in the Fall. Parish members of all skills are invited to help paint, clean and do miscellaneous repairs. Please check any items on the Time and Talent sheet you wish to assist with, noting any particular skills you may have.
Parish Office Volunteer
The parish office is a very busy place; help is needed in a variety of areas from answering the phone to typing/word processing to filing to stuffing envelopes. Persons are needed for short duration projects as well as for longer-term commitments. Please contact the parish office for more information.