St. Raymond Catholic Church

PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

June15th, 2006

Meeting Location: Moran Hall Conference Room @ 7:00pm

Attendees:

Laurianne Behrens

(P)

Dave Conley

(P)

Eric Hom

(P)

Bonnie Kramer

(P)

Fr. Bob McCann

(P)

Tom McClean

(P)

Rosann Russo

(P)

Connie Spence

(P)

Key: Present (P), Not Present (NP)

Guests: No guests were in attendance

Tom McClean called the meeting to order.

1.) Opening Prayer

Bonnie led the council in prayer

2.)

Approval of May 2006 Minutes – Connie Spence & Pastoral Council

May 2006 minutes were approved as amended

3.)

Pastoral Council Photos were taken and will be displayed in the Church vestibule

4.) St. Raymond 5-Year Plan Implementation – Pastoral Council

Tom led the Council in discussing the current 5-year plan for St. Raymond.  A meeting has

been schedule for June 17th between the Pastoral Council and the Parish Staff to discuss

how both groups can work together to implement this plan.  Meeting will be held from

9am-12pm on Saturday morning.  Connie will be the only Pastoral Council member who

will not be able to attend.

Fr Bob confirmed that the Pastoral Council could have space inside the weekly bulletin to

better communicate with Parishioners about what is happening on Council as well as

provide Parishioners with an email address so that all questions/comments can be directed

to the Council.

Tom acknowledged that the communication from Fr. Bob in the bulletin about Parishioners

needing to be more hospitable was well written and communicated to the Parish.

Eric asked about a photo display in the Church vestibule that should/will highlight various

outreach & charity programs that St. Raymond is involved in.  To better communicate with

the Parish, this display will let parishioners know where and which non-profit organizations

St. Raymond is helping with.  Eric will take the lead on this project and work with Diana

Bitz (Pastoral Associate) to get something up.

It was brought up at the last meeting that the Pastoral Council discernment process needs

to begin earlier.  There were a total of nine (9) candidates last year in which three (3)

were selected.  The new candidates all liked the process last year.  Everyone on the

Pastoral Council agreed that we need to have more candidates for this Council, especially

with a Parish the size of St. Raymond.  The Pastoral Council and Fr. Bob need to get out

and promote this ministry and go speak to the various Parish organizations to discuss the

discernment process.  The Pastoral Council will again participate in the Ministry Fair in the

fall.

5.) Pastor’s Report – Fr. Bob McCann

Fr. Bob opened his report by mentioning that first communions went well.  Bonnie

mentioned that having donut Sunday’s on first communion weekends causes parking

challenges.  Fr. Bob mentioned that he has received numerous requests to keep donut

Sunday’s as scheduled.  The parish had a total of four (4) First Communion masses and

one (1) confirmation mass

Fr. Bob mentioned that High School confirmation might move to February instead of May

each year.  This will help with the mass schedule as first communions also take place in

May.  

The new St. Raymond principal met with school parents and faculty towards the end of the

school year and was present for a few days.  Fr. Bob reported that it was another

successful school year and that the 8th Grade Graduation went very well.  Overall, the

schools Iowa test scores were up compared last year.  Fr. Bob also mentioned the

importance that moving forward, both the school and the parish need to work more closely

together to continue to build a strong community at St. Raymond.  He mentioned that

Rosaleen Sturlini the 1st grade teacher is leaving to work at a Catholic school near her

home so that her commute is shorter.

Fr. Bob reported that a potential Youth Minister was interviewed for the current open

position.  Unfortunately, the offer was declined.  He mentioned that two other interviews

for a Youth Minister was going to take place this upcoming week and also mentioned that

it is/will be difficult to hire this position because of the number of current Youth Minister

positions open in the Diocese of Oakland.  Also, where St. Raymond is located makes is

difficult because of the high cost of living in the Tri Valley area.  

Fr. Bob was happy to report that there will be approximately 190 VBC Campers and 95

Youth Guides at this year’s camp held June 26th-30th.  He also mentioned that 50 St.

Raymond campers are projected for Summer Camp in August.

A property management company has been hired and will evaluate all building

maintenance needed to keep St. Raymond Church & School running.  Everything from

electrical wiring, to lighting, chairs, etc… are evaluated and an estimate is provided by this

company as to when things need to be replaced and the cost associated with these

expenses.

Fr. Bob mentioned that Robbie through the school received a very nice Grand Piano that

will be housed in Moran Hall.  This will be used for all liturgies and other events in the Hall.

Fr. Bob made the “executive” decision to remove the pay phone in the doorway of Moran

Hall.  Too many times, 911 prank calls were made using this pay phone, thus the reason

for its removal.  With most people having a call phone as well as having a phone inside the

kitchen, this phone was no longer needed there.  

Rosann asked that Eucharistic Minister’s not wear shorts and that a dress code be

established for this ministry.  

Fr. Bob was excited to mention that two (2) defibulators were donated to the parish/school

along with training for twelve people on staff at both the parish and school.   This will give

key parish/school leaders training in CPR and First Aid.

The parish & school is currently waiting on the storage sheds.  Cost is estimated at $15K-

$20K.

Fr. Terry will be in Thailand for the month of June and Fr. Thomas Matheu will be taking

his place.  

Just to clarify, Robby Cakebread will be leaving St. Raymond School, but will still be the

Director of Music at St. Raymond Church.

6.) Old Business – Pastoral Council

N/A

7.) New Business – Pastoral Council

Dave mentioned that St. Isadore’s in Danville has a parish newsletter that is sent out

monthly.  Maybe this is something that St. Raymond might consider to better

communicate with Parishioners.  

Eric mentioned that to better communicate with Parishioners we should utilize the Parish

website more.  We should promote old and current community outreach and service

projects on the web with photos and write-ups to highlight all areas of our outreach

through this Parish community.

7.) Sacrificial Giving – Connie Spence

Connie read a thank you letter to the Pastoral Council for the $5K donation to build a

handicap ramp.  Council has asked Connie to request photos of the ramp being built so

that we can show this to the rest of the St. Raymond community.

Eric mentioned that St. Raymond as a community needs to get out and participate in local

events such as the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Day on the Glen and other community events

to have a presence with information about our thriving parish community.  This will be

explored further.

8.) Closing Prayer – Rosann Russo

Respectfully Submitted by __________________________________

  Eric D. Hom, Secretary