(Previous Meeting Minutes are here...)

Present: Fr. Dennis, Deacon Ron, Sandy DePietro, Jane Allen, Carol Sarro, Jeff Smith, Brian Hodor, Catherine Rubin, Liz O'Keefe, Fred Sholz, John Bezubka

Absent: Deacon Joe, Donna Bezubka, John Gibbons, Lee Capalbo, Ryan Twardowski, Maureen Corcoran, Karin Forbes, Kay Alexander

Excused: Adriene Smith

The meeting opened with a prayer. Minutes of the previous meeting were accepted with corrections.

Stewardship Report

Carol Sarro presented an overview of the progress of the Stewardship Fair. It will occur on September 24th from 8AM-2PM, with two Masses at 8:30AM and 10:30AM.

The theme will be TOOLS OF FAITH. This is defined as tools of time, talent, and treasure.

Carol and Jane produced a list of activities and requested council members take an area of responsibility.

• Fred and John will do parking;
• Deacon Ron got trucks;
• Gerry will do liturgy;
• Donna and John will do the children's area
• Carol will do publicity;
• Jeff Horner will do newcomers.

Deacon Ron requested greater advertising outside of the parish congregation in order to invite the people of NK to see what St. Bernard's has to offer in ministry.

Carol and Jane will come up with a timetable of the whats and wherefores. Fr. Dennis said to schedule lay witnesses and to have them write Reflections.

A Journey Home: a March to End Homelessness
Jane reported that the walk had already begun. The only information she could provide about them was that they would be here on May 23rd. There would be an interfaith service at 7PM followed by a coffee reception. Wednesday May 24th Bishop Tobin will come for a 9AM blessing.

Change of Mass Schedule
Fr. Dennis announced the result of the informal poll taken at last weekend's Mass concerning the new Mass times. The conclusion was that people would like to have a schedule that is different from that of St. Francis de Sales. The new Mass times on Sundays will be 7AM, 8:30AM, and 10:30AM.

Redefinition of the Council
Fr. Dennis indicated the need to redefine the Council for the coming year, that we should look at the Council in the Fall and look at what is working and what is not working, surfacing the right people to be future members. Possibly use Bishop Tobin's Pastoral Council as a model. Step one would be an examination of the bylaws: time, agenda, what we do. Followed by an examination of the rest of the bylaws. Fr. Dennis said there is no set pattern of what we should do.

The discussion continued with redefining the relationship of the Council to the various ministries. It was stated that there would be a meeting with them in the mid-August to mid-September time frame hosted by Brian Hodor and Carol Sarro.

Fr. Dennis said that he thought that this was a good group of members of the current Parish Council. He asked the current members if they would be willing to remain on the Council. Everyone said they would continue to serve, with the exceptions of Kay Alexander and Lee Capalbo.

Appreciation Night
It was stated there would not be a picnic nor would there be an Appreciation Night. It was thought that such activities were absorbed into individual ministries. Deacon Ron offered the services of the Marriage Preparation team to plan an event.

Submitted by Deacon Ron DePietro