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Education Commission Minutes, April 7, 2026
Education Commission Minutes
Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, Lake Ozark, Missouri
April 7, 2026
Education Commission Core Team: Michele Haggerty (Chair); 2. Linda Adams; 3. Linda Bukalski; 4. Karen Blevins; 5. Jen Eisenbach; 6. Kelly Hamrin; 7. Brandy Hutzler; 8. Marilee Poulter (Secretary); 9. Deacon Paul Poulter (Co-Chair); 10. Barb Steinman
Present: Linda Adams, Karen Blevins, Linda Bukalski, Jen Eisenbach; Michele Haggerty, Monsignor Greg Higley, Kelly Hamrin, Brandy Hutzler, Marilee Poulter, Deacon Paul Poulter, Barb Steinman
NOTE – Meetings needs to start at 5:00 and end promptly at 6:30 due to Michele working with Hispanic group.
Opening Prayer: Monsignor Higley
Adult Faith Formation: Barb
Divine Mercy Sunday – Service to be held April 12 at 3 pm. Group from Eldon are joining us. We had booklets printed from the Knights of Columbus format. Cake and drinks will be served in Fellowship Hall afterwards. The new Divine Mercy painting will be displayed and Stacey will lead music.
Family Life
Weddings: Jen Eisenbach
No weddings planned right now.
Baptisms: Michele Haggerty
We have two infant baptisms scheduled for April 19, after the 10:00 Mass.
Formed, Hallow and Library: Kelly
Hallow – 127 people signed up.. Starting in June, we will have a two-week prayer challenge.
Formed
Library
Budget – Parish has a new listing of accounts to use this year. Standard accounts for all with each commission having classes using their name and category. Kelly will code your expenses for you. Example:
- Account = 7700.32 Ordinary Parish Disbursements: Office and Program Supplies:Education:Supplies and book, religious
- Classes = Education:Parish School of Religion-PSR
- Education:Welcome Retreat
- Education:Adult Education – Adult Ed
Please estimate what you will spend in 2026/2027 year and send those numbers to Michele before May 5 meeting. Do not consider the income, just the total amount Kelly would write on the check. Example: For a joint venture with Eldon where we pay all the expense and Eldon reimburses us for their share, Michele would need the total amount for the check. Estimate the number of people attending programs. Call Michele or Kelly if you need guidance.
Renewal Movement
Welcome: Linda A.
New women’s weekend team has formed and their second meeting is Monday, April 13 at 6 pm. Women’s Weekend will be in the spring, April 10-11, 2027.
Women’s Ministry: Karen and Barb
Barb reported they had their last meeting via Zoom. Diocese is updating their website and asking perishes to be sure to advertise their events (which we do). Suggested we need 4 to 5 people on our Women’s Ministry committee. Next event is end of April in Laurie. Monsignor suggested for these events having someone talk for 3-5 minutes before Masses and invite parishioners to attend. They will do for the November event.
Advent by Candlelight (ABC): Karen – On track.
New Evangelization: Linda B.
Linda proposed a 9-week study, The Gospel of John, with a workbook titled The Turning Point by Dr Allen Hunt to be held starting in June on Wed. Evenings. Discussion held. Cost for 6 or more is book-$3.50, workbook-$12.95 = $16.45. Attendees would pay for their own. Approved and Linda B will get announcement in the bulletin.
She also suggested a book, The Way of Surrender” by Vic Clesceri for individuals to read. She is Ambassador to Dynamic Catholic and Monsignor asked that she call and negotiate to get books for $2. We could buy 25 at that price to give out and see how many are interested.
Stewardship: Linda B. and Brandy Hutzler
Saturday, April 11 is OLL Stewardship Conference on how to invite people to get involved, using their time and talent, and how we are to train them. Woods is providing food. Warsaw parishioners joining. Have about 125 people registered.
Parish Religious Education: Michele
OCIA and Catechesis:
We have five Hispanics that need all three sacraments of initiation and four that need to be confirmed on Sunday, May 24, at the Pentecost 6 PM Mass.
Four candidates were received into Full Communion with the Church at the Easter vigil. The service was beautiful.
PSR:
There are three more FFF classes and then the BBQ on April 29. April 18 is Confirmation at St. Anthony’s in Camdenton. May 3 is First Communion and May Crowning at 10:00 Mass.
Parish Council Report: Brandy
Monsignor distributed folders of info to members:
Important decisions to make in 2026 including Church interior renovation. Bids for construction are not in but proposed details will be made public and displayed for all to give their input. Monsignor wants complete knowledge for everyone about plans and projected costs.
Monsignor distributed Parish Council meeting rules for Education to understand as appropriate for all Commissions. Number 13 is especially important for us to understand:
Anyone who desires the Parish or the Parish Council to start a new program or activity in the Parish will be required to submit a written mission plan for the proposed program/activity, submit a budget for the proposed program/activity, serve as “Director“ of the proposed program/activity and put together a team for the proposed program/activity. The proposed plan will then be put on the agenda of the next meeting of each Commission to have a discussion and a report will then come back to the Parish Council’s next meeting for further discussion and final decision.
Monsignor distributed the Pictorial Directory Proposal for OLL which went to the Parish Council.
- We make our own
- This avoids pressure on people to purchase photos
- People don’t have to get dressed up
- We make it into a “Shutterfly” album
- We get 8 people to take photos with their cell phone after each Mass on four weekends…..two at each entrance/exit….. people line up before Mass as they arrive and as they are leaving the church at the end of Mass to get their photo taken as fast as possible…..nothing fancy!
- We get eight people to take down names and addresses and contact information
- We start with volunteers from each of the Commissions
- We put all photos and contact information in a Shutterfly album and sell copies to anybody interested for “cost” only
- We can provide families or individuals with their photo once the album is completed
If we go with this:
- What would be the best time of year to catch an entire family?
- Do we have a separate section for “weekenders”?
Discussion held, especially about giving people “opt out” option for phone numbers/addresses. Agree it would be a worthwhile project.
Monsignor distributed the Education Commission Charter which is on our web page and asked all to read and understand it.
Next Meeting Date: May 5, 5:00 pm in the Library.
May Prayer Leader: Barb
Closing Prayer: Monsignor
Coordinators for Key Responsibility Areas:
- Order of Christian Initiation: The preparation for initiation into the Church for adults and children of catechetical age will be a special ministry of the commission, ensuring that there are catechists and sponsors to accompany the catechumens on the way to full initiation into the sacramental life of the Church. __Michele Haggerty_
- Welcome and Renewal Movements: The coordinator for renewal programs identifies, introduces and supervises the various renewal programs that are available to parishioners. __Individual programs have coordinators__
- Wedding Facilitation, Baptism of Infants and Formation for Family Life: The coordinator(s) for wedding ceremonies, infant baptism and formation for family life serve a foundational role in building up the domestic church in the home. Weddings-Jen Eisenbach, Baptisms-Michele
- K-12 Religion Classes: The coordinator for the religious education of the youth has one of the most essential roles to play in faith formation. _Michele Haggerty_
- Sacramental Preparation for Reconciliation, Holy Communion and Confirmation: The coordinator for sacramental preparation is a significant role along with the classroom catechists. The coordinator serves as an advisor, a facilitator and leader especially in ensuring that every person has access to sacramental catechesis at the appropriate time or remediating situations where a sacrament is lacking in the lives of the faithful. _Michele Haggerty_
- Adult Faith Formation: The Coordinator for adult faith formation initiates programs that Invite and enable ongoing conversion to Jesus in holiness of life; promote and support active membership in the Christian community; and call and prepare adults to act as disciples in mission to the world. _Barb Steinman_
- The New Evangelization: The coordinator for the new evangelization seeks out those who have not heard, or have forgotten, ignored or rejected the Christian message. _Linda Bukalski_
- Parish Faith Formation Library: The Church has been and will continue to be a people of The Book. Therefore, it is essential that literary, spiritual and catechetical materials be made available for all parishioners of all ages. _Kelly Hamrin_
- Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious life: The coordinator for vocations to the priestly and religious life informs, organizes and leads the parish in regard to ensuring that the Lord’s call to pray for more workers in the vineyard is heard by each parishioner. _?_