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Education Commission Minutes, Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, Lake Ozark, Missouri

Thursday, February 1, 2024

Present were Linda Adams, Karen Blevins, Karri Brauman, Linda Bukalski, Mel Graessle, Michele Haggerty, Deacon Paul Poulter, Marilee Poulter, Barb Steinman

• Opening Prayer: Prayer and reflection from Blessed Eucharist led by Marilee

• Education Commission Charter:  Committed core team: Michele Haggerty (Chair); 2. Melodi Graessle (Vice Chair); 3. Linda Adams; 4. Linda Bukalski; 5. Karen Blevins; 6. Marilee Poulter (Secretary); 7. Barb Steinman 

• Parish Religious Education Director Report:  Michele
  • Stump the Pastor – Family Style: This was a great hit and enjoyed by all. Students are filling the Questions Box.
  • Confirmation – Saturday, April 13 at 5:00 Mass in Camdenton – St. Anthony: Classes going well and we have 14 students to be confirmed.
  • NCYC Covenant: Youth Group Attendance and Service hours will now be required in order for church to pay part of NCYC cost.  Percent paid will be tied to these items. Michele is tracking Class attendance of 60% and number of service hours completed.  Required amount of service hours not set yet. In addition, assisting with fundraising efforts will be mandatory.

• Adult Faith Formation:  Barb
• Five parish scholarships were awarded. Each received $1000.
• Works of Mercy group:
  • Planning events for the year for vocations.
    • Traveling crucifix passed weekly to a different family offering special prayers
    • Vocation education for FFF students. 
    • Diocesan Vocation Day in Spring and Vocations Week in Fall..  
    • Group is discerning a leader for this initiative. 
• Hearts Afire program after Easter: Discussed offering 33 Days to Morning Glory again. Linda A. reported interest from some in the second study from Marians on Consoling the Heart of Jesus. Could offer that also. More discussion at next meeting.
• Lenten study: Suggestions were made at the last meeting and Kelly was taking to Father. Since Kelly was not present, Marilee will call the office tomorrow and see the status of this as Lent is two weeks away.

• Family Life:   Karri
  • Wedding planned for Sept. 7.  Altar server training was held and, after discussion, we verified for Stewardship Commission that altar servers are under the Worship Commission.

• Formed.org and Library:  Kelly
  • We received the Father Offutt Grant for $3,199.00
    • Need to discuss implementation for raising the usage and increasing the network capacity on the campus: Group discussed and felt first step should be improving network. Groups trying to show videos frequently only getting spinning wheel.
  • Library: The Works of Mercy group started project of organizing the library. They’re sorting books and will place by category. 

• Renewal Movement:  Mel
  • Kirksville Welcome Seed Team is moving along. 
  • Discussion held on Our Lady of the Lake team which is discerning team positions for possible Fall weekend. Update at next meeting.

• New Evangelization:  Linda B.
  • Matthew Kelly has new book, 33 Days to Eucharistic Glory. Linda received trial books and distributed. If this looks good, could possibly offer to the parish this year.  

• OCIA and Catechesis:  Deacon Paul
  • Feb. 18 is Rite of Election at Cathedral. Candidate and family will be attending. Practice and First Reconciliation will be Saturday afternoon before Easter Vigil. Discussed having a simple reception after Easter Vigil.  Deacon will ask if she would like this and report at next meeting.

• Parish Council Report:  Linda A
  • Linda reported items discussed at Parish Council. 
  • A Lenten presentation by Kathleen Basi will be held March 3. 

• Next Meeting Date: Thursday, March 14 at 5:30 p.m
  • Changed from 7th due to Pregnancy Help Center Chili Cookoff on 3/7.

• Final Questions and review of action items.  Prayer leader — Karen and hospitality provider — Kelly      

• Closing Prayer: Marilee – Prayer to Mary, Undoer of Knots

Submitted by Marilee Poulter, Secretary

Coordinators for Key Responsibility Areas:

1. 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 in to the sacramental life of the Church. __Deacon Paul Poulter_
2. Christ Renews His Parish and Renewal Movements:  The coordinator for renewal programs identifies, introduces and supervises the various renewal programs that are available to parishioners. _Melodi Graessle_
3. Marriage Preparation, Baptism of Infants and Formation for Family Life:  The coordinator for marriage preparation, infant baptism and formation for family life serves a foundational role in building up the domestic church in the home.  _Karri Brauman_
4. 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_
5. 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
6. 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_
7. 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_
8. 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_
9. 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.  _______________________