Blog
Pastoral Council Minutes, February 6, 2025
Our Lady of the Lake
Parish Pastoral Council Agenda & Minutes
February 6, 2025
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Members: (* denotes absent)
Deacon Jim HankinsLinda Adams: Education Rep (1/2025)
Gay Ann Christy: Stewardship Rep (1/2025)*Bob Hiegert: Social Concerns Rep (6/2025)
*Tony Otto: At-large member (1/2026) Brandy Hutzler: At-large member (1/2026)Julie Mercurio: Worship Rep (6/2025)Open Position: At-large memberOpen Position: Hispanic Ministry Rep
5:30 – 5:35Opening Linda
Parish Prayer
Last Meeting Minutes: Motion to Approve by Linda Adams Second the Approval by Brandy Hutzler
5:35 – 5:40 Worship Commission Report Julie
• All new eucharistic ministers and lectors have been trained and commissioned by the diocese. Next training will take place in the spring.
• More Mass Coordinator volunteers are needed, especially for 10 am mass.
• Prayer and Devotion continues to send out PPI (Prayer, Petition, and Intercession) intercessory prayer emails for our parish. Currently there are 65+ members on the PPI Team. We are grateful for each of them and their commitment to pray for others.
o Discussion at Pastoral Council asked if any type of update on those requesting prayer intentions can be communicated?
• Music and Song reported they are in the inquiry stage of checking into monitors in church for song titles and page numbers.
• We are working to create more youth involvement with music as mass.
• The Art and Environment Team did an outstanding job preparing the church for Advent and Christmas. With the retirement of John Riley, the A&E Team will take over the preparations of the Nativity in 2025.
• An altar renovation committee has met with the Diocesan Director of Buildings and Properties and an architect to begin the initial steps to update the altar area of church. The sanctuary has not been updated in over 27 years. This process stems from Fr. Penn’s wish to replace the carpet with a solid surface and move the tabernacle behind the alter. Committee members are Joy Corwin, Deacon Jim Hankins, Kathy Cotter, Barb Steinman, and Don Woods.
• Art and Environment met to review the Advent and Christmas work plan and begin planning for the Lenten and Easter celebrations.
5:40 – 5:45 Stewardship Council Report Gay Ann
• The council will begin working to update the OnlineStewardship Renewal form to be more similar to the paper form.
• Fellowship area updates continue. Approval was received to move forward with bulletin board updates on the ramp leading into the Fellowship area.
• Plans for a current events corner are underway. The area around the TV will be used to create rolling current events announcements and eventually broadcast mass. A new table in the area is being discussed and approval will be requested.
o Discussion at Pastoral Council asked the Stewardship Council to determine if once the new church technology updates are complete, determine if a TV could be placed in the front vestibule of church
5:45 – 5:50 Social Concerns Commission Report Deacon Jim
• Church Marquis has been installed and we’re waiting for electrical hookup.
• The Advent Giving Tree was a remarkable success: 189 gifts were distributed (160 to Hope House, 10 to Ozark Rehab, 10 to Stonebridge Senior Living, and 9 to Lake Area Helping Hands). Next year we will also serve the adults at Lake Area Helping Hands.
• We will be supporting the Pregnancy Help Center Chili Cookoff again as a Silver Sponsor. The event takes place on March 6 at 6 pm at The Exchange Event Center in Camdenton.. Anyone interested in attending can contact Deacon Jim.
• Our previous Blood Drive was canceled due to weather. Our next Blood Drive is March 20th.
5:50 – 5:55 Education Commission Report Linda
• Family Reconciliation and Soup/Salad Supper was a great success.
• Scholarship committee has reviewed applications and 5 students will receive scholarships.
• The Welcome Weekend originally scheduled for our Welcome Seed Team at Wardsville, MO has been postponed until interest of more attendees is reached.
• Understanding Divine Mercy, a 5-week study will be held during Lent starting March 10.
• Welcome Weekend is being planned for OLL the weekend of October 18-19.
• Linda and Jay Bukalski will be leading a 6-week Consecration to St. Joseph for men and women on Mondays at 6 pm starting February 17 with Consecration on March 24.
• Lenten reflection books will be Hope Lights the Way (children/family focused) and The Peaceful Path of Hope (adults).
• First Communion is scheduled for May 4 and Confirmation is scheduled for May 21.
• A Family Lenten activity will be held on Ash Wednesday, March 5.
• OCIA is off to a great start. We have 9 adults in the program – Two Catechumens, four Candidates and one person for Confirmation.
5:55 – 6:00 Administration Commission Report
• This commission is an ad hoc team that meets to support the pastor as needed.
6:00 – 6:05 Hispanic Ministry Report
• Looking for a member of the Hispanic community to join the Pastoral Council.
6:05 – 6:15 Open Discussion/New Business
• The Education Director’s new laptop has been ordered.
• We need to coordinate well for Holy Week to ensure visiting Priest(s) are aware of our activities and expectations.
• Linda Adams’ term as Pastoral Council Chair is complete, Brandy Hutzler has been selected as the next Pastoral Council Chair.
• The Pastoral Vice Chair position was vacant, Tony Otto has been selected as the next Pastoral Council Vice Chair.
• Gay Ann Christy’s term as Pastoral Council Secretary is complete, the Pastoral Council Secretary position remains open.
• Jay Bukalski has been selected as the new Stewardship Council Rep.
• The Education Commission Rep to Pastoral Council position remains open. Linda Adams will cover the opening until the position is filled.
• The At-Large-Member opening on Pastoral Council will be filled during the parish-wide elections in October 2025.
• The key activity for the Pastoral Council in 2025 will be to create an updated Pastoral Plan. The OLL Pastoral Plan dated for 2020-2023 is now out-of-date. Three out of the four action items have been completed/implemented (Pastoral Council, Social Concerns commission, and Stewardship Council formed). The fourth (evangelizing young families and youth) is in progress. In creating a new plan, consideration should be given to the feedback from the Beatitudes small group study.
6:15 – 6:28 Parish Life Collaborator Time Deacon Jim
• Flooring in Bestgen Hall is complete
• Key activities underway:
o Technology updates throughout the church.
o Purchase of storage trailer to place next to Bestgen Hall
o A lot in Porta Cima was given to the church in previous years. The Finance Council, with permission from the diocese, has decided to sell the lot. Currently accepting closed bids.
o Stained Glass Windows updates are scheduled for March.
o Brick The tuckpointing has been approved, where we are awaiting the schedule to start work.
6:28 – 6:30 Closing and Final Prayer Linda
• Pastoral Council Meeting Dates:
o Skip November and December
o 1/23/2025 Officer Elections
• Closing Prayer