ST JOSEPH/ST PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCHES PASTORAL COUNCIL MINUTES
10/24/2017 Meeting
1. In Attendance: Msgr. Thomas Flach, Deacon Ken Hilliard, Angela Lees, Cindy Pulsford , Cindy
Yong, Andrea McNeill, Tim Kirschbaum, Matthew Leitzen, Monica Jones and Bruce Steh - Vice
President; Debra Bertrand – President; Absent Excused - Betty Blades, Patti Zanotti; Absent - Elizabeth
Huhman, Rosemary Gribble, David Haus.
2. Approval of Meeting Minutes: 9/26/2017 Minutes were approved. Motion was made to accept the
minutes by Monica Jones, and seconded by Matthew Leitzen. Motion carried.
3. Old Business:
a. Wine Tour - 31 attended and fun was had by all.
b. Young Adult Initiative - Cindy Yong and Elizabeth Huhman completed the application and submitted
it. There has been no response as of yet to the application.
c. Ad Hoc Committee Recommendations re: Direction/Mission/Vision of Parishes - the committee has
received profiles and information about joining the Glenmary Misson. The committee has requested
additional information and is not yet ready to make a recommendation to the Council. The information
provided by Glenmary is attached to the minutes.
4. New Business:
a. Pastoral Council Constitution - Matt Lees presented a modified Constitution with amendments
to ARTICLE II wherein trustees will become officio members of the Parish Council and will have voting
rights. The proposed amendment was read at the meeting. Motion was made by Matt Leitzen and
seconded by Monica Jones to present the amended Constitution for approval at the next scheduled Parish
Council meeting. Motion carried. The proposed Constitution is attached to the minutes.
b. Pastoral Council Membership Nominations - some nominations have been received and the
nominees will be contacted about their willingness to serve. A Pastoral Council Rotation is attached
explaining the term length of each member.
c. Election Schedule - the Nominees will be asked to write a short bio and the bios will appear in
the bulletin on 12/2/17. The Election will be held on 12/9/17 and 12/10/17.
d. OLMC Fund Raiser - in an effort to involve the OLMC parents in their home parishes, the
idea has been presented that the OLMC parents host a fund raiser to be held at St. Paul and/or St. Joseph.
The fund raiser would support OLMC. The request will be made that the parents be able to get service
hour credit for their work on the fund raiser.
e. Resignation of Organist - Justin has resigned. Each parish will need to secure their own
organist to play for mass until further notice. Brue Steh offered to speak with some of his contacts about
playing for the parishes. Justin advised that he would be back in the area around Christmastime and
would be willing to help out if the parishes needed assistance.
f. St. Meinrad Lenten Reflection Day - an idea was discussed during the wine tour that the
parishes have a retreat at St. Meinrad during early Lent. The retreat would begin on a Friday afternoon
and participants would return on Saturday evening. Cindy Yong will look into using a bus for
transportation to and from the event and Msgr. Thomas Flach was going to check on the availability of St.
Meinrad.
g. Pastor Retirement - Msgr. Thomas Flach has announced his retirement which will take place
in June/July of 2018. Meetings with the Bishop begin next week to discuss assignment issues due to the
retirement.
5. Committee Reports: The committees are Stewardship; Welcome; Outreach; Faith Formation;
Vocation; and Liturgy. The goal for the next year will be to schedule a member or two from each
committee to attend two Council meetings a year to give a report to the Parish Council on the committee
activity. A calendar will be developed for presentation dates.
6. Pastor’s Comments: Msgr. Thomas Flach discussed a new Illinois scholarship tax credit that will be
available beginning January 1, 2018 which would allow an Illinois tax credit up to 75% of the donation to
scholarship funds. OLMC representatives will be meeting to determine how the tax credit may be useful
and will disseminate information to the parishes about the credit.
7. Meeting Date & Time: November 28, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Paul.
A discussion was held regarding December’s meeting and it decided to move the meeting to
accommodate the holidays. December’s Parish Council meeting will be held on December 19, 2017 at
6:30 p.m. at the rectory.
8. Adjournment - Motion to adjourn by by Monica Jones, and seconded by Matthew Leitzen. Motion
carried.
10/24/2017 Meeting
1. In Attendance: Msgr. Thomas Flach, Deacon Ken Hilliard, Angela Lees, Cindy Pulsford , Cindy
Yong, Andrea McNeill, Tim Kirschbaum, Matthew Leitzen, Monica Jones and Bruce Steh - Vice
President; Debra Bertrand – President; Absent Excused - Betty Blades, Patti Zanotti; Absent - Elizabeth
Huhman, Rosemary Gribble, David Haus.
2. Approval of Meeting Minutes: 9/26/2017 Minutes were approved. Motion was made to accept the
minutes by Monica Jones, and seconded by Matthew Leitzen. Motion carried.
3. Old Business:
a. Wine Tour - 31 attended and fun was had by all.
b. Young Adult Initiative - Cindy Yong and Elizabeth Huhman completed the application and submitted
it. There has been no response as of yet to the application.
c. Ad Hoc Committee Recommendations re: Direction/Mission/Vision of Parishes - the committee has
received profiles and information about joining the Glenmary Misson. The committee has requested
additional information and is not yet ready to make a recommendation to the Council. The information
provided by Glenmary is attached to the minutes.
4. New Business:
a. Pastoral Council Constitution - Matt Lees presented a modified Constitution with amendments
to ARTICLE II wherein trustees will become officio members of the Parish Council and will have voting
rights. The proposed amendment was read at the meeting. Motion was made by Matt Leitzen and
seconded by Monica Jones to present the amended Constitution for approval at the next scheduled Parish
Council meeting. Motion carried. The proposed Constitution is attached to the minutes.
b. Pastoral Council Membership Nominations - some nominations have been received and the
nominees will be contacted about their willingness to serve. A Pastoral Council Rotation is attached
explaining the term length of each member.
c. Election Schedule - the Nominees will be asked to write a short bio and the bios will appear in
the bulletin on 12/2/17. The Election will be held on 12/9/17 and 12/10/17.
d. OLMC Fund Raiser - in an effort to involve the OLMC parents in their home parishes, the
idea has been presented that the OLMC parents host a fund raiser to be held at St. Paul and/or St. Joseph.
The fund raiser would support OLMC. The request will be made that the parents be able to get service
hour credit for their work on the fund raiser.
e. Resignation of Organist - Justin has resigned. Each parish will need to secure their own
organist to play for mass until further notice. Brue Steh offered to speak with some of his contacts about
playing for the parishes. Justin advised that he would be back in the area around Christmastime and
would be willing to help out if the parishes needed assistance.
f. St. Meinrad Lenten Reflection Day - an idea was discussed during the wine tour that the
parishes have a retreat at St. Meinrad during early Lent. The retreat would begin on a Friday afternoon
and participants would return on Saturday evening. Cindy Yong will look into using a bus for
transportation to and from the event and Msgr. Thomas Flach was going to check on the availability of St.
Meinrad.
g. Pastor Retirement - Msgr. Thomas Flach has announced his retirement which will take place
in June/July of 2018. Meetings with the Bishop begin next week to discuss assignment issues due to the
retirement.
5. Committee Reports: The committees are Stewardship; Welcome; Outreach; Faith Formation;
Vocation; and Liturgy. The goal for the next year will be to schedule a member or two from each
committee to attend two Council meetings a year to give a report to the Parish Council on the committee
activity. A calendar will be developed for presentation dates.
6. Pastor’s Comments: Msgr. Thomas Flach discussed a new Illinois scholarship tax credit that will be
available beginning January 1, 2018 which would allow an Illinois tax credit up to 75% of the donation to
scholarship funds. OLMC representatives will be meeting to determine how the tax credit may be useful
and will disseminate information to the parishes about the credit.
7. Meeting Date & Time: November 28, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Paul.
A discussion was held regarding December’s meeting and it decided to move the meeting to
accommodate the holidays. December’s Parish Council meeting will be held on December 19, 2017 at
6:30 p.m. at the rectory.
8. Adjournment - Motion to adjourn by by Monica Jones, and seconded by Matthew Leitzen. Motion
carried.
