St. Pascal Baylon Catholic Church

Parish Pastoral Council Updates

Updates for the most recent meetings are below.  View updates and minutes for past meetings here.

If you have questions or a topic for the Council to discuss, please contact Ann Karner, Council Chair, at akarner24@gmail.com.

April 24, 2024

• Ryan Field update: The interested buyer is conducting their due diligence steps in regards to the property. These steps will continue until at least the Autumn.
• Boiler project: The parish received three bids for a new boiler. The Finance Council made a recommendation at their meeting in March to accept the bid from Gilbert Mechanical. The dollar goal for our fundraising effort for the new boiler will be announced through an April 6-7 pulpit announcement and an all parishioner mailing. This will be the second year in a row that the Fund-a-Need project is the new boiler.
• The parish staff has been in contact with the Ramsey Washington Metro Watershed District (RWMWD) about the idea of installing a rain garden on the southeast corner of our parish campus (Conway Street and White Bear Avenue). We would proceed with the project if it was entirely funded by a stewardship grant awarded through the RWMWD to fund property improvements that benefit water quality and natural resources. The garden would have a similar appearance as our existing rain garden on the corner of Flandrau Street and Third Street that RWMWD installed in 2022. Council members were favorable to the idea of the new rain garden and encouraged parish staff to continue the discussion with RWMWD.
• Updates were given by Council liaisons from active parish groups and committees: Fish fry dinners during Lent went very well (Men’s Club); bake sales during the Fish fry dinners went very well, too (Women’s Club); Lent small groups have completed their meetings, and the our planning team is gathering feedback from participants on the experience; some small groups may continue their meetings during the Easter season (Archdiocesan Synod); updates were given regarding efforts at the State capitol to support access to affordable housing (Social Justice and Caring Committee).
• The parish is maintaining a good cash balance, and expenses are very close to budgeted amounts. Generosity from parishioners is noticed and appreciated.
• Next meeting: May 7, 2024.

March 5, 2024

• The parish received communication from an interested buyer who wishes to purchase a portion of Ryan Field. Our real estate broker, Cushman and Wakefield, is in communication with the interested buyer. The interested buyer would develop the land in a way that aligns with our parish mission, that helps our neighborhood and helps our parish financially. Father John will share this information with the parish in an upcoming pulpit announcement.
• Ideas for having a ministry fair were discussed; such a fair could happen quarterly and have affiliated ministries present to recruit new volunteers.
• Members of the Council were asked to consider their intent for continuing their membership on the Council so we can begin recruiting efforts for new Council members for 2024-25.
• Updates were given by Council liaisons from active parish groups and committees: update on planning for Spring Family Fiesta on April 13 (Parish Activity Committee), preparing for Holy Week (Liturgy), dessert bake sales going well at Lent Fish Fry dinners (Women’s Club), Fish Fry dinners are underway and attendance is increasing as the weeks go forward (Men’s Club), parish Lent small groups are meeting (Archdiocesan Synod), update on the Start at Home initiative at State Capitol, and a bulletin board has been designed outside Brioschi Hall for Food Insecurity Awareness month in March (Social Justice and Caring Committee), and an update was given on parish finances and facilities, and happily there were no major repairs to report.

February 6, 2024

• Helping Merrick Community Services with some of the monthly cost for providing food at our food distribution on the third Monday of the month
• Putting on hold the idea of expanding the Donation Closet due to estimated cost
• Meetings are scheduled in March for Eucharistic Ministers to review procedures for distributing Communion
• Involvement of Council members at the Welcome Table on Fellowship Weekends and possible outreach to welcome new parishioners
• Updates were given by Council liaisons from active parish groups and committees including: report on the Mid-Winter game night on January 26 (Parish Activity Committee), preparing for the Annual Puzzle and Game Exchange on two weekends in February (Women’s Club), preparing for Lent Fish Fry dinners (Men’s Club), parish small groups will start meeting during Lent (Archdiocesan Synod), and an update on parish finances and facilities.

January 2, 2024

• Due to the high volume of usage, the current Donation Closet space is being evaluated for a possible expansion of the available space.
• Updates from liaisons to active parish groups and committees included: the holiday Bake Sale (Women’s Club), Christmas tree sales (Men’s Club), parish small group invitations during January (Archdiocesan Synod), and plans for Mid-Winter game night on January 26 (Parish Activity Committee).
• An update was given on parish finances and facilities.

 December 5, 2023

• Council members will be present at the Welcome and Information Table after Masses during Fellowship Weekend on December 17.
• Archdiocesan Synod volunteers completed the seven-week leader formation series, and parishioners will have an opportunity during January to sign up for a small group that will meet during Lent.
• Mid-winter family game night is planned for Friday, January 26.
• All the food contributed by the parish for the monthly food distribution here at our church with Merrick Community Services was shared with families and individuals in need on November 27, and approximately 75 households received food.
• Updates were given from active parish groups and committees.
• Updates on parish facilities and finances were given.

June 5, 2023

• plans for implementing the Archdiocesan Synod Year 1 goal of starting small groups in our parish
• plans to recruit small group leaders during the summer
• plans to start small group meetings in Lent 2024
• best practices for encouraging and welcoming new parishioners
• confirmed continuity of Pastoral Council chairperson, vice chairperson and secretary positions for 2023-24
• updates from active parish groups and committees, updates on parish facilities and finances

May 2, 2023

• Update and progress regarding the Archdiocesan Synod
• Results and feedback from the Friends and Family event on April 22
• Involvement of Parish Council members at Fellowship weekends
• Updates from active parish groups and committees
• Updates on parish facilities and finances

April 2023

The Pastoral Council did not meet in April in observance of Holy Week and Easter.

March 7, 2023

• Father John asked the Council if they would like to meet next Fall during his sabbatical absence. Since the Council advises the pastor, and since he will be absent, maybe Council meetings next Fall could have the purpose of information sharing rather than advisory to the pastor. The Council will make a decision about Fall meetings at their April meeting.
• The Council received updates from the liaisons for the Women’s Club (Carmen Alvarez Poppert), Men’s Club (John Scanlon), Adult Faith Formation (Jaci Bush), Parish Activities Committee (Pat Stuhl), Liturgy and Music (Colleen Cullen) and Social Justice & Caring Committee (Ann Karner).
• Parish finances were looking good during February, and we have made progress on closing the gap in budgeted income for Sunday giving.
• The Council heard an update about the water leak on the weekend of March 3, the damaged areas, and the repair work that has begun. The insurance claims process has been smooth and responsive.
• The Council continued discussing plans for recruiting new Council members for 2023-24. 

February 7, 2023

• Communion from the cup will resume beginning on Holy Thursday.
• Free jigsaw puzzle exchange organized by the Women’s Club will take place on February 19.
• The Men’s Club will offer Fish Fry meals on the Fridays of Lent.
• A Lenten Parish Mission, “Water, Light and Life” will take place the four Monday evenings of March.
• Continued discussion of the updating of our Parish Council Constitution and By-laws.
• Discussion of recruiting new members for the Parish Council for 2023-24.

January 3, 2023

• Discussion about the finalization of plans for implementation of Archdiocesan Synod and training of Synod Evangelization Team.
• Sale of the Ryan Field property - our commercial property realtor, Cushman & Wakefield, continues to market the property for sale.
• 2022 Christmas Mass attendance numbers were very good, and the Council discussed plans for Christmas 2023 Mass scheduling since December 25, 2023 occurs on a Monday.
• The Council received updates from active Parish groups/committees.
• The Council continued discussion on updates to the Parish Council By-Laws.
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December 6, 2022

• In Spring, the Ramsey Washington Metro Watershed District will plant three triumph elm trees in the tree boxes in the center of the parking lot and four pinnacle birch trees in the landscape buffer strip along Third Street
• Father John is forming a parish Synod Evangelization Team to discern ways to implement the Archdiocesan Synod pastoral letter in our parish and work in collaboration with the parish council, parish staff and parish leadership groups
• The council heard updates from liaisons to the Women’s Club, Men’s Club, Adult Faith Formation Committee, Parish Activities Committee, and the Social Justice and Caring Committee; discussion of updates to the Parish Council By-Laws

October 4, 2022

• The Council discussed an update of the Tree Trench/Rain Garden project on the church parking lot.
• The Council discussed plans for implementation of the Archdiocesan synod.
• The Council discussed plans for the Ryan Field property.
• The Council received updates from active Parish groups and committees.

September 6, 2022