St. Ambrose Parish Council
Mission Statement - "The Parish Pastoral Council will work with the Parish Priest and pastoral team, in leading the growth of St. Ambrose's Parish as a welcoming community of worship, spiritual richness, and service."
Current Minutes
St. Ambrose Parish Pastoral Council Meeting
Minutes for June 28, 2024
7:30 p.m. Foyer
Present: Fr. Ian, Deacon Peter, Dave Schaaf, Elizabeth Sutton, Lynne Schaaf, Greg Schmidt, Kevin Kinahan, Bonnie Sturm
Not Available: Adam Zanoni, Harley Packer, Denis Cote, Denise Roosen, Brent Christensen,
Julie Landry-Deboer, Shelley Lohues and Marta Lopez
1. Opening Prayer – Deacon Peter led the group in prayer.
2. Approval of the Agenda
Motion: That the agenda be approved as presented. Moved – Lynne, Seconded – Bonnie, CARRIED.
3. Approval of the Minutes from the March 26, 2024 meeting.
Motion: That the Minutes be approved as submitted. Moved – Dave, Seconded – Bonnie, CARRIED.
4. Finance Report – attached.
5. Pastor’s Report – Fr. Ian
a) Diocesan
There will be a new training program for sacramental preparation. There will be a greater focus on the bible. There is also an intention to create a stronger connection with the schools.
b) Parish
i) We had a 47% survey response for the parish renewal survey.
ii) Father will be on holidays from July 23 till of August 25. The 4pm Sunday Mass will be cancelled during that time. Also, there will be no weekday Masses, Adoration or Confessions.
6. Old Business
a) Parish Pastoral Council membership update - will continue to invite those that have joined. Hopefully they can be engaged in the fall.
b) St. Catherine’s rectory update - painting is underway. Cabinets will be installed in the next 2-3 weeks.
c) Parish Renewal Team (PRT)
i) Gathering – Intention is to build connections in the parish. Looking at activities that will support this.
ii) Survey – Surveys have been completed and submitted to the Diocese. There is a university that is compiling the information. A report will be released in October or November.
iii) Next steps will be to develop a 5-year parish renewal plan. Parish Council’s annual business plan will align and support the 5-year renewal plan.
iv) No activities with the PRT over the summer
7. New Business
a) Church Sound System
i) Father will purchase the current mic’s that are presently being rented from Long & McQuade. The current church sound system was installed in 2014 at a cost of $8,000. The amp has failed, and the microphones are of poor quality. Lynne & Dave Schaaf will investigate options for the sound system. Elizabeth will pass on the contacts that she has. Will contact St. Augustine’s church in Lethbridge as they have recently upgraded their system. Will consider re-use of existing components. Will look at a couple of options for repairing/upgrading the system, & the associated costs.
b) PPC roles for September
i) Dave Schaaf will remain in the role of secretary
ii) We will have rotating chairs for the September to January meetings (7:30 after Mass)
September 24 – Greg Schmidt
October 22 – Kevin Kinahan
November 26 – Lynne Schaaf
December 17 (social) – Bonnie Sturm
January xx – Elizabeth Sutton
c) PPC social - September 8, 5:30 pm at Elizabeth’s house – 128 Fairway Dr.
d) Put on Sept. agenda
i) Sound system update
ii) Annual report
e) Pastoral Care (recruitment brainstorming)
i) Pastoral Care provides weekly Communion to those that cannot attend Mass. They also help with the Rosary at the Sunny South Lodge. The visits involve spending time talking to those that are receiving Communion. Typical the time commitment is from 10:30 am till 1 pm on Sundays. Those that are being visited include: 5 @ Sunny south Lodge; 2 @ Coaldale Care Centre; 2 house visits (3 people).
Currently have 2 teams of 2. Teams cannot be husband & wife. Individuals require a police check & additional training (Praesidium) & registration by the Bishop.
ii) An option discussed would be to have the Eucharistic Ministers bring Communion.
8. Committee Reports
a) Liturgy Committee – no report
b) Knights of Columbus – no report
c) CWL – no report
d) St. Joseph School – no report
e) Hall report – report attached
f) Pastoral Care – report attached
g) Building Maintenance
i) Pruner will be contacted to prune a couple of the trees behind the church.
ii) Water leakage from the roof into the foyer is being investigated.
h) Deacon Peter
i) Has been posted as the Deacon for St. Ambrose and will be attending to the care homes in East Lethbridge.
9. Closing Prayer – Deacon Peter led the group in prayer.
Next meeting will be September 24, 2024, at 7:30 pm.
St. Ambrose Parish Pastoral Council Meeting
Minutes for June 28, 2024
7:30 p.m. Foyer
Present: Fr. Ian, Deacon Peter, Dave Schaaf, Elizabeth Sutton, Lynne Schaaf, Greg Schmidt, Kevin Kinahan, Bonnie Sturm
Not Available: Adam Zanoni, Harley Packer, Denis Cote, Denise Roosen, Brent Christensen,
Julie Landry-Deboer, Shelley Lohues and Marta Lopez
1. Opening Prayer – Deacon Peter led the group in prayer.
2. Approval of the Agenda
Motion: That the agenda be approved as presented. Moved – Lynne, Seconded – Bonnie, CARRIED.
3. Approval of the Minutes from the March 26, 2024 meeting.
Motion: That the Minutes be approved as submitted. Moved – Dave, Seconded – Bonnie, CARRIED.
4. Finance Report – attached.
5. Pastor’s Report – Fr. Ian
a) Diocesan
There will be a new training program for sacramental preparation. There will be a greater focus on the bible. There is also an intention to create a stronger connection with the schools.
b) Parish
i) We had a 47% survey response for the parish renewal survey.
ii) Father will be on holidays from July 23 till of August 25. The 4pm Sunday Mass will be cancelled during that time. Also, there will be no weekday Masses, Adoration or Confessions.
6. Old Business
a) Parish Pastoral Council membership update - will continue to invite those that have joined. Hopefully they can be engaged in the fall.
b) St. Catherine’s rectory update - painting is underway. Cabinets will be installed in the next 2-3 weeks.
c) Parish Renewal Team (PRT)
i) Gathering – Intention is to build connections in the parish. Looking at activities that will support this.
ii) Survey – Surveys have been completed and submitted to the Diocese. There is a university that is compiling the information. A report will be released in October or November.
iii) Next steps will be to develop a 5-year parish renewal plan. Parish Council’s annual business plan will align and support the 5-year renewal plan.
iv) No activities with the PRT over the summer
7. New Business
a) Church Sound System
i) Father will purchase the current mic’s that are presently being rented from Long & McQuade. The current church sound system was installed in 2014 at a cost of $8,000. The amp has failed, and the microphones are of poor quality. Lynne & Dave Schaaf will investigate options for the sound system. Elizabeth will pass on the contacts that she has. Will contact St. Augustine’s church in Lethbridge as they have recently upgraded their system. Will consider re-use of existing components. Will look at a couple of options for repairing/upgrading the system, & the associated costs.
b) PPC roles for September
i) Dave Schaaf will remain in the role of secretary
ii) We will have rotating chairs for the September to January meetings (7:30 after Mass)
September 24 – Greg Schmidt
October 22 – Kevin Kinahan
November 26 – Lynne Schaaf
December 17 (social) – Bonnie Sturm
January xx – Elizabeth Sutton
c) PPC social - September 8, 5:30 pm at Elizabeth’s house – 128 Fairway Dr.
d) Put on Sept. agenda
i) Sound system update
ii) Annual report
e) Pastoral Care (recruitment brainstorming)
i) Pastoral Care provides weekly Communion to those that cannot attend Mass. They also help with the Rosary at the Sunny South Lodge. The visits involve spending time talking to those that are receiving Communion. Typical the time commitment is from 10:30 am till 1 pm on Sundays. Those that are being visited include: 5 @ Sunny south Lodge; 2 @ Coaldale Care Centre; 2 house visits (3 people).
Currently have 2 teams of 2. Teams cannot be husband & wife. Individuals require a police check & additional training (Praesidium) & registration by the Bishop.
ii) An option discussed would be to have the Eucharistic Ministers bring Communion.
8. Committee Reports
a) Liturgy Committee – no report
b) Knights of Columbus – no report
c) CWL – no report
d) St. Joseph School – no report
e) Hall report – report attached
f) Pastoral Care – report attached
g) Building Maintenance
i) Pruner will be contacted to prune a couple of the trees behind the church.
ii) Water leakage from the roof into the foyer is being investigated.
h) Deacon Peter
i) Has been posted as the Deacon for St. Ambrose and will be attending to the care homes in East Lethbridge.
9. Closing Prayer – Deacon Peter led the group in prayer.
Next meeting will be September 24, 2024, at 7:30 pm.