St. Joseph Parish Council

Minutes of Meeting, March 13, 2006

The meeting was called to order by President, Jack Marinella, at 7:00 p.m. in the Convent. Elvera Porter led the meeting in prayer.

Attendance: Fr. Carmen Carlone, Sr. Barbara Ranere, Marti Badagliacco, Nimia Bermudez, Pat Campanella, Anthony Capella, Sal Capelli, Frank Carrelli, Ron Chance, Madge Codone, Nick Domenico, Sharon Figuero, Steve Kincaid, Hugh LaMonaca, Jack Marinella, Anthony Padovani, Burwell Porter (Trustee), Elvera Porter, Pat Provnick, Pat Rodio, Minerva Rodriguez (Trustee), Sr. Dorothy Toussaint, Nick Vitucci, Sr. Theresa

Excused: Joseph Olive, Agustin Saldana Absent:

The minutes were accepted but it was noted that St. Joseph Feast was changed to Sunday, and Bishop DiMarzio’s date was postponed because of unforeseen circumstances.

Sr. Barbara was named as an ex-officio member of the council. Fr. Carmen made it clear that Sr. Barbara has answers to what is our greatest single financial obligation in terms of subsidy for the school. The high school for the next few years will also come into the jurisdiction of the parish. Under the jurisdiction of the pastor, the parish has the responsibility of hiring a principal, president, preparing a budget, and administering to the high school. Fr. Carmen mentioned that he would like to have Gerrie Monestero, secretary to the high school, as ex-officio member of the board to answer questions.

Sr. Barbara briefly summarized that the elementary school is going through IOWA testing, evaluation, and preparation for future planning.

Jack Marinella read with regret a letter of resignation from Dave DiMeglio. The open seat will be filled by the next person on the nomination list, Anthony Sceia.

Hugh LaMonica distributed a copy of the By-Laws to each member. He pointed out that a section of the By-Laws includes duties of each committee.

Jack Marinella distributed the list of Committees, Chairpersons, and Members. To make any changes, members should contact Jack as soon as possible.

Ways and Means Committee: Anthony Capella, chairperson, Anthony Padovani, Nimia Bermudez, Pat Rodio, Augustin Saldana, Nick Domenico

Ecumenical Committee: Joe Olive, chairperson, Nimia Bermudez, Madge Cadone, Pat Provnick

Education Committee: Anthony Padovani, chairperson, Sharon Figueroa, Minerva Rodriguez

Liturgical Committee: Marti Badagliacco, chairperson, Ron Chance, Pat Provnick

Maintenance Committee: Sal Capelli, chairperson, Anthony Capella, Ron Chance, Agustin Saldana, Steve Kincaid, Agustin Saldana, Pat Rodio

A meeting with Fr. Carmen, Jack Marinella, Bobby Cappoferi, and Sal Capelli will take place on Thursday to discuss the taking down of the white house across from the elementary school and the “inside wall” on the school lawn. What was started at the cemetery will continue. Work on the Grace House is questionable and will wait for further direction.

Social Activities Committee: Elvera Porter, chairperson, Mary Kryvoruka, Marti Badagliacco, Madge Codone, Pat Campanella, Minerva Rodriguez, Sharon Figueroa

Youth Ministry Committee: Sharon Figueroa, chairperson, Frank Carelli, Nick Domenico

Religious Celebrations Committee: Frank Carrelli, chairperson, Nick Domenico, Elvira Porter, Steve Kincaid, Pat Provnick

For the Our Lady of Mount Carmel feast a Stealth Grey 2006 Cadillac CTS, $31,190, will be raffled. To save on mailing, using residential stickers was discussed (40,000 items for $850.00). An ad will be placed in the Star Herald and in the Trenton Diocesan paper, The Monitor. Negotiations are being made with Abbotts regarding taking items on consignment. St. John Society will be raffling an “Our Lady of Mt. Carmel” statue. Two cases of plastic beer mugs found in the church basement advertising the feast can be used by the beer garden. Bingo will be played on July 13, 14, and 15.

Entertainment by Ferko String Band for July 15 (35 men in costume performing two 45 minute sets) will cost $1,500. If 15 businesses were approached to sponsor at $100, it would pay for the entertainment.

Assumption stand will continue to operate from the convent grounds

Vendor prices for the week will be 10 feet x 20 feet space $500 per week, with 10 feet x 10 feet at $350 per week.

Zeppoles will be added to the Red Stand menu.

A Purchase Order system will be used to keep control of spending. A new account will be opened for the Feast. To manage money, one group will count the money, the bookkeeper will record and deposit it. The CPA will audit and prepare the reports for the Diocesan office. In this way, all three phases have a different operation but all have to agree. With this system after three days of the feast, the results should be known.

A brochure with welcome, candle requests, schedule of Masses, procession, and car raffle will be included, but Masses will be eliminated. On the back will include “These are the things that we do during the carnival that support St. Joseph Schools and Parish”.

The book of intentions will be placed at the back of the church and only the name of the person who needs prayers will be listed. The book will be carried up during the Offertory of the Mass.

In reference to the money on the statues, a motion was made by Ron Chance that we adopt a policy that our pastor, Fr. Carmen, has requested and that the policy read that “all money donated to the statue will be used for a unified purpose and, on the whole, people will know for what purpose they are putting money on the statue”. The motion was seconded by Pat Provnick. The motion was passed unanimously. The purpose will be announced by Fr. Carmen at the Masses.

Evangelical Committee: Hugh LaMonaca, chairperson, Pat Campanella, Pat Provnick, Joseph Olive, Minerva Rodriguez

Weekly Lenten Faith Sharing session have two groups of approximately 15 members. No Coffee and Donuts on March 19, St. Joseph Day. The Food Pantry and St. Vincent DePaul issues will be discussed at a meeting next week. The Rectory will be open from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Monday to Thursday or Monday to Friday.

By Laws Committee: Hugh LaMonaca, Pat Campanella, Ron Chance

New Business

Fr. Carmen assured the council that whatever he is aware of that Monsignor Bottino started, he would continue. Father’s top priority is to change our self image. We have a wonderful parish with a long history and all negativity needs to be stopped. He stressed that the best way to evangelize is to speak with loving affection of the way we worship and the people with whom we worship. Fr. Carmen intends to watch, support, and do the spiritual things in the church as well as help with the administration. Fr. Carmen has a purchase order system and a checks and balances system which will help, but he needs from the Parish Council a 7-year plan that will work for the parish. Fr. Carmen told the council that he will not veto whatever the consensus of the parish council is.

Discussion continued as to what can be accomplished in seven years? Suggestions noted by Fr. Carmen for a Seven-Year plan were:

The gym needs to be shared with the high school for a few more years.

The parish has very little facility to gather. Fr. Carmen noted the condition and expense of the Bingo Hall and he thinks that we can build an inexpensive common purpose room behind the Bingo Hall to hold about 500 people. Names for current meeting places will be St. Joseph Hall (Rectory basement) and Filippini Hall (Convent basement). Whatever is costing an excessive amount of money to run will be taken down and replaced with what we can use.

Make our parish financially solvent. Get a reasonable subsidy for the school to break out even so that a great financial burden is taken off the parish.

The money for the cemetery, which we are going to try to keep under St. Joseph Parish, has to go back into the cemetery as stated by law. We can get equipment and employees, but it cannot be subsidized.

The black-seal certificate employee will now be responsible for the grade school and the high school.

In order to keep financial records straight, the people of parish will count the money and prepare it for the bank, the bookkeeper will record it, and the CPA, Ron Suppa, will put it in the computer and prepare the Diocesan Reports. All three people will have a separate job so that the Diocese gets a good picture of St. Joseph Parish. Fr. Carmen informed the council that St. Joseph Church is now under the Diocese of Camden. The Bishop is the President of the corporation and Fr. Carmen is the Secretary-Treasurer. St. Joseph Parish is accountable for the high school, grade school, cemetery, and parish. Once budgets are set up for the parish and for the festival, then everyone involved in the budget is empowered to spend the money using Purchase Orders. All bills will go to Fr. Carmen’s desk and all people in organization will write their own checks and keep their own books, but Fr. Carmen will sign the checks.

Fr. Carmen wants to set up a committee to look at the whole parish plan. For example, the cemetery, house next to school, house across the street, house behind bingo hall, another house to sell, pave parking lots after leveling houses. The Bingo Hall will be used until no longer needed. Fr. Carmen noted that St. Joseph Church is the Mother Church and will not be closing. If one of the other parishes closes, St. Joseph Parish will double overnight. Father has plans for Fr. Joe Capella to assist in the parish periodically, Fr. Joyce will be coming in to fill in every weekend as well as every Monday and Thursday morning Mass. Fr. Ron will be here on March 21 to take Fr. Caesar’s position and help with the Spanish ministry. Fr. Cesar is going to another established ministry. Fr. Carmen asked Jack for a seven-year plan to include spiritual life, facilities, and finances. The seven-year plan should include what we can achieve in terms of combined ministries (sick, bereaved, shut-ins, Martha ministry, taking care of people in any way possible), how to mobilize people to take care of the parish. Fr. Carmen indicated that we do not have problems that cannot be solved.

Jack Marinella asked that all members interested in serving on the Seven-Year Plan Committee contact him as soon as possible.

The next meeting will be held at St. Joseph Hall on April 3, 2006, Marti Badagliacco will prepare the opening and closing prayers. Coffee will be served.

At 9:15 p.m. a motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Anthony Padovani and seconded by Frank Carrelli. Elvera Porter led the closing prayer.

Respectfully submitted,

Sr. Dorothy Toussaint

Secretary