Most Blessed Sacrament
Human Concerns Committee
Minutes 1/9/2011
Present: Pat Hilmer, Mary Gibbons, Jan Cleaver, Sue Bongert, Jenny Thorn, Kelly Butzlaff,Sara Pritzl, Diana Streblow, Carolyn Cada, Tina Haffeman (guest)
Absent: Belinda Kuester
The meeting was called to order by Mary Gibbons and led in prayer by Kelly Butzlaff
November minutes were approved.
Kelly pointed out that January is National Poverty Awareness Month, which was the focus of her prayer. Mary suggested that the prayer be printed in the weekly bulletin for January and all were in agreement.
Warming Shelter
Plans are underway to move forward with creating a warming shelter at St. Peter's site for the next winter season. Tina Haffeman, a member of First Congressional Church and ESTHER (an interfaith social justice group) was a guest speaker on the topic. She explained the difference between an emergency shelter (Fr. Carr's) and a warming shelter, noted that plans were underway but not yet fully approved and that some minor modifications to the site were necessary before it could be utilized. She explained that MBS would be the landlord, but not financially responsible for the creation and upkeep of the shelter (This would be provided by outside grants and donations), and that a group of hired professionals (social workers, etc.) and outside volunteers would man the site. Once created, the shelter would provide a place to sleep for 10 to 15 individuals nightly October through April, with an evening meal provided and perhaps a light breakfast. Tina and ESTHER have been instrumental in the search for a warming shelter site in Oskosh. Tina also passed around information on ESTHER.
Christmas Outreach
Jenny and Diana reported that the Christmas Outreach effort was very successful again this year. Thank you notes were passed around from Northpoint, Parkview and Headstart. This year's Outreach helped 150 individuals, 50 from each organizaton. The committee agreed to continue the drive next year. Diana pointed out that the hardest part of the drive was picking up the gifts after each Mass and Mary said she would look into the possiblility of finding a spot to store the gifts during next year's drive so that only one pickup per weekend at each site would be necessary. A thank you to parishioners for their participation in the Outreach was placed in the bulletin.
Fair Trade Sale
Jenny reported that $1,314.45 worth of goods was sold during this year's Fair Trade Sale, or approximately half of what was offered. The cost to the committee was $28.00. Jenny stated that this was a similar amount sold as in years past. This year's sale covered two Sundays and one Saturday, with Jenny displaying, boxing up, and transporting the goods from site to site (the Lourdes Craft Sale and Masses at both MBS sites). The committee discussed the difficulty Jenny goes through to transport the goods from site to site and is considering storage of the goods. Mary asked whether setting up at the Lourdes Craft Sale was worthwhile. Jan reported that Lourdes H.S. was happy with the number of venders and the turn out and Jenny expressed that she was relatively happy with the response from the effort.
Shadow Boxes
Mary reported that the shadow boxes honoring active service men and women were up at both sites. The committee will continue to pursue finding photos of individuals currently serving in the military to display.
Hospitality Sunday
Mary and Diane were both present for the committee's Hospitality Sunday commitment (January 16, 7:30 a.m., St. Mary site) and reported a good turnout.
Care Ministry Progress
Mary reported that the first meeting for interested volunteers was poorly attended due to the snowstorm. However, one interested individual attended, and Jane Hoffman will be the first volunteer in the Care Ministry Program. Katherine Lindsay is also interested. Mary will be placing a notice in the upcoming bulletin concerning future meetings, with a target response date of January 26. The Care group will initially focus on hospital visitation and acknowledgement of a death in the family of parishioners.
Stone Soup Supper
The Stone Soup Supper will be at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 21. The site, which has been St. Mary's in the past, will be determined by where Mass is held that evening. Jenny stated that she will coordinate the creating of the invitations again this year (to be made March).
Mary passed around communication from the Christine Ann Center.
The next committee meeting will be February 15. Pat will be required to offer the evening prayer.
Jenny will be chairing the March meeting due to Mary's absence.
Jenny mentioned a need for beds for impoverished families. Several committee member responded that they may be able to help by donating a bed or two.
Kelly ended the meeting in prayer.
Respectfully Submitted,
Pat Hilmer |
