CLUSTER VISIONING TEAM: We had our first big meeting of the CVT and we are on our way to setting our goals for our two parishes for the next several months. We are continuing our mission to Unleash the Gospel. We are moving out of maintenance and into mission, from just talking to doing. The people who gathered the other night for the CVT formation were very helpful. Thank you for all of your input. Using all the info they received the CVT will set goals for us to address in a 3-4 month time period. But we are going to need your help. Four sub-committees known as Action Teams (the Sunday Experience, Encounter, Grow, and Witness teams) will create objectives for all of us to reach those goals. The expectation is that you will join one of the four Action Teams and share your talents.
MOSES STUFF: In the second week of December I updated St. Moses parish after Mass on our finances, the school sale, the pantry, building repairs, and parish leadership. Here are some further details. While the papers are signed for the school sale, it remains ours until the city completes their surveys to clarify boundaries. Rather than wait, our plan is for the buyer to take occupancy and begin renting from us in February. As for the pantry, our Christian Service coordinator and business manager are working out a plan to vacate the school by Feb. 2. We will store the food goods in the basement of the rectory and the clothing will be stored under the stairs in the Social Hall. The team will run the pantry out of the Social Hall in the meantime. Speaking of the Social Hall, the painting is almost complete. We have set aside the $6000 we raised a few years ago to complete the floor, but this is $2000 short of what we need to complete the entire job. Also, I have been informed that the archway over the rectory driveway is crumbling and so is the chimney. It would cost $2,200 to address the chimney (which could topple if we do not fix it). The ceiling in the church won’t be repaired until we fix the roof (1/2 will be paid by insurance, and the other $4,500 by the parish). The heating unit in the plaza is not working and needs a $700 repair.
We have to prioritize all of these since the chimney could collapse and hurt someone and the water infiltration in the roof could cause more damage. Our business manager Melinda and our finance council are meeting this week and I have asked them to come up with a plan. I will keep you informed as info comes in.
God Bless,
Fr. J.J