St. John Neumann
Catholic Church

Parish Design Committee Meeting
November 8, 2006 7:30 p.m., Lind Hall

Participants:
PDC Chairman Joe Creighton; PDC members Paul Scibona, Joe Odum, Bette Lind, Debbie Milewski, Warren Egan, Barbara Saladna, Mike Chavez, Jay Wolverton, Barbara Homans, Donna Varriano, Anne Feaster, Roger Higgs, Jerry Monda, Janet O’Brien, Tom Neumann, Dave Krysiek, Maryann Cote, Dan Fadeley, John LeBlanc, Jim Rucci, Jan Carlson, Gary Schmitt, Dennis Kelly, Steve O’Reilly, Mark Papania, Chris Rowe, Mary Bucklen, Dan Bucklen, and Berney Kirkland; Deacon Mike Byrne, and parish staff Sherry Johnson and Robert Rivers.

The meeting opened with a prayer and self-introductions, during which PDC members were asked to tell briefly what led them to serve on the committee.
Chairman Creighton reviewed the recent history of St. John Neumann Church’s building program to ensure all members understood the path that led to the creation of the PDC. He recounted how two respected consultants in church facilities planning had visited St. John Neumann Parish and, in independent recommendations, advised the Building Committee that a new church was needed, more so than a parish hall and a chapel. He explained that the summer rollout of a “master plan” for adding needed facilities to the current property was mistaken by some parishioners to be a recommended floor plan for the new church. Concerns that arose after the master plan rollout led to the creation of an expanded Parish Design Committee.

Chairman Creighton thanked the PDC members for agreeing to serve and take part in the educational process that will guide the committee in coming up with an appropriate and acceptable recommendation for a new church building program to take to the parish for approval and funding.

Chairman Creighton opened the floor for questions and comments. Among those heard were the following:

• Attendance at weekend Masses – Do we know the average attendance? Is it dwindling? Chairman Creighton responded that ushers counted for six consecutive weeks in the spring and the average attendance ranged from 3,500 to 4,000 people. Mike Chavez offered to have the ushers count Mass-goers again for a month to get an updated count. The committee accepted the offer. No specific timeframe was identified for conducting the count.
• Current parish finances – With below-budget contributions in the weekly offertory, the parish is not covering its operating expenses month to month. Can the parish afford to build a new church and other needed facilities? Chairman Creighton replied that the committee’s charge is not to determine how much building the parish can afford. Rather, the PDC is called upon to recommend a proposed design for a new church. Dennis Kelly added that the Archdiocesan approval process protects the parish from agreeing on a church design it cannot afford to build or maintain.
• Funding for the building program – Should there be a parallel fundraising effort during the design phase of the new church? Chairman Creighton responded that without a detailed drawing of the proposed new church it will be very difficult to raise any significant capital for funding the construction. At the appropriate time the fundraising committee will be activated to begin raising the necessary funds.
• Input gathered from surveys and parish ministries – Will it be considered in recommending a church design? Chairman Creighton assured the PDC that all input received previously will be considered.
• Need to increase enthusiasm for the project – Ideas were shared for using visuals and other materials to keep the parish informed of the PDC’s work and ultimate recommendation. Visibility and transparency will be important in raising both awareness and confidence in the committee’s work. Committee members recommended using the SJN Web site to share with parishioners information and minutes from each PDC meeting. Berney Kirkland volunteered to keep the minutes of each meeting and prepare them for publication on the Web site. In addition, regular articles in the SJN Bulletin and an information table after Sunday Masses were recommended as other communication vehicles. Chairman Creighton asked for anyone with experience in marketing/public relations who would be interested in helping in these areas to contact him.
• Desire to hear the wishes of more parishioners – Dave Krysiek offered to conduct research in the broader parish to gather input from more people as to what they would like to see in the new church. Soliciting input from Hispanic members of the parish will be encouraged. Tom Neumann volunteered to assist Dave with the project.

Chairman Creighton shared a draft of a mission statement for the Parish Design Committee. He asked for reactions and suggestions for improvements from committee members. Input should be sent to Tom Neumann, John LeBlanc, or Berney Kirkland, who were recruited to work on the draft and bring a second version of a proposed mission statement to the PDC for consideration.
 

The meeting ended with prayer and a reminder of the November 18 educational session from 8 to 11 a.m. at Spring Hill College.

Respectfully submitted,

Berney Kirkland

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