Catholic Community of St. Henry’s
Minutes and Ministries and Events Update
Tuesday, April 19, 2022
Page 1 of 6
X Linda Banker E Pat Mosher
X Rita Evans X Deacon Bob Pasquarelli
X Maryann Francis X Kathy Petley
X Roberta Harvey - Betty Ricciardi
E Cyndi Herman X Marj Ritzer
X Father Tom Holmes X Marsha Wereb
X Lisa Hutchinson E Peter David Wrenn
Welcome & Introductions Lisa Hutchinson
Meeting called to order at 7:03 pm with an opening prayer.
Review/Approve Prior Meeting Minutes
Status: Minutes from the March 2022 meeting were reviewed and approved. The minutes will be submitted to
the parish office for posting to the website.
Discussion: No corrections noted.
Conclusions: Approved.
Action items:
Submit minutes to Parish Office for posting on website.
Person responsible:
Peter David Wrenn
Deadline:
04/22
Faith Formation Jr/Sr High Sarah Tripp
Status:
• Spring Semester: Eight, one-hour instructional periods were completed on April 10th
.
• 48 students enrolled.
• 16 Confirmation candidates.
o Confirmation Retreat held on Sunday, April 10, 12:30 – 6:00 pm at St. Mary’s in Hudson, NY.
o Confirmation Mass – Scheduled for Saturday, May 14 at 1:00 pm.
o Fr. Tom has interviewed all candidates.
Needs from Pastoral Council: Need catechists for next year.
Action items: Identify/solicit prospective catechists. Person responsible:
Sarah Tripp
Deadline:
August 2022
Catholic Community of St. Henry’s
Minutes and Ministries and Events Update
Tuesday, April 19, 2022
Page 2 of 6
Faith Formation Elementary Sarah Tripp
Status:
• Spring Semester: Eight, one-hour instructional periods were completed on April 10th
.
• Approximately 80 students enrolled.
• 25 First Communicants (First Communion for two individuals was at Easter Vigil).
o First Communion Retreat held on Saturday, April 09.
o First Communion: Scheduled for Saturday, May 07.
Needs from Pastoral Council: Need catechists for next year.
Action items: Identify/solicit prospective catechists. Person responsible:
Sarah Tripp
Deadline:
August 2022
Youth Ministry To Be Identified
Status:
• Anticipate position will commence in Summer.
• Consider a combined Youth Minister for our network of churches.
• Advertised the past two weeks for part-time youth minister position in The Evangelist with hope of having
youth minister in place for summer. No inquiries to date.
Needs from Pastoral Council: No needs identified for the Council.
Action items: Advertise/interview for part-time position. Person responsible:
Fr. Tom
Deadline:
On-going
Catholic Community of St. Henry’s
Minutes and Ministries and Events Update
Tuesday, April 19, 2022
Page 3 of 6
Pastoral Care Linda Banker
Status:
Ongoing Activities including:
o Outreach to homebound, hospitals and nursing homes, parishioners in need of assistance:
▪ Support through greeting cards & phone calls; and
▪ Meals were delivered twice in the past month, once from the First Reformed Church
(chicken and biscuits) and once from the Knights of Columbus (ham dinner).
o Nursing Home Visits – Most are allowing visits with protocols, including required COVID
testing. Masses have not resumed.
• Diocesan Pastoral Care Commission Activities – Hospitals still have restricted access. Father Tom
has been able to see/visit patients as necessary. Also, Linda Banker continues as a member of this
Commission. Mary Fay is the staff person overseeing the Diocesan Pastoral Care.
• Funerals: We have had two funerals and two additional burials since our last meeting.
• Bereavement Support: Meetings have not resumed but planning a meeting in May. In the meantime,
the group is communicating through greeting cards & phone calls.
• Eddy Care Team: The April 8 meeting was canceled due to illness.
• Diabetes Support Team: The April 6 meeting was canceled due to illness.
• Card Outreach: Close to 100 cards were sent for Easter to Homebound and Bereavement Group
members.
• Lenten Luncheon Series (Fridays at Noon @ Church of the Covenant): Three luncheons were
completed with a schedule that had to be revamped a few times. Numerous volunteers provided
soups, sandwiches, cookies and time at the luncheons, making it all possible.
• Easter: 50+ gift bags for our homebound & bereavement team members were delivered on Palm
Sunday weekend.
• Palm Sunday: ‘Welcome Home Weekend/Breaking Bread Feast’ was held on Palm Sunday morning
following both Masses. Many volunteers made this possible and was appreciated by all.
• Valley Cats tickets were purchased for group outing (‘Faith & Family Night’) this summer (Friday, June
03).
Needs from Pastoral Council: No needs identified for the Council.
Action items: None. Person responsible: Deadline:
Renovations and Repairs Father Tom
Status:
• Church Parking Lot: Coordinating & scheduling to seal and stripe in the Spring.
• Update on Rectory Exterior Trim & Plant Room Painting: Fr. Tom to solicit quotes. Targeting to
complete in Summer 2022. Received two estimates for painting trim on Rectory, but one painter
excluded painting the peaks. Custom Pro ($3,600) has tentatively scheduled the job but has
expressed the start date is highly dependent upon the weather. No date has been set yet.
Needs from Pastoral Council: No needs identified for the Council.
Action items: Coordinate and schedule contractors. Person responsible:
Fr. Tom
Deadline:
Spring 2022
Catholic Community of St. Henry’s
Minutes and Ministries and Events Update
Tuesday, April 19, 2022
Page 4 of 6
Finances Rob Morrell
Status:
• Finance Committee last met on October 20, 2021.
• Next Finance Committee meeting scheduled for April 21, 2022 needs to be re-scheduled to May.
• Diocesan Appeal (2021): Assessment = $90,000. Only 65% of the assessment has been collected
to date. Lisa volunteered to make announcement at Masses related to how the Diocesan Appeal
funds are used and explain that if we do not meet our assessment, the Church will be expected to
pay the difference. Noted that the on-line portal is still not working.
• School Assessment: Bill received from diocese last week for $114,000.
Needs from Pastoral Council: No needs identified for the Council.
Action items: Draft and make announcement at Masses related
to Diocesan Appeal.
Person responsible:
Lisa Hutchinson
Deadline:
April 23
Capital Campaign (‘Re-Igniting Our Faith’) Father Tom/Kathy Petley
Status:
• Parish “Thank You” notes continue to be sent to parishioners upon fulfillment of their pledge.
• Community’s total pledge to date ~ $510,000 (we receive 70% of the total received). Diocesan
status report received in January ($271,000 is our 70% received by diocese for Capital Campaign).
We have an additional $50,000 that were direct donations received from community members.
• Update on Manhole Repair(s): Capital Campaign Committee recommended soliciting a quote from
Blair Construction. Update expected at next meeting.
• Capital Campaign Committee (CCC) is now meeting bi-weekly to progress our project(s) forward.
Committed met on March 22, 2022, with a representative from Greco Construction to discuss the
project. Its scheduled meeting for April 06 was cancelled given Fr. Tom’s illness. Next meeting is
scheduled for April 20, 2022.
• Church Community Hall: The ‘Ladies Room’ sewer outflow pipe(s) was scoped due to persistent
issues with one of the bathroom stalls. No blockage was found. Signs will be posted to not flush
items down toilet.
• Phase 1 Scope of Work (Rear of Church Renovation):
o Continuing to progress this phase’s scope of work;
o Greco Construction estimated that this phase will take approximately 10- to 12-weeks to
complete;
o Architect (Dave Loucks, RA) to commence preparation of the construction documents for
this phase and will be forwarding a proposal for submission to the Diocese;
o Greco Construction advised that the cost of the proposed lift had increased and would
inquire with the supplier about the prospect of locking in a price;
• Phase 2 Scope of Work (Front of Church Renovation):
o At this time, the preliminary cost opinion for this phase of work is prohibitively high;
o Requested Greco Construction and Architect to scheme alternate options for Phase 2 scope
of work (i.e., new entry vestibule and enlarged narthex);
o Committee to consider and re-evaluate this phase’s scope of work once Phase 1
renovations are nearly complete; and
o Committee noted that to maintain access and occupy the worship space, the rear
renovations need to be completed prior to initiating the front renovations.
• Issued a bulletin insert and presented a pulpit update on the project’s phases for the Parish
Community on Palm Sunday/Welcome Home Weekend.
Needs from Pastoral Council: No needs identified for the Council.
Action items: None. Person responsible: Deadline:
Catholic Community of St. Henry’s
Minutes and Ministries and Events Update
Tuesday, April 19, 2022
Page 5 of 6
New Business Pastoral Council
Status:
• Network Meetings (11/08 & 12/02). No other meetings held to date. Priest shortages and proactively
planning for forecasted sacramental coverage(s).
o Proposing two priests plus one retired priest to cover the network’s seven parishes
- 19 Masses reduced to 11 among the seven parishes
o New priest as of March 1 at St. Jude’s/St. Michael’s.
o At a Vicariate meeting on 3/22, it was noted that St. Henry’s should reduce to two Masses.
• Identified and recommended advocating to train additional lay persons in ‘Sunday Celebration in
Absence of a Priest’.
o No new guidelines from Diocese. Training will be provided by Deacon Bob after Easter,
once candidates have been identified.
• Parish Picnic (July 10): Reserved North Greenbush Town Park (Snyder’s Lake) pavilion. Knights of
Columbus have been asked to participate.
o ‘Save the Date’ – announcement in the bulletin April 02/03 and April 30/May 01.
o Stuffed Animal collection – drop-off date to be scheduled after Easter.
o Ticket sales – June 11/12, 25/26, and July 2/3.
o Cash box needed by June 11 at 4pm [Linda]
o Ticket prices: $5/person & a maximum $20/family [Bob]
o 50/50 Raffle [Linda/Kerin]
o Solicit Knights of Columbus to set up/clean up, grill, bring tables, purchase
plates/condiments/meat/buns and other necessary items [Lisa]
• Jonathan Fanning Workshop (March 05, 9:30am – 12:30pm): Well received (85-90 attendees),
dynamic speaker; Jonathan reached out and would like to do a follow-up workshop. Planning for the
fall.
• Lectors’ Advanced Training (“Beyond Reading”): There were nine participants from St. Henry’s and
one participant from the Church of the Covenant. The training was viewed as being beneficial.
• Tithe Collection: Began collection baskets during Mass at end of March.
• Altar Servers: Recruitment of new participants at First Communion Retreat. The two individuals who
made their First Communion during the Easter Vigil are both interested.
• Sacramental Wine: Diocesan guidance is no consumption at this time.
• Palm Sunday Ham Dinner (Saturday, April 09): The dinner was excellent.
• Octoberfest & Auction: Planning to re-initiate; committee solicitation to begin after Easter; servers
were noted as a requirement to mitigate lines and long wait time(s) for food. Roberta had reached
out to the Averill Park Fire Department to determine if the firehouse had a larger capacity for the
event. For $250, we could sell 140 tickets (120 capacity plus 20 volunteer workers), which is only 20
more than our Community Room can hold. Discussed possibility of using Blue Room for display of
donations to allow for more seating in the Community Room.
• Discussed need for additional headsets for hearing impaired or for the installation of a telecoil (wire
around Church, which is connected to the amplifier and hearing aids). Kathy will add to Capital
Campaign agenda (technology need).
Catholic Community of St. Henry’s
Minutes and Ministries and Events Update
Tuesday, April 19, 2022
Page 6 of 6
• In lieu of an Appreciation Dinner this year, a note should be placed in the Bulletin thanking everyone
for their efforts and explaining that a dinner is being planned for next year.
• Mystagogia being planned for Kristian Powell (confirmed at the Easter Vigil) to identify ways he can
be involved in St. Henry’s.
Needs from Pastoral Council: No needs identified for the Council.
Action items:
1. Investigate telecoil for Church as part of Capital Campaign
(discuss at 4/21 meeting).
2. Appreciation Dinner bulletin announcement
Person responsible:
1. Kathy Petley
2. Fr. Tom
Deadline:
1. 4/21/22
2. 5/15/22
Follow Up on Previous Action Items All
Follow up on previous action items:
Action Item(s): Person Responsible: Status/Discussion:
1. Advertise/interview for part-time Youth Minister position. Father Tom On-going
2. Recruitment of catechists. Sarah Tripp On-going
3. Parish Picnic reservations and planning Lisa Hutchinson On-going
4.
5.
Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 8:37pm with a roundtable of Prayers of Concern and/or Joy and Fr. Tom’s
closing prayer.
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 17, at 7:00pm.