SOCIAL CONCERNS MEETING MINUTES

MARCH 14, 2007

PARISH CONFERECE ROOM I

Attendance: Mary Fothergill, Mary Kay Brinkman, Judy Kendzora, Celeste Egger, Bob Meithke, Josie Meithke, Rick Chabot, Joe Jacoby, Katie Olson, Donna Huelholt, John McMichael, Margaret Zimmer, Barb Dempsey, Joan Ferguson Guest: Ed Rethman

Opening prayer by Judy Kendzora. Members introduced themselves and welcomed guest Ed Rethman–who met John McMichael at an AMOS cluster mtg. - from Sacred Heart parish. Working on the start of a Peace & Justice/Social Concerns group at S.H.

Minutes approved.

Barb Dempsey- treasurer gave report on First Fruit disbursements for February.

St. Theresa House – Mary Fothergill reported The Krah family has completed their Iowa saves program and Augustus has finished the educational piece with Iowa Saves. Celeste reported Anita has been assisting family with looking for a home and will be contacting Peggy Aguilera with habitat of Des Moines to have further home owners education if possible. Family has been in the St. Theresa House for a year and a half.

20^th Anniversary of Social Concerns Encyclical - Joe Jacoby passed out copies of Sollicitudo Rei Socialis of Pope John Paul II to all present. More copies are available through Joe. He asked for the members to read and familiarized themselves by reading encyclical. Next month he hopes we can revisit this encyclical on Social Concerns and create a committee that would move forward on a plan to educate the parish and school on this document. The committee would work on this implementation.

Faith In Action- Celeste Egger reported meal for youth attending the spring break work retreat was March 18. Judy and Tracy Kendzora would head up a team of volunteers to sere and provide food for the meal. Liturgy Committee and Social Concerns both volunteered to help.

St. Theresa Formation Committee- Celeste Egger would be e-mailing a plea for help with preparation and serving at the Easer Vigil reception April 7. Some members of the Social Concerns Committee with RCIA Team members have worked in the past with other parishioners to continue to make the reception a celebration at the end of the Triduum. St. Theresa has a Faith Formation Committee in the beginning stages and the reception will be part of their coordinated efforts in the past. All parishioners will be asked to help. If anyone is willing to help this year, please respond to the upcoming e-mail.

Political Contacts List- Mary Fothergill reported that Anne Dols is working on developing a list to put on the web site which would list ways to contact legislative representatives, city and county councils on issues. If you want to be a part of this work please contact Anne.

DMARC Delegate Meeting- Rick Chabot, delegate from St. Theresa, attended meeting at St. John’s Lutheran Church. Rick reported Forrest Harms will be retiring this August after 18 years as executive director. Budget of $168,000 in 2006. It was a good year so the wage and hiring freeze hopefully can be lifted this year. Rick said it was “good to be from St. Theresa.” St. Theresa has donated $21.27 per family - $27,000 total in 2006.

AMOS- John reported that he attended a workshop in Omaha “Prophetic Mission” by Dennis Hahn, S.J. John said it was very good, focusing on the common good that Jesus lived based on the Old Testament. AMOS leadership workshop Mar.16/17 bent on upcoming Caucasus with Walter Brueggemann main speaker.

Coffee Project – Mar. 24/25 to sell coffee. New cart made by Virgil Deering to access a permanent display of awareness of project.

Next meeting April 14, 2007 – Anne will be back!

Prayer- Josie Miethke

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