ST. JOAN OF ARC CATHOLIC CHURCH

Indianapolis, Indiana

PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of Meeting

Wednesday February 12, 2025

Members Present: Matt Duffy, Nichelle Leavell, Teresa Hodgins, Josh Matthews, Carol Stephan (via video), Jim Turner

Also Present: Fr. Tom Schliessmann, Melinda Rivelli, Meghan Archer, Katie Matsoukas, Nancy Kmiecik

The meeting began with prayer at 7:03 p.m. Fr. Tom led us in a reading of the Gospel for the upcoming week – the “Sermon on the Plains” (Lk. 6:17, 20-26) - and asked each person present to share a reflection.

Approval of Minutes. The minutes of the January 8, 2025, meeting of the Parish Council were unanimously approved.

From the Pastor. In his update, Fr. Tom reported:

• St. Meinrad Children’s Participation in the Mass partnership. As a part of our Children's Participation in the Mass Partnership with St. Meinrad, we are introducing the opportunity for people to volunteer to bring up the gifts. There will be a small cross available on a table at the break of the pews which they can pick up if they are choosing to volunteer for this role for a particular weekend Mass.  If children are involved, we trust parents will know who is able to carry the gifts forward. When Mass is over, the gift bearers will need to return the cross to the same table.

• Lift chair. We have had a lift chair installed in the parish center so that people with limited mobility will be able to get up and down to attend events. We are hoping to have it tested and ready in time for this month’s senior luncheon.

• Archbishop’s statement on immigrants and refugees. Archbishop Thompson had a statement on immigrants and refugees in the recent issue of The Criterion. A copy of the letter was included as a bulletin insert at SJOA.

• School Annual Fund. Our School Annual Fund event – also known as Trivia Night – was a success. We raised $34,000 on the night of the event alone. The primary purpose of the funds is to support teacher-led after school programs and the purchase of classroom furniture.

• Be Fed Retreat. The Be Fed Retreat, held Saturday February 8, was a morning for SJOA parishioners to reflect on how they are being fed by Christ. The retreat began with Mass followed by breakfast, speakers, and lunch. 40 adults attended, and 16 little ones were cared for during the event. 

• Live to Give. Lent is right around the corner (Ash Wednesday is March 5), which means Live to Give is also coming up. This year, Live to Give weekend will be the second weekend of Lent, March 15-16.

• Safe Haven Sunday. Safe Haven Sunday will take place March 9 and is focused on internet safety for families and help for any individual who might have an addiction to porn.  We and two other parishes in the archdiocese are piloting the program during the first Sunday in Lent.

Discussion of Recommendations of Short and Simple Survey. 

The Council next engaged in a lengthy discussion of four focus areas identified in the Short and Simple Survey parishioners completed last year. The Council heard reports from each of four working groups assigned to tackle these focus areas. The following suggestions were discussed, and communication regarding final decisions will be published in the coming months

With regard to the Liturgy focus area, the Council discussed items such as:

• More regular meetings of the Liturgy Committee with meeting decisions better communicated, 
• Music at Mass (including periods of silence before and after Mass),
• The location of the choir, 
• The extent to which the Mass is chanted or spoken, 
• Timely inclusion of a copy of each week’s Homily in the eblast or bulletin, 
• More regular training protocols for liturgical ministers and the leaders of these ministries, and
• The need to make sure that any significant changes regarding the liturgy are well communicated to parishioners.

With regard to the Communications focus area, the Council discussed items such as:

• Consolidating the two emailed eblasts which are sent parishioners on Wednesday and Saturday each week into a single Saturday email,
• Timely inclusion of each week’s Homily in the eblast or bulletin,
• More strategic use of Facebook and other social media and the parish website, and
• Creation of a communications committee to assist the pastoral associate in this large responsibility.

With regard to the Parish Engagement focus area, the Council discussed items such as:

• Outreach – identifying ways to connect with new or inactive members and making ministry accessible to a broader audience,
• Collaboration – partnering with other ministries to maximize impact,
• Follow-up – building consistent relationships through ongoing communication and support, and 
• An Engagement Ministry Fair, where parishioners can learn more about ways to get involved.

With regard to the Parish-School Coordination focus area, the Council discussed items such as:    

• Governance issues regarding how the parish (and Parish Pastoral Council) and school work together,  
• Potential cultural barriers and misunderstandings regarding how the parish and school work together 
• Possible survey to reach out to parishioners of school age children to share more about their school choice decision, and
• A general commitment to make sure the parish is adequately supporting the school and the school is adequately supporting the parish.

Next Meeting. The next meeting of the Parish Pastoral Council will be Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at 7 p.m.

The council closed with the Prayer of St. Joan of Arc, and the meeting was adjourned at 9:20 p.m.

Jim Turner,

Secretary