December 2005

Minutes read by Fr. David

Committee Reports:

Fun:

Kevin Holland reported we had a great turn out for the Christmas party with about 125 people playing bingo and enjoying a potluck.

The Knights of Columbus helped with the party by providing an escort for St. Nick and hay rides.

We have several ideas for the coming months but have not planned anything for sure yet.

Items include sledding, trip to the Round Barn in Red Lodge and the possibility of dance lessons.

Over all our 4 main events are over for the fall/winter season and all went very well and everyone was pleased and had fun.

Kevin also spoke of the Knights of Columbus and the Christmas tree sales, all is well we have sold over 300 of 400 trees and will be closed this Sunday at 3 pm.

Religious Education:

Brian Shea reported the Search went great. The 5^th & 6^th Grade, Junior High and High School Youth Groups have held a food drive, wrapped 300 gifts, are participating in a Bible study and collected clothes for St. Vincent de Paul. The Youth Masses went well.

The Junior High and High School groups have a ski trip planned for 16 January.

Broom Hockey is planned for February.

Fr. Dave reported the Adult Bible study is going well. All participants seem to enjoy the format, topics and instructor.

Catholic Schools:

Dave DeBatts reported on the status of the Catholic Schools and their relationship to St. Bernard’s. There are currently 950 students in the Catholic school system from daycare to High School. 290 students are in High School.

Dave asked if the schools could take charge of the donuts on some Sundays.

The all school Mass will be celebrated at St. Bernard’s this year. It will be held close to the end of the school year in May.

The council asked Dave to give them a report on the schools monthly, Dave agreed.

20 December and 17 January 2005 will be the next Catholic School Board meetings.

RCIA:

Kris Nelson reported the Rite of Welcoming for the catechumens and candidates was held during the Youth Mass (11:00 a.m.) on 4 December. There are eight candidates for Confirmation, one catechumen, one to be baptized and two are returning to the Church.

Adult Education:

Adult Education will be held on the 3^rd Sunday of the month. The first meeting on 15 December will be a showing of the film The 4^th Wiseman.

Kris also mentioned there has been talk of beginning a book club within the parish to help circulate more Catholic themed books throughout the parish.

Kris is also gauging the interest in restarting Renew groups.

Communications:

The “Happenings” was recently in the bulletin. Randy Heinz reported he has begun posting a parish calendar on the website. He has December and January online at this time.

Liturgy:

The committee will be decorating for Christmas Saturday, 17 January 2005.

Music:

There will be a guitar Mass on Christmas Eve. Singing practices will be before Masses.

Jaime wants to set up a Music Committee.

29 January will be a Children’s Mass.

Pro-Life:

Grace Reif described a tour of the CARENET facility on Wicks Lane. Many businesses donated money and materials help build and furnish the building.

There was a Wine & Cheese benefit to raise money on 4 December 2005 but it was poorly attended.

CARENET is working to have Gov Schweitzer apply for the abstinence program funds available from the federal government.

A summer tour of the facility is planned. More details to come.

Social Justice:

The next Interfaith Hospitality weekend is scheduled for Jan 1-7.

Haiti – 150 children are sponsored at $100.00 per child. The weekend of December 10-11 is scheduled as the next sponsorship weekend.

The St. Bernard St. Vincent de Paul Conference met for the first time on 21 November. There are twelve parishioners who expressed interest. They have met twice so far.

The food weekend went well. Quite a bit of food was collected for the Billings Food Bank.

12 January is the next scheduled meeting of the parish council.

Kevin closed the meeting with a prayer.