Boards & Committees

The parish of St. Mary's is led by many varied councils, boards, and committees whose members are men and women of the parish. The members of some of these groups are elected officials of the parish who serve to lead the parish in good stewardship God's gifts. Other committees have volunteer members who wish to serve their parish with gifts of talent and expertise. All members of the parish are welcome to serve in these leadership positions.

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Board of Directors

Bishop Patrick Neary, President
Fr. Mitchell Bechtold, Pastor

Sue Rademacher, Trustee, Treasurer
Mark Meyer, Trustee, Secretary

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St. Mary's Leadership Council (which includes the Finance Council)

The Leadership Council is the primary consultative body of the parish. It has the duty and responsibility of directing all the functions of the parish life in cooperation with the pastor, parish staff, and all parish organizations. The council has team members: the pastor, two trustees, and seven elected members of the parish. Regular meetings are held on the fourth Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Parish Center. 

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Several committees report directly to the Leadership Council: Building, Grounds & Maintenance (BGM), Liturgy, Parish Life, St. Mary's Board of Education, Cemetery, St. Mary's School Endowment, Stewardship/Social Concerns, and Hispanic Ministry.

 

Elected Leadership Council members

 

Elected members:

Harvey Middendorf, Chair, Cemetery Liaison

Mike Mueller, St. Mary's School Endowment Liaison

Carl Worms, Building, Grounds & Maintenance Liaison

Deb Klaphake, Liturgy Liaison 

Sarah Wiechman, Parish Life Liaison

Jenna Middendorf, Stewardship/Social Concerns Liaison

Troy Tomford

Leticia Sanchez, Spanish Parish Council Liaison

 

Trustees:

Sue Rademacher, Trustee - Treasurer

Mark Meyer, Trustee - Secretary

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Appointed members (Finance Council):

Doug Welle

Karl Funk

Tricia Klaphake

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Ex Officio Members:

Fr. Oswaldo, Hispanic Ministry
Deacon Ernie, Social Concerns

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Finance Council

The Finance Council works together with the Leadership Council to direct the financial affairs of the parish. Members are appointed and prepare the annual parish budget, approve expenses, and review disbursements. Regular meetings are held on the fourth Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m. at the Parish Center.

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Board of Education

Board of Education members direct the total education program of St. Mary's School. Regular meetings are on the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the school. 

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Cory Ellering, Chair

Bob Arceneau, Vice Chair

Jenn Lubarski

Cindy Hemmesch

Pat Christenson

Jacob Primus

Troy Tomford, Leadership Liaison

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Endowment Committee

Members of the Endowment Committee oversee the St. Mary's Education Endowment Fund. Regular meetings are the first Tuesday of January, April, July, and October.

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Gary Meyer, Chair

Lori Braegelmann, Treasurer

Alice Schaefer

Mary Spanier

Rosie Athmann

 

Ex officio members:

Fr. Mitchell Bechtold

Autumn Nelson, St. Mary’s School Principal

Mike Mueller, Leadership Council Liaison

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Building, Grounds & Maintenance (BGM)

Members of the Building, Grounds & Maintenance committee oversee the upkeep and maintenance of the parish buildings and grounds. Meetings are scheduled as needed.

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Joe Roehrl - Chair

Butch Haider

Carl Worms, Leadership Council Liaison

Jim Mohs

Glen Klaphake

Bill Kemper

Bob Arceneau

Josh Klaphake

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Ex officio member:

Roger Althaus

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Parish Life Committee

St. Mary’s has a newly formed Parish Life Committee. We will try to be the smiling faces and helping hands that bring people together. We will try to form community - a bond that connects us as The Body of Christ.

 

Jean Hellermann, Chair

Lisa Brixius

Terri Ellering

Deb Klaphake

Debra Klaphake

Denise Kociemba

Michelle Rademacher

Sarah Wiechman, Leadership Council Liaison

 

Blessed Bakers

The Blessed Bakers is a group of parishioners who have volunteered to bake bars or cookies for parish sponsored events. Funerals are not included in this ministry. Several Blessed Bakers will be called from a master list 3 or 4 times a year. We currently have 33 Blessed Bakers and could use more.

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Carol Klaphake – contact person   320-256-3775

 

The Clean Team

St. Mary’s is fortunate to have six groups that clean our beautiful church. Each group is assigned 2 months out of the year to clean, has a group leader and decides what day and time works best for them. This is a meaningful opportunity to serve God and your fellow church goers all in one crack!

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Diane Budde – contact person   320-429-0341

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Stewardship Committee

The Stewardship Committee works with Catholic Stewardship Consultants bringing a Stewardship Way of Life to the Parish. This group oversees the monthly Newsletters, Ministry Catalog, the Hospitality Committees, speaking engagements, annual Stewardship Renewal, annual survey, and the Parish Retreats. This group meets monthly and reports to the Parish Life Committee and Father Marv Enneking. Also, this group coordinates all parish mailers from CSC.

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Ernie and Denise Kociemba, Chairs

Jodi and Jon Maus

Terri and Chris Ellering

Jenna Middendorf, Leadership Council Liaison

Pat Tomasek

 

Cemetery Committee

Members of the Cemetery Committee oversee the maintenance and care of St. Mary's and St. Patrick's Cemeteries, manage the finances, and establish policies. Cemetery guidelines are available from the parish office. Meetings are scheduled quarterly.

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Mark Mayers, Chair 
Romie Bertram
Andy Heinen
Char Van Drehle
Mike Meyer
Harvey Middendorf, Parish Council Liaison
Jim Maus, Caretaker 

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Christian Mothers/Women

St. Mary's Christian Mothers/Women Society brings together women of the parish to share ideas on family life and spirituality and to support one another in prayer. The organization began in 1913 and meets quarterly. The Christian Mothers/Women updates the Hospitality Groups, sponsor the annual St. Patrick's Day supper and social, and prepare receptions for the Confirmation liturgy, sixth-grade graduation, and other parish functions.

Caroline Jacobs, President

Karen Weber, Secretary

Diane Budde, Treasurer

 

Hospitality Volunteers 

St. Mary's Parish's hospitality volunteers serve funeral luncheons, receptions, and other parish-sponsored dinners and events. Every parishioner is given the opportunity to help with hospitality for parish events. Hospitality is a primary Christian virtue which all are called upon to exercise.

Coordinators:

Barb O'Brien

Rita Woeste

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Helping Hands

St. Mary’s has opportunities for people to help with maintenance of our grounds such as cutting lawn, watering trees, and outdoor lighting for Christmas. If you have time and would like to help a couple of hours, or have special talents you would like to share, we would be excited for you to join us.

 

Jane Salzl - contact person   320-256-3087

 

Mission Society

The St Mary’s Mission Society provides an opportunity to gather for prayer. We pray the rosary at each meeting. We raise money by collecting donations from parishioners (which used to be called dues) as well as sponsor a spring and a fall bingo night. We donate the money annually to mission minded endeavors, both near and far. All parishioners are members of the mission society. We meet October through April on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 10:30 a.m. in the parish conference room.

 

Jane Salzl – contact person   320-256-3087

Legion of Mary

St. Mary's parish has an active Legion of Mary group, which is an international association of Catholic women and men. Members attend weekly meetings on Tuesday morning at 8 a.m. at the Parish Center. Active members make weekly visits to the sick, shut-ins and bereaved. Auxiliary members pray a rosary and other Legion prayers daily.

Margaret Imdieke

Caroline Jacobs