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Parish Life
Church of St. Mary
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