Notre Dame Parish: Leadership

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“Anyone among you who aspires to greatness must serve the rest, and whoever wants to rank first among you must serve the needs of all.” –Matthew 20:26-27 Leadership Notre Dame Parish, inspired by the teaching of the Second Vatican Council, affirms the baptismal dignity of every believer, and expresses this by encouraging participation, communication, and collaboration in all the works of the church. For an overview of the parish governance structure, click Organization Chart. To obtain basic information, or to email leaders, click The Parish Team. For information, by-laws, membership, minutes and other materials from councils or parish organizations, click the appropriate group: The Pastoral Council, The Pastoral Commissions, The Finance Council, or Parish Organizations. To go to school leadership, click The School Administration. For communications, inspiration, and select homilies, click Pastor's Page.
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		The Parish Team Pastoral and Administrative Staff Pastor: Father Keith McClellan, 219-872-4844 Click here to email Father Keith McClellan. Administrative Assistant: Kitty Cate Click here to email Kitty Cate. Deacon: Victor Janowski Click here to email Victor Janowski. Pastoral Council: Tom Burke, Chairperson Finance Council: Steve Gronceski, Chairperson Click here to email Steve Gronceski. The Pastoral Center The Pastoral Center is the heart of daily activity at Notre Dame Parish. There you may obtain parish registration forms, general information, sacramental records, mass intentions, and appointments with the pastor. Church-related business is conducted Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Parish meetings and activities generally take place in the hall or meeting room of the Parish Center. Back to Organization Chart Back to Top
		The Pastoral Council The Notre Dame Pastoral Council exists to provide a structure for the pastor and laity to work together for the sake of God’s Kingdom. Through elected, ex officio, and appointed representatives, the Council fosters participation of the entire parish in the life and mission of the Church. Although a consultative body, it collaborates with the pastor in articulating a pastoral vision, long-range planning, and addressing pastoral issues. Back to Organization Chart Back to Top
		The Pastoral Commissions The Pastoral Council advances its vision and plans through the instrument of Pastoral Commissions. These commissions, formed around one of five essential elements of Catholic parish life, articulate and decide the action needed to achieve the vision or plan. Committees, standing or ad hoc, are charged to implement the action. Normally, Pastoral Commissions draw their energy and objectives from the Pastoral Council. Although they may contribute ideas and strategies, generally they are not self-actualizing. For this reason, members of the commission may need to be recruited or appointed for particular tasks. Each commission focuses on one of five elements of a Catholic parish: Worship The heart of a Catholic community is liturgy and sacraments. The Worship Commission promotes celebration, ritual, and prayer that invite the grace of Christ into the midst of the community. It works to foster “full, conscious, and active participation” of the people in worship and encourages the gifts and proper formation of all liturgical ministers. Parish Life The Parish Life Commission identifies the diversity of parishioners, families, and visitors in the parish and community. It works to welcome new parishioners, to evangelize the unchurched, and to call back marginal Catholics. It promotes social activities and programs that will build up the parish community and give all a sense of belonging. Christian Formation The Christian Formation Commission works to assure ongoing, total faith formation of each child, teen, young adult, adult, and senior member of the parish, both men and women. Peace & Justice The Peace & Justice Commission identifies whatever violates human dignity and social justice locally and worldwide. It is entrusted to educate members of the parish on social justice as essential to discipleship, and to elicit parish involvement. Stewardship The Stewardship Commission promotes a spirituality and lifestyle which receives God’s gifts gratefully, tends them responsibly, shares them in justice and love, and returns them to God with increase, whether the gift be time, talent, or treasure. Back to Organization Chart Back to Top
		The Finance Council “Each parish is to have a finance council which is regulated by universal law as well as by norms issued by the diocesan bishop; in this council the Christian faithful, selected according to the same norms, aid the pastor in administration of parish goods…” –Code of Canon Law, #537 “…administrators are to render an account to the faithful concerning the goods offered by the faithful to the Church.” –Canon #1287 The Notre Dame Church & School Finance Council, composed of men and women skilled in finance management oversees the financial affairs of both church and school, assisting and advising the pastor in the administration of parish goods, preparation of budgets, regular review of financial statements, approval of capital expenditures, and providing financial reports to parishioners, contributors, and benefactors. Monthly financial reports are distributed to the parish as an insert in the parish Sunday bulletin. Reports are also posted on the bulletin boards at the main entrance to the church. Church and School Fundraising Policy Back to Organization Chart Back to Top
		“Development refers to a program of planned or systematic growth in which a religious, educational, or charitable organization reaches out to its various publics and invites them to invest in its current and long-range goals…A successful development program involves the coordination and integration of three essential functions: planning, communications, and fund raising.” (US Conference of Catholic Bishops, Stewardship and Development in Catholic Dioceses and Parishes, 1996, p. 63.) The picture to the left was selected because it captures the image of the challenges and mission of successful parish development. Each ripple represents a constituency or group within our parish community. The first ripple may be considered the core group-a currently involved group. Successful development efforts reach the second ripple (a group whose members want to be involved and are asked and encouraged to participate). Finally, the third ripple represents parishioners and members of our school family that are not involved and whose talents are unknown that need to be reached and encouraged to involve to share their talents. Involvement is not intended for a few but for all who are willing to share. Active, timely, clear, consistent communication is a primary initiative to developing and encouraging a welcoming spirit and fostering a proprietary interest of our parishioners and school families (collectively and jointly as our "stakeholders") to expand their involvement and stewardship. It is intended that this website be utilized as a primary tool for such initiative. As a stakeholder we encourage you to explore your "ownership" interest! Please contact Father Keith or the appropriate parish organization identified on this website if you wish to learn more, become involved or expand your involvement. The need for financial support for Notre Dame is on-going and necessary to fulfill the church and school's joint and respective missions. We appreciate your support . Please Click here for information on making a donation to Notre Dame Parish. For those interested in pursuing fundrasing initiatives on behalf of the school and church, please consult theChurch and School Fundraising Policy. Back to Organization Chart Back to Top
		Parish Organizations The Men's Club The Notre Dame Men's Club is a parish organization formed to promote fellowship among the adult male members of Notre Dame Parish, while supporting the parish community through various projects, activities and social events. Membership is open to all men of the parish, age 21 and older. Your level of participation is up to you. Please remember that the Notre Dame Men's Club offers an opportunity for fellowship with men who share the same beliefs and recognize the same duty to God, family and to the people of our community. Meeting are held on the last Monday of each month @ 7:30 pm in the parish center. Please come to out neext meeting and meet our current and new members. Annual dues are $20. For more information contact Ed Keiley,president. SAND Senior Assistance at Notre Dame (SAND) is an organization of parishioners who bring Holy Communion to the homebound, those in care facilities, the sick and the aged. The volunteers also help with transportation, errands, and other needs of seniors. A special dinner is prepared and served to the seniors annually at the Parish Center. For more information, contact Mary Kowalski. Click here to download a pdf of the SAND volunteer schedule. Click here to email SAND. Back to Top

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