ST BRIGID’S – GENERAL MEETING - SEPTEMBER 20, 2006

1. The meeting opened with a prayer from Father Amyot.

2. The Parish Council Chair thanked the group for coming to the meeting and for the tremendous support over the summer. The Task Force to Save St. Brigid’s has held 19 meetings and have made considerable headway in the application to review the edicts that have been placed on St. Brigid’s. Fr. Amyot has been appointed Administrator, and we have not been amalgamated with the Basilica. We now have the task of putting forth a big effort into maintaining the church operations. The chair asked for the co-operation and support of all the parishioners to ensure that the myth that ’St. Brigid’s is crumbling’ and ‘St. Brigid’s is not a viable community’ do not become a reality, and we rebuild our community after the departure of the Filipinos to Assumption Parish.

   The Liturgy team has been working diligently and the choir is back in full for the 10am mass. The masses will continue at the existing times of Saturday 5pm, Sunday 8am, 10am and 7:30pm, although there will need to place an emphasis on the early morning mass if it is to continue. Attendance is low, and our cards with the masses indicated will be circulated to the various downtown establishments e.g. hotels, bed and breakfasts as many visitors to the Capital look for a mass that is centrally located. Legal work – the lawyers have advised they are waiting on the lawyers for the Archdiocese to forward their papers, and to arrange for a date for the Archbishop to be cross-examined.

3. The pancake breakfast was a huge success with a good crowd, great pancakes, and good music, and the monies raised were $1,072.00.

    

4. Financial Report. The present bank balances were outlined as follows: Operatiions – $12,196.27, Restoration $81,596.96, Restoration in Trust $97,486.30. The Raise the Roof fund – part of the Restoration and Restoration In Trust stands at approximately $23,500. First and second quarter bank statements will be ready shortly and issued. Generally collection has been down 10% from the beginning of the year, compared to last year, and 20% since August.

    

5. Issues – The roof is the primary one and specifications are being prepared for tender. Mr. Gillin suggested that a roofing consultant be retained to assist in the preparation and accepted. The grant from the Ontario Heritage Foundation has been received and requires the owner’s signature (Archdiocese) and this will be requested next week. Several contractors have asked their names to included in the list of invited tenders.

   The City of Ottawa was approached for a grant to do the masonry on the front west steps. A $5,000 grant is available and application will be made as soon as the quotations are in. Opportunities A proposal to rent out the rectory has been received by a client of the Ontario Provincial Government. Father Amyot has been consulted and is amenable to moving the office over to the church which will be investigated and developed. Mr. Valiquette will have a meeting with the Archdiocese to seek approval. This will bring in a revenue of $3,000 per month, with tenant improvements being made by the client in the area of $90,000. A motion was made, seconded and passed that Mr. Valiquette proceed with the discussions with the Archdiocese. As this building is also designated heritage by the City of Ottawa (exterior only) careful consideration will be give to the restoration.

   We will also look into maximizing other means of revenue i.e. parking, and rental of the hall and the church for other uses. Msgr. Kevin Beach in discussion with St. Brigid’s indicated that they would hear presentations as to the sale or other use of the church, and we will be developing a proposal for presentation.

   Discussion regarding the closing of St. James in Hull suggested that we pay attention to getting a similar act in the Province of Ontario (Moratorium on the Sale of Heritage Religious Institutions). People were encouraged to write the Minister of Culture to create this fund in Ontario.

   St. Brigid’s has also had an energy audit done over the spring and summer. Our current heating bill is approximately $35,000. The energy audit covered heat loss, inefficiencies of the electrical system, lighting, leaking windows, and various other elements. A new furnace is required, and with an expenditure of approximately $50,000 (in line with restoration) we can reduce our heating bill to almost 40%. This will be looked into as well.

   It was also recommended that the exterior sign on St. Patrick should be changed to outline "Help save St. Brigid’s with the www, and mass times on it. To be followed up.

6. Election The process for election was described. An election committee has been struck – Paul Mayer, Sr. Mona Martin, Marilyn Donoghue, and Fr. Tim Amyot. We are looking for nine members of Parish Council and five members of Finance Council. Present members will be contacted to ascertain continuing. Stewardship papers were distributed and will also be at the back of the church for sign up fo a number of additional positions and responsibilities, as well as an election sheet. We must endeavour to get a team together as quickly as possible. A number of parishioners have already indicated their wish to serve.

    

7. Immediate concerns