St. Frances of Rome Parish Council Meeting Minutes - October 9, 2024 - Marketing, Logo, Signage, Events, SWOT

Sep 11, 2026

Parish council meeting minutes for St. Frances of Rome on October 9, 2024, covering opening prayer, marketing and communications planning, and upcoming community events. The council discusses updating the logo and signage, improving the website with current church photos and practical details, and shifting priorities between print bulletins, email outreach, and social media video practices. A SWOT exercise evaluates strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, and decisions include adding a new council member, planning outreach to missing parishioners, and setting the next meeting date.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time1 min

AccessFree to download

October 9, 2024

Attendees and opening

Marketing, logo, signage, and communications

Upcoming SFR events

SWOT exercise

New member approval and next meeting

St. Frances of Rome Parish Council Meeting Minutes October 9, 2024 Attendees: Fr. Shayne Duvall, Fr. Steven Henriksen, Steve King, Mary Masick, Dutch Boehnlein, Sr. Agnes Coveney, Jane Wehner, Therese Bawa, Bruce Hines, Greg Brotzge, Ann Hogan (Mary Keyer and Laura Harpring via phone) Absent: Shannon Burns, Bill Johnston 1. Opening Prayer: Fr. Shayne Duvall 2. Discuss Marketing, Logo, Signage: a. Guest speakers Nathan Hadsell and Nik from Sprout recommended the following: i. Clear mission statement ii. Updated logo (past logos: Fr. Eifler’s pen drawing, stain glass window) iii. New signage on property iv. Clean website – include new pictures of exterior/interior of church, mass times, contact information, directions (embed Google map/directions link) v. Print bulletin valued more than website or FB for our parishioners. 1. Sprout can develop template for general information. Weekly news added by Steve. vi. Cease videotaping mass via FB. Refer parishioners to Mass of the Air, etc. vii. Sprout will develop proposal for our consideration. b. Currently Steve King produces emailed newsletter and bulletin in house. i. 175 bulletins are printed for each weekend ii. 21 are mailed to anyone who requests. (Includes snow birds) iii. 340 emails sent, 61% opened, click rate 6% to 7% on imbedded links. (Formation/Outreach) iv. No longer with NPI or Tallgrace v. Advertisers who purchased ads in both SFR and STL bulletins are in St. Leonard’s bulletin only. vi. Steve needs data from parishioners. 1. Ann Hogan to create communications team with (suggested Stephanie Maseler and WAVE new parishioner) c. Need to reach out to lost or missing parishioners. Bulletin/Newsletter needs to include: i. Did you know? ii. Calendar of events iii. Bulletin Board iv. Update on pastoral and care for the sick v. Interview of parishioner 3. Upcoming SFR Events: a. Pizza with Fr. Shayne – Saturday, October 19 at 6:30pm. i. Steve to create SignUp Genius and give Phone number to R.S.V. P. ii. This is a Town Hall meeting to give feedback to parish and receive ideas/comments/suggestions. b. All Soul’s Day – Saturday, November 2 at 10am. i. Prayer service with Deacon Chris c. Donut Sunday – Sunday, November 17th with Fr. Shayne – following 8:30 and 11:30 masses. i. Mary Masick needs Parish Council volunteers. d. Friendsgiving – Thursday, November 21 at 6pm i. Dianne Boehnlein has emailed PC members and needs your R.S.V.P. and assistance. 4. S.W.O.T. Exercise: Fr. Steven facilitated the exercise with the present parish council members. Results are repeated in the table below. Threats were discussed and will be continued at the November meeting. | Strengths (S) | Weaknesses (W) | Opportunities (O) | Threats (T) | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1.Small parish, intimate feeling | 1.Smallness = reduced resources | 1.How to welcome families with children, need this demographic | 1. Decline in church attendance (Gen Z are Nones) | | 2. Location, draw from all over (majority 40206, 40207) | 2. Look at bulletin, add content and who to call for ideas, concerns, questions | 2.Offer invitation to audit PC meeting | 2. Inflation – less ability to contribute, more cost of services. | | 3.Community, hospitality, feel welcome by parishioners/pastor (Know your name, eye contact, talking/giggling) | 3. Need volunteers for party
plan/prep/implementation/cleanup besides PC members. | 3. Religious Ed for non-parochial schoolchildren. | 3. Parish closure: Can we pay the bills? Sacramental life? \# of masses in area? Demographics of parishioners | | 4. Bulletin – Stable staff listed, repeat on website and electronic newsletter | 4.People are tired. | 4.Ask! Buddy System to work with PC member on event. | 4. Lack of priests | | 5. 24 Bible Study participants, 10 Rosary participants + breakfast fellowship. (cont. ) Thirst for Scripture, Benediction, Adoration, etc. | 5.Not diverse, socioeconomically, ecumenic

FAQs

What marketing and communications changes were proposed for the parish?

The discussion includes a clear mission statement, updating the logo, adding new property signage, improving the website with updated photos and key church information, and using email/newsletter templates. The group also referenced printing bulletins as a priority and stopping mass videotaping via FB.

What upcoming SFR events were scheduled?

Events listed include Pizza with Fr. Shayne on October 19, All Soul’s Day on November 2, Donut Sunday on November 17, and Friendsgiving on November 21, with specific times and responsibilities noted for volunteers and RSVP support.

What did the SWOT exercise focus on?

The SWOT review covered parish strengths such as community and hospitality, weaknesses like limited resources and volunteer fatigue, opportunities for welcoming families and expanding connections, and threats including declining attendance, inflationary pressures, lack of priests, and potential parish closure concerns.

Sep 11, 2026

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