Pastoral Council

The Pastoral Council is discerned from the parish-at-large and from the Leadership Communities.  The Council is charged with the responsibility of researching the needs, cares and concerns of the parish community, keeping constant the Mission and Vision for the parish and strategic planning for the community as a whole, assuring collaboration, communication, and synergy among the many ministries and small groups within the parish.

The Pastoral Council consists of 16 members – 2 permanent members being the Pastor and a Staff Director discerned from the Directors and appointed by the Pastor.  There are 14 discerned members – 1 from each of the eight Leadership Communities, 2 students from the youth ministry, 2 persons recommended by Council from the Parish at Large discerned by the Pastor and 2 persons recommended by the Pastor from the Parish at Large and discerned by the Council.

The Council meets on the third (3rd) Tuesday evening of each month throughout the year.  Officers and new
members are discerned at the June Council meeting each year.  All are welcome to attend the meetings.

Email: council@holyfamilyparish.org

2011-2012 Pastoral Council Leadership

Chairperson Bert Knuth - HFCA Rep (Council)
Vice-Chair Mike Myers - Operations
Fr. Terry Keehan Pastor - Staff
Eileen Neal Staff
Lori Bush At Large (Council)
Joe Held At Large (Pastor)
Pat Allen Outreach & Justice
Peter Wickman Worship
Phil Surdynski Pastoral Care
Sue Werner Adult Faith
Rachael Swenson Teen Faith (Teen Representative)
Jack Nebel, Jr. Teen Faith (Teen Representative)
Carla Rydberg Family FAITH
Frank Sevilla At Large (Pastor)
Linda Longmeyer At Large (Council)
Kris Zerfass Teen Faith (Adult Rep)
Lucy Block Recording Secretary
Open Position Archdiocesan Representative

Bert Knuth- Council Chairperson- HFCA Representative (Council)	Bert has been a parishioner since 1984, moved away for school and training, and returned 13 years ago with his wife and children.  Bert is the Pastoral Council Chair and the Holy Family Catholic Academy representative.  Bert’s parish ministries include Marriage Preparation, Marriage Enrichment, Small Christian Community, Neighborhood Ministries, and the Academy.  Bert and Kathy have five daughters and can be found sitting near the choir at 9:00.  Bert is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon in private practice with offices in Park Ridge and Fox River Grove.  He looks forward to this opportunity for additional growth and service to the Holy Family Community.
Mike Meyers- Vice Chair- Operations Representative	Mike and his wife Diana have been attending Holy Family since 1997.  Diana works at the Academy as an instructional assistant in kindergarten.  Mike has been assisting Father Terry and staff in a strategic planning process for the parish, developing mission, vision, and core value statements, along with strategy development for each ministry.  Mike and Diana were previously facilitators of a Small Christian Community for two years and Mike has also served on the Development and Marketing Ministries.  Diana and Mike have two adult sons.  Mike is serving as the Vice-Chair of the Council for 2011-12.
Fr. Terry Keehan- Pastor Staff Representative	Father Terry became the third pastor of Holy Family Parish in 2009.  He spent most of his childhood in Arlington Heights and attended St. Viator High School.  He went to the University of Nebraska, Omaha on a basketball scholarship and played in the NCAA Div. II Tournament three of his four years.  Before entering the seminary in 1982, Father Terry earned a Bachelor of Science in Speech Pathology and a Master of Arts in Organizational Communication.  He was employed in pharmaceutical sales and became very involved in the young adult programs at Old St. Pat’s Parish.  He was also instrumental in forming the popular Theology on Tap.  After ordination, Father Terry worked in the Vocation Office, Chicago Archdiocese from 1986 to 1994.  Then he became Associate Pastor, Queen of Angels Parish in Lincoln Square.  In 1999, Fr. Terry was the Pastor of St. Matthias and also became Pastor of nearby Transfiguration Parish where he served until coming to Holy Family.
Eileen Neal Staff Representative	Eileen has been a member of Holy Family since 1984 and was present at the first mass at St. Fremd!  She has served as the Holy Family Parish Staff Representative on the parish council for over two years.  Eileen is Associate Director of Teen Faith and focuses mainly on the Junior High Ignite Program.  She has been on staff since 2004 and plans to retire in winter 2012.  Eileen and her husband Fred, a retired orthopedic surgeon, live in Inverness.  She has two grown children.  Brian lives in Algonquin with his wife Lori and two children Brennan and Ellie.  Kristin lives in Cary with husband Russ and three children Taylor, Riley and Charlie.  In her free time, Eileen enjoys traveling, reading, watching NFL football and spending time with family and friends.
Lori Bush At Large (Council) Representative	I love this parish!  My husband Steve, daughter Maggie and I have been Holy Family parishioners since 2005.  My spiritual journey has led me to serve the Holy Family Community as a Minister of Care at St. Alexius Hospital and Rosewood Care Center.  I am also a Eucharistic Minister.  Maggie is in middle school at HFCA and will graduate in 2013!  I am esteemed and eager to contribute my time and talents in support of our Mission, Vision and Core Values, together with strategic planning for Holy Family Parish.  My talents include strategic thinking, good problem solving skills and much love and concern for all persons!  My personal interests involve cars, boating, skiing and the Chicago Bulls!  Having been discerned from the parish at large, I am a steward of your trust willing to present your needs and concerns.
Joe Held At Large (Pastor) Representative	Joe and his wife Brooke have been active members of Holy Family since joining the parish in 2007.  Joe is heavily involved in the Young Adult Ministry, helping start up a weekly Small Christian Community/ small group in 2008, which is still growing and going strong.  He most recently joined the committee for Holy Family's annual fall festival taking place every October.  On a personal level, Joe works on the sales team at an OEM computer hardware manufacturer in Wauconda.  He is also an avid golfer.   Joe and his wife, being non-natives, are blessed to have found a community so vibrant and able to provide wonderful, life-long spiritual development!
Pat Allen Outreach & Justice Representative	Pat has been a parishioner at Holy Family for ten years and she is the Outreach & Justice representative on Parish Council.  She has been involved in the Assist-A-Family Ministry since 2002, and has served as the AAF Ministry Leader for the last six years.  In addition, Pat was the co-leader of the Pathways Singles Ministry from 2002-2005, and she completed the CALLED/LEAD program in May 2011.  Pat has an adult daughter and son, and recently welcomed her first granddaughter to the family.  She is excited and honored to represent the Outreach & Justice Community on Parish Council!
Peter Wickman Worship Representative	Peter has been a member of the parish since 2005, when he and his wife Beverly and their two children relocated to the area from Indiana.  Both grew up in the Chicago area but left in 1982 when a job change moved Peter to Connecticut.  They also lived for six years in St. Louis and spent sixteen years in Indiana before returning to Chicago.  Peter is a CPA who worked as an executive for a manufacturing company.  He presently is an adjunct professor teaching finance and accounting at McHenry County College.  Beverly is a certified teacher, who more recently has been a stay at home Mom.  Peter leads the Mass Coordinator Ministry and is also a Eucharistic Minister.  Beverly is active in the Marian Ministry; she is a substitute teacher at HFCA and is also a Eucharistic Minister.
Phil Surdynski Pastoral Care Representative	Phil and his wife Karen have been members of Holy Family Parish for over 22 years.  Phil serves the Pastoral Council as the Pastoral Care and Support Representative.  He has served as Eucharistic Minister, Neighborhood Minister, and has hosted a Small Christian Community for over 7 years.  He also led the SCC core team and currently serves as leader of the Consolation Ministry, a ministry that provides support for those recently bereaved.  Currently, Phil works as a Chaplain at a local hospital.
Sue Werner Adult Faith Representative	My husband Jim and I have been coming to Holy Family since 1992, when after attending mass here for the first time, looked at each other and said, “We have found our church; this is where we belong!”  Our Small Christian Community is our “small church” where we grow in faith, share Christian friendship, and connect that faith with everyday life.  I find great joy in being a part of the Worship Ministry as a proclaimer.  For the past few years as ministry leader for the CALLED program, I have witnessed the quality and variety of speakers offered regularly by Holy Family’s Adult Faith Community.  Jim and I are blessed with a son and daughter and their beautiful families of five granddaughters.  As a speech and language pathologist, I have an abiding commitment to continuing communication, especially with our parish community.
Rachael Swenson Teen Faith (Teen) Representative	Rachael has been a member of Holy Family her whole life!  She is a junior at Fremd High School and a Teen Faith Representative on the council.  Rachael has participated in the teen band, Passion Play, and Spirit Camp at Holy Family.  She is also a peer minister and co-leads the Junior High Stations of the Cross.  Rachael and her family are also members of Christian Family Movement (CFM).
Jack Nebel, Jr. Teen Faith (Teen) Representative	Jack and his family have been part of Holy Family ever since Jack was baptized here in 1993.  He went through FAITH, Ignite, and FLAME, helping further his religious journey.  Jack joined the parish council as a Youth Representative for Post-Confirmation service.  It sure was a great decision!  He is also a member of the parish's Columbian Squires Circle. He is currently a senior at Fremd High School, where he manages football and writes.  Jack lives in Inverness with his parents Jack Sr. and Maureen, younger brother Steve, dog Cubbie, and his three bearded dragon lizards Curly, Fluffy, and Chuck.  He is blessed and grateful to be part of Holy Family and Parish Council.
Carla Rydberg Family Faith Representative	Carla and her husband Jim have been active members of Holy Family Parish since 1995.  They were married in 1994 and have been blessed with two beautiful children, Christopher and Abby.  Carla is a proven professional in the fields of marketing and market research, but has taken time off to raise her family.  She and her family are members of the Christian Family Ministry (CFM), and have served as social leaders in that ministry.  Carla has served as a VIRTUS Trainer for the parish and as a Spirit Camp Leader.  She also serves as her children’s leaders for both Girls Scouts and Cub Scouts, along with various committee leadership roles in their school’s PTA.  Carla feels truly honored to be the Family Faith & Life Representative for the Pastoral Council and is looking forward to serving the Holy Family Community.
Frank Sevilla At Large (Pastor) Representative	Frank and Angie with their four children joined Holy Family in 1991 when they moved to the area from New Jersey.  They are very active in the parish and consider Holy Family their second home.  Frank is a financial advisor by profession.  He is an At Large Pastor appointee to the Pastoral Council.  He holds leadership and member roles in ministries some of which are the Job Support Group, Welcoming Ministry, Hospitality Ministry, Usher Ministry, Eucharistic Ministry, Small Christian Community and the Multi-Cultural Ministry.  Frank is also a volunteer job coach at Career Place (formerly Barrington Career Center).  He is an avid golfer and bowler.
Linda Longmeyer At Large (Council) Representative	I am Linda Longmeyer, a member of Holy Family since its St. Fremd days.  I am a teacher by degree, but a REALTOR by profession.  Jennifer, Brian and Jeffrey are all grown and have given me six great treasures.  Jennifer and Christian live in McLean, VA with Alexandra (6) and Calvin (3).  Brian and Lauren live in Schaumburg with Ella (4) and Lilly (2).  Jeffrey rounds out the family with Grace (6) and Audrey (3).  I truly enjoy the progressive and empowering nature of this parish.  I participate in Neighborhood Ministry, Assist-A-Family, Ministry of Praise and the Adoration Chapel.  I enjoy volunteering and serve on the Senior Services Board for McHenry, Kane and Kendall counties serving over 25,000 seniors and American Cancer Society Board.  I look forward to serving on Parish Council and bringing to the Council your thoughts and concerns.
Kris Zerfass Teen Faith (Adult) Representative	Kris and her family have been attending Holy Family for over 17 years.  She and her husband Robb have three sons.   Matt is a freshman at the University of Iowa, Ben is a junior at Fremd and Timmy is an 8th grader at Plum Grove.  Kris has been active in Family Faith since her boys were very young.  She taught Spirit Camp, Faith Clusters in her home, Junior High Ignite and High School FLAME.  She guided her two oldest sons through their Confirmation journeys, and plans on doing the same with her youngest.  Highlights of her time at Holy Family are when Robb went through RCIA when she was pregnant with their third child, and spending time with her sons during high school on their Confirmation journey.  She loves the Family Faith program and especially the great friends and families who have shared in her children's faith journey and made lasting imprints on their hearts.
Lucy Block Recording Secretary	My husband Matt and I have been parishioners at Holy Family Parish since 2003.  I have recently taken on the role as secretary for the Pastoral Council.  I have been involved in the Family Faith Community which includes acting as a co-catechist for the Gathered at Table faith classes and Spirit Camp participant and leader.  I have also been involved in the Elizabeth Ministry and serve on the Neighborhood Ministry.  Matt and I have been married for 16 years.  I have one daughter who is 11, one son who is 4 1/2, and a daughter in heaven.  She passed away in 2004.  The Holy Family community was a blessing to us during our time of great difficulty, and we are blessed to have found this parish.

Parish Council Meeting Minutes

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Email: council@holyfamilyparish.org