A Parish Council has been formed at St. Joseph’s, Marietta, to handle responsibilities formerly carried to separate councils for men and women. The new Parish Council hopes to utilize talents of men and women as a team to coordinate activities.

It will support spiritual and temporal programs of the parish, implementing recommendations of the archbishop and pastor, and discover resources available to meet parish and community needs. Full emphasis will be given to broader individual and group participants.

In addition to ex-officio representation of the Altar and Rosary Society, and Holy Name Society, board members make up the following committees:

Committee for Spiritual Life:

Headed by Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Chapman, this committee will organize neighborhood groups; Mass-in-home groups; Mass attendance; retreats and days of recollection; and take care of visitation of the sick-in-the-home.

Personnel Committee:

Headed by Mr. and Mrs. Doug Turnbull, will interest itself in general visitation of parishioners; current visitation of new parishioners; ascertain and maintain parishioner talent files; and publicity for the Council.

Committee on Education: This committee will be concerned with the Parochial School; the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (as it pertains to the elementary and secondary schools of religion); and adult education. This group has as its chairman, Hugo Cline.

Liturgical Committee: Jim Smith will serve as chairman, and include activities of lectors, choir, flowers, sacristy, and ushers.

Ecumenical and Social Committee: A vital activity headed by Mrs. James McCloud, will initiate and maintain contact with other faiths, deal with community projects, and provide Catholic leadership as needed. This committee will set up a speakers roster available to other faiths.

Committee on Community Activity: Mr. and Mrs. Hugh McKeon will serve as co-chairmen to unite the parish community with social and recreational programs.

Committee on Building and Maintenance: Under the leadership of I.L. Lamar, this committee will cover such things as inspecting in view of improvements and repairs; entertaining requests about these things; arranging contracts for work agreed on; purchase of land; erecting new buildings.

Finance Committee: Hule Hammond, and accountant serves as chairman, and will pursue the tithing program; budget; general concern with the income and expenses of the parish and school.

During its first monthly meeting, Feb. 20, the incoming president Felmer Cummins outlined additional goals - to open the line of communication in the parish, the community, and provide community and Christian leadership.

Ed Doyle will serve the Parish Council as vice-president, and Charles Mesner as secretary-treasurer. Father John Mercer, pastor, assistant pastors, and the school principal will serve on the executive board as ex-officio members.

Father John Mercer, pastor, said, “It is a pleasure for me as pastor of St. Joseph’s parish to express appreciation for Mr. Pauli’s contribution to parish life at St. Joseph’s and to Catholic life in the area.”

“His spirit of cooperation has been outstanding. To accept, to become to act as the first President of the Parish Council was truly generous.”