1/6/20 Realities of Parish Life Review Parish Survey Results 50 Years of Documents St. Michael Town Hall A Missional Catholic Church Possibilities/Opportunities Moving Forward 1 2 Modern Realities Key words 3 4 Existing Paradigm Each staff, paid or un-paid, has area of focus Budget comes from Sunday offertory RE covers youth education YM gets youth “fired up” Business Manager tracks $ Hold Volunteer Fair once a year Same people do 90% of work Parish Social events fill calendar Pastor is frazzled, Staff overwhelmed Staff meetings are painful, uninspiring Budgets are down Calendars change little from year to year Youth and families shrinking Parishes are merging, linking, and surviving 5 6 1
1/6/20 Parish Survey Results Parish Survey Results General Comments Worship: 1 = Practically None/To a very small degree • Strengths 2 = Not very much • Homilies, especially from certain presiders. 3 = Moderately • Music was named many times. The contemporary choir was specifically cited on numerous occasions. 4 = Very to a high degree • Welcoming community 5 = Extremely/To a very high degree • Active parish • Weaknesses • Worship = 3.85 • Homilies: just like in the strength section, many people name homilies as a weakness. • Education = 3.56 • Music was named many times again. There were a few questions about music • Community = 3.61 choices, antiphon usage, and the desire for more quiet time in the Mass. • Many want to see more youth and young adult engagement in worship • Service = 3.83 experiences. • Administration = 3.85 • There were a few comments about when and how often reconciliation is provided, nothing that some people want more opportunities that fit their schedule. 7 8 Parish Survey Results Parish Survey Results General Comments General Comments Education: Community: • Strengths • Strengths • Pre-school was named on many occasions • Many people say this is a welcoming community • Adult faith formation opportunities are appreciated • Fr. Mike knows the community well • Good Religious Education Programs • Welcome desk and welcoming committee • Youth Ministry is getting stronger • Weaknesses • Weaknesses • Given divorce rates, desire for more marriage enrichment • Losing teens right after Confirmation opportunities • Need more training for Catechists • The same small group of people lead everything • Is there a need for ethnic specific ministries? (meaning, do • A feeling that there is an “inner circle” in the parish and if we need to reach out to the Ethnic groups that are you are not part of that inner circle, your ideas or desire to present?) lead are rejected 9 10 Parish Survey Results Parish Survey Results General Comments General Comments Service: Administration: • Strengths • Strengths • Mission trips, like Jamaica, Work Camps • The facilities are in good shape • Food pantry, sharing tree, backpack drive, etc. Pretty much • The finances are healthy every service event St. Michael’s does was named and is a • Finance committee was mentioned a couple times huge strength of the parish • Weaknesses • Weaknesses • Lack of leadership from different levels of the parish (pastor, • Same people involved in everything councils). Some people said there is no vision or passion. • Blurred line between Social Justice and Politics • There were a couple comments suggesting the Sanctuary • Some say we don’t talk enough about abortion, while others space should be renovated say we don’t talk enough about poverty 11 12 2
1/6/20 Parish Goals 1. Development of an effective strategic planning Do We Listen to Church Wisdom? process and system to develop and track parish goals and priorities 2. Engagement of families with school aged children “Evangelization cannot be new in its content since its very theme is always the one 3. Development of a warm and hospitable parish gospel given in Jesus Christ. Evangelization can be new in its ardor, methods and expression. It must be adapted to the people of our day.” community with an emphasis on connecting Pope John Paul II parishioners into the life of the parish “In every age, the church carries the responsibility of reading the signs of the times 4. Emphasis on the enhancement of the Liturgical and interpreting them in the light of the Gospel, if it is to carry out its task “ Gaudium et Spes , no. 4 experience 5. Communication and Accountability “The church on earth is by its very nature missionary since, according to the plan of the Father, it has its origin in the mission of the Son and the Holy Spirit” Ad Gentes Divinitus , no. 2 13 14 “Young people learn best when they are engaged to ACT, when content collides with " Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers , and if it does EXPERIENCE, when MULTIPLE teaching methods are used, when they are challenged to listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.' ... It is primarily by her conduct directly APPLY teaching to life and when they are viewed as an APPRENTICE not a and by her life that the Church will evangelize the world, in other words' by her living depository of facts” witness of fidelity to the Lord Jesus — the witness of poverty and detachment, of Findings from National Initiative of Adolescent Catechesis freedom in the face of the powers of this world, in short, the witness of sanctity" Evangelii Nuntiandi, no. 41 “ The joys and hopes, the grief and anguish of the people of our time, especially of those who are poor or afflicted, “The model for all catechesis is the baptismal catechumenate when, by specific are the joys and hopes, the grief and anguish of the followers of Christ as well. formation, an adult converted to belief is brought to explicit profession of baptismal faith during the Paschal Vigil. This catechumenal formation should inspire the other Gaudium et Spes , no. 1 forms of catechesis in both their objectives and in their dynamism” General Directory of Catechesis, no. 59 Catechesis must be inculturated so that it will take root effectively...Inculturation both adapts the message to " The catechumenate is not a mere expounding of doctrines and precepts, but a each culture and attempts to correct the culture where training period for the whole Christian life . It is an apprenticeship of appropriate necessary...Inculturation allows faith to connect with life length, during which disciples are joined to Christ their Teacher" so that people will be disposed to receive Jesus. Ad Gentes, no. 14 National Directory for Catechesis, Ch. 2 15 16 Shared Wisdom 1. What is your reaction to how our parish is going about “doing” Church given what the Church Documents have been asking us to do? 2. What is something you believe we should STOP doing as a parish? What is something you believe we should START doing as a parish? 17 18 3
1/6/20 “I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined Call For “Missionary Disciples” and from clinging to its own security. I do not want a Church concerned with being at the centre and then ends by being caught up in a web of obsessions and procedures. If something should rightly disturb us and trouble our consciences, it is the fact that so many of our brothers and sisters are living without the strength, light and consolation born of friendship with Jesus Christ, without a community of faith to support them, without meaning and a goal in life. More than by fear of going astray, my hope is that we will be moved by the fear of remaining shut up within structures which give us a false sense of security, within rules which make us harsh judges, within habits which make us feel safe, while at our door people are starving and Jesus does not tire of saying to us: “Give them something to eat” (Mk 6:37).” Evangelii Gaudium (49) 19 20 Intentional Ministry Movement Pre-Evangelization Phase “Preparation of a person or people to receive the Gospel” ê Small Activity Begins Period of Inquiry, Learning and Exploration ê Semi-Active Growth Period of Apprenticeship and Practice ê Active Growth Period of Appreciation and Sharing 21 22 “Thanks But Not My Job” 23 24 4
1/6/20 Shared Wisdom 1. How intentional are you to help others on their spiritual journey? How do you do that? If you don’t, why? 2. If our parish could be 10x bolder and more courageous; If we could dream 10x bigger what would we be doing? 25 26 Catholic Evangelistic Standards 2-3 Action Steps We Can Take 1. Increased visitors/Membership multiplying and growing 2. Older members renew sense of evangelization and apprentice younger members 3. Missionary opportunities & participation increasing 4. Measurable growth in prayer opportunities and participation 5. RCIA is rapidly growing 6. Enrollments in family and youth programing/school is growing 7. Increased sacrificial giving 8. The gathering parishioners reflect the diversity of larger community 9. Visible and noticeable responsibility accepted from spiritual heads of households, fathers and mothers 10. Parish attempted bold initiative believing God will provide 27 28 www.parishsuccessgroup.com 29 30 5
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