Modern Realities Key words 3 4 Existing Paradigm Each staff, - - PDF document

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• St. Michael Town Hall

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Realities of Parish Life Review Parish Survey Results 50 Years of Documents A Missional Catholic Church Possibilities/Opportunities Moving Forward

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Modern Realities

3 Key words 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

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Parish Survey Results

1 = Practically None/To a very small degree 2 = Not very much 3 = Moderately 4 = Very to a high degree 5 = Extremely/To a very high degree

• Worship = 3.85
• Education = 3.56
• Community = 3.61
• Service = 3.83
• Administration = 3.85

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Parish Survey Results General Comments

Worship:

• Strengths
• Homilies, especially from certain presiders.
• Music was named many times. The contemporary choir was specifically cited on

numerous occasions.

• Welcoming community
• Active parish
• Weaknesses
• Homilies: just like in the strength section, many people name homilies as a

weakness.

• Music was named many times again. There were a few questions about music

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

experiences.

• There were a few comments about when and how often reconciliation is

provided, nothing that some people want more opportunities that fit their schedule.

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Parish Survey Results General Comments

Education:

• Strengths
• Pre-school was named on many occasions
• Adult faith formation opportunities are appreciated
• Good Religious Education Programs
• Youth Ministry is getting stronger
• Weaknesses
• Losing teens right after Confirmation
• Need more training for Catechists
• Is there a need for ethnic specific ministries? (meaning, do

we need to reach out to the Ethnic groups that are present?)

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Parish Survey Results General Comments

Community:

• Strengths
• Many people say this is a welcoming community
• Fr. Mike knows the community well
• Welcome desk and welcoming committee
• Weaknesses
• Given divorce rates, desire for more marriage enrichment
• pportunities
• The same small group of people lead everything
• A feeling that there is an “inner circle” in the parish and if

you are not part of that inner circle, your ideas or desire to lead are rejected

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Parish Survey Results General Comments

Service:

• Strengths
• Mission trips, like Jamaica, Work Camps
• Food pantry, sharing tree, backpack drive, etc. Pretty much

every service event St. Michael’s does was named and is a huge strength of the parish

• Weaknesses
• Same people involved in everything
• Blurred line between Social Justice and Politics
• Some say we don’t talk enough about abortion, while others

say we don’t talk enough about poverty

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Parish Survey Results General Comments

Administration:

• Strengths
• The facilities are in good shape
• The finances are healthy
• Finance committee was mentioned a couple times
• Weaknesses
• Lack of leadership from different levels of the parish (pastor,

councils). Some people said there is no vision or passion.

• There were a couple comments suggesting the Sanctuary

space should be renovated

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• 1. Development of an effective strategic planning

process and system to develop and track parish goals and priorities

• 2. Engagement of families with school aged children
• 3. Development of a warm and hospitable parish

community with an emphasis on connecting parishioners into the life of the parish

• 4. Emphasis on the enhancement of the Liturgical

experience

• 5. Communication and Accountability

Parish Goals 13

“Evangelization cannot be new in its content since its very theme is always the one 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.”

Pope John Paul II “In every age, the church carries the responsibility of reading the signs of the times and interpreting them in the light of the Gospel, if it is to carry out its task “ Gaudium et Spes, no. 4 “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

Do We Listen to Church Wisdom? 14

"Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if it does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.' ... It is primarily by her conduct and by her life that the Church will evangelize the world, in other words' by her living witness of fidelity to the Lord Jesus — the witness of poverty and detachment, of freedom in the face of the powers of this world, in short, the witness of sanctity" Evangelii Nuntiandi, no. 41 “The model for all catechesis is the baptismal catechumenate when, by specific 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 forms of catechesis in both their objectives and in their dynamism” General Directory of Catechesis, no. 59 "The catechumenate is not a mere expounding of doctrines and precepts, but a training period for the whole Christian life. It is an apprenticeship of appropriate length, during which disciples are joined to Christ their Teacher" Ad Gentes, no. 14

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“Young people learn best when they are engaged to ACT, when content collides with EXPERIENCE, when MULTIPLE teaching methods are used, when they are challenged to directly APPLY teaching to life and when they are viewed as an APPRENTICE not a depository of facts” Findings from National Initiative of Adolescent Catechesis “The joys and hopes, the grief and anguish of the people

• f our time, especially of those who are poor or afflicted,

are the joys and hopes, the grief and anguish of the followers of Christ as well. Gaudium et Spes, no. 1 Catechesis must be inculturated so that it will take root effectively...Inculturation both adapts the message to each culture and attempts to correct the culture where necessary...Inculturation allows faith to connect with life so that people will be disposed to receive Jesus. National Directory for Catechesis, Ch. 2

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Shared Wisdom

• 1. What is your reaction to how
• ur 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?

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Call For “Missionary Disciples”

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“I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out

• n the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined

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

• ur consciences, it is the fact that so many of our brothers and

sisters are living without the strength, light and consolation born

• f 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)

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

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“Thanks But Not My Job”

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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?

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2-3 Action Steps We Can Take

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Catholic Evangelistic Standards

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

• f households, fathers and mothers

10. Parish attempted bold initiative believing God will provide

28 29 www.parishsuccessgroup.com 30