Transcript Planning Tomorrow’s Parishes A Future Full of Hope Saint

Planning Tomorrow’s Parishes
A Future Full of Hope
Saint Brigid Town Hall
March 2012
Opening Prayer
Loving God, at this time in the life of our parish,
we turn to you with grateful hearts, for what we
have, and with great anticipation for what is yet
to be. Bless us with a sense of unity, a spirit of
cooperation, and a generous heart, as we face
the responsibilities and challenges of this parish
undertaking. We are rooted in Your word and in
Your work. Please guide us, strengthen us, and
bless us with Your presence, now and through
the months to come. AMEN
St. Brigid of Kildare
Core Team





Father Pat O’Connor
Tom Erickson
Joan Herbert
Brian Smith
Kathy Smith
A Future Full of Hope
Planning Tomorrow’s Parishes
Goals
 Enhance the vibrancy of Parish Life in
the Diocese of Saginaw
 Strengthen the presence of ministry
 Foster appreciation of the Eucharist
 Promote evangelization
 Re-align parishes in the Diocese with
consideration of the number of Priests
available, financial resources and
changing demographics
A Future Full of Hope
Planning Tomorrow’s Parishes
Goals
 Ensure that all parishes have quality
opportunities for lifelong Christian education
and formation
 Strengthen service to those that are
marginalized
 Promote vocations to priesthood and religious
life
 Promote greater involvement in lay ministry
 Support new initiatives for youth and young
adults
A Future Full of Hope
Planning Tomorrow’s Parishes
Goals
 Build a greater sense of unity among all
Catholics
 Increase collaboration among all entities
 Advocate for peace and justice
A Future Full of Hope
Planning Tomorrow’s
Timeline
 Conversation at the cohort level by March 2012
 Suggestion of model for each cohort by June 2012
 Preliminary recommendations to Diocesan Planning Commission by
September 2012
 Response by October 2012
 Final recommendations by December 2012
 Decisions by January 2013
 Implementation by July 2013
A Future Full of Hope
Planning Tomorrow’s Parishes
Cohorts
 What is a cohort?
 Parishes working together are a cohort
 How is this different than a cluster?
 The cohort continues to work together going forward into the
future under an agreed upon model that is approved at the
Diocesan level
 What parishes have been identified as our cohorts?




St Agnes (Sanford)
Assumption of BVM (Larkin)
Blessed Sacrament (Midland)
St. Brigid of Kildare (Midland)
Models
 Linked Parishes
 Remain distinct (e.g. administratively)
 Do many services and programs together
 Joint staff where appropriate
 Partnership Parishes
 Create joint programs
 Share staff and stewardship
Models
 Merged Parishes
 Celebrate Sacraments together
 Share resources and overhead
 Join forces for larger worship congregations
 Pastoral Administrators
 Deacon or Lay Minister appointed as day to day
minister for the parish
 In Solidum Team
 Three or more parishes served by a team of priests
with one as moderator
Prior to Conversations
with Cohorts
 Each Parish appointed a core team
 Core team pulling together strengths and
opportunities for the parish
 Survey parishioners
 Town Hall meetings
Survey Responses
 Four surveys completed for key areas of
parish life
 Sacramental Life
 Evangelization, Faith Formation, Catholic
Schools and Lifelong Religious Education
 Stewardship and Justice
 Administration
Sacramental Life of the
Parish
11%
1%
6%
57%
25%
Going Strong
Adequate
Needs Help
Let's Begin
Left Blank
Evangelization, Faith Formation,
Catholic Schools and Lifelong
Religious Education
15%
2%
42%
12%
29%
Going Strong
Adequate
Needs Help
Let's Begin
Left Blank
Stewardship and Justice
10%
4%
32%
17%
37%
Going Strong
Adequate
Needs Help
Let's Begin
Left Blank
Effective Administration
15%
2%
6%
50%
27%
Going Strong
Let's Begin
Adequate
Left Blank
Needs Help
Conclusions
 Overall most parishioners believe we are going strong
or adequate in most areas surveyed
 Parishioners are still in need of help with the new
wording from the Roman Missal
 Involvement of Youth in Ministry was stressed and
making Mass more meaningful for them and teaching
them their faith – this came up on all 4 surveys
regardless of the questions asked
 Many comments about music and how it could be even
better; a combined music ministry between all 3-4
parishes in Midland was mentioned by a few
 Many comments about providing a quiet environment
for prayer prior to Mass
Conclusions
 Support for the school is strong – many comments on
linking with Catholic HS in Saginaw/Bay City/Mt
Pleasant so more transition to Catholic HS
 Hospitality needs strengthening especially with new
members making them feel welcome; some parish staff
do not come across as friendly
 More prayer and emphasis on vocations suggested
 Add a ministry to those in jail
 Strengthen Faith Formation – we are losing our kids
after second grade – need to make it valuable and
meaningful so kids want to go
 Better coordination between parishes of Mass times,
Holy Days, Reconciliation with a variety of daily Mass
times (later in the day for working people)
Conclusions
 Social Justice is a hot button phrase and needs further
explanation as it relates to the Catholic Church
 Right to Life issues are strongly supported by
parishioners and need to be more strongly supported
by the Parish as a whole and in our curriculum
 More training for teachers and faith formation on our
core Catholic teachings especially as it relates to Right
to Life, contraception etc. Don’t be afraid to talk about
this with parents and children
 Need to broaden the base of volunteers in the parish
with more youth involved
 Facility issues as they relate to a gathering space, coat
racks and handicap accessibility
Next Step…….
 Core team meets with cohort core teams
on 3/22/12