Pastoral Planning 2007 - 2008

Reasons for doing Parish Planning

• Discover our core values and articulate our vision and mission
• Facilitate parish communication and build trust
• Spiritual renewal / healing
• To discover our strengths and build on our weaknesses
  

Parish Planning includes the following:

• Prepare and Assess
• Assess and Envision
• Envision and Plan
• Planning

Facilitator Dr. Jacquelyne Witter, Ed.D

• Director of iLLUMINARE: Called for Service, Formed in Christ. Saint Paul, MN

The following statements are the result of the work done by the pastoral council and those who attended the planning meetings:

Mission Statement
St. Joseph the Worker is a welcoming community that celebrates the gifts of each member and practices the Gospel of Jesus Christ through inspired worship, faith formation and service to the spiritual and human needs of its own and the wider community.

Vision Statement

• The Catholic faith community of St. Joseph the Worker Parish aspires to be a holy people who radiate the love of God through on-going conversion to Jesus Christ.
• We rejoice in our diversity of age and experience and welcome all to share in the abundance of gifts as those weaving a tapestry of faith, intentionally seeking to enrich and enlarge our community to include all.
• The Eucharist is the heart and source of our community life. We embrace full, active, and conscious participation as we come together to worship in gratitude with abundant song and joyful prayer.
• Being nourished at the Table of Life and celebrating the grace and power of the Spirit, we seek to become powerful witnesses to the Spirit in our mist, serving one another through our families, neighborhoods, schools, workplaces and community.
• As clay in the hands of the potter, we invite the richness of Scripture and Tradition to shape and transform us. Responding to the gospel and the social teachings of the Church, we extend compassionate care to all but especially to those most in need.
• Recognizing that we live as guests of God's hospitality, we revere and celebrate all creation as gift. Our faith community, alive and transformed by the Spirit, commits our hearts and hands to faithful stewardship in building God's community together.
  

Notes taken at each meeting are included for your information and study.

Strategic Pastoral Planning
Session I: August 24-25, 2007
Introduction to Strategic Pastoral Planning:

Hopes for the process

1. Increase parish participation
2. promote more stewardship
3. Grow in breadth and depth
4. Focus our energies
5. Fiscal sustainability
6. Long-range plan goals
7. Identify a specific mission for the parish and enlist others in carrying it out.
8. Adopt a mission parish
9. Clear view of where we are
10. Build up the church
11. Unity
12. Focus our efforts
13. To be known as a welcoming parish
14. Evangelizing
15. Have a positive impact on our community (the parish)
16. Retention of our young people in our faith
17. Others will say some things different
18. parishioners will notice changes
19. hope the plan will be implemented
20. Increase our collaboration with other parishes
21. Explore and embrace our diversity
22. Recognition of our gifts
23. Sense of identity
24. Reframe our mission statement

Our Working Definition
Strategic pastoral planning is an ongoing, inclusive, collaborative process whereby a diocese or parish, as a community of Christ's disciples, seeks to respond to the necessities of its evangelizing mission in the world.

It is an exercise in practical theology, which uses theological reflection and dialogue as well as conventional planning methods to examine three questions: who are we and where are we now?, Who and where do we want to be?, and How will we get there? in light of Scripture and theology.

Effective Strategic Pastoral Planning Requires:

o Attentive listening
o Honest dialogue
o Belief in and appreciation for others' gifts
o Investment of interest and commitment
o Willingness to compromise
o Courage
o Practice of the theological virtues of faith, hope and love

Phases of the Strategic Pastoral Planning Process

o Prepare
o Assess
o Envision
o Plan
o Implement
o Renew

What questions do you have or clarification do you need at this point?

Paradigms and Possibilities

• a paradigm is the lens through which we see the world
• a paradigm shift is a profound change in the thoughts, perceptions, and values that form a particular vision of reality

Reflection/Response

• What are some paradigm shifts you have experienced or are aware of?
  

The Nature of the Church: Teachings of Vatican II

Two sources:
- The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium)

- The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (Gaudium et Spes)

What Vatican II Says About Who We Are

The Church is…
- Sacrament
- Mystery
- Mystical Communion
- One, holy, catholic, apostolic

Reflection/Response
What insights do these understandings of what the Church is offer?

What questions do they raise for you?

The Mosaic of Catholicism: Seven Characteristics

1. Sacramental worldview - All that God has created is good. All is gift which we accept with gratitude. We give God thanks and praise. We have hope in Resurrection and new life.
2. Emphasis on community - We go to God together. The Trinity is our model of loving communion. I have the heart of Christ for all others.
3. Optimism - Good triumphs over evil. We focus on good.
4. Holistic spirituality - Unity in spirituality - incarnational always should be rooted in presence of God. Leads to deeper life in Christ even though there are diverse ways of expression. Rooted in scripture and liturgy
5. Service - Part and parcel of Baptism - the work of the kingdom of God
6. Focus on Tradition and Scripture
7. Universality - Connected to Catholics around the world. Catholicism is the fullest expression of Christianity.

The Ministries of the Church

o Koinonia-to be a life-giving community
o Marturia-to bear witness to faith
o Kerygma-to evangelize and preach the Good News
o Didache-to teach Christian Faith
o Leitourgia-to worship as a community
o Diakonia-to serve human needs

Reflection and Response - Groups were asked to consider how St. Joseph the Worker responds to the Ministries of the Church.

Group 1
Areas where we shine

1. Worship as a community - song, prayer, homily, participation
2. Life-giving community - in faith-sharing groups, individual parish examples
3. Serve human needs - health ministry, social concerns

Areas for growth

1. Teach Christian faith - because of changing circumstances in parish
2. Bear witness to faith - more than one hour on Sunday
3. Evangelize - because we are catholic!
4. Grow the awareness of need for adult formation

Group 2
Strengths
1. Leitourgia - liturgy Didache - teaching
2. Diakonia - service
3. Koinonia - life-giving

Weaknesses
1. Martura - to bear witness
2. Kerygma - evangelization - challenges

Group 3
Ministries at St. Joseph the Worker
Good - continue, even grow
1. Leitourgia, Koinonia - because we have good community
2. Diakonia - many ministries are currently being performed. Perhaps unknown to the wider community.
Needs work
1. Marturia - diluted traditions passed on
2. Diakonia - too many excuses!!, not following our call
3. Koinonia - widen the community in parish
- community is threatened by…
failed renovation project
school closing

Group 4
Strength
1. Worship as community
2. Service human needs
3. Life-giving community

Opportunities

- witness
- evangelize
- preach
- teach

Group 5
Strengths
1. Diakonia - social concerns, Christmas in July, card ministry, meals for the sick
2. Didache - individual members pleased with involvement
3. Leitourgia - active liturgies for those who are present
4. Koinonia - presence of God permeates groups of people

Weaknesses
1. Leitoourgia - physical/structural hindrance
- time of events. Apply to larger audience
2. Koinonia - welcoming outsiders and those less involved
- greeting each other, taking ownership

Group 6
Strengths
1. Leitourgia - participation (sit in the front pews
2. Koinonia - turn out at events
Challenges
Kerygma - challenges

SPP at SJTW: The Next Step--Assess
Assessment Methods will respond to questions -

1. Who are we? Questions will be about experience.

o Written surveys
o Individual interviews of key stakeholders
o Focus group interviews - newly marrieds/catechists/ new parishioners
o Large group listening sessions/methods
o Review of records/archives

SPP at SJTW: The Next Step--Assess
o What current data is available?
- Who has access to it
- Who will be responsible for collating and disseminating it

o What additional information do we need?

As we move forward we are asking

2. Who do we want to be?

3. How do we get there?

Pastoral planning Nov 2 & 3, 2007

Present: Tania McClain, Dan Radke, Dan and Julie Neebel, Diane Asmussen, Tim Tranel, Mark Ressler, Marilyn Olk, Bevlin Bartels, Donna Goedert, Suellen Flynn, Pat Zelinskas, Tom Henshel, Dick Beaves,Dave and Deb Tschigggfrie, Tom and Marg Schaefer, Bryan Pechous, Frank and Cindy Kraus, Tim and Cindy Pfiffner, Joyce Scherner, John and Ellen Markham, Christa Weber, Gary Grap, Ellen Hunt, Paul Duster

Review of 4 purposes chosen last time.
We are looking to form a profile of SJW
1. The first task is Who are we now?
2. Internal (inward) external (outward) enable us to develop ovjective profile that accurately answers this question
3. What are we missing?

Vision - Who do we want to be ? Big picture

Mission - How do we reach that vision ? more concrete

Jesus' vision was about the kingdom and his mission was baptizing.

These come from Mission of the Church
Gospel Values
SJW Core Values

Leadership speaks for the common good and represents the community.

Core values: What permeate the life of St. Joseph the Worker

Non-negotiable
Consistently expressed
Clearly evident

The following were selected as what we see as core:

1. compassion
2. spiritual vitality
3. community
4. generosity
5. faith formation

Jackie suggests that we ask the community to do some visioning
Focus groups may include: youth group, catechists, liturgical ministers, advisory committees, rcia, small faith sharing groups, scripture groups, MOMS

Session 3 Pastoral Planning

November 30: Effective Parish Visions
Vision - Mission - Goals - then Objectives
Introduction

• Focuses activities
  • Many times parish activities become unfocused.
  • Can help to do things well rather than just do a lot of them.
  • Holiness is about being great - great parish community.
  • Challenge beyond where we are now.
  • What are your hearts burning about?
  • What is distinctive about the parish?
  • Characteristics of Visions - Effective parish visions present a clear, challenging picture of the future of the parish.
    
• Who do we want to be?
  • A "picture" of the future, of how we want to live.
    E.g., a biblical parable
    E.g., "mustard seed"
    
• E.g. of a vision statement: Deuteronomy (nomad society)
  "For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land - a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills, a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where bead will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills."
• Challenge: to be a covenant people - these things follow from living the covenant.
  Can "visualize" this.
  Vision statement calls out the best!!
• The reality comes in on the level of goals and objectives

Six elements of an effective vision

It is clear - " To picture the future with such vivid terms that a congregation can see where it is headed.
It is compelling - The vision ignites passion that moves people to action; it excites people and gives birth to focused ministry activity; it is challenging.
Focus on quality and not quantity of ministry activities
May have to let go of some things.

It is a picture (visual) " It envisions the future we believe God is going to create - it helps people to see their life together. E.g., the Kingdom of God is like….
It is about the future of the parish " It presents a picture of the future we seek to create - the outcome we intend is a result of the choices we make now; it describes who we aspire to be.

Challenge of SJTW - we feel good about ourselves now - comfortable with status quo - but what is God calling to be?
It can be -
It "drips with potential" - it is attainable - 'Some people see things they way they are and ask why; I see things the way they could be and ask why not' (RFK)
Not be overly cautious. What potential can we tap into?
It must be - It carries with it a sense of urgency and passion because it comes from a sense that it is of GOD and what GOD is calling us to be and to do.

Questions/Observations about these six elements
What about people who don't like the vision and they leave?
100% of parish is not going to like it
Must be challenging but not alienating
E.g. story of the rich young man
Passion of vision can alienate some people - tension with just being "vanilla."
What is we like what we are… not just change for change sake
But change is constant.
American practically and rationalism prevents us as a culture to take risks….
What is God calling us to?
Good verses great - parish
This is true of the individual as well - follow call to be great not just good.
E.g., we have paid a "price" to be successful in our careers, family, etc.
There is a "cost" involved.
We have been blessed and graced not to stop here - God wants to use us in new ways - what are these new ways?

Example of a vision statement
St. Catherine of Siena is a Catholic community of disciples Jesus Christ who are on fire with the Spirit of God. We are young and old, those who are new to faith in Jesus and those who are elders in the faith. We are a community of seekers. We rejoice in our diversity of culture, ethnicity and background and we intentionally seek to enrich and enlarge our community. As disciples, we continually seek ways to become more like Christ and learn more about or Catholic faith tradition. We seek to be powerful witnesses of the grace of God in our families, neighborhoods, workplaces and community. The heart of our life is found both in the weekly celebration of the Eucharist when we gather around the Lord's table to be fed and sent forth; and in our commitment to the marginalized and poor as we seek the transformation of society through works of justice and peace. In all things we seek to imitate Christ who gave His life for us so that we might know the loving embrace of God our Father.

Example of SJTW Parish Vision statement based on visioning questions filled out by members of parish committees (Put together by Dr. Witter.)

St. Joseph the Worker will be a Catholic faith community that gathers to enthusiastically celebrate the Eucharist and pray as people of all ages actively participate in dynamic worship and share faith.

We will be a community where each member is known and cared for and all are treated as brothers and sisters in Christ as we reach out and invite others to join us in faith.

We will engage in lifelong growth in faith and understanding of Scripture and our Catholic Faith Tradition.

We will recognize and honor the gifts the Holy Spirit has given to each of us in Baptism.

Each of us will understand and contribute to the mission of our faith community as good stewards of the gifts God has given to us.

We will respond to the Gospel and the social teachings of the Church by caring for those beyond our community who are most in need of God's love and basic human needs. (over)

We will be committed to the life and future of St. Joseph the Worker Parish and be open to changing realities and needs as we seek to faithfully respond to our call to be a vital faith community in the city of Dubuque.

Reflection on the above
More like goals and objectives than vision
More descriptive than challenging
Not compelling - presents core values
Need vivid descriptors (verbs and adjectives)
Lack passion but clear
Good, especially #5 and #6

Wittter - comment:
What is missing that would be life-giving?
Vision takes elements of who you are now…
Vision should make one stop and think… but not too challenging.
Need to do some catechesis on the vision statement.
Task:
What would be some compelling statements images and or compelling expressions that could be formed from SJTW vision statement given about? (see below)

December 1:
Images developed by the group:

o We come together in worship with abundant song and joyful prayer to be fed at the table of life.
o We rejoice in our diversity of age and experience and welcome all to share in the abundance of their gifts as those weaving he tapestry of faith that clothes our becoming more fully human.
o Our community understands all aspects of what true stewardship really is and sees stewardship as a daily responsibility to Christ and others.
o Our community truly activates the stewardship way of life.
o Each member will seek to enrich our lifelong growth in faith and understanding.
o St. Joseph the Worker parish is a Catholic community of disciples who seek to live the Paschal Mystery together with joy and compassion.
o We rejoice in being powerful witnesses to our community and family.
o We will be a community where each member is known and cared for.
o We will be a community that continually seeks to reach out and invite others to join us in faith.
o All ages enthusiastically participate.
o The heart of our life is fund in the celebration of the Eucharist when we gather around the table to be fed and sent forth.
o We are continually seeking ways to learn more about our Catholic faith formation.
o We are passionate about our commitment to the less fortunate as we seek the transformation of society through works of justice.
o We seek to become powerful witnesses to the Spirit in our midst and the grace of God poured forth in our families, neighborhoods, workplaces ad community.
o We seek to be transformed by the good news through Scripture and Tradition taking God's word from heard to heart as we commit ourselves to serve God's people especially the marginalized.
o We commit ourselves to faithful stewardship and to open our hearts to continually grow in openness to the changing realities of God's Church in the world.
o We intentionally seek to become Christ in the world and to build the Kingdom in our minds.
o SJTW is a Catholic faith community who are not content to be just good Christians, but great Christian and a holy people: a community with a burning desire to be more fully transformed to the image of Christ as joyful saints who radiate the love of God to the World.
o The hear and source of our community life is gathering around the table of Eucharist and then going forth with the grace and power of the Spirit in our family, neighborhood, work and community.
o We will continually engage in lifelong growth in faith and understanding of Scripture and our Catholic Faith Tradition.
o We will recognize and honor the gifts the Holy Spirit has given each of us in Baptism.
o We will respond to the Gospel and the social teachings of the Church by caring for those beyond our community who are most in need of God's love and of basic human needs.
o We will recognize and honor the charisms the Holy Spirit has given to each of us in Baptism and use our giftedness to lovingly witness as brothers and sisters in Christ as we reach out and invite others to join us in faith.
" Particular images
o Universal
o Charismatic
o Evangelize
o Witness
o Transform
o Flowing
o Soaring eagles
o Merging tributaries
o Bridging
o Life-giving water
o Beacons of light
o Safe harbor
o Ebbing and flowing
o Restore
o Heal
o Raise
o Encourage
o Arouse
o Hunger
o Grace
o Cultivate
o Nourish
o Proclaim
o Collaborate
o Love
o Living
o Encourage
o Inspire
o Living water
o People of god
o Pilgrim people
o Body of Christ
o Journey
o Heart
o Soul
o Longing
o Font
o Stir up
o Enliven
o Animate
o Yearn
o Gift (verb)
o Bestow
o Embrace
o Lift
o Ignite
o Shine
o Bear witness to

Volunteers Karen, Mark, David, Ellen
Their job: Develop a pretty firm draft, pretty much the final project. Just major concerns would be addressed after they finish.

Possible Strategies for Communication to the Parish

What How Who When Notes (Asked about each of the following:)

Develop a parish prayer for planning for the future.

Prepare regular bulletin notes
E.g.., Take from what learned already

Preparer regular articles for quarterly parish newsletter
E.g., Do catechesis of vision statement, etc.

Prepare a FAQ sheet for parish committees
E.g., let people know what is going on

Develop a 'catchphrase' to be used in a variety of ways
E.g., a slogan

Develop a 'progress timeline/ chart' for entrance of the church

Prepare periodic news releases for diocesan and local newspapers.

Others

Mission Statement = What are you doing to realize the vision. Define the vision.

Answers the question of 'how will we realize our vision' by identifying what the parish does - how to get there.
Provides a compelling sense of direction for parish ministries.
o Presents "ministry creep."
Defines what matters in the parish - and helps the parish to focus its efforts.
o What out for "ministry creep."
Provides guidance for decision-making
o "Everyone else is going it!" - Does it fit into our vision/mission.
Inspires ministry unity
o Get communities to work together - work for the same ministry.
Helps to share goals and strategies
Calls forth responsible stewardship of human and material resources.
Enhances ministry effectiveness.
Supports continuity in parish life.
o In face of changes in parish leadership.
Enables effective ministerial evaluation and assessment.
o Measure effectiveness and deficiencies of MINISTRY.
Why is it effective or deficient?
The staff initiates this in their particular area of ministry - dialogue format

Development of Goals and Strategies
From the vision and mission
Staff, committee members plus others in dialogue with each other

Effective Parish Mission Statements Are:

Active - they describe what the parish is doing to work toward its vision
Broad - they describe parish activity in broad terms that give direction to parish. ministries but do no t specify particular goals or strategies.
Compelling - they charge parishioners to act.
Concise - they are brief and to the point.
Ecclesial - they reflect the mission of the Church and a relationship to the whole Church and its mission which is to proclaim Jesus Christ and work for the coming of the kingdom of God.
Focused - they reflect the parish vision of the particular way God is calling this faith community. i.e., particular to the parish.

Two Examples
SJTW ("fit on a tee shirt") A Catholic community that invites and encourages all to live the faith-filled journey with Jesus Christ.
Not compelling?
Inclusive
What is unique about SJTW?
How does it give direction to our ministry?
Almost too broad.

SJTW (from Dr. Witter reflecting on her knowledge of the parish.)
St. Joseph the worker, founded in 1949, is a Catholic faith community in the Archdiocese of Dubuque that:
Welcomes and encourages people of all ages to share in our common faith life.
Calls forth and affirms the gifts of each member for the sake of the parish's mission and the good of the Church.
Proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ and provides comprehensive lifelong faith formation through a variety of means.
Offers inspiring worship and prayer that brigs people together in faith and sends forth in service to the Gospel
Serve the spiritual and human needs of its won members and wider community through a commitment to the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.
Engages in collaborative leadership and decision-making base on open ongoing communication.
Works for the building up the body of Christ and the coming of the Kingdom of God.
Seeks continuing renewal so we will grow in faith and Christina maturity.
Problems with this:
Trying to be all things to all people.

Not focused enough
If the focus is clear then others things will happen that don't need to be made explicit in the mission statement.
o Could be more precise.
Challenge
o How much detail - short or long? (see the above for "Effective Parish Mission Statement")
o Need a Mission Statement Committee for a Draft- Volunteers
Marilyn, Bryan, Ruth, Pat
Future
o The two committees should have some firm drafts by mid-January.
Sent to those who have been coming and Dr. Witter
Send to the parish when the drafts are completed - answer five questions to be given by Dr. Witter
March meeting with Dr. Witter to learn about goals and strategies.