PRELIMINARY PROPOSAL FOR PARISH MISSION STATEMENT  WE ARE A EUCHARISTIC COMMUNITY, A PEOPLE DIVERSE IN BACKGROUND UNITED TOGETHER AS CATHOLIC CHRISTIANS AROUND THE ALTAR OF THE LORD.  NURTURED BY THE SACRAMENTS AND SUSTAINED BY PRAYER, OUR MISSION IS TO FULFILL OUR BAPTISMAL PROMISES.  WE DO THIS BY PROCLAIMING THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL IN OUR LIVES BY OUR COMMITMENT TO FAITHFULLY LOVE AND SERVE THE LORD AND ONE ANOTHER.

Guide to Parish Viability ACCESSIBILTY  Is parish close in proximity to another parish?  SC, SJB, SJE within three city block area, and SJ within one mile of other churches  Twelve Catholic Churches within two miles of downtown Pittston

Guide to Parish Viability AVAILABILITY OF PRIESTS  Are there enough assigned parish priests to cover all Masses?  Are Masses offered as a matter of convenience?  Are Masses offered at certain times as a matter of tradition?  What is the real need for parish Masses within community?

Guide to Parish Viability FINANCIAL VIABILITY  Could each individual parish support 100% of its total costs for an extended period?  Does extended outstanding debt exist in any of the parishes?  Would any one church have difficulty financing a major building renovation on its own?

Guide to Parish Viability LIFE AND MINISTRY OF THE PARISH  Could individual parish sustain mission of church in word, worship, community and service?  What is the ratio between births and deaths in each parish?  How many new marriages are performed each year?  Is the church attracting new parishioners, or losing long term parishioners?

Essential Elements Determining Parish Viability  Pursuit of Holiness- Opportunities Provided for Spiritual Growth of Parishioners; Proper Understanding of “Church” As Body of Christ  Strength & Sense of Church Community- Percent of Parishioners Participating in Parish Functions/Activities and Key Sacramental Events

Essential Elements Determining Parish Viability  Degree of Lay Leadership- Percent of Parishioners Involved in Liturgies; Lay Involvement in Liturgical Roles  Quality of Worship- Percent of Parishioners Attending Sunday Liturgies; Lay Involvement in Liturgical Roles

Essential Elements Determining Parish Viability  Vitality of Religious Education- Number of Programs Provided For Children, Youth and Adults; Effectiveness of Evangelization Efforts  Service to the Poor- Commitment to Social Justice; Outreach to Needy Parishioners; Outreach to Local and Global Community

Essential Elements Determining Parish Viability  Parish Demographics- Sufficient Membership to Undertake Stated Mission of the Church  Financial Condition- Sufficient Resources Available to Sustain Parish Ministries and Provide for Proper Maintenance of Parish Facilities; Ability to Service Debt within Reasonable Period of Time

Number of Families

Individual Church Members

Individual Church Members 2000 to 2006

Active Diocesan Parish Priests

Parishioner Age Range (SJB Data Not Available)

Sacraments By Church 2

Sacraments By Church

Parish Properties Buildings & PropertiesSCSJBSJESJTOTAL Churches11114 Rectory & Convent02103 School01102 Gym01102 Cemetery11114 Cemetery Chapels12104 Parish Hall11114 Garages & Work Sheds12205 Parking Lots21328 TOTAL Basement of Church Building

Parish Income and Expenses

Parish Savings

Successful Cooperative Ministries  Youth Ministry  One Bread/One Cup  Ministry Trips- St. Meinard Seminary, Miss., KY  Altar & Rosary Soc  Annual Card Party  Parish Hospitality  Holy Name Society  Easter Egg Hunt  Christmas Party  Halloween Party  Night at Races  Lottery  Communion Breakfast  $1,000 Scholarship

Successful Cooperative Ministries  LITURGICAL AND EDUCATIONAL MINISTRIES  Combined Major Liturgies  Annual Parish Retreat  Seasonal Scripture Study  Adult Funeral Servers  Road to Resurrection  Passion Pantomime  Children’s Christmas Pageant  Children’s Palm Sunday Pageant  Children’s 10 AM Mass  Moms, Pops, Tots  Easter Basket Blessing  Pet Blessing  Vacation Bible School  Parish Lending Library  Parish Bazaar

Successful Cooperative Ministries  Social Concerns  Adopt a Mission  Health Fair  Food Pantry  St. Vincent’s Kitchen  Easter Candy  Parish Nurses  Ecumenical Involvement GP Ministerium  Planning for free health clinic  Christmas Giving Tree

Successful Cooperative Ministries  All Parish Finance Council  All Parish Pastoral Council  Parish Liturgical Commission  Parish Bazaar