Goal Task Forces With Hearts Burning Within Us: Building A Faith Community For A New Century November 19, 2001

Task Force Themes Accessibility in Programs & Facilities Building / Facility User Faith Formation and Ecumenism Liturgy Outreach, Social Justice & Christian Service School Feasibility Youth

Pastoral Planning Guiding Principles Commissions, Goal Task Forces and Groups should use the following guiding principles when considering ministry initiatives: Continue to do what we do well Act as wise stewards of the resources with which we’ve been blessed Encourage vocations to active ministry in the church Ensure that the demands of the Gospel based social justice and outreach are a priority in all areas of parish life & its ecumenical & inter-religious dimensions. Encourage the involvement of the entire Parish community, especially youth

Accessibility in Programs & Facilities Task Force (in conjunction with the building / facility user task force) Goal: We will address and resolve the issues of access to and within our facilities for people with physical challenges and disabilities.

Building / Facility User Task Force Goal: We will expand our gathering spaces, meeting rooms, office spaces and parking areas to provide for our growing community. All buildings used for ministry shall be planned with long-range, multi- purpose capability

Faith Formation and Ecumenism Task Force Goal: We will provide more convenient, enhanced and flexible opportunities for faith formation. Goal: We will deepen an awareness in the adults of our parish of the need to further their own faith formation. Goal: We will deepen our awareness of the truth that ecumenism and interfaith relations are an essential aspect of our being Catholic by furthering our collaboration with neighboring churches and initiating inter-religious relationships with the Islamic and Jewish communities.

Liturgy Task Force Goal: We will continue to give high priority to life-giving liturgies, celebrations of the sacraments, liturgical music, care for the sick and homebound and outreach to the poor. Goal: We will provide more opportunities for Mass, including possible ways to address the diversity of preferences in worship styles and cultural traditions.

Outreach, Social Justice, and Christian Service Task Force Goal: We will ensure that all ministries and programs integrate some component of outreach, recognizing that social justice is an integral part of the mission of the church.

School Feasibility Task Force Goal: We will initiate a full-scale study to engage the parish community in shaping a parish school ministry which is feasible.

Youth Task Force Goal: We will enrich the formation component of our youth ministry, valuing its vital role in building community by passing on the teachings and traditions of our faith.

Basic Pastoral Planning Process 1.Examine current programs and plans in light of the guiding principles and pastoral goals / review existing data from goal setting process (survey results, etc.) – Commissions are asked to begin this immediately 2.Development of ministry initiatives 3.Feedback with commissions / Pastoral Council

Pastoral Planning Timeline (1 of 2) NovemberDecemberJanuary / February Meeting with commissions Formation of task forces Task force training and organizations Review goal setting data (survey results) Focus groups Research

Pastoral Planning Timeline (2 of 2) MarchAprilMay Development of ministry implementation proposals Budget Process Initial Pastoral Council review of initiatives Leadership convocation Pastoral Council detail review of initiatives Finalization of the pastoral plan May 24 – Feast of St. Madeleine Sophie

Pastoral Planning Proposals Commission evaluation of existing programs New ministry initiatives –Initiative description –Who is responsible for implementation –Time line for implementation –Budgetary impact of the initiative (including off budget items such as secretarial, publicity, etc.) –Custodial & other infrastructure impact

Task Force Composition 1 chair person (responsible for the ministry implementation proposals) 1 or more members from each of the commissions that would be responsible for implementation (remember – this does not imply that you are the implementer…) 1 Pastoral Council liaison Appropriate staff members Members from Parish community at large Ideal size: 5-8 members (excluding staff and Pastoral Council liaison)