Most Precious Blood, Angola In the Beginning… An Adventure in Change Management & Communication

Where we began… Loss of parish school in 2007 Loss of parish school in 2007 Search for new parish identity Search for new parish identity Basic, no-frills Sunday morning K-11 program Basic, no-frills Sunday morning K-11 program Seeds of a youth ministry program Seeds of a youth ministry program No intergenerational catechesis No intergenerational catechesis Few basic faith-sharing opportunities Few basic faith-sharing opportunities

How we began… We did a parish survey We did a parish survey We facilitated short retreat for Eucharistic Ministers (excitement & great feedback) We facilitated short retreat for Eucharistic Ministers (excitement & great feedback) We facilitated a short retreat for Lectors (more interest and more great feedback) We facilitated a short retreat for Lectors (more interest and more great feedback) We planned an intergenerational summer program We planned an intergenerational summer program

You Are the Church and We Need Your Help!! Our Pastor and Parish Council appreciate your input on the following questions to improve parish life and to build a more responsive and caring community of faith. Please circle your responses; your comments are welcome. Where do you see your spiritual life in relation to this parish? (Circle the letter next to your response) I attend weekly Mass and Holy Days of obligation I attend weekly Mass and I am involved in parish ministries and activities I attend weekly Mass (or more) and want to be more involved or learn more Mass, Religious Ed. for the children, and monthly Parish events are fine for me Less frequent Mass and occasional parish events work for me at the moment Other (please comment)_____________________________________________ Are you interested in learning more about your Catholic faith?YN Circle your preferences:Small discussion groupSpeaker/SeminarSeries of classes OnlineTake-home Resources (books, DVDs, MP3s, etc) Circle Preferred days: M T W Th F S Sun Preferred times: Morning Afternoon Evening I would like to learn more about (circle all that apply)The Bible Prayer Mass Catholic TeachingAnnulmentsParish OrganizationsLiturgical Ministries Christian Environmental ConcernsYouth MinistryOther____________________ I would invite a friend or relative to come with me: Y N What other services could this parish provide for: You/your family?__________________ Our community?______________________________________________________ Optional: Name _________________________ Phone#___________ __________________

at the … We danced…we sang… Vacation Bible School

We set up our shops around the well…

We learned carpentry

pottery, basket weaving pottery, basket weaving

made our daily bread and spiced up our lives!

Went to synagogue school, then back to the marketplace for more

And we played for five days and nights! We had dreidel games – the gambling was fierce! We had dreidel games – the gambling was fierce! We played games that Jesus may have played We played games that Jesus may have played Every day, someone made a scene at the well Every day, someone made a scene at the well We made new friends and ended as one big family We made new friends and ended as one big family

And in the Fall… We recruited and commissioned catechists We recruited and commissioned catechists We expanded parish breakfasts We expanded parish breakfasts The Upper Elementary group presented a parish Saints Chapel quiz as the November breakfast activity. “Who are the saints in the chapel?” The Upper Elementary group presented a parish Saints Chapel quiz as the November breakfast activity. “Who are the saints in the chapel?”

We offered opportunities for sharing our faith… A retreat for catechists and Formation Team members A retreat for catechists and Formation Team members A retreat for Rosary-Altar Society A retreat for Rosary-Altar Society A Lenten retreat for the whole parish A Lenten retreat for the whole parish A Sunday morning reflection group A Sunday morning reflection group (The first three were well-received, the fourth didn’t really get off the ground…)

We communicated… We explored ways to develop our website We explored ways to develop our website We improved our Sunday bulletin – more pages, more pictures, informative articles We improved our Sunday bulletin – more pages, more pictures, informative articles We explained in words and actions We explained in words and actions We began our weekly Pennysaver ads We began our weekly Pennysaver ads We realized we need some better signage We realized we need some better signage (that’s coming soon!!)

We changed our approach to faith formation for youth We combined the high school students into one group We combined the high school students into one group We weren’t afraid to get messy We weren’t afraid to get messy We partied while collecting for charities We partied while collecting for charities We feed body, mind and spirit We feed body, mind and spirit

We began youth/young adult outreach Youth dances Youth dances Thursday night open gym (weekly) Thursday night open gym (weekly) Monthly “Sunday Youth Mass” Monthly “Sunday Youth Mass” 30 Hour famine (Ecumenical) 30 Hour famine (Ecumenical) Youth Convention (a first for us!) Youth Convention (a first for us!) “Secret Service” opportunities “Secret Service” opportunities Doubled our numbers Doubled our numbers

We sustained what we already had LRSS participation LRSS participation –numbers stable (average each season) –fed other ministries (RCIA, catechists, et al.) –Expanded into soup and study –Spun off new groups Sisters in Christ Sisters in Christ Respect Life ministry Respect Life ministry

Related developments Improved recordkeeping (and new volunteers to help us) Improved recordkeeping (and new volunteers to help us) Catechist training – more fully-certified Catechist training – more fully-certified Enhanced liturgy Enhanced liturgy –More family involvement through Youth Mass –Cantor/Psalmist at regular Sunday liturgy New parish registrations every week New parish registrations every week Feedback from Pennysaver ads Feedback from Pennysaver ads –(“we never knew MPB was so busy..”)

And… Faith Formation numbers fairly steady Faith Formation numbers fairly steady Parents invited into Sunday AM sessions Parents invited into Sunday AM sessions Retention at 4 th grade improved Retention at 4 th grade improved Children and youth bring friends Children and youth bring friends High school attendance increased High school attendance increased Parish breakfast participation Parish breakfast participation May crowning participation intergenerational May crowning participation intergenerational

New traditions forming Memorial Day Mass at the cemetery Memorial Day Mass at the cemetery Palm Sunday intergenerational procession Palm Sunday intergenerational procession Increased ecumenical activities Increased ecumenical activities –Greater participation Women’s Day of Prayer –“Chili Bowl”, youth games, 30-Hour Famine –OGN Food Pantry families served weekly with half of volunteer team now from MPB with half of volunteer team now from MPB Increased emphasis on community service Increased emphasis on community service

Not everything goes as planned… Adult session planning fell through (illness) Adult session planning fell through (illness) Alternate adult “catechist” didn’t work out Alternate adult “catechist” didn’t work out Just because they say they want it doesn’t mean they will come… Just because they say they want it doesn’t mean they will come… Sometimes you need to step back to get a clearer vision Sometimes you need to step back to get a clearer vision Lack of full-time/adequate staffing Lack of full-time/adequate staffing Very limited parish resources Very limited parish resources –It’s hard to do more with less –Volunteers cannot do everything