RENEWING
THE VISION
PARISH
PLAN: ST. FRANCIS DE SALES
Abingdon,
Maryland
Revision Notes
-
December, 2001: Original
Document
-
December, 2002: Version
2
-
January, 2004: Version
3 (Adopted by the Pastoral Council 2/24/2004)
-
January, 2005: Version 4 (Adopted by the Pastoral Council 1/11/2005)
- January, 2008: Version 5 (Adopted by the Pastoral Council 1/22/2008)
Table of Contents
Based on guidelines established by the Division of Planning and
Council Services of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Cardinal Keeler directed all parishes in the Archdiocese to “embark
on an enterprise of wise planning.” This planning process is known throughout the Archdiocese as “Renewing the
Vision” (“RTV”). It is founded on the belief that, as prompted by the Spirit, each community will profit
by defining and directing a preferred future and determining how best to make the vision take shape.
Building upon efforts initially undertaken by the Pastoral Council
in late 1999, Monsignor Schleupner and representatives of the Pastoral Council formed a Renewing the Vision Planning Committee
to complete the RTV Planning Process. In brief, that process involved assessing the needs of the Parish and making recommendations
to the Pastor and the Pastoral Council regarding appropriate goals in the designated Mission Priority Areas of Evangelization,
Liturgy, Education, Service, Stewardship, and Parish Life. It is the intention of RTV that the Pastor and the Pastoral Council
consider these goals annually in providing leadership and guidance, implementing programs and developing and applying resources
(as set forth in the budget and otherwise) for the benefit of the St. Francis de Sales Parish community. The findings and
recommendations of the RTV Process also should be reevaluated annually. Such periodic reevaluations should identify developments
that necessarily occur over time that might require that the identified goals of the Parish be changed and supplemented and
thus influence the programs and resources devoted to achieving those goals.
As a matter of historical perspective, it is worth noting that the
Parish conducted a similar exercise in 1997 under the leadership of Father Patrick Carrion, then Administrator of the Parish.
The purpose of this assessment was to provide information to the Division of Clergy Personnel in the Archdiocese as it considered
the selection of a new Pastor for St. Francis and, in turn, provide a resource that would introduce the new Pastor to the
St. Francis de Sales community. Because of the community’s desire to participate in the selection of a new Pastor, there
was a high level of interest in this assessment process and it culminated in a rather extensive report.
During the course of the 1999 RTV process, the assessment of Parish
needs was accomplished primarily through a survey that was distributed at all Masses. The response to this Parish survey was
quite substantial; and the RTV Committee received additional limited feedback from individual parishioners in other forums.
With results furnished primarily by way of survey rather than through personal interaction, the response from the Parish community
to the RTV process was different from the 1997 Parish assessment. We suspect that a number of factors influenced this response,
including an overall expression of satisfaction with parish life, which, in the view of many parishioners, required no further
examination.
In the 2003-2004 RTV update process the Pastoral Council looked to
the representatives for the Evangelization, Liturgy, Education, Service, and Stewardship areas to review the vision with the
ministries they represent to update this document to reflect their current goals and priorities.
2005 was a year of transition for the St. Francis deSales faith community.
With the reassignment of Monsignor Schleupner, Fr. Carrion was again named Administrator of St. Francis, with Beth Taneyhill,
Director of Faith Formation named as the on-site coordinator. The Council and Parish participated in two key events that,
for all practical purposes, replaced the RTV update for the 2006 and 2007 calendar years. From a request from the Archdiocese
we participated in an Assessment of our strengths and growth areas from all aspects of our community. We utilized our Ministry
Representatives to initiate this process which culminated in a joint council and staff activity to brainstorm the questions
asked by the Archdiocese and document our findings. In addition, we participated in a Discernment Process with the Office
of Clergy Personnel. This built upon the assessment and articulated those areas that we felt most strongly about in the selection
of the new Pastoral Leader of Saint Francis deSales. Fr. Chuck Wible was named Pastor of Saint Francis in July of 2006.
The overall positive results from the RTV Process, the Parish Assessment,
and the Discernment Process indicate that St. Francis continues to be a welcoming and vibrant community. In many respects,
this is quite remarkable in view of the enormity of the recent growth and demographic changes in the greater-Abingdon community
served by the Parish. In this regard, it may be useful to bear in mind how the Parish has developed and changed during its
long history and, most particularly, in the last 30 years.
Founded as a mission of St. Ignatius, the community at St. Francis
de Sales celebrated its first Mass at Christmas in 1866. From that time until it first became its own parish in June, 1964,
the community grew rather slowly, and services were held in what is now the Stone Chapel. Indeed, it was not until 1971 that
the earliest stages of what is now far more significant residential and commercial development in the community necessitated
the construction of Kilduff Hall for use as combined worship and meeting space. From that point forward, over the course of
approximately 30 years, this community has experienced extraordinary growth and development, marked significantly by the construction
of the Worship Center in which Mass was celebrated for the first time on Christmas 1991 to commemorate the Parish’s
125th anniversary.
Three additional projects were completed in the recent past, demonstrating
the continued growth and vitality of the Parish community. In the Fall of 2001, the Eucharistic Chapel was completed and dedicated.
The Chapel, accessible directly from the Worship Center, provides an appropriate and permanent site for the reserved Sacrament
and a location for quiet prayer and reflection. In the Fall of 2002, St. Francis de Sales completed construction and dedicated
a new Religious Education Center, now called the Monsignor Michael Schleupner Education Center. This was a significant moment
in the history of the Parish and represents a special commitment from the Parish community to the education of our youth.
In the Fall of 2003, a successful stewardship campaign was conducted, which retired the debt on the education building and
provide the funding to refurbish the Stone Chapel. This once again attests to the health of the parish.
Thirty years ago St. Francis was a very small parish community under
the leadership of its Pastor and a relatively small staff where almost all parishioners knew one another. Today, we are a
significantly larger community, still under the leadership of a single Pastor, but with significantly increased participation
by a variety of lay ministers. Over this 30-year period, the Parish saw the formation of its first Pastoral Council (in 1985)
and the proliferation of committees and ministries within the Parish to serve the needs of a growing community.
As the Parish has grappled with the increase in numbers, it has been
necessary to add significantly to the Parish staff and establish an organizational structure of committees and ministries
to serve the community. By that, we mean that the Parish has adjusted to the growth it has experienced by creating an infrastructure
operated by Parish staff, committees and ministries that is now reasonably well defined and cohesive. This includes the addition
of a Parish Business Manager to oversee the day-to-day administrative operations of the Parish. It can no longer be said that
almost all parishioners know one another. Nevertheless, there are abundant opportunities for Spirit-filled Catholic Christians
to experience a sense of community and develop their personal faith at St. Francis de Sales. Indeed, with focused efforts
to reach out to all registered parishioners and the unchurched in our community, it may be possible to make the Parish become
more of a focal point for the lives of an even greater number of people. With that in mind, we present what are believed to
be reasonable goals and objectives for the five Mission Priority Areas that are founded on the Parish Vision Statement and
are what we discern to be the needs and desires of the community.
2.0 Executive Summary
Based on guidelines established by the Division of Planning and Council
Services of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Cardinal Keeler has directed all parishes in the Archdiocese to “embark on
an enterprise of wise planning.” This planning process is known throughout the Archdiocese as “Renewing the Vision”
(“RTV”). It is founded on the belief that, as prompted by the Spirit, each community will profit by defining and
directing a preferred future and determining how best to make the vision take shape.
Building upon efforts initially undertaken by the Pastoral Council
in late 1999, Monsignor Schleupner and representatives of the Pastoral Council formed a Renewing the Vision Planning Committee
to complete the RTV Planning Process. In brief, that process involved assessing the needs of the Parish and making recommendations
to the Pastor and the Pastoral Council regarding appropriate goals in the designated Mission Priority Areas of Evangelization,
Liturgy, Education, Service, Stewardship, and Parish Life. It is the intention of RTV that the Pastor and the Pastoral Council
consider these goals annually in providing leadership and guidance, implementing programs and developing and applying resources
(as set forth in the budget and otherwise) for the benefit of the St. Francis de Sales Parish community. The findings and
recommendations of the RTV Process also should be reevaluated annually. Such periodic reevaluations should identify developments
that necessarily occur over time that might require that the identified goals of the Parish be changed and supplemented and
thus influence the programs and resources devoted to achieving those goals.
As a matter of historical perspective, it is worth noting that the
Parish conducted a similar exercise in 1997 under the leadership of Father Patrick Carrion, then Administrator of the Parish.
The purpose of this assessment was to provide information to the Division of Clergy Personnel in the Archdiocese as it considered
the selection of a new Pastor for St. Francis and, in turn, provide a resource that would introduce the new Pastor to the
St. Francis de Sales community. Because of the community’s desire to participate in the selection of a new Pastor, there
was a high level of interest in this assessment process and it culminated in a rather extensive report.
During the course of the 1999 RTV process, the assessment of Parish
needs was accomplished primarily through a survey that was distributed at all Masses. The response to this Parish survey was
quite substantial; and the RTV Committee received additional limited feedback from individual parishioners in other forums.
With results furnished primarily by way of survey rather than through personal interaction, the response from the Parish community
to the RTV process was different from the 1997 Parish assessment. We suspect that a number of factors influenced this response,
including an overall expression of satisfaction with parish life, which, in the view of many parishioners, required no further
examination.
In the 2003-2004 RTV update process the Pastoral Council looked to
the representatives for the Evangelization, Liturgy, Education, Service, and Stewardship areas to review the vision with the
ministries they represent to update this document to reflect their current goals and priorities.
The overall positive results from the RTV Process indicate that St.
Francis continues to be a welcoming and vibrant community. In many respects, this is quite remarkable in view of the enormity
of the recent growth and demographic changes in the greater-Abingdon community served by the Parish. In this regard, it may
be useful to bear in mind how the Parish has developed and changed during its long history and, most particularly, in the
last 30 years.
Founded as a mission of St. Ignatius, the community at St. Francis
de Sales celebrated its first Mass at Christmas in 1866. From that time until it first became its own parish in June, 1964,
the community grew rather slowly, and services were held in what is now the Stone Chapel. Indeed, it was not until 1971 that
the earliest stages of what is now far more significant residential and commercial development in the community necessitated
the construction of Kilduff Hall for use as combined worship and meeting space. From that point forward, over the course of
approximately 30 years, this community has experienced extraordinary growth and development, marked significantly by the construction
of the Worship Center in which Mass was celebrated for the first time on Christmas 1991 to commemorate the Parish’s
125th anniversary.
Two additional projects were recently completed, demonstrating the
continued growth and vitality of the Parish community. In the Fall of 2001, the Eucharistic Chapel was completed and dedicated.
The Chapel, accessible directly from the Worship Center, provides an appropriate and permanent site for the reserved Sacrament
and a location for quiet prayer and reflection. In the Fall of 2002, St. Francis de Sales completed construction and dedicated
a new Religious Education Center. This was a significant moment in the history of the Parish and represents a special commitment
from the Parish community to the education of our youth. In the Fall of 2003, a successful stewardship campaign was conducted
which will help the parish retire the debt on the education building and renovate the Stone Chapel. This once again attests
to the health of the parish.
Thirty years ago St. Francis was a very small parish community under
the leadership of its Pastor and a relatively small staff where almost all parishioners knew one another. Today, we are a
significantly larger community, still under the leadership of a single Pastor, but with significantly increased participation
by a variety of lay ministers. Over this 30-year period, the Parish saw the formation of its first Pastoral Council (in 1985)
and the proliferation of committees and ministries within the Parish to serve the needs of a growing community.
Along the way, there have been many gratifying moments and, not unexpectedly,
a number of bumps in the road. As the Parish has grappled with the increase in numbers, it has been necessary to add significantly
to the Parish staff and establish an organizational structure of committees and ministries to serve the community. At times,
the Parish has struggled with a newly found bureaucracy that occasionally frustrated volunteers who believed that their efforts
were either unnecessarily restricted or unappreciated. In fact, it is likely that the Parish simply has experienced normal
“growing pains” which made it difficult to accommodate the best intentions of all members of the Parish community
and, in some instances, to say thank you for their efforts.
Today, it appears that St. Francis has largely “found its stride.”
By that, we mean that in 2004 the Parish has adjusted to the growth it has experienced by creating an infrastructure operated
by Parish staff, committees and ministries that is now reasonably well defined and cohesive. In 2004, the parish council added
a sixth Mission Priority Areas. This area, Parish Life, is meant to group the wide variety of groups ministering to our parishioners’
social interests. It can no longer be said that almost all parishioners know one another. Nevertheless, there are abundant
opportunities for Spirit-filled Catholic Christians to experience a sense of community and develop their personal faith at
St. Francis de Sales. Indeed, with focused efforts to reach out to all registered parishioners and the unchurched in our community,
it may be possible to make the Parish become more of a focal point for the lives of an even greater number of people. With
that in mind, we present what are believed to be reasonable goals and objectives for the five Mission Priority Areas that
are founded on the Parish Vision Statement and are what we discern to be the needs and desires of the community.
2.1 Evangelization
The Archdiocesan Renew Program prompted a significant number of parishioners
at St. Francis to participate in small, faith-sharing communities that met on a regular basis. These small faith-sharing groups
call people to a deeper faith commitment and a greater participation in the community at large and they represent a unique
opportunity to strengthen the Parish. We recommend that the promotion of faith-sharing groups be studied as a tool for energizing
and deepening faith among parishioners. Because evangelization is a process that fosters ongoing conversion rooted in our
faith, it is also recommended that the Reflection on the worship aid continue to be published. Through the gospel message
as proclaimed, announced and reflected on, the worship aid and accompanying Reflection provide Catholics a unique opportunity
to understand more deeply the mystery of God’s love and their call to discipleship.
To reach out to the unchurched and inactive or alienated Catholics,
we will be proactive in extending to them an invitation to grow in their relationship to God through Christ as lived in the
Catholic Church. Invitation to a “Welcome Back” evening will be extended to these individuals by personal letter
and promotion through the bulletin, parish sign, local newspaper, and community events TV channel. Additionally, the parish
website has been greatly improved and will be a useful tool for evangelical purposes.
We recommend strengthening ministries and programs frequently encountered
by inactive Catholics such as the Welcome Breakfast for new parishioners, a grief support ministry, ministries that care for
the sick and large group spiritual/social activities. In addition, Baptismal preparation for parents and godparents and Marriage
preparation for engaged couples provide a fertile ground for evangelical opportunities and need to be strengthened as well.
We will continue to develop and support the Young Adult Ministry (YAM)
that reaches out to young adults, with and without children, and foster the growth of our newly established pre-school ministry.
Finally, we have an active youth ministry that continues to grow under the guidance of our youth minister who maintains a
busy calendar of events.
St. Francis has an active Hispanic community determined to harmonize
with the rest of the parish. Although the Hispanic community desires to honor and retain their cultural roots, it is open
to finding opportunities for integrated spiritual and social activities to increase the sense that we are one parish community.
Hispanics have opened their hearts to the needs and expectations of the St. Francis community. Some English-speakers are coming
to the Spanish Liturgies and are affectionately welcome by the Latino families and people.
The Hispanic Community of St. Francis deSales has tripled in the last
five years. Consequently, its character in the life of the parish is changing and has become a major component of the present
and future of the community as a whole. The Hispanic community leadership has organized a Spanish youth group, women support
group, prayer group, and a Spanish committee. Also, the Spanish confirmation class has joined the Religious Education program
of St. Francis deSales. Spanish Mass is celebrated every Sunday, and in all Church’s feast days. In addition, Hispanic
traditions and culture are commemorated during the year through organized celebrations and festivities including Spanish baptisms
and weddings. Hispanic community members volunteer during Parish activities and participate with the English community during
picnics, parish bazaars, and bilingual liturgies.
2.2 Liturgy
The Liturgy Committee dedicates itself fully to living the Liturgical
principles espoused by Vatican Council II, particularly the Council’s vision promulgated in Sacrosanctum Concilium,
Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy - Second Vatican Council, and to foster that spirit within the Liturgical assemblies of
the church. As stated in section 14 of Sacrosanctum Concilium:
“Mother Church earnestly desires that all the faithful should
be led to that fully conscious, and active participation in liturgical celebrations which is demanded by the very nature of
the Liturgy. Such participation by the Christian people as "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a redeemed people
(I Pet 2:9; cf. 2:4-5), is their right and duty by reason of their baptism.
A great deal of thought is being given to the format of our worship,
particularly the special liturgies that occur from time to time and at special seasons of the Church year. The Liturgy Committee
will continue to evaluate periodically the balance of praise, worship, reflection, and contemplation in all of the liturgies
we offer. Additionally the Committee considers the continuing variance in the style of liturgy offered at different Masses
and during special seasons of the liturgical year. As an example, this is one reason we vary the type of music ministry offered
at different Masses. Additionally, many parishioners seem to draw a great deal of inspiration from liturgies conducted during
special seasons of the liturgical year (e.g., Lent and Advent). We will continue to look at alternatives that will keep these
very special liturgies fresh, challenging and inspiring.
St. Francis also is becoming ethnically more diverse. We need to remain
open and alert to ways by which we can include other ethnic groups, particularly the Hispanic and Filipino community, in our
liturgies and community life. We also need to be sensitive to their needs (and perhaps their desires) to retain their own
Spanish liturgy and related faith practices.
Finally, one way to increase the meaningfulness of liturgy is to increase
the number of people who actively participate in our liturgies. This is the top goal for the Liturgy Committee in the coming
year. At every meeting the Committee will ask the question of how what they are considering fosters this goal. Getting people
to volunteer is, no doubt, a difficult task and the subject of on-going efforts by the Liturgy Committee. The Committee will
continue to consider whether there are new and different ways to extend the invitation with the goal of getting more parishioners
to become members of the music ministry, lectors, ushers, servers, greeters, and Eucharistic ministers. For example, the practice
of having parishioners serve as greeters at each Mass is a wonderful idea and has provided an opportunity for increased participation
by individuals and families. Our recently revitalized religious education program, with significant changes focused on the
middle and high school students, should provide many meaningful opportunities for the youth and young adults to participate
in liturgies.
The Youth of our community are our future, and we have an obligation
to inspire them to grow in their faith. Further, liturgy and classroom education alone will not call significant numbers of
young parishioners to a deeper faith commitment. Conversely, merely offering social and community activities will not result
in youth that have a sophisticated knowledge of their faith. Instead, what is required is a combination of education and youth
ministry. Accordingly, supporting and increasing participation in the evolving youth group for middle and high-school aged
parishioners to augment and compliment the existing religious education program should be a high priority. Development of
the youth group also will require patience and commitment that will require many months and perhaps even years to develop.
Finally, encourage parish youth to participate in some of the challenging youth programs offered by the Archdiocese (such
as the High School Leadership Institute “Hi Li”) and share their experiences with others, as well as to encourage
parish youth to participate in St. Francis’ Journey In Faith (JIF) Program.
The parish offers a wide variety of opportunities for initiation
into and develop-ment of a mature faith. These programs appear to be well conceived and well received by those who take advantage
of them. Therefore, it is important to continue these initiatives and, equally important, to develop new ways of publicizing
their existence and calling parishioners to participate. As set forth above, it is worthwhile to continue the formation of
small faith-sharing groups within the Parish and encourage those faith-sharing groups that currently exist. They are an effective
means of calling parishioners to a deeper faith commitment.
Ultimately, a successful Youth Ministry program will leave youth
feeling affiliated with St. Francis de Sales, supported in their values, nourished in their spiritual journey, cared for by
members of our community and valued as a person with unique gifts. A successful program will also result in youth acting upon
their faith and using their God given gifts to serve others.
2.4 Service
The community of St. Francis is making a substantial commitment to
provide service to those in need both within our own parish community and in the surrounding Harford County area. There are
a number of active ministries providing assistance to those in need. These activities include:
- Significant financial and material help through St. Vincent de Paul
Society;
- Participation in Red Cross blood drive.
- Preparing and serving meals at Our Daily Bread in Baltimore and Sharing
Table in Edgewood;
- Preparing and delivering bagged lunches for the homeless.
- Hosting an off-site homeless shelter 1 day per month.
- Visiting homebound parishioners and nursing home residents.
- Twinning with Mary Our Queen Parish in Haiti is complete and on-going.
Parishioners are also participating in the Legislative Education Group
(LEG) sponsored by the Archdiocese Office of Parish Social Ministry, writing letters to state legislators encouraging support
of pending social justice legislation. We recommend that these programs continue to receive our support and that we explore
additional opportunities to provide service to those in need.
2.5 Parish Life
Reflecting the substantial and continuing growth of our parish, numerous
social groups, clubs, and organizations have developed which represent the wide variety of our parishioners’ social
interests. We have brought these groups under one umbrella ministry, Parish Life.
These groups address the different stages and styles of the life of
our parishioners. The young of our parish can participate in Youth Group, Scouts and Knights of Columbus Squires. Young Adult
Ministry gives young adults in the parish an opportunity to meet other people, go on planned trips and provide leadership
for our young parishioners. Adults in our parish can participate in “fun” raising, Ladies of the Knights, Knights
of Columbus, Donut Sunday and the Senior Club. We as a Church
need opportunities to come together not only for spiritual, but also for social and service purposes.
We have several goals and objectives for the Parish Life Ministry.
The most important is to provide opportunities for our parishioners to be a member of a group that has Christian values. As
a community, we provide a safe place to meet. Parish Life Ministry creates opportunities for our youth to become leaders through
scouts and youth group. The adults in the parish have the opportunity to volunteer within the groups, ministries and clubs.
Parish Life Ministry also creates opportunities for parishioners to meet other people with similar interests.
2.6 Stewardship
We continue to have outstanding leadership in the Finance and the
Development Committees. Their experience, together with our pastor’s commitment to Stewardship, insures the financial
and spiritual growth necessary to support our continuing and expanding parish needs. As our parish grows, so do the needs
and services required to meet the demands.
With all the Ministries in the parish, much time and effort is required
to assure their success and enable as many people as possible to be involved in the programs that St. Francis offers. The
Involvement Awareness Committee has been established to successfully promote and recruit new volunteers by advertising the
many areas that are available to utilize the talents of our parishioners. This is a dedicated effort to recruit parishioners
to Stewardship. Not just financial support, but for talents that can be utilized to help others in our community. Recently,
“ministry minutes” were introduced whereby an effort is being made to recruit new volunteers and seeking to utilize
the talents of our parishioners. Each week a current member of a committee/group promotes the ministry from the pulpit.
Stewardship is the lifeblood of our parish. It educates our community
to the needs that exist. Our goal should be to inspire as many people as possible to be involved and to share the gifts that
we have been given.
3.0 St. Francis de Sales' Vision Statement
God calls us, the members of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church,
to be a welcoming, worshipping, caring community of faith, hope and love.
Through His Spirit, the Lord Jesus lives in us and reaches into
the world with His saving message and healing love.
4.1 Evangelization
To evangelize ourselves, our families, our Parish and local communities,
and our world.
GOALS:
- Foster among parishioners a deeper faith commitment, making the church
community a more central part of their lives.
- Review the feasibility of promoting small faith-sharing groups within
the larger parish community whose members would gather frequently for spiritual and social activities and support one another
(similar to the Archdiocesan Renew Program).
- Develop more non-liturgical large group activities focused on spiritual
development (e.g., the Parish Mission)
- Continue community-building social gatherings designed to attract
large segments of the community to play and celebrate together (e.g., the Parish picnic)
- Continue to publish the Reflection on the worship aid
- Share, proactively, our faith and invite into our community new parishioners
and the unchurched.
- Continue the Pastor’s “Welcome Breakfast” and consider
other social opportunities to welcome and invite new parishioners to deeper participation in parish life.
- Invite unchurched, inactive and alienated Catholics to a “Welcome
Back” evening
- Develop ministries and services designed to reach young adults (married
and unmarried) who currently appear to be underrepresented among the active participants in the Parish community.
- Continue to support the development of an active youth ministry.
- Maintain and enhance Parish web site.
- Expand multi-cultural outreach activities.
- Plan a certain number of spiritual and social activities that are
designed to call people of all cultures to participate.
- Invite youth members of the Hispanic community to participate in
the youth ministry.
4.2 Liturgy
To celebrate our faith with joy through vibrant and prayerful worship.
GOALS:
- Continue to strive for full and active participation by Presiders,
Liturgical Ministers, and Assembly in Song, Prayer, and Posture
- Increase awareness of the people through liturgical education
- Increase the number of people who actively participate in our liturgies.
- Find meaningful ways to increase the participation of youth and young
adults in worship.
- Meet in a better way the differing liturgical needs in our community
by approaching various parish groups to open a dialog.
- Explore new ways to use parish liturgies to uplift and inspire the
community.
- Continue to evaluate periodically to assure there is an appropriate
balancing of praise, worship, reflection, and contemplation in the liturgies we offer.
- Assure that we meet the needs of our parish by continuing to vary
the style of liturgy offered at the different Masses and during special seasons of the liturgical year
- Remain aware of the differing needs of all in our community, being
constantly aware of the different demographics in our parish.
4.3 Faith Formation (Education)
To become more fully formed in the truths of the gospel and in living
the gospel message.
GOALS:
- Support and increase participation in the evolving youth group for
middle and high-school-aged parishioners by providing activities that are viewed as a worthy adventure.
- Utilize creative and visible means of publicizing the youth group
and attracting youth to future programs and activities.
- Challenge students to make a deeper faith commitment as they receive
the sacraments (e.g., the Confirmation Program).
- Build youth leadership at St. Francis de Sales by encouraging parish
youth to participate in Archdiocesan youth leadership programs like Leadership and Ministry by Peers (LAMP), Cornerstone and
High School Leadership Institute (High-LI).
- Continue providing programs that challenge elementary, middle, and
high school children and their families to grow in knowledge of their faith and commit themselves more fully in parish life.
- Encourage weekly participation in Mass, encouraging families to partner
with the religious education program.
- Offer a variety of programs as a part of religious education (e.g.,
vacation bible school, Sunday nursery school).
- Provide programs that foster leadership, including a process for
certification of religious education teachers and aids and another for parents in our Parish community to assist in the development
of a variety of parenting skills and non-violent conflict resolution skills.
- Provide adult members of the community a variety of activities, opportunities,
experiences, and resources to develop their faith.
- Continue the development of a comprehensive adult initiation process.
- Continue the formation of small faith-sharing groups within the parish
and support existing faith sharing groups.
- Enable adults to understand more about their faith by providing a
variety of instructional and formational opportunities.
- Continue the formation of Catholic Christian values and practices
through the Baptism Preparation and Marriage Preparation classes.
- Have an active youth ministry that continues to grow under the guidance
of the youth minister who maintains a busy calendar of events.
- Draw youth into participation in the work of the St. Francis de Sales
parish by providing opportunities for youth to use their gifts and to express their faith through meaningful roles.
4.4 Service
To reach out in love and service to those in need.
GOALS:
- Foster awareness within our Christian Community of the need for continued
spiritual and financial support for our mission of charity and service.
- Provide opportunities for our youth to become involved in established
parish service organizations such as Let’s Do Lunch (for the homeless), Our Daily Bread, St. Vincent de Paul Society,
the Homeless Shelter, nursing homes, Sharing Table, and the Haitian Project etc.
- Continue assistance to groups such as the Legislative Education Group
that lobby for legislation to foster social justice and help for the poor.
4.5 Stewardship
To develop the material, financial and human resources of the Church
and to manage them as faithful stewards.
GOALS:
- Educate the Parish concerning the importance of stewardship in the
life of our community.
- Assign a subcommittee of the Development Committee with the responsibility
of finding new and different ways to focus parishioners on the need for stewardship.
- Address stewardship in homilies several times a year.
- Include articles and columns regarding stewardship in the bulletin
and other media (including the Parish website).
- Implement a program to call parishioners to discern their own unique
gifts and God’s call for them as members of our community.
- Hold a time and talent fair at least annually. Ensure timely and
appropriate response to prospective “time and talent” volunteers through an expanded Parish Volunteer coordination
ministry.
- Collect and use available information in the Parish database to make
direct invitations to parishioners to share their time and talent.
- Increase parishioners’ awareness of the capital needs of the
Parish.
- Ensure that the community is regularly apprised of the Development
Committee’s goals and activities.
- Develop a total plan for the upkeep and improvement of our property
and all buildings and to establish a capital budget to meet these needs.
- Inform the parish of the need for and the status of upgrades or renovations
to parish buildings on a regular basis.
- Publish in depth descriptions of ministries’ work and volunteer
needs in the bulletin.
- Conduct an ongoing talent search to recruit and develop volunteers
to maintain and improve current ministries.
- Attain an accurate census of parishioners that could be sorted by
their talents or interests to be contacted for various functions.
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