parish pastoral council presentation

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St. Monica, BerwynParish Pastoral Council

+Goals:

Emphasize the importance of Ongoing Pastoral Planning (OPP).

Highlight the goal of OPP towards individual / communal renewal.

Better understand laity’s roles: As dreamers (creating vision for future vitality of the

parish) As planners (addressing present needs).

+Goals: Review elements of OPP

Prayer, Discernment, Decisions Communication

Encourage participants to develop a process of moving from parish plan to implementation.

Identify: Who “implementers” might be. How to best accomplish this hand off of the plan.

Review theological principles guiding collaboration between clergy and laity.

+Topics St. Monica, Berwyn – Background & Transition

What we’ve done well Where we have struggled

Getting started Selection

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Presentation available at:www.frzlock.com

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St. Monica, BerwynBackground and Transition

+ Transition

+Transition

People wanted input. People wanted a say. At St. Monica, the info-in “net” is thrown quite

widely, which is unique in opinion of well-traveled parishioners.

Many ideas & opinions are presented from the various age groups and constituents. This is a good thing.

Many ideas or opinions are presented from the various age groups and constituents. This is a bad thing.

+Transition

Members saw other members: Mass and at Adoration Keeping Christ at the center Keeping grounded in relationship with God Keeping focus united. 

Efforts to develop parish-wide Mission and Vision: Have PPC align its charter. Keep PPC focused. 

Council’s desire to regularly / systematically evaluate its own effectiveness Believe that responsibilities extend beyond monthly meeting.

+Transition Pastor came in and listened:

What works? What doesn't? Why? What are we doing that we need to keep doing, stop doing, do

differently?

“Theme” was established. Not quite “Vision” or “Mission” General direction with concrete steps Got parish moving in the same general - and positive - direction

Each group should share a similar – and singular parish vision Drafting charters was painful but necessary Small steps toward a singular purpose. 

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Based on what was heard, Pastor took heed of spoken priority needs for youth and outreach and added infrastructure.

“Big Things:” Calculated risks taken Resources allocated which created space and a plan for growth

to occur.   Family / Youth Minister hired Mission work performed Pastoral outreach to the poor (CRS/Helping Hands) Comprehensive infrastructure “Master Plan” developed

Transition

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“Small Things:”

Building a welcoming atmosphere Emphasis on reaching out to others at Mass, Unifying parish prayers and intentions, Focus on strong homilies and liturgy, Palpable quality of liturgy renewed energy evident at

Mass, Book recommendations, Adult formation seminars and workshops, Music opportunities.

Transition

+Summary (From a PPC Member) ...

The topics discussed at PPC meetings: Based on parish priorities Tried to be forward looking Minimal time spent reporting on the past.

Exceptions: Offer feedback on the pastoral experience of people in the

pews.  Tried to give sense of what we were seeing & hearing from

others.

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What We’ve Done Well:

+What We’ve Done Well:

Keeping a place for Jesus at our meeting table,

Open two-way communication between Pastor and Council (no surprises for anyone)

Honest reflection of parish needs and concerns. 

+What We’ve Done Well: Good integration with Parish Finance Council. Starting to act as coordinator in support of

Parish ministries. Parish Staff:

Reacted well to issues and suggestions. Heard that PPC was there for them as well. PPC initiated actions to support staff.

+What We’ve Done Well:

Developed “charter” for PPC Aligned with Father's KRAs and Parish Vision / Mission

Supported “chartering process” for all parish ministries Revisited PPC application process:

Ensure best and most qualified members. 

Those appointed have: Heartfelt concern and commitment to the Church. Enthusiasm for the work to be done. A vision for the future. Serious, special commitment – a “covenant with God.”

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Where We Have Struggled

+Where We Have Struggled Ideas-to-actions:

Takes a while to initiate actions coming out of an idea. 

Individual PPC members “owning” certain activities

Not enough focus on spirituality during meetings: Should this be a part of our meetings? In what form? How long? When during meeting?

+Where We Have Struggled Need to assess goals and achievements regularly:

What was accomplished, What was not accomplished, What we need to improve on to achieve parish goals. 

Especially important during PPC member transitions: Provide sense of perspective. Accomplishments are noted. Expectations are clear. Everyone on same page Work flow is maintained. Thus, transition should be smoother. 

+Where We Have Struggled

Need to be more accountable as a group,

Ideas sent through email or put out to the members for discussion

Most say 'that sounds good’ but nothing happens.

Need to develop ways to challenge each other. How to offer constructive criticism. Further develop plans vs. praise each other for

having a good idea. 

+Where We Have Struggled Need to hold each other accountable as individuals.

Personal ownership of at least one project/responsibility. Spiritual assignments (reading, intentional prayer commitment) Not only how are “we,” but how am “I” providing maximum

benefit to the parishioners

Achieving balance between approval versus update.  Sometimes information regarding events/plans from parish

staff seems to come as an “update” rather than a chance for a dialogue and subsequent decision making opportunity. 

What is council's responsibility versus Parish Staff domain: Feels like decisions are made and then we are just informed. Is this the way it is supposed to be?

+ Where We Have Struggled Getting communications in

sync between PPC, PFC, ministries and parish as a whole

Never found right balance between the “advisory role” to the pastor

Never settled practical challenges of who is doing what in other volunteer roles. 

Progress made on how best to involve Parish Staff in pastoral council ... ...but never got to an ideal for

either staff or councils.

Bulletin Board Banners Parish Bulletin Bulletin Inserts Pulpit Announcements Web Sites (Parish & Pastor’s) Twitter (Parish & Pastor’s) FaceBook (Parish & Pastor’s) FlockNote Constant-Contact

+ Preview of Coming

Attractions ! St. Anthony of Padua, Ambler Pastoral “Council” as more of the “think tank.” Parish “Commissions” who do

implementation. Each PPC member on one of the

“Commissions.”

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Getting Started

+Summary ...

St. Monica's is in significantly different place vs. 6 years ago

Different place even compared to 2 years ago:

Articulation of the big ideas Implementation of small steps. Still currently a work in progress.....

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+Discernment Holy Hour for PPC On parish website:

Role requirements were published. One page application where people could list gifts, experiences, talents

and why they felt called to serve on Pastoral or Finance Council.   

A month of parish prayer to discern leaders.

Parish Holy Hour during Holy Week: During the singing of the Litany of the Saints, anyone who felt called to

leadership came and placed one page application in designated place.

After Holy Hour, Pastor stayed for a second Holy Hour and prayed over all the applications and discerned who would be most helpful to him and the parish. 

Process also identified much new talent that had not been previously active, known or recognized.

Still gave Pastor the final say on who would be most helpful and allowed him to get the mix of gifts he needed.

+Resources

Parish Pastoral Council 2014 CharterParish Pastoral Council 2015 Charter

St. Monica Vision and Mission (2014)St. Monica Vision and Mission (2015)

Parish and Parishioner Goals (2014)

+( Click on Book for Hyperlink )

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http://amazingparish.org

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St. Monica, Berwyn Parish Pastoral Council

End of Presentation