Most Precious Blood, AngolaMost Precious Blood, Angola

In the Beginning…In the Beginning…

An Adventure in An Adventure in

Change ManagementChange Management

& Communication& Communication

Where we began…Where we began…

• Loss of parish school in 2007Loss of parish school in 2007

• Search for new parish identitySearch for new parish identity

• Basic, no-frills Sunday morning K-11 Basic, no-frills Sunday morning K-11 programprogram

• Seeds of a youth ministry programSeeds of a youth ministry program

• No intergenerational catechesisNo intergenerational catechesis

• Few basic faith-sharing opportunitiesFew basic faith-sharing opportunities

How we began…How we began…• We did a parish surveyWe did a parish survey

• We facilitated short retreat for We facilitated short retreat for Eucharistic Ministers (excitement Eucharistic Ministers (excitement & great feedback)& great feedback)

• We facilitated a short retreat for We facilitated a short retreat for Lectors (more interest and more Lectors (more interest and more great feedback)great feedback)

• We planned an intergenerational We planned an intergenerational summer summer programprogram

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? Y N

Circle your preferences: Small discussion group Speaker/Seminar Series of classes Online Take-home Resources (books,

DVDs, MP3s, etc)Circle Preferred days:  M T W Th F S Sun Preferred times: Morning Afternoon

EveningI would like to learn more about (circle all that apply) The Bible Prayer Mass Catholic Teaching Annulments Parish Organizations

Liturgical Ministries Christian Environmental Concerns Youth 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#___________ Email__________________

at the …at the …

We danced…we sang…We danced…we sang…

Vacation Vacation Bible SchoolBible School

We set up our shops around the We set up our shops around the well…well…

We learned carpentryWe learned carpentry

pottery, basket weavingpottery, basket weaving

made our daily bread and spiced up our made our daily bread and spiced up our lives!lives!

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

And we played for five days and And we played for five days and nights!nights!

• We had dreidel games – We had dreidel games – the gambling was fierce!the gambling was fierce!

• We played games that We played games that Jesus may have playedJesus may have played

• Every day, someone made Every day, someone made a scene at the wella scene at the well

• We made new friends and We made new friends and ended as one big familyended as one big family

And in the Fall…And in the Fall…

• We recruited and commissioned catechistsWe recruited and commissioned catechists

• We expanded parish breakfastsWe expanded parish breakfasts

• The Upper Elementary group presented a parish The Upper Elementary group presented a parish Saints Chapel quiz as the November breakfast Saints Chapel quiz as the November breakfast activity. “Who are the saints in the chapel?”activity. “Who are the saints in the chapel?”

WeWe offered opportunities offered opportunities for sharing our faith…for sharing our faith…

• A retreat for catechists and A retreat for catechists and Formation Team membersFormation Team members

• A retreat for Rosary-Altar SocietyA retreat for Rosary-Altar Society

• A Lenten retreat for the whole parishA Lenten retreat for the whole parish

• A Sunday morning reflection groupA Sunday morning reflection group(The first three were well-received, the (The first three were well-received, the

fourth didn’t really get off the ground…)fourth didn’t really get off the ground…)

We communicated…We communicated…

• We explored ways to develop our websiteWe explored ways to develop our website

• We improved our Sunday bulletin – more We improved our Sunday bulletin – more pages, more pictures, informative articlespages, more pictures, informative articles

• We explained in words and actionsWe explained in words and actions

• We began our weekly Pennysaver adsWe began our weekly Pennysaver ads

• We realized we need some better signageWe realized we need some better signage(that’s coming soon!!)(that’s coming soon!!)

We changed our approach to We changed our approach to faith formation for youthfaith formation for youth

• We combined the We combined the high school students high school students into one groupinto one group

• We weren’t afraid to We weren’t afraid to get messyget messy

• We partied while We partied while collecting for collecting for charitiescharities

• We feed body, mind We feed body, mind and spiritand spirit

We began youth/young adult We began youth/young adult outreachoutreach

• Youth dancesYouth 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” opportunitiesSecret Service” opportunities

• Doubled our numbersDoubled our numbers

We sustained what we already We sustained what we already hadhad

• LRSS participation LRSS participation – numbers stable (average 50-60 each numbers stable (average 50-60 each

season)season)– fed other ministries (RCIA, catechists, et fed other ministries (RCIA, catechists, et

al.)al.)– Expanded into soup and studyExpanded into soup and study– Spun off new groupsSpun off new groups

•Sisters in ChristSisters in Christ

•Respect Life ministryRespect Life ministry

Related developmentsRelated developments

• Improved recordkeeping (and new Improved recordkeeping (and new volunteers to help us)volunteers to help us)

• Catechist training – more fully-certifiedCatechist training – more fully-certified

• Enhanced liturgyEnhanced liturgy– More family involvement through Youth More family involvement through Youth

MassMass– Cantor/Psalmist at regular Sunday liturgyCantor/Psalmist at regular Sunday liturgy

• New parish registrations every weekNew parish registrations every week

• Feedback from Pennysaver ads Feedback from Pennysaver ads – (“we never knew MPB was so busy..”)(“we never knew MPB was so busy..”)

And…And…

• Faith Formation numbers fairly steadyFaith Formation numbers fairly steady• Parents invited into Sunday AM Parents invited into Sunday AM

sessionssessions• Retention at 4Retention at 4thth grade improved grade improved• Children and youth bring friendsChildren and youth bring friends• High school attendance increasedHigh school attendance increased• Parish breakfast participation Parish breakfast participation • May crowning participation May crowning participation

intergenerationalintergenerational

New traditions formingNew traditions forming

• Memorial Day Mass at the cemeteryMemorial Day Mass at the cemetery

• Palm Sunday intergenerational processionPalm Sunday intergenerational procession

• Increased ecumenical activitiesIncreased ecumenical activities– Greater participation Women’s Day of PrayerGreater participation Women’s Day of Prayer– ““Chili Bowl”, youth games, 30-Hour FamineChili Bowl”, youth games, 30-Hour Famine– OGN Food Pantry 40-80 families served weeklyOGN Food Pantry 40-80 families served weekly

with half of volunteer team now from with half of volunteer team now from MPBMPB

• Increased emphasis on community serviceIncreased emphasis on community service

Not everything goes as Not everything goes as planned…planned…• Adult session planning fell through Adult session planning fell through

(illness)(illness)• Alternate adult “catechist” didn’t work outAlternate adult “catechist” didn’t work out• Just because they say they want it doesn’t Just because they say they want it doesn’t

mean they will come…mean they will come…• Sometimes you need to step back to get a Sometimes you need to step back to get a

clearer visionclearer vision• Lack of full-time/adequate staffingLack of full-time/adequate staffing• Very limited parish resourcesVery limited parish resources

– It’s hard to do more with lessIt’s hard to do more with less– Volunteers cannot do everythingVolunteers cannot do everything