Sample Projects
These samples are intended as illustrations to stimulate creativity for what is possible in your parish on the pathway to parish vitality. The illustrations include urban, suburban and rural parishes.
SUBURBAN SETTING - St. Suburban Parish
This parish is busy. It is sustained by a core of parishioners who run a great many events but who share a feeling that the parish is still losing ground. There is a parish school but school families demonstrate little interest in parish life. Collections are stagnant despite a recent stewardship campaign. The congregation is aging and leaders are tiring. Young families seem to attend intermittently at best and a quick survey of envelop usage confirms that young families do not seem to stay for very long. This concerns the pastor deeply.
After staff level meetings and consultation with the pastoral council, the pastor decides to ask all parish leaders to review programs and activities in light of their impact on young families. The pastor wants all interested leaders to become more responsive and engaging to young families. This is the starting point for St. Suburban Parish to revitalize the congregation by responding to young families as they enter the New Pathways project. During the first planning sessions the team creates the following plan for greater parish “response-ability”:
1. Survey the Parish - in general and local young families in particular through the school and related friendship associations ($80 for printing and postage)
2. Staff Vitality Retreat - to motivate, equip staff and foster ownership for this change process ($900 overnight stay in facility, materials, speaker)
3. Train Leaders of Organizations and Ministries (e.g. pastoral council, finance council, faith formation, liturgy, bereavement, marriage preparation, youth, social concerns) - about evangelization and how the parish can be more responsive in a three session mini-course ($400 for speaker stipends and refreshments).
4. Pastoral Planning - Each parish ministry or organization agrees to focus on strategies that will respond to younger adults and young families ($180 for materials and general expenses).
5. Program Implementation and Outcome Evaluations - Each parish ministry evaluates their current activities in light of the spiritual needs of less engaged audiences. They re-envision existing events, programs and activities as a points-of-contact for evangelization with younger Catholics (cf. Responsive Evangelization). The evaluation generates strategic recommendations for new activities, additional leadership formation, new organizational priorities and cooperative possibilities both within the parish and with neighboring churches ($6100 for professional “Back to Church” campaign, “Strong Catholic Families – Strong Catholic Youth” speaker stipends, materials, child-care expenses and refreshment costs).
6. Spiritual Renewal - The parish initiates seasonal retreats for the congregation to focus the congregation on its evangelizing purpose. Opportunities for practical spirituality, outreach and justice are encouraged. Parishioners are invited to participate in small faith sharing groups for Advent and Easter where opportunities to become more engaged in parish life are offered. These groups are scheduled conveniently and open to friends and visitors, and some specifically to younger adults and young families ($800 for materials and facilitator training).
7. Structural Reorganization – As the plan is implemented, the pastor, staff and pastoral council leaders meet to consider the structural implications of what is being implemented. Parish leaders identify where innovations have the greatest potential for impact. Leaders meet with focus groups and make appropriate recommendations to the parish regarding changes in parish policy, practice and structure. After appropriate consultation the pastor decides on which administrative, operational and cultural shifts to make in parish life.
8. Evaluation - Parish staff creates an evaluation group populated by representatives from all parish ministries ($340 staff planning retreat).
9. Resurvey the Parish and Young Families – Results are shared and responses evaluated.
Cost: $9800
Contact:
Office of Parish Life - Dennis Mahaney
795 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203
Phone: 716-847-5531
Fax: 716-847-2206
Department of Lifelong Faith Formation - Mary Beth Coates
795 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203
Phone: 716-847-5501
Fax: 716-847-5593