Renew and Improve

A few weeks ago, Friar Luis and I went on a working retreat to create a new Pastoral Plan for the parish. We worked diligently keeping the people of the parish in mind in all our deliberations and discernment. A few weeks ago, Friar Luis and I went on a working retreat to create a new Pastoral Plan for the parish. We worked diligently keeping the people of the parish in mind in all our deliberations and discernment. I believe that the new Pastoral Plan will enhance the quality of our faith programs, the liturgical life of the Parish, the faith formation of our children, adults and parish groups, the internal office procedures, and all parish policies in general. We left no stone unturned, and we hope that it will bear much fruit in our parish family.
In reality, we are organizing the total work and ministry of the parish. As we continue to grow, we need such organization.
This will also entail that some of the way we have done things in the past, will change. We need to keep evolving in order to better respond to the needs of the community. It is my hope that everyone will cooperate.
So, let me share with you some of the preliminary efforts that Friar Luis and I will undertake:
1. We will visit all parish groups and meet with their leadership in order to bring about a renewed spirit. We will discuss the Pastoral Plan with each group.
2. We will visit all the faith formation classes and meet with the catechists. We will assess our catechetical programs and present a clear direction of what is to be taught in the faith formation classes, in collaboration with the Director of Faith Formation and all catechists.
3. We will create new parish groups/ministries.
4. The liturgical life of the parish community will be enhanced through the creation of a Liturgy Committee, a more organized music ministry, bringing back a monthly children’s mass, incorporating more rituals at some of our Sunday Masses, and beautifying our church with new décor.
5. There will be new policies concerning Baptisms, First Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony, and Quinceañera celebrations. Being a registered parishioner is a must.
6. We will enhance the friendly and hospitable quality of our parish community by creating a Welcoming Committee and a Social Life Committee. It is absolutely important in the life of any community to have many occasions for everyone to have fun too.
7. We want to reach out and offer more opportunities for our Special Needs Children. So, we are going to create a ministry that reaches out to them and their families.
8. Our youth are a priority and we will continue to look for ways to offer them more opportunities and experiences in the parish. Friar Luis and I will meet with our teenagers and young adults and invite them to share their ideas and needs and wants. Together we will figure out a way to create new opportunities.
9. New and improved office organizational procedures will create better communication among everyone, all ministries, parish groups, and the parish office.
10. We will explore new ways of becoming more involved with the greater Chatham County Community, explore ways of
cooperation with other faiths/churches, and make our social outreach, especially to the poor and needy, more consistent.
Soon we will present the new Pastoral Plan to everyone. A renewal always brings challenges and new adventures. The Pastoral Council and the Finance Council will play important roles in our growth. Most of all, God is with us and we have nothing to fear.
May God bless us with a sense of adventure, boldness, and wisdom. May it all lead us to a more authentic experience of God among us all.
You are in my prayers and in my heart.
Peace
Friar Julio