2. +
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).
3. +
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.
4. +
Topics
St. Monica, Berwyn – Background & Transition
What we’ve done well
Where we have struggled
Getting started
Selection
8. +
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.
9. +
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.
10. +
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.
11. +
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
12. +
“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
13. +
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.
15. +
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.
16. +
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.
17. +
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.”
19. +
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?
20. +
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.
21. +
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.
22. +
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?
23. + 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
24. +
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.”
26. +
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.....
28. +
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.
29. +
Resources
Parish Pastoral Council 2014 Charter
Parish Pastoral Council 2015 Charter
St. Monica Vision and Mission (2014)
St. Monica Vision and Mission (2015)
Parish and Parishioner Goals (2014)
