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On Pentecost Sunday of 2009, Father Jerry announced to the parish three priority goals that all parishioners and staff would be asked to help the parish achieve over the next five years. Having a pastoral plan such as this is important for a parish to insure that it grows in Christ, and that it is always looking ahead for new ways to accomplish its mission and maintain effective ministries in the ever-changing realities of our world.
Where did the plan come from? 
All parishioners were invited to attend a series of Listening Sessions in the Spring and Fall of 2008. In October 2008, we administered the Gallup Member Engagement Survey, which was completed by 1100 parishioners. Father Jerry then appointed a fourteen-member Visioning Team, which worked for four months to examine the input from the Listening Sessions and the Gallup survey. Three central needs/concerns emerged from the input: a need to encourage more parishioners to use their gifts and talents in the service of the parish; a need for significant outreach to the 80% of our registered parishioners who rarely or never engage in parish life; and a need to give greater recognition and support to those parishioners who are fully engaged in parish life.
The Three Goals
To keep us “on point,” these needs were formulated into three goals:
1. To provide opportunities for all parishioners to discover and live their strengths, and thereby engage more parishioners in service to the parish and community.
2. To motivate and equip engaged parishioners to reach out and invite others to become engaged.
3. To increase recognition and support of engaged parishioners.
It was Father Jerry’s idea to name the whole initiative Gifted, Engaged and Growing!
How will we achieve these goals?
The final task of the Visioning Team was to review, discuss and recommend some specific strategies to achieve the three goals over the next five years. Father Jerry accepted their strategic recommendations.
Goal #1 would be achieved by promoting the use of the StrengthsFinder™ assessment, and by helping parishioners connect their strengths with parish ministries through Strengths Groups and other activities, as well as by the re-introduction of periodic Ministry Fairs at the parish. (For information on how to take the Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment, click here.)
Goal #2 would be addressed with the formation of a new Welcome Ministry, and the implementation of the Awakening Faith program of catechesis and faith-sharing aimed at younger adults.
Goal #3 would be addressed by the formation of a Recognition Team and by developing more formation and training opportunities for those engaged in ministry.
How are we doing?
A Pastoral Plan Coordinating Committee was formed to begin implementing the plan by setting and working on specific objectives for the first year. As of August 2010, approximately 260 copies of Living Your Strengths have been distributed; and 50 people have participated in Strengths Workshops so far. A Welcome Ministry has been formed and is reaching out to newly-registered parishioners to invite them to become involved. We’ve begun monthly e-mailings to our non-churchgoing young families to let them know what’s going on. A recognition team has been formed to find ways to show our appreciation for the ministry done by our engaged parishioners, and to support them with better training and formation for ministry. Our plans for 2010-11 include continuing to promote the discovery of God-given gifts and talents through the StrengthsFinder, implementation of the Awakening Faith program as an outreach to younger adults, and the expansion of our Hospitality Sundays to include more intentional efforts at welcome and recognition at Masses.
Where is the plan going?
This plan has been designed to help insure that our parish has the commitments of time, talent and treasure it needs to continue to proclaim the Gospel in 2010 and beyond. Its success depends on the participation of ALL parishioners, according to our various strengths and abilities. How can you help??
For more information about the development of St. Bernard's Pastoral Plan, see the following PowerPoint presentations:
Development of a Five-Year Pastoral Plan
Gallup Member Engagement Survey
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