January 2020

Congratulations your plan is submitted!! What happens next?

The next step in the planning process is approval of the plans by Bishop Kettler. Here are two documents that explain the next steps in detail. Download the step by step document. It is a sequential process of the next steps. Download the flowchart. This document shows how the plans will be viewed from different groups simultaneously and who has responsibility along the way.

Take a closer look at your plan and ask this question: Who is responsible for each action? Begin to have the discussion, if you haven't already, on who is going to make sure each activity moves forward and it doesn't just stay on a piece of paper.

Here is a list of proposed goals, in order of the number of ACCs proposing them: Faith Formation (11), Communication (10), Community (10), Evangelization (9), Liturgy and Sacraments (7), Administration and Staffing (6), Youth Ministry (6), Stewardship (5), Young Adults (5), Hospitality (4), Leadership (4), Participation (3), Shared Ministries and Services (3), Catholic Education (1), Hispanic Ministry (1), Outreach/Service (1), RCIA (1), Vocations (1)

"Why have a pastoral plan?" "What value does a plan add?"

"We are doing fine without one. Why do we need to do this?"

"We haven't had to do this before, why do we have to now?"

You may have heard these or similar questions or thought them to yourself. Nobody wants to waste time and talent on a project that doesn't benefit them. A pastoral plan can help provide direction and purpose. It helps focus events, names priorities and activities toward a common goal. It provides stability during change through developing a common understanding and a sense of community. When plans are communicated well, others take ownership of the goals and drop personal agendas. The focus becomes what we can do to make our parishes even better than they already are. Parishioners may be drawn to new ideas which create energy and enthusiasm in helping better the Church. Sure, people come to events and seem to enjoy themselves, but what is the goal? By determining goals and ways to evaluate them, you can determine whether or not they have been met. Without a plan, intentional growth is difficult and dreams stay dreams.

Leadership Day Follow-Up

Empathy

On October 24, Doug Tooke talked to about 100 people on collaboration, delegation, and conflict management in parish life. Here is one of the videos that he used that day on empathy. Share your insights at your next ACC planning council meeting:

1) Share a time when you were in the dark hole. Did someone come to your aid? How did they respond? 

2) Are you willing to get into the dark hole with someone? What tools do you need to express empathy?

3) Have there been times when you would rather answer the need with "at least"? Were you able to change your approach toward the vulnerability of entering into relationship with that person?

Updates have been made to the Catholic population statistics on the planning webpage . For those Area Catholic Communities who have chosen a name, that has also been included. If your ACC is still working on a name, you may want to consult the planning webpage to see what has already been claimed. Our intent is to send parish profiles to all parish pastors by the end of the month. Contact us, if you are looking for specific numbers or statistics