Table of Contents
Mission
Strategic
Plan – Education 2
Strategic
Plan – Evangelization 3
Strategic
Plan – Liturgy 4
Strategic
Plan – Service 5
Strategic
Plan – Stewardship 6
Strategic
Plan – Other 7
Parish
Council By-laws (marked up) 8
Mission Statement
Education
Goal:
To provide varied educational opportunities to our Parish children, youth/young adult, adult parishioners as well as to those on the Parish staff and those serving in ministries.
Rational:
Educational opportunities would allow for a better understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the foundation of our existence. Knowledge of our faith will enable us to better live and share our faith.
Action Steps:
- Develop plans for immediate/on-going education space. Address immediately the needs due to the loss of the use of the space in the Methodist church and the tentative use of Urbana Elementary - until a religious education building is in place.
- Recruit and retain volunteer catechists for all educational needs in various areas.
- Facilitate educational opportunities allowing for training of staff, ministries, groups and parishioners.
- Transfer the human sexuality portion of classes to a “take-home parent-directed” lesson plan. Suggest appropriate timing (i.e. maybe giving the 5th grader parents the materials when they are teaching the human sexuality in schools allowing for an opportunity to fortify the secular presentation with faith-based information.)
- Evaluate the sacramental preparation programs for changing needs as growth continues.
- Evaluate clustering opportunities with other churches/parishes to maximize resources.
- Plan/facilitate the long-term facilities needs for education.
Evangelization
Goal:
To be a welcoming and nurturing family of faith, by proclaiming the Gospel and sharing in an active faith with those in our community at large.
Rational:
Baptism calls us to share our faith and to serve God by serving those around us.
Action Steps:
Increase communications with current parish community in various ways (Website, letters, phones, etc.).
Create a sustained program of welcoming new parishioners, expanding beyond the initial registration. Develop systems for follow-up and contact through the first year.
Create an opportunity for those in our community to be able to ask and learn about the Catholic faith which could ultimately lead toward Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA).
Explore and develop ways to reach un-churched Catholics in our community through programs such as Disciples in Mission, special bulletins at Easter and Christmas, media and other outreach opportunities.
Create an atmosphere of acceptance and welcome and to find ways to include non-Catholic spouses, non-practicing Catholics and the unchurched in our parish community.
Host a parish mission and encourage other Catholic Churches to participate/support those efforts.
Make increased use of technology, enabling us to reach out to the community to bring awareness of church activities, opportunities and religious resources.
Foster better relations with the community at large (i.e. shared ecumenical services, open houses, music ministry concert series, media, youth programs, and other activities).
Liturgy
Goal:
To develop the worship and sacramental life of the parish so that all are nourished in faith and invited to full participation in sacrament and prayer. Through this, we put our Catholic faith into action.
Rational:
Jesus charged his disciples to carry forth his mission to be builders of God’s kingdom. The foundation of this mission is the celebration of the Eucharist.
Action Steps:
Redefine and provide structure for the Liturgy Committee and its subcommittee’s).
Recruit from and support members of our church to serve as liturgical ministers and develop new ministries as needed (i.e. Altar Guild and Sacristans).
Provide opportunities for sacramental celebrations at masses (baptisms, anointing’s, First Eucharist, and special blessings).
Provide for education within the Liturgy in regards to different aspects of our faith and church (sacraments, church traditions, vestments, church etiquette ).
Evaluate how we meet the liturgical needs of the youth (middle-school and high-school).
Charge the Liturgy Committee with evaluating and making recommendations to address issues such as length of services/communion with current staffing.
Charge Fr. Jicha with exploring options and making recommendations for sacramental staffing needs.
Address areas with populations of special needs to provide services in conjunction with other churches (i.e. liturgical, educational and other services)
Explore and define opportunities for the liturgical use of the Country Church.
Evaluate the music/instrumental balance of services.
Evaluate the functionality of the worship space (sanctuary, music, cantors, sacristy, etc.)
Develop and expand role of laity in the coordination of liturgical events, such as Holy Week and Christmas celebrations.
Service
Goal:
Called by faith to serve God’s people, we at St. Ignatius strive to meet that calling through various types of service.
Rational:
“Whatever you do for the least of my brothers and sisters, you have done for me.”
Action Steps:
Help parishioners understand that service is an integral part of our faith.
Develop on-going opportunities for participation in all ministries.
Evaluate and make necessary changes to our efforts with the special needs population.
Continue development of our Healthcare and Bereavement Ministries.
Evaluate the scope, needs and actions of our Social Concerns Ministry.
Encourage groups within our church to make social action a part of their goal/activity/mission.
Investigate opportunities for service to our parish, local communities and beyond.
Stewardship
Goal:
To create a sense of ownership of the parish by all members through the use and development of our God-given gifts of time, talent and treasury.
Rational:
God calls us through faith to use the gifts we have been given for the benefit of all. Much is expected from those to whom much has been given.
Action Steps:
Develop a greater awareness of the parish’s time, talent and treasury needs.
Support efforts to make sure that staffing is paid a just wage for services.
Achieve greater adherence to Archdiocese Policy in handling of money and Parish Assets.
Develop funding for contingency needs as it relates to unexpected expenses.
Create a Fundraising Sub-Committee of the Finance Committee for the purposes of balancing the budget and/or debt reduction.
Establish and support a Development Committee that would be responsible for devising a plan for paying down the current debt and plan for funding of capital improvement needs.
Examine alternatives to weekly second collections.
Other
Goal:
To create an environment that will support our mission as God’s people.
Rational:
With the right tools we can accomplish our goals and our parish mission.
Action Steps:
Ensure that the parish governing documents are relevant to the needs of our community at any point in time. Review and update the current By-Laws by November, 2003.
Develop strategies/procedures for succession planning for ministries and committees.
Provide greater awareness/clarity of organizational structures of the parish staff, committees, ministries, and other groups.
Define the functions/roles of ministries and groups and their leadership parameters.
To ensure that the parish’s technological capabilities keep in step with technological advancements.
To implement in a timely manner the Master Plan.
Recommendation – The Parish Council be comprised of 9 elected individuals. Three members voted in annually for a term of three years.
Recommendation – The establishment of the following standing committee’s; Justice & Mercy; Development; Vision; and a subcommittee under the Finance Committee for Fundraising.
St. Ignatius
of Loyola
Catholic Church
Parish Strategic Plan
Presented
June 2003
By the Parish Planning Sub-Committee
Rev. John Jicha
Chelle Davis
John Jaffee
Holly Looney
Sue Walters
