Six Month Review and Future Goals: Parish Bulletin--1-18-15

           As I reflect on my first months as pastor, I am grateful for many gifts God has given our parishes.  I will share some of my highlights that focus on our mission and then provide a wish list for 2015.

I am excited about our focus on our basic mission to love God, love our neighbor, seek the lost and make disciples.  Mass attendance is up, as is our faith formation programs and school enrollment.  Our parish mission was a huge success and we have given out 1,000 books and CDs to promote our Catholic faith.  Coffee and donuts are back and are here to stay!  We continue to reach out to the elderly through Mass and prayer services at our nursing homes and assisted living facilities.  The poor continue to be served in a variety of ways.  Our Remembrance Mass was a powerful opportunity to those who continue to grieve loved ones. 

In short, I believe we are being faithful to Christ’s basic call at our parishes.

As we begin a new year, here is a basic wish list for 2015.  The following may also serve as some parish resolutions and provide opportunities for your assistance and service.  Here goes!

·      Increase daily and weekend Mass attendance and number of Confessions

·      Offer a 40 Hour devotional during Lent and a parish mission in Advent

·      Celebrate parish and parish organization milestones and feasts

·      Provide many exciting opportunities for our faith formation students to grow in the faith, both at home and throughout the Diocese.  This will include discerning God’s will for our faith formation team and the possibility of hiring someone this summer.  As Mary Morrisseau retired, we will need a long-term solution after this semester.

·      Add fifth grade to our school and reach 50 total students

·      Keep pace with our current UCA assessment.  In the past six months we covered nearly half of our 2014 assessment—thanks so much!  By year’s end I pray we can keep up with what we are asked to contribute to the diocese in the present.  Ideally we could also cover the past debt as well!

·      Firm up our vision for our building and grounds.  I am grateful for the men and women who have served on our buildings and grounds committee as they assess our needs, options and finances.

Establish a Pope Francis Committee that will help us serve the poor, homebound, ill and disenfranchised efficiently