Church

1.3 Church – Vision Impact for Principle

August 16, 2023 by Pathway Admin

A vision statement is a short aspirational statement of direction for your Family of Parishes — the where we are going, and why we do what we do to get there.

Once a vision statement has been drafted, it is important to validate that the vision statement provides aspirational direction and inspiration to all components of a vital parish. The Beacons of Light principles and vision points concisely define parish vitality. Thus, comparing your draft vision statement with the principles provides a sounding board to confirm the appropriateness of the proposed vision statement. The Principle Vision Impact Form is used during the Family Visioning Process and allows teams of Family staff and lay leadership to confirm your draft vision statement and understand what changes will need to come about as your Family begins to live out the vision.

You can find the Family Visioning Process and Principle Vision Impact form in the Leadership 1.2 Materials.

2.2 Create Prayer and Discernment Opportunities for Leaders and Parishioners

August 16, 2023 by Pathway Admin

Discernment is unlike any decision-making process used in business or secular organizations. Discerning how you will proceed as individuals or within your faith communities is a process of prayerful listening to and trusting in the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, careful study of Church documents and appreciation for the lived experience of parishioners and the history of your parishes, all while dreaming boldly and holding in front of yourselves a compelling vision for the future.

“Increase Family prayer and discernment opportunities focused on a shared future.” (Church Phase 2 milestone)

The more deeply your Family of Parishes is rooted in prayer, shares a common understanding of the vision of the Church and of your Family and has opportunities to actively contribute to bringing your vision to life, the more likely your Family will grow in communion with Christ and one another.

2.3 Celebrate Parish Patrons

August 16, 2023 by Pathway Admin

“Each of us is called to actively participate as a member of a parish, the Universal Church and our local Church, led by our archbishop. Parishes continually deepen the bonds of communion with other parishes.” (Church principle)

As one Church, you need to build upon the ecclesial cultural traditions of the parishes that make up your Family of Parishes and indeed the archdiocese. Given that celebrating the Eucharist is the “source and summit” of Catholic life, what better way to continue to forge a common identity across your Family of Parishes than to build on the sacramental celebrations of the patrons of each parish. Celebrating each patronal feast day in each and every one of the parishes within your Family of Parishes reinforces the unity of the communion of saints, as well as the unity of your Family.

A vision point for the Church principle is Local & Universal:

“People come to understand the nature of the parish as the people within a given territory and therefore grow in understanding themselves as members of Christ’s Body, the Church.”

To reinforce this, celebrate well on feast days specific to the entire archdiocese, such as the feast of St. Francis de Sales (patron of the archdiocese) or St. Robert Bellarmine (the archdiocese’s secondary patron), or to the whole church, such as the feast of the Chair of St. Peter or the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica.

Of course, there are other possible activities to reinforce the common liturgical bond within your Family of Parishes:

Hold open house gatherings in each parish with displays that tell the story of the parish, tours of the parish campus and food (especially of the ethnic groups in the parish).
Include the history of each parish on your Family website (and on each parish’s website).
Create displays of historical artifacts from each parish.

3.1 Begin Discernment of Canonical Mergers

August 16, 2023 by Pathway Admin

One of the significant goals of Beacons of Light is that Families of Parishes will be unified as one canonical parish by June 30, 2027. There are many aspects involved in coming together as a spiritual and practical community of faith pointed toward the mission of Jesus Christ and the Church.

“This is the purpose of Beacons of Light, to enable the vital proclamation of the Gospel for the third century of our own archdiocese. The infrastructure and schedules that were essential to the work of the local Church in decades past may no longer best serve the mission today. Therefore, under the leadership of the pastor, each Family of Parishes will engage in intentional pastoral planning, rooted in sincere prayer and open collaboration, to discern the best configuration of its collective resources to pursue the evangelizing mission of the Church. This is not a project for the priest and parish leaders only, but for the entire parish community, and it will not come to fruition overnight. Patience and fortitude will be essential.” (Letter to the Faithful, January 2023)

As your Family leaders begin the discernment process of unifying parishes within your Family as one canonical parish, it is important that all involved understand the many factors and considerations that must be addressed.

0.2 Build and Assess Signs of Family Identity and Engagement

August 16, 2023 by Pathway Admin

Coming together as a community of faith takes time and relies on intentional processes that bring people into greater union with Christ and one another. There are many things your Family leaders can do to increase your parishioners’ sense of their identities as members of your Family rather than solely as members of their respective parishes. Engaging people within your Family as disciples who are journeying together creates a deep sense of belonging that leads to fuller participation in Mass and the sacraments, ministry, giving and evangelization, as members share their faith, time and resources.

Your Family Leadership Team, Pathway Team and pastoral council(s) share in leadership as each group seeks ways to unify parishioners with one another, creating more robust engagement and helping people identify with your Family of Parishes as well as their own parishes.

To-do: Build and assess signs of Family identity and engagement.

0.3 Discern Future State of Pathway Planning Team

August 16, 2023 by Pathway Admin

In the early months of Beacons of Light, most Families of Parishes created a Pathway Team, sometimes called a Transition Team or Planning Team. Often, staff and parishioner representatives from each parish within a Family of Parishes comprised that team. They were tasked with advising the pastor about early steps to bring the people of the parishes together, seeking opportunities for prayer, social time and early steps toward building community in the Family. As Family Leadership Teams are now formed in many Families and staff and councils are more often focusing on the Family of Parishes (not a single parish within the Family), the question arises whether the Pathway Team is still necessary or advisable. Entering into Phase 2 and focusing on vision is an appropriate time to discern the future state of the Pathway Planning Team, where one exists.

“By September 1, 2022, every Family of Parishes must form a Planning Team, led by the pastor, to coordinate pastoral planning geared toward the unification of the Family by June 30, 2027.” (Beacons Parameter 3)

Questions to Consider:

Does your Family of Parishes have a Pathway Planning Team?
- If yes, what has been its role and contribution to date?
Has a Family Leadership Team (FLT) been identified?
- If yes, how has its role been delineated from the Pathway Team?
Have you established a unified Family Pastoral Council, or do your parish pastoral councils meet together, at least occasionally?
- If yes, how has its role been delineated from the Pathway Team?
Are there areas of pastoral life that could be addressed by the Pathway Team that are not within the purview of the FLT or unified Family Pastoral Council, for example, initiatives to build community, enhance common prayer or social time, connect parishioners with one another, identify potential parishioners for new or expanded ministries, etc.?

If your Pathway Team continues, clearly identify its roles and responsibilities. Consider presenting the team at the end of Mass, offering time after Mass for parishioners to share ideas and ensure the team is included in your Family’s website.

Parish Vitality Report | Fall 2023 Available Now!

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