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Details of Five Year Plan
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PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION
One: Vision Statement
At present we have no vision statement. But Scripture warns us that without vision people perish. A Vision Statement requires that it be forged through the fire of thought and prayer. Such a statement must reflect our collective aspirations and focus on the place we want to reach.
Within the next year, we will articulate our Vision Statement. our goal is to develop it as parish and do so in a collaborative e manner. The statement will be prominently displayed.
Two: Mission Statement
We don't have a Mission Statement either. A Mission Statement outlines in broad strokes the means that we will use to flesh out our vision.
We will, again involving the whole parish, develop a Mission Statement which will help us to flesh out in practical ways how to fulfill our Vision Statement. The statement will be prominently displayed.
Three: Liturgical Life
There is a deep faith life in our Parish. People attend Church in greater numbers percentage-wise than in many parts of the country. Our people retain an acute sense of obligation, in the good sense of the word, to worship on the Sabbath and make it holy. Our people attend Mass with a great deal of reverence.
The church in its Vatican II document on the liturgy teaches quite clearly that the celebration of the Eucharist is the summit of all Church activity from which all her power flows. And furthermore, that we must strive to have the full, active and conscious participation of all those present.
As a result of these teachings, there have been massive changes in the Liturgical Life of our parish since Vatican II. Lay persons now are Greeters, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, joing the traditional ministries of Music, Altar Servers and Ushers.
Those involved have a good grasp of the importance of their individual ministries. We want to continue improving by:
1) Helping our people have a clearer understanding of the communal nature of our Eucharistic Celebrations. For the longest time, due to historical circumstances, people came to Church seeing the Mass first of all as a private devotion, as opposed to a gathering of the People of God. Hence, the emphasis was on quiet recollection undisturbed by singing or other "distractions."
2) Having a growing number of people singing at all Masses. Silent Masses are no longer the norm for Masses. But singing its still seen by many as something that is done by a choir and that we are meant to sit back and listen like someone attending a symphony as opposed to the work that we are called to do as the People of God. The word "Liturgy" itself means the "Work of the People." Singing far from being a distraction, is as St. Ambrose tells us "Praying Twice."
3) (Pg 4)