Realizing ‘A Communityof Missionary Disciples’A Tool for Implementation of the Pastoral Plan of the Diocese of Lexington

Cloud Photo: Eberhard Grossgasteiger/Design: Dcn. Skip Olson

DioceseofLexingtonPastoralPlanningProcess

1. ArticulateAreasofChallenge/Opportunity2. PrioritizeAreasofChallenge/Opportunity

1.ArticulateAreasofChallenge/Opportunity

ConsideranexaminationofeachofthefivemissionprioritiesandthegoalsforeachidentifiedinthePastoralPlan:Evangelization,SacramentalMinistry,Unity/Communion,FaithFormation,&Stewardship.

a)Foreachpriorityandgoal,identifyareasofchallengeorcrucifixion.Isthereatrophyinthis area?Havetherebeenobstacles(withintheparish,withinthelocalcommunity,etc.)to parish/deaneryeffortstoprogressinthearea?Arethereunderservedsegmentsofthe communitywithregardtothearea?

b)Next,identifyareasofopportunityforeachpriorityandgoal.Arethereuntappedtalentand resourcesintheparishordeanery?Isthereanopportunitytoexpandministryeffortsinagiven area?

4.Explorewhoelseneedstobeintheroom,i.e.partners

5.Outlinenextstepsandassign

responsibility

6.Reviewresults/progress

7.IdentifyanynewAreas

arisingfromtheresults

3.Describewhathas/isalreadybeen/beingdone&whatelsecould

bedone

2.PrioritizeAreasofChallenge/Opportunity

Reviewthedataandrankchallengesandopportunities.Considerthefollowing:

a)Whichitemshavethebiggestimpactontheparishanddeanery?

b)Onwhichitemscantheparish/deanerymakethebiggestimpact?

c)Basedontherankingofchallengesandopportunities,decidetheorderinwhichthe parish/deanerywilladdressthePastoralPlanpriorities.

d)Oncetheprioritywithitsaccompanyinggoalsisselectedasthefocusfortheyear,identify thetopchallengesandopportunitiestheparish/deanerywillconcentrateonfortheyear.3.Describewhat(has/is)already(been/being)doneandwhatelsecouldbedone

Examineeachprioritizedchallengeandopportunityandcompilealistofwhat(has/is)already(been/being)doneandofwhatelsecouldbedone.HowcantheChurchpracticeResurrectionintheareasofchallenge,crucifixionandopportunity?4.Explorewhoelseneedstobeintheroom,i.e.partnersinmission

Itiscriticalthataneffortbemadetoidentifythosepeopleand/orgroupsthatneedtobeincludedineffectivelyidentifyingallthatcanbedoneforagivenchallengeoropportunity.Whatpartners,insights,perspectivesareneededtohelptheparish/deaneryseethefullpictureand/orrespondmostfully?

5.Outlinenextstepsandassignresponsibility

Theoldadage,“Planyourworkandworkyourplan,”applieshere.Clearnextstepsmustbeoutlinedandresponsibilitymustbeassignedforeachnextstepwithatimeframeforcompletioniftheparish/deanerypastoralplanningistobearfruit.

6.Reviewresults/progress

Theplanningprocessmustbeactivelymanaged.Thismeansfollow-upandongoingmonitoring/evaluationofpastoralplanningefforts.Wereassignedstepscompleted?Ifnot,whynot?Ifanevent,program,ortrainingwasanextstep,howmanypeopleattendedand/ortrained?Whilenumbersarenotthesoleindicatorofthesuccessofaninitiative,itisanimportantdatapoint.Whatwentwellandwhatcouldbeimproved?Afterthereview,adjustmentstostrategyandinitiativesshouldbemadeaswarranted.

7.Identifyanynewareasofchallenge/opportunityarisingfromthereviewofresults/progress

Asaparish/deaneryworksaplan,newareasofchallengeandopportunitymayarise.Theseshouldbeidentifiedandtheplanningprocessshouldberepeatedforthosechallenges/opportunitieslabeledapriority.

PlanningProcessExample(Stage1-4):In2017,theOfficeforHispanicMinistryadoptedthisplanningprocesstoclarifyandorganizeitseffortstomoveHispanicMinistryforwardproactively.Whatfollowsistheresultofthefirstmeetingemployingtheplanningprocess:

ArticulateAreasofCrucifixion

• ViolationsofHumanDignity(inareasofwork,health,family,andeducation)• CruelEnforcementofImmigrationLaw• SuppressionoftheSpiritualExpressionoftheHispanicCommunitybyParishLeadership• DeprivationofSacramentsandtheMassinSpanish• ThreatstotheDomesticChurch(alcoholism,domesticabuse,poverty,gangactivity)• Imprisonment

ArticulateAreasofChallenge

• Educationlevelofthecommunityislow• Identifyingandempoweringleadershipwithinthecommunity• Balanceinpastoralleadershipratherthantwoextremesofdominatingorahands-offapproach• Ministrytoyouthandyoungadult• Prisonministry• EnrollmentinCatholicschools• Massscheduling(toooftenMassscheduledatatimethatconflictswithworkschedules)• AccesstotheSacraments,sacramentalpreparation,andtheMass• Accesstosocialservices• Twoparishesmentalityespeciallyintermsofresourceallocation• Ministrytotheelderlyandthosewithspecialneeds• Ministrytohouseholds/families/domesticchurch• Communityorganizing(difficultbecauseoffear)

PrioritizeAreasofChallenge/Crucifixion#1Priority=ExaminingtheAreaof“CruelEnforcementofImmigrationLaw”Whathasbeenourresponse?

• PartnershipwithGlobalLexo ThishasledtotheBishopissuinginpartnershipwithotherreligiousleadersajoint

publicstatementando TheBishop’sappearanceanddeliveranceofareportatameetingoftheLexington

FayetteUrbanCountyGovernmentonimmigration(3/16/2017)• Bishop’sPastoralMessage(onwww.cdlex.organdinCrossRoads)• KnowYourRights

o PresentationsatMaryQueenoftheHolyRosary(approx.attendancewas600)o PresentationsatDiscipulosMisioneroson3/11/2017o Emailblastwithresourcesforparishestodistributetothecommunityo KnowYourRightsbusinesscardsinEnglishandSpanish(2000distributedtoparishes)

o Currently,compilinglistofattorneysfordistribution• UpcomingeventinpartnershipwithMaxwellStreetLegalClinictoassistthecommunitywith

PowerofAttorneypaperwork• MQHRhascompiledalistofparishionersofferingassistancetofamiliesnegativelyimpactedby

thecruelenforcementofimmigrationlaw• AttendanceatapressconferenceforimmigrationinFrankfort,KYattheCapitol• ProvidedassistancetoaparishionerinBereanegativelyimpactedbyenforcement

Whatelsedoweneedtodo?HowcanwepracticeResurrectioninthisarea?

• Collectfundstohelpfamilieswithlegalexpenses• Identifyprobonoattorneys• Addresshowwecanempowerthecommunityduringthistimeofstressandfear• Offeropportunitiesforthecommunitytosharetheirheartandforustolisten• Constructnetworkofsupportgroups• Developeffectiveinternalcommunicationnetwork• DOCUMENTthestories,experiences,events

Whoelseneedstobeintheroom?

• MaxwellStreetLegalClinic• KentuckyRefugeeMinistry• GlobalLex• VillageBranchLibrarian• CatholicCharities• DiocesanPeace&JusticeOffice• LayLeadershipfromwithinthecommunity• LawEnforcement

Atthispoint,severalnextstepswereoutlinedandassignedtoparticipantsinthemeeting.Ateachsubsequentmeeting,timewasallottedtoreviewresults/progressandtodiscussanynewareasthathadarose.Thefruitofthisprocesshavebeensubstantial.FromparishleveleducationsessionsandtheestablishmentofacommunitysupportcoalitiontotwoannualvisitsbyboththeMexicanandGuatemalanConsulatesonaweekendwithadditionalhealth,financial,andlegalservicesofferedbynumerousorganizationsthroughthecoordinationoftheOfficeforHispanicMinistry(amodeltheMexicanConsulatewouldliketoseeadoptednationally).

OpportunitieswerealsodiscussedatalatermeetingandresultedinthelaunchingofaLayLeadershipFormationprograminSpanish.ThisprogramisacollaborativeeffortbetweentheOfficeforReligiousEducation,theOfficeforHispanicMinistry,andtheMcGrathInstituteforChurchLifeattheUniversityofNotreDame.Theprogramisupandrunningandhasbeenasuccesssofar.