seeing the forest for the trees the parish pastoral council as a visioning and planning leadership...
TRANSCRIPT
Seeing the ForestFor the Trees
The Parish Pastoral Council as a Visioning and Planning
Leadership Body
Mary Ann Gubish, D.Min. Presenter
Novus Habitus Mentis From reacting to the present to creating the
future. From focusing on things, programs,
committees to seeing the inter-relationships. From viewing a static snapshot to reflecting
on patterns of change and what they mean. From seeing people as hapless reactors to
seeing them as active participants in shaping their reality.
Everything Interrelates Reality is made up
of circles of influence, we too often see straight lines.
We need to use language of interrelationship, otherwise we speak fragmented views.
LUMEN GENTIUM 8The one mediator Christ, established and ever sustains here on earth his holy Church, the communion of faith, hope and charity as a visible organization.
The 1985 Synod of Bishops proclaimed the ECCLESIOLOGY OF COMMUNION as the central and fundamental idea of the Vatican II documents.
Pope Benedict XVI“It is in the concept of communion that
theology in our own day has found the key for approaching the mystery of the Church…a Sacrament of intimate union with God and of the unity of the whole human race.”
Dec. 12, 2007General Audience
A WAY OF BEING The Church as communio is a way of existence, a
way of being. As a baptized member we take on God’s way of
being which is a way of relationship with the world, with other people, with God. John D. Zizioulas
Being as Communion
A COMMUNION OF COMMUNIONS
Communio is a reciprocal religious relationship to be
safeguarded at all costs!
We Are All In This Together
The Church is an event of communion, and that is why it cannot be realized as the achievement of an individual.
SUNDAY EUCHARIST Communio is made most visible at
Eucharist, the most intensive event for the Church.
Eucharist celebrates who we are: the Body of Christ…a Holy Communion.
Eucharist gives us a taste of eternal life as love and communion.
Whoever enters into communion with the
Lord…
is expected to bear fruit!The Amen of the liturgy makes demands beyond the Kiss of
Peace!
COMMUNION GIVES RISE TO MISSION
The Church is missionary by her very nature. It is not that the Church has a Mission but the Mission has a Church!
Communion and mission are inseparably connected.Where communion is weakened, mission suffers. John Paul II
5 CORE CONCEPTS
MISSION CONSENSUS PLAN OVERSIGHT SPIRITUAL FORMATION
MISSION= Why We Exist
unchanging glue that holds us together leaders die, programs become obsolete we grow, decentralize, expand, merge, collaborate MISSION endures
Getting through Change = Knowing Our Mission
Only organizations with a clear focus will make it through a period of change!
JESUS’ MISSION STATEMENT
The spirit of the Lord is upon me…
To bring glad tidings to the poor
To proclaim liberty to captives
Recovery of sight to the blind
To let the oppressed go free…
Lk.4:16-21
MISSION QUESTIONS
Why are we here? Why is it important that we
continue to exist? Why would anyone want to
become a part of us?
WHAT MAKES US DISTINCTIVE?
Who are our people? What do they hunger for? What are the issues? What are the “signs of the times?
Ministry of Pastoral Councils
have a gut level belief in the mission
can articulate the mission
are exemplars of the mission
inspire others because of belief in the mission
BE VIGILANT ABOUT MISSION
VOTING CONSENSUS
majority overpowering minority
forces people to choose one of two sides
defend own position defeat others “efficient”
body that acts together or not at all
no decision is made until everyone is willing to go along with it
scrutinize my own views
listen with care to others
CONSENSUS IS...
SEEKING THE UNITY BENEATH OUR DIFFERENCES
TRUTH...IS NOT A MATTER OF NUMBERS.
TWO TRUTHS IN CONFLICT PRESS TO FIND THE THIRD
TRUTH!
MINISTRY OF PASTORAL COUNCIL
primary allegiance is to the future of the parish
willingness to work toward consensus
flexibility and openness
listen, listen, listen
PLANNING MEANS...
Making Choices About the Future Choosing a Direction Getting Results
PLANNING BASICS KNOW THE FACTS ASK THE FOLKS FOCUS ON THE MISSION UNCOVER THE 3-5 YEAR GOALS CREATE THE YEARLY
OBJECTIVES OVERSIGHT
Data Gathering Gives Direction
Information obtained through data gathering gives substance and credibility to a pastoral plan.
Anecdotal or felt perceptions are not enough.
Hard Facts…Observable Trends
Fiscal reports Job descriptions Parish history Census totals Sacramental stats Catechetical and School
stats October Count
Parish organizations Current demographics of
neighborhood/city/boro Economic/social realities Public projects (sewage,
highways, bridge closings)
Plans of nearby parishes Ecumenical efforts
The Plan is in the People Frequent
canvassing and specific surveys
Parish assemblies Mini-assemblies Clipboards after
Sunday Liturgies
One on One Interviews
Focus Groups Neighborhood
Assemblies Invite yourself to
the meetings of parish organizations
Parish Pastoral Planning Cycle
Gather Information
FocusInformation
IdentifyConcerns and Issues
EngageParish
Revise &CreateGoals
CreateObjectives
Engage Parish
Implement &Assess
EvaluateMission
MINISTRY OF PASTORAL COUNCIL
commit to planning remain faithful to
planning cycle create opportunities for
parishioners to contribute to and share ideas for the future
identify pastoral needs respond to these
needs
NOT BY CHANCE
IF PLANNING PROPOSES A FUTURE BY DESIGN, NOT BY CHANCE, OVERSIGHT GUARANTEES THAT THE PLAN IS KEPT ALIVE BY ON-GOING EVALUATING, AND MAKING APPROPRIATE ADJUSTMENTS.
OVERSIGHT MEANS
Promoting ACCOUNTABILITY Taking time to EVALUATE
1. Council performance2. Implementation groups performance3. Impact of goals and objectives on the
total parish SUPPORTING in times of difficulty CELEBRATING VICTORIES
PASTORAL COUNCIL MINISTRY
communicate communicate communicate affirm empower practice patience put on love
SPIRITUAL FORMATION
Prayer, study, reflection on Scripture and Church teachings are ways of listening for God’s direction as we identify and prioritize the ways in which the parish is being called to live out its specific mission.
PASTORAL PLANNING IS LISTENING…
Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it!
Psalm 127
MINISTRY OF PASTORAL COUNCIL
Spiritual Formation Team
Faith Sharing Discernment Annual Retreat Knowledge of the
pastoral elements of parish life
PARTICIPATION…
IS THE ESSENCE OF COMMUNION AND MISSION!
The Conciliar Church
“Ecclesial communion implies that each local church should become a participatory church…there is a need to foster participatory structures as pastoral councils…”
John Paul II
Implications of the Ecclesiology for Parish Pastoral Councils
Faith Sharing Focus is on parish
relationships in Christ (avoid the “activity trap”)
Open, transparent consultation
Leadership Body Representative
Body Clergy and Laity
in dialogue Mutuality, respect,
reciprocity
Pastor and Council Behaviorsthat Match the Ecclesiology
Listen, gather, invite, convene
Learn conflict management, consensus building
Develop “People Skills”
Welcome and engage the wider community, other parishes, other denominations.
Grow in your understanding of the Church as a Communion and Mission.
THE PURPOSE: To Foster Pastoral Activity
In Christus Dominus 27…a) To study the life and activity of the
parish; that is to research the needs, the ideas, the hopes of those whom the council ministers to.
b) To evaluate the pastoral life of the parish in light of its mission.
c) To recommend pastoral initiatives.
What the Council IS NOT
Legislative Policy-making Decree-issuing Finance Driven Administrative Coordinating
ISA mission motivated leadership body who with the pastor and in broad consultation with the parish creates long and short range goals and objectives by which the pastoral work of the church is to be accomplished.
Truly Pastoral“It may well be that we will see emerging a true pastoral council on the parish level, leaving the development and coordination of ministerial committees and apostolic lay organizations to parish staff, thereby avoiding the growing sense of boredom on parish supercouncils where the only action month after month is hearing reports from committees, commissions and organizations each having a reserved seat on the board.”
Canonist Bertram GriffinCode, Community, Ministry
And the Lord Said…
Write the vision down.
Make it plain upon tablets,
So they may run who read it!
Habakkuk 2:2
Where do we go from here…
With our council?With the parishioners?What are the questions
we have?
THANK YOU
It has been a privilege to share the good news of what leadership can attain in our Catholic Church!
Please contact me for information or inspiration at