Go Out and Make Disciples: Pastoral Planning Overview February 12, 2015
Go Out and Make Disciples: An Overview of Pastoral Planning Diocese of Joliet
The context of pastoral planning The role of the pastoral council Planning specifics
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Foundational to . . .
. . . parish pastoral council ministry and the development of any parish pastoral plan is the recognition that Christ calls all baptized persons to participate in the mission of Jesus as Priest , Prophet and King Research and Planning Office
Ministry of Priesthood
Pastores Dabo Vobis (I Shall Give You Shepherds) Pope John Paul II, 1992
- We join in the offering of the Eucharist - receive the sacraments - offer prayer and thanksgiving - witness through a holy life - practice self-denial and active charity
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Ministry of Prophet
We proclaim the Gospel, not only in words, but by living the Gospel and following the message and example of Christ who taught us to be loving, compassionate, understanding, and forgiving
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Ministry of King
Exercised not in the sense of power and authority, but as servant leaders. For the Parish Pastoral Council, in particular, this means to help shepherd, to exercise care as well as lead, to protect as well as guide.
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Clericalism “a temptation against . . . forming missionary disciples”
“. . . in the majority of cases, it has to do with a sinful complicity: the priest clericalizes the lay person and the lay person kindly asks to be clericalized because deep down it is easier.”
Address of Pope Francis to CELAM, September 2013
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Consulting the laity 40 years of continuing Church teaching
• Beginning with the Constitution on the Church ( 1964) • Treated in the Revised Code of Canon Law (1983) • Continuing in Novo Millennio Ineunte (2001)
“. . . we need to make our own the ancient pastoral wisdom which, without prejudice to their authority, encouraged pastors to listen more widely to the entire people of God.” (Novo Millennio Ineunte, no. 44)
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Six months before Pope John Paul II died:
“Within a sound ecclesiology of communion, a commitment to creating better structures of participation, consultation and shared responsibility should not be misunderstood as a concession to a secular ‘democratic’ model of governance, but as an intrinsic requirement of the exercise of episcopal authority and a necessary means of strengthening that authority.”
(Address to the American Bishops of Region 3, Sept 2004, as reported on www.vatican.va)
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Let’s Review
1. Through Baptism the laity are entrusted with the very real ministries of Priest, Prophet, and King.
2. Church documents recognize these ministries, strongly encouraging bishops and pastors to consult the laity. This process of consultation strengthens a leader’s authority and serves the Church.
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But what does a pastoral council do?
Urgent Not Urgent Important Not important
Busywork (quadrant of waste)
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Busywork Trivia, time wasters
• Listen to oral reports from long-past events • Discuss matters that are irrelevant to parish life • Pastoral council meeting as a social gathering • Gossip
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But what does a pastoral council do?
Urgent Not Urgent Important Not important
Take action Busywork (quadrant of deception) (quadrant of waste)
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Take action Many “pressing” matters and popular activities
• Recruit religious education teachers • Organize food pantry collection • Plan annual parish festival • Choose new office furniture • Schedule lector training
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But what does a pastoral council do?
Urgent Not Urgent Important
Manage (quadrant of necessity) Not important
Take action Busywork (quadrant of deception) (quadrant of waste)
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Manage critical issues Pressing problems, emergencies, deadline-driven projects, crises
• Church boiler has catastrophic failure • Parish retreat leader becomes ill before event • Unanticipated death of school principal • Parish is sued for a large amount • Parishioners protest homily
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But what does a pastoral council do?
Urgent Not Urgent Important
Manage Ponder (quadrant of necessity) (quadrant of leadership) Not important
Take action Busywork (quadrant of deception) (quadrant of waste)
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Ponder Comprehensive planning, vision and mission, building relationships, prayer
• Reflect upon parish mission • Discuss spirituality of the typical parishioner • Discern parishioners’ expectations • Create parish pastoral plan, monitor it • Discuss how to integrate new immigrants
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But what does a pastoral council do?
Urgent Not Urgent Important
Manage Ponder (quadrant of necessity) (quadrant of leadership)
30% 50%
Not important 15% 5% Take action Busywork (quadrant of deception) (quadrant of waste)
Time management matrix adapted from Stephen Covey’s First Things First Research and Planning Office
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Consultation with the laity should lead to an ongoing pastoral plan
Good consultation leads to mission, ministry, and good plans
Effective planning requires proper consultation
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What is planning?
Planning is the systematic correlation of one’s resources with one’s agreed priorities in light of limitations of time and resources.
Resources - Priorities
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What Is Pastoral Planning? Diocese of Rochester
A process that engages and empowers members of a faith community to express their baptismal call in prayer, discernment, and actions that address the pastoral needs of the community and those served by it.
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What Is Pastoral Planning? Based upon Diocese of Greensburg, Mary Ann Gubisch
A process of prayer, study and discernment, through which the pastor and pastoral council identify and prioritize ways the parish is being called to live its specific mission in the Diocese of Joliet, in light of the three pillars of discipleship, evangelization and charity.
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An effective pastoral plan . . .
• recognizes the present reality in front of us • anticipates the future • helps create the future in the image of our values
The future is as much a result of our efforts as it is independent of our efforts.
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When pastoral planning is a normal part of the life of the parish . . .
… it is a hope-filled tool that can be used in good times, and challenging ones, to identify new needs in the parish, modify ministries, create or reform committees and work groups, enhance the clarity of communication, and involve everyone.
Dr. Robert Miller Archdiocese of Philadelphia From Today’s Parish, 2004
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When pastoral planning is a normal part of the life of the parish . . .
… it is a hope-filled tool that can be used in good times, and challenging ones, to identify new needs in the parish, modify ministries, create or reform committees and work groups, enhance the clarity of communication, and involve everyone .
Dr. Robert Miller Archdiocese of Philadelphia From Today’s Parish, 2004
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A simple planning model
A desired condition that does not currently exist, a Vision mental image of the desired state, what “ought to be.” Without a clear vision there is no direction.
The call to close the gap in substantive and Mission meaningful ways between what ought to be and what is. A mission is specific, detailed, strategic.
Along with programs, what we do to carry out our Ministries mission, i.e. how mission translates into action.
If we do not know where we are going, any road will take us there.
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Big mission questions for parishes
. . . are we here? . . . is it important that we continue to exist as a parish? . . . would anyone want to become a part of us?
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More mission questions
Who are our people? What are their dreams? What are their important issues? What are the “signs of the times?”
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The planning cycle: mission ministries
3-5 year cycle Study trends 1 year cycle and projections Identify issues
Step 1: Goals Step 5: “Where do we want Step 6: Evaluate Implement to be in 3-5 years?” “Did we reach the action plans “Let’s do it!” objectives?”
Step 7: Refine Step 4: Prioritize “Let’s tweak them.” Step 2: Objectives “What goes first?” “What should we do in the next year?” Step 8: Consult again “Does this make more sense?” Step 3: Consult “Does this make sense?”
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What did I hear that. . .
. . . I do not want to forget? . . . challenges me?
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