Saint
Michael Catholic Church
708 St. Michael’s Lane,
Telephone 704.867 6212 – Fax
704.867.6379
16
March 2009
2009 - 2010 Parish Visioning Results
Dear Parishioners,
These
are the Visioning Results from the Parish Pastoral Council, Finance Council,
and Commissions which were developed since we began our Parish Visioning
meetings in the Fall of 2008. These are the suggestions which will drive our
budgeting for next year. They are not listed in any order of importance. The Parish
Vision Statement is based on the Theme of the 2009 Eucharistic Congress – “And
the Word Was Made Flesh and Made His Dwelling Among Us” and the discussions of
the Visioning participants from our Councils and Commissions.
I
want to thank all those parishioners who gave so much time to this project. I
have been greatly edified by their love for our Lord’s Church and this Parish
specifically. How dedicated they are. If you have any comments on any of these
goals, please send them to me through the mail, email or in the collection
basket.
I
have listened well to all those who have participated in the process. Many of
these Goals will be implemented as the funds are available and as continued
discussion proceeds. We will continue the discussions at the Councils and
Commissions meetings.
As
we plan for the future, there will always be some changes in parish life,
facilities use and programs. I know I
can count on you for your trust, support and assistance. May God continue to
bless us as we move forward in our work to give Him Glory, increase our
Catholic living and evangelize those in our lives here in Gaston county. Let us
pray for one another.
May
our Lord continue to bless you and may our Lady keep you in her care.
With
my prayers,
Father
Arnsparger
Please note: The Spanish speaking parishioners are
working on the Visioning Process as are the English speaking parishioners. The goal, of course, will be to bring
everyone into our one parish.
Saint
Michael Catholic Church
Diocese of
2009 - 2010 Parish Vision
Statement:
The vision of St. Michael Parish for 2009 – 2010 is to build our parish
community by focusing on the truth of the Incarnation and the Holy Eucharist:
"The Word Became Flesh and Made His Dwelling Among Us." (John 1:
14) We pledge to work together to provide programs and resources in order
to bring all of us into a deeper union with the mysteries of the Incarnation and
Eucharist to better understand “The Word of God in the Life and
Liturgy & Worship Commission
One Year Goals:
1. Increase
participation in Sunday Mass, Daily Mass, Holy Day Mass and Confession – Look
at Sunday and daily Mass schedule.
2. Quarterly
meeting of Liturgy Committee.
3. Continue
Altar Guild recruitment and cleaning of vestments and Vessels
4. Communion
to the sick – instruction and retreat.
5. Continue
Wednesday Night Healing and Prayer.
6. Continue
to study the decoration of Church: painting, statues, move windows from
7. Daily
Family Prayer: Encourage especially Sunday prayer in the home.
8. Baptismal
Font: Remove in center aisle; repair old Font
9. Continue
to study a way to leave church unlocked.
10. Rosary
before each
11. Increase
participation in Nocturnal Adoration.
12. Accent St.
Michael’s Feast Day.
13. Parish
Education/ Family Life Conference Day.
14. Move choir
and organ to the back of the Church
15. Twice a
year ministry training
16. Novena
couple times a year or once a month novena
17. Parish
18. Annual
Forty Hours Devotions
Two-Five Year Goals:
1.
Build a choir loft in the back of the Church; it would
connect but be independent structurally of existing room above vestibule.
Community Outreach Commission
One Year Goals:
1. All Ministries will establish
Quarterly meeting and reports.
2. Increase the number of
volunteers through stewardship and volunteer fair.
3. Move the Thrift Store to a more
an efficient building.
4. Have an annual,
Appreciation/Retreat Day.
5. Establish evening classes for
English Second Language Classes
6. Show an increased participation
in Respect for Life events.
7. Establish affordable
transportation to March for Life event in January.
8. Look into the use of a debit or
credit card at the Thrift Store.
9. Provide spiritual and
educational growth through training/retreat events for Ministry of hope
volunteers.
Two-Five Year Goals:
1. Expand services offered through the Thrift Store
2. The Thrift Store will be
financially solvent.
Evangelization – Communications Commission
One Year Goals:
- Continue
to maintain the Church and School web sites.
- Advertise
the church location, mass schedules and special services on the cable
bulletin channel (when repaired) and in the local news paper.
- Continue
to work to bring EWTN to the
- Bill
board advertising for the Easter and Christmas seasons.
- Continue
to supply local hotels/motels with church flyer
Two-Five Year Goals:
- Continue
to maintain our year one goals.
Facilities Commission
One Year Goals:
- Continue
outsources cleaning and part time hired maintenance person.
- To
continue to upgrade all lighting on campus to more energy efficient fixtures.
- Continue
maintenance contracts on all HVAC units.
- Continue
landscape contracts.
- Consolidate
admin. office space and open up meeting space in order to best utilize our
buildings and help control our utility costs. This would include using the
old church for that space and to include controlled atmosphere for record
storage for the church and school. Have structural engineer study old
church.
- Install:
new sound system in Gym; audio visual equip in Social Hall and
7. Paving projects
Two-Five Year Goals:
1. Replace
approx. 12 HVAC units on campus.
2. Replace
aged and cracking Gym floor & bleachers.
3. Facility
usage outline program based on commissions, committees and staff requirements.
Formational Ministries Commission
One Year Goals:
1. Continue Donuts and Dogma
2. Continue RCIA catechetical component as Adult
Education
3. Continue
Catholic Faith
4. Continue Catholic Culture Camp for 8th
Grade through High School
5. Continue High School Religion Class
6. Continue Catholic Scripture Study Class at
St.
7. Catholic Books and Religious goods items
available on – site periodically
8. Integrate Sacramental Preparation into Parish
Life (Pictures, prayers, etc)
9. St.
Michael’s Family Conference Day annually
10. Financial
planning seminar
Two-Five Year Goals:
1. Investigate and begin a
Parish Life Commission
One Year Goals:
1. Continue
to reorganize the Welcome Committee and process
2.
Study need of Nursery
3.
Continue
Young Couples
4. Continue Easter Egg Hunt – Divine Mercy
Sunday
5. Continue All Saints Party & Evening
Bonfire
6. Celebrate
12 Days of Christmas (Feast of
7. Develop
an annual Marriage Celebration
8. Develop
Parish Day Retreat/ Family Life Conference
One Year
Goals
1.
Spiritual:
Center
all school activities around the Holy Eucharist, the Year of St. Paul, Congress
theme and the Liturgical Calendar.
a.
Investigate
options to increase number of Masses
attended weekly
b.
Pray
the Rosary in Marian months in class and with all school
c.
JMJ
(Jesus Mary Joseph) on school papers
d.
Pray
Morning Offering at beginning of school day and Act of Contrition at end of day
e.
Discuss
Advent and Lent Confession at school with Father
f.
Monthly
school calendar including Liturgical activities published on school and parish
websites
2.
Enrollment
a.
Increase
number of parishioners attending school
i.
Promote
from pulpit
ii.
Marketing
plan in place
b.
Retain present student base
i.
Review
and act on School Board survey
ii.
Promote
from pulpit
iii.
Continue
fundraising tuition assistance
iv.
Exit
surveys
c.
Improve
Communications
i.
School
advisory Board attend Parish Council meetings
ii.
Promote
school to parish and parish to school in bulletins and on websites
iii.
Continue
to communicate survey answers
iv.
Communicate
discipline policy to parents
a.
By
grade level
b.
Uniform
policy to include boys’ hair length requirements again
3.
Fiscal
Planning
a.
Consolidation and identification of sources of funds
b. Determine cost of educating one
student
4.
Facility
a.
Safety
issues
i.
Fencing
b.
Improvements
i.
Identify
priorities
5.
Build
school pride
a.
Uniform
enforcement
b.
Athletics
growth and development
c.
Work
on promotional items and motto
6.
Continue
to implement SACS report recommendations
7.
Create
plan to distinguish our school/brand
8.
Assist
in working toward unity in parish between
school, faith formation, homeschoolers, Hispanics)
9.
Begin
consultant process
Two to Five
Year Goals
1.
Staffing
a.
Athletic
Director on campus
b.
Continue
to evaluate needs (principal’s assistant, enrichment teacher fulltime, etc.)
2.
Marketing
development plan
3.
Facility
improvement
4.
Enrollment—growth
of school
5.
Build
endowments
6.
Continue
to update technology plan (equipment and new funding methods)
7.
Evaluate
consultant plan
8.
Work
on strategic plan for 5-10 years
March, 2009