Parish Convocation & Assembly
Enhancing Community
1/18/15 2PM Parish Life Center
Father Dan opened the meeting with a prayer and welcomed everyone. There were (48)
parishioners in attendance at the meeting.
Father Dan reviewed the statistics from the responses sent in by the congregation during the
recent online survey. We had 121 total responses to the survey and the results were reviewed
in detail with percentages from each grouping discussed.
Father commented on difficulties always encountered when the merging of two different parish
cultures takes place under one roof. We, however, have the responsibility to turn any
negatives around and to make our new parish thrive and prosper, or we will ultimately face the
prospect of being closed down at some point in the future. That is reality and the new Bishop
will be faced with a lack of priests as well as a lack of parishioners to fill churches, so only the
strong will survive.
Among our positives are buildings that are in relatively good condition due to the work done
under Fr. Rita’s term. We do have some monies in the bank, but those cannot be used to
supplement the operational expenses of the parish and can only be used for extraordinary
expenses, such as failing boiler or emergency roof repairs.
A sampling of the survey responses that were important to “enhance the community” are listed
below:
Children’s Mass (16%) After Mass Coffee Socials (31%) Mission Activities (18%)
Adoration (11%) Bazaar (8.9%) New Moms (2%) RCIA (0%) Guest Speaker (5.3%)
And out of all surveys, (22%) thought there should be a “lot more” categories to add.
Convocation Topics & Responses to each
What do I as a member expect of my parish?
Be brought closer to Jesus
Spiritual feeding
Welcoming sensation
Teen and family activities
Financial stability for the parish
Good preaching, gospel explanation and inspiration
Music, choir participation and hymn selection
Children’s choir
Solid connection to the Pastor
Sacraments
Prayer Cards – bring them back as the missals are hard to follow for prayer responses
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What do I as a member expect of my parish? (continued)
Men’s and Women’s Groups – start new ones
Senior Saints – Define the requirements to be a member
Enforce that we are now Our Lady Queen of Martyrs
Warm environment
New Family welcoming committee
Bereavement Committee
Explanation of the saint Vincent DePaul Society and its mission and works in the community
Establish time/term limits for those who volunteer to head up committees to prevent burn out
What can my parish expect of me as member of the parish?
Financial support
Time, talent and treasure
Consistent support in all parish projects and endeavors
Volunteer brigade – solicit a pool of volunteers who will specify what they would like to become
involved with and pull from that to fill voids in various activity committees
Quarterly/Annual invoices/statements to members with suggested goals for donations
Bulletin updates with the intentions for that mass listed within
Volunteers attending/supporting different masses to cover shortages in collectors, lectors, etc.
Listing of Council and Committees with names of all and opportunities for people to become
involved by volunteering
Quarterly/Annual Ministry meetings so that everyone will get to know each other
SVDP support from within their own members
Increase in contributions
Ambassadors of the parish in all ways to help evangelize our community
Pass out bulletins after masses
Positive attitude in all matters related to the parish
Involvement, involvement, involvement today, tomorrow and beyond
Commitment to faith
Pray for the parish
How can we enhance a sense of community within the parish?
Personal commitment to become involved
Define exactly what is needed, then fill the need
Promote coffee hours
Lenten programs for younger parishioners
Introduce yourself to someone you don’t know at mass
Parish retreat before a mass and the attend as a body
Smile and greet sessions after mass
Prayer partners
Prayer teams in St. Joseph’s room
Lectors to make announcements before mass
Lector, server and MHC introductions
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How can we enhance a sense of community within the parish?(continued)
Name tags for ministries
Annual appreciation night for all volunteers and ministries
Weekly, bi-weekly snippet of needs from pastor and our job to find a solution
Parish directory
Eliminate the “fear of taking over” syndrome for those who are serving over and over again
Go slow and be steady
Do NOT start fast and end wrong by having to stop
Meeting adjourned appx. 4:20PM
OUR LADY QUEEN OF MARTYR'S
Parish Convocation - Session 2
FAITH FORMATION
January 25, 2015
Father Dan welcomed everyone. Deacon Bob said our opening prayer.
Father reviewed some of the points made from last week's session. He made it clear to the assembly
that one of his top priorities is Faith Formation.
Among the parishioners that came to the, less than one quarter had children in the Faith Formation
program. Several catechists attended. The assembly was in split into four groups and responded to
the following topics:
What are the strengths of our current faith formation program?
 The classrooms and well maintained facility
 The teachers
 New Books
 A Pastor who is an educator
 A Pastor who is visible and involved, making it a point to talk the kids
 Penance service for 2nd grade
 Syllabus for each grade
 Basic knowledge tests at the end of each grade
 Confirmation program with formal classroom time
 Karen (and Jim's in the past) ability to talk to parents
 Students participating in service projects
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Having parish committees that can ultimately support the Faith Formation Program, i.e. PPC,
Finance Committee, Stewardship Committee
What are the weaknesses of our current Faith Formation program?
 Parents: the program is not a priority, lack of interest and participation. Reaching them &
getting them involved
 Teachers need to meet the parents of the students
 No teacher meetings
 Lack of training and enrichment for teachers
 Finding teachers
 Children & families that don't go to mass
 Lack of activities for children after classes are done and after confirmation
 Kids not going to Mass after Confirmation
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Weaknesses, continued:
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Lack of aides for teachers so teachers are not alone with students
Lack of interaction between parishes
Teachers not know each other
Resources not shared between teachers
Small print in manuals
Lessons aren't reinforced at home
No guest speakers for classes
High percentage of home schooled students which makes a lack of community for the students
How can we help you better form your children in the faith and encourage families to attend mass
rather than just classes? :
 Better advertise children's masses and make available for all grades and not just grade 2.
 Acknowledge mile stones, i.e. birthdays, anniversaries, etc. at mass
 Develop a more social aspect to the church - children's social, youth groups, holiday skits at
mass acting out the scripture, Easter Egg Hunt
 Make service projects part of every grade
 Invite parents to adult formation when classes being offered.
 Have a meet your teacher night
 Have activities for families (i.e. make an advent wreath)
The meeting adjourned after 4:00.
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