Five-Year Strategic Plan
Five–year Strategic Plan
St. Lawrence O'Toole
Based on the Mission Statement of St. Lawrence O'Toole Parish, “Responding to God's call with Sacramental Worship, Personal Commitment, and Community Action”, we formulate this plan to move the Parish forward with committees and goals to implement the Priestly, Prophetic, and Kingly functions of the Parish.
In this five-year plan, the first year entails forming committees to implement actions and activities over a five year timeline based on Kingly, Priestly, and Prophetic functions. The following committees will be established:
| Prophetic: | Education Committee (including a member from Scripture Study, a Catechist, Family Catechesis, and Respect Life Committee); Apostolic Service Committee (including a member from Friends and Neighbors, Welcome Committee, Midnight Run, and Teen Club) |
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| Priestly: | Liturgical Committee (including a lector, minister of Communion, music minister, and usher); Spiritual Committee (including member of Evangelization Team, Secular Franciscans and Adoration Team) |
| Kingly: | Finance Committee (already formed – includes parish trustees); Facilities Committee |
Each committee will develop its own mission statement, goals and timeline based on and beginning with the recommendations given below. The individual committees will come together as needed to discuss and implement yearly goals based on each of the three functions of the parish and in unison with the whole Parish Council and parish.
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PROPHETIC |
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| Educational: | Hold yearly workshops for lectors, ministers of Communion, altar servers, music ministers and ushers; encourage parent participation in church lessons; continue and expand Family Catechesis; develop “Catholics Coming Home” program; investigate and utilize use of local media for the faith; continue Scripture Study; organize young adult groups (i.e. Theology on Tap); assist in developing parish pre-school; research feasibility of re-opening K-8 school; develop a parenting group; continue and expand Hispanic educational programs such as ESL; review and teach church rules and practices (precepts of the Church, behavior in church, etc); provide learning experiences for understanding the sacraments, particularly reviewing procedures for Penance and Anointing of the Sick; include more updates about Religious Education activities in the bulletin; set-up email system for Religious Education catechists and families; review parish website; invite guest speakers; Bible Camp; book club. |
| Apostolic Service: | Expand Friends and Neighbors program; develop Special Events Committee; improve and expand Hispanic outreach; continue homeless outreach; improve and expand support of Food Pantry, Birthright, CAP, and other charities; increase community service requirements for Religious Education; develop bereavement group; expand Senior group; continue and expand parish sports programs (i.e. CYO, adult volleyball and basketball, AAU); assist in further developing the welcome committee, teen group, and children’s theatre group. |
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PRIESTLY |
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| Liturgical: | Train ushers, lectors and extraordinary ministers of Communion; continue altar server training (including periodic review of performance & attire); hold Teen Masses and Family Liturgies; enhance and expand music ministry; expand parish lectors and ministers of Communion ministries; integrate some Spanish and English Masses; review Sunday Mass schedules; expand welcome outreach at Mass; parish feast day; help educate the parish re: the new Roman Missal. |
| Spirituality: | Develop 26 hour retreat program for men and women (Cornerstone); develop Eucharistic Adoration; investigate programs such as Theology of the Body; increase spiritual events sponsored by K of C, CDA, and Franciscans; organize and secure yearly Parish Mission; Hispanic Retreat; Hispanic prayer meetings; oversee and develop parish devotions (rosary, novena’s, divine mercy, etc); increase confession opportunities. |
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KINGLY |
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| Facilities: | Inspect and review needs of the physical plant (church, hall, school, rectory); replace heating coils in gutters; check roofs; replace gutters; improve breezeway between school and hall; repave parking areas; inspect and replace carpeting and tiles as needed; repair or refinish wood flooring in church and hall; repair statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary; redesign confessionals; improve handicap accessibility to rectory and church; plan cemetery expansion; review security issues (i.e. lighting); electrical, air conditioning and heating needs for each building; offer advice to new church committees. |
| Finance: | Work with members of the Facilities Committee to determine needs; review the input from the Facilities Committee to determine how to fund needed repairs and improvements; review annual budgets; review use of parish facilities; review and approve parish annual financial report; oversee successful completion of Annual Appeal; work with new church committees to secure successful completion of new church. |
Beginning in September 2009, each committee will be formed as part of the Parish Council. Each Committee will then prioritize the needs as they see them functioning within the Priestly, Prophetic, and Kingly identities of the Parish, set goals and create a timeline for implementation. Large parish events such as a parish picnic or carnival should be considered with the organizations and committees working jointly.
