Planning Our Future Together

Process Outline

Five Basic Steps
  1. Assessing Where St. Joseph's Church Is Currently
  2. Determining What's Important: Setting Priorities
  3. Determining Where to Go: Identifying Goals & Objectives
  4. Determining Ways to Achieve Goals & Objectives: Developing Strategies
  5. Taking Steps to Achieve Agreed Upon Goals & Objectives: Implementing the Strategic Plan

 

Participants
  • All interested parishioners
  • Planning Team - to oversee the planning process
  • Subcommittees -- to assess needs, set priorities, and develop strategies
    1. Parish Facilities (capital projects/renovations)
    2. St. Joseph School (finances/facilities etc.)
    3. Finance (determine cost of options)
    4. Religious Education (RCIA/ Bible Studies, etc.)
    5. Parish Ministries & Outreach (youth/men/women etc.)
    6. Parish Liturgy Committee (music etc.)
    7. Church Functions (special events etc.)
    8. Communications (Sunday bulletin etc.)

Special Note: It is important that all subcommittees work closely with existing parish committees to avoid overlap and duplication of effort.

 

Planning Activities
  1. Establishing and convening Subcommittees
  2. Identifying expectations - discussing roles and responsibilities (e.g., attendance & action planning)
  3. Electing/selecting Subcommittee co-chairs.
  4. Establishing overall schedule and time-line
  5. Identifying ways to ensure all parishioners are invited and welcomed to participate in Planning Our Future Together initiative
  6. Implementing the strategic planning process as outlined below

Proposed Time-Line & Schedule of Activities:

Parish Meetings

March 29

    1. Review Planning Process
    2. Meeting of Subcommittees
    3. Election/Selection of Subcommittee co-chairs/liaisons
    4. Clarify roles, responsibilities, and expectations
    5. Establish meeting schedules (Subcommittees, Planning Team, Parish)

September 14: Distribute Draft Plan to parish

September 27: Review/Adopt strategic plan

September 30: Begin implementation of action plan

 

Subcommittee Meetings

March 30 - May 23: Meetings to further assess needs and priorities

May 24: Submit needs assessments and recommended priorities to Planning Team.

May 25 - July 11: Meetings to identify goals and recommend strategies to achieve goals.

July 12: Submit recommended goals and strategies to Planning Team.

August 26: Review draft strategic plan with Planning Team.

September 27: Parish meeting to adopt final plan

Special Note: Subcommittees are asked to schedule their own meetings in keeping with the time-line and activities listed above. A meeting of all subcommittee co-chairs will also be scheduled sometime in April.

It should also be noted that some subcommittees may not have to meet as often as others. It is important, however, that they submit their reports to the Planning Team within the proposed time-line. Again, it is important for subcommittees to work closely with existing parish committees.

 

Planning Team Meetings

March 29: Meeting with parish to review planning process etc.

May 24 - July 12 : To receive subcommittee reports and to review needs and priorities developed by Subcommittees

July 12 - August 16: To receive subcommittee reports and to review goals and strategies proposed by subcommittees

August 17 - August 25: To formulate draft strategic plan based on subcommittee reports

August 26: Meetings with subcommittees to review draft strategic plan

August 27 - September 10: To revise and draft strategic plan

September 14: Meeting with parish to distribute draft strategic plan

September 15 - 26: To revise draft strategic plan based on input received at parish meeting

September 27: Meeting to adopt strategic plan

Decision Making

It is acknowledged and understood that approval to adopt and implement all or part of St. Joseph Parish Action Plan rests with Father David McGuinness, pastor.

He has indicated, however, that he will be guided by what members of the parish say they need and want, in keeping with the resources that are available and the approval of the Archdiocese.

Proceed to April 25 Progress Report -->

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