AVON HOLBROOK COLLABORATIVE His Eminence Sean Cardinal O Malley, OFM Cap. The Pastoral Center 66 Brooks Drive Braintree, MA 02184 Dear Cardinal O Malley, It is said that if you wait long enough, history is bound to repeat itself. On August 11, 1872 Bishop John Joseph Williams dedicated a new Church in what was then known as a suburb of East Stoughton (Avon) to the patronage of St. Michael, The Archangel. In 1887 the village of East Stoughton (Avon) and Holbrook were constituted into a new Parish. Rev. James Kelly became Pastor, and resided at St. Joseph Parish in Holbrook; which at that time was the parochial seat of the Parish. For many years to follow Priests assigned to the Parish would drive a horse and buggy back and forth from one Parish to the other to celebrate the Eucharist. For the last three years, that abiding image has popped into my head many times as I drive from one Parish, to the other, to celebrate the Eucharist on Sunday morning. How many good priests have made this very same trip over the last century to do just as I was doing now? I often wonder if they could ever have envisioned that they were already embracing a Disciples In Mission reality. It is with great joy your Eminence, that I present to you the Holbrook-Avon Collaborative Pastoral Plan. It is the culmination of many long hours of discussion and hard work; all of which was done in the Spirit of Disciples in Mission. This process has already brought together so many people, not only in a common vision of where the Collaborative is going, but in a common goal to bring a new and vital Spirit to this newly formed collaborative. From the very first meeting to the last, I witnessed God s Spirit alive and well in those working on this Pastoral Plan and I am confident that those from the Archdiocese who worked with us will resonate that same truth. I am so grateful to each and every one who worked on this plan. Your Eminence, Please know of our prayers for you, as you lead the Church of Boston into what is bound to be one of the more exciting moments in our Church s history. Thank you once again for allowing the Holbrook-Avon Collaborative to return to its roots and heritage. Led by the Holy Spirit, the Church in Boston is alive and well, and in good hands! Respectfully Submitted, Rev. Thomas C., Pastor Holbrook Avon Collaborative
St. Michael / St. Joseph Collaborative Vision Statement: As a welcoming Catholic Community, we seek first and foremost to offer the faithful both knowledge and spiritual experiences, that will strengthen their relationship with God and each other. We will be actively engaged in works of charity, service and social justice. Parishioners of the collaborative strive to live out faith and hope and maintain the enthusiasm of spreading the Good News. Smart Goal 1: Faith Formation In order to develop intentional disciples and foster spiritual growth, the collaborative will begin and maintain four small faith formation groups by May 2020, adding more groups as needed for each following year as evangelization takes hold. Smart Goal 2: Sacramental Life We will form two groups, for the collaborative, one for the Sacrament of Baptism, and another for Bereavement by June 2019, adding additional ministries as needed. Smart Goal 3: Communication By 2020, establish and implement a comprehensive communication plan by using the bulletin, social media, website, mailings and announcements to enhance participation in the life of the parishes. Smart Goal 4: Fostering Vocations Be intentional about vocation ministry in our collaborative by doing activities for the following: 1) Prayer for Vocations, 2) Vocation Awareness, and 3) Vocation Inviting from September 2018 to June 2021.
Collaborative Parishes of St. Joseph and St. Michael Local Pastoral Plan SMART Goal Planning Draft # FINAL SMART Goal: Fostering Vocations Be intentional about vocation ministry in our collaborative by doing activities for the following: 1) Prayer for Vocations, 2) Vocation Awareness, and 3) Vocation Inviting from September 2018 to June 2021. Primary Oversight Who needs to be kept informed of progress but not actively involved. Normally a member of the clergy Primary Point Person This is the person who is actively engaged and coordinating the implementation of the goal Other Key Persons People actively engaged in implementing the goal Father Tom Vocations Team Chairperson Members of the Vocations Team Key Strategies & Milestones Strategies are a collection of milestones to achieve the goal. Milestones are markers to ensure progress toward achieving the goal. Fill in milestones you need to reach your goal. Milestones By When Milestone 1: Create a Vocations Team December 2018 Milestone 2: Have two Prayer for Vocations activities in the Collaborative September 2019 Milestone 3: Have two Vocation Awareness activities in the Collaborative August 2021 Milestone 4: Have two Vocation Inviting activities in the Collaborative Spring 2021
Milestones & s s are specific things needed to reach a milestone. Fill in what specific tasks are needed to reach the milestone. Then estimate the needed resources. Milestone 1: Create a Vocations Team By Whom? Discern and recruit Volunteers: Choose a chairperson Father Tom 20 12/19 TBD Milestone 2: Have two Prayer for Vocations activities in the Collaborative Have ongoing parish based prayer through daily and weekend Prayers of the Faithful for Vacations at each Mass Start up one collaborative-wide, parishbased, ongoing prayer activity such as vocation cross/crucifix program By Whom? Father Tom Deacons Admin Staff Father Tom Deacons Admin Staff 1 Hour/ Week 30 Team 6/19 TBD 9/19 TBD
Milestone 3: Have two Vocation Awareness activities in the Collaborative By Whom? Ongoing curriculum emphasizing vocations awareness into religious education, the school, and sacramental preparation programs Vocations Team 30 Team 10/21 TBD Team will need to review existing curriculum and make recommendations Invite seminarians to visit collaborative and school yearly Father Tom Vocations Team 10 Teams Yearly 8/21 TBD Milestone 4: Have two Vocation Inviting activities in the Collaborative Invite high school boys to participate in one or more of the St. Andrew Dinners sponsored by the Vocation Office and bring at least 5 each academic year. Father Tom Deacons Vocations Team 10 Team Yearly 10/20 TBD Regularly invite others, especially the youth and young adults, to consider God s specific vocation for them Every Parishioner Ongoing Spring 2021 TBD
Collaborative Parishes of St. Joseph and St. Michael Local Pastoral Plan SMART Goal Planning Draft # FINAL SMART Goal: Sacramental Life We will form two groups, for the collaborative, one for the Sacrament of Baptism, and another for Bereavement by June 2019, adding additional ministries as needed. Primary Oversight Who needs to be kept informed of progress but not actively involved. Normally a member of the clergy Primary Point Person This is the person who is actively engaged and coordinating the implementation of the goal Other Key Persons People actively engaged in implementing the goal Father Tom TBD, Deacon TBD Key Strategies & Milestones Strategies are a collection of milestones to achieve the goal. Milestones are markers to ensure progress toward achieving the goal. Fill in milestones you need to reach your goal. Milestones By When Milestone 1: The collaborative will form two groups: one for the Sacrament of Baptism, one for Bereavement. June 2019 Milestone 2: Implementation of the two groups, Baptism & Bereavement. January 2020 Milestone 3: Establish monthly meetings for Bereavement support November 2019 Milestone 4: Establish monthly meetings for Baptismal support September 2019
Milestones & s s are specific things needed to reach a milestone. Fill in what specific tasks are needed to reach the milestone. Then estimate the needed resources. Milestone 1: The collaborative will form two groups: one for the Sacrament of Baptism, one for Bereavement. By Whom? Invite participants to develop two ministerial team members for the two groups. Father Tom 20 hrs 9/18 TBD Provide a list of expectations for each group. Seek out and provide Training Workshops to assist ministry chair Father Tom Father Tom TBD 20 hrs 9/18 TBD 30 hrs 12/18 TBD Milestone 2: Implementation of the two groups, Baptism & Bereavement. resources may be needed if there is a cost associated with the Training Workshops. Specific amounts are unclear at this time. By Whom? Develop and maintain a list of parish ministries contact information for those seeking services from Saint Michael s and Saint Joseph s Parish Admin Support Staff 1-2 hours per week 2/19 TBD Ongoing collection of data Each October, invite parishioners and family members, who held funerals at Saint Michael s or Saint Joseph s, to a Mass of remembrance. Deacons Trained Ministry 30 team hours 10/19 $0-$200 Collation to follow Mass of Remembrance
Each year, invite parishioners who were baptized or had infants baptized for a Weekend Mass at Saint Michael s or Saint Joseph s. Deacons Trained Ministry 24 team hours Milestone 3: Establish monthly meetings for Bereavement support 1/20 TBD Collation to follow Mass Compile a list of individuals and family members who buried a family member from the collaborative. Parish Admin Support Staff & Support Coordinator 10 team hours 1/19 TBD Invite those (from the list mentioned in task1) to an initial meeting of Bereavement Support Support Coordinator and team Monthly 9/19 $200 Provide a monthly Bereavement group for interested participants to meet once a month. Support Coordinator and team Milestone 4: Establish monthly meetings for Baptismal support Monthly 11/19 $25/month $300/year Compile a list of individuals and family members who baptized a family member from the collaborative. Parish Admin Support Staff & Support Coordinator 10 team hours 1/19 TBD
To families who have recently received the sacrament of baptism, provide outreach to them by praying for them, calling them, inviting them to come to Mass and informing them of expectations of the ministry Parish Admin Support Staff Deacons 10 Team 9/19 TBD
Collaborative Parishes of St. Joseph and St. Michael Local Pastoral Plan SMART Goal Planning Draft # FINAL As participants grow closer to Christ, each participant cannot help but become changed. Their lives will reflect this change and this will help to draw others to Christ. It may look like more smiling faces, more volunteers, higher attendance at Mass or Adoration, or an increase in grace in all of the parishioners because some have chosen to minister by praying for others. SMART Goal: Faith Formation Primary Oversight Who needs to be kept informed of progress but not actively involved. Normally a member of the clergy Primary Point Person This is the person who is actively engaged and coordinating the implementation of the goal Other Key Persons People actively engaged in implementing the goal In order to develop intentional disciples and foster spiritual growth, the collaborative will begin and maintain four small faith formation groups by May 2020, adding more groups as needed for each following year as evangelization takes hold. Father Tom Chair of the Adult Faith Formation (AFF); Appointed by the Pastor. Members of the AFF; Volunteers trained according to diocesan standards to be moderators. Key Strategies & Milestones Strategies are a collection of milestones to achieve the goal. Milestones are markers to ensure progress toward achieving the goal. Fill in milestones you need to reach your goal. The Milestones By When Milestone 1: Form and train a collaborative AFF ministry. Identify and invite 8-10 active parishioners from both parishes to sit on the AFF. Train these people to be group leaders. December 2018 Milestone 2: Prepare survey questions and interview parishioners to assess the needs of the congregations. Investigate and select the programs to be used in this plan. September 2019
Milestone 3: Prepare and implement program: Advertise; Invite; & Implement Program May 2019 Milestone 4: Evaluate Program July 2019 Milestones & s s are specific things needed to reach a milestone. Fill in what specific tasks are needed to reach the milestone. Then estimate the needed resources. Milestone 1: Form and train a collaborative AFF ministry. Identify and invite 8-10 active parishioners from both parishes to sit on the (AFF). Train these people to be group leaders. Identify and recruit parishioners from both parishes to form the AFF. Train AFF leaders for group leadership Father Tom AFF chair Archdioceses of Boston pastoral TBD 9/18 $0 2-3 Days 12/18 TBD Milestone 2: Prepare survey questions and interview parishioners to assess the needs of the congregations. Investigate and select the programs to be used in this plan. By Whom? Prepare survey questions; interview parishioners; assess needs AFF 10 6/19 $0 Use resources such as: coffee hours after Mass, meet and greet after morning Mass, visit the different ministries (e.g. choir rehearsal, before RE), etc. Investigate and evaluate programs AFF 100 9/19 $0 Watch Catholic based programs designed for group discussion and learning. Choose one that fits the needs of the parishes.
Milestone 3: Prepare and implement program: Advertise; Invite; & Implement Program Advertise and Invite AFF AFF; Communications Committee; Staff. 100 3/20 Thru 5/20 $50-$100 Implement Programs AFF 6-10 Weeks Start 5/20 $500 Milestone 4: Evaluate Program Evaluate Pastor, AFF 2 7/20 $0 Participants will be given an evaluation sheet to fill out; See if any new volunteers come out of groups; Ask if the groups would like to continue
Collaborative Parishes of St. Joseph and St. Michael Local Pastoral Plan SMART Goal Planning Draft # FINAL SMART Goal: Communication Primary Oversight Who needs to be kept informed of progress but not actively involved. Normally a member of the clergy Primary Point Person This is the person who is actively engaged and coordinating the implementation of the goal Other Key Persons People actively engaged in implementing the goal By 2020, establish and implement a comprehensive communication plan by using the bulletin, social media, website, mailings and announcements to enhance participation in the life of the parishes. Father Tom TBD Parish & School Secretarial Staff; & Associated Ministries Key Strategies & Milestones Strategies are a collection of milestones to achieve the goal. Milestones are markers to ensure progress toward achieving the goal. Fill in milestones you need to reach your goal. Milestones By When Milestone 1: Find a communication point person December 2018 Milestone 2: Announce upcoming communication initiative June 2019 Milestone 3: Get website and social media platforms up and running June 2020
Milestones & s s are specific things needed to reach a milestone. Fill in what specific tasks are needed to reach the milestone. Then estimate the needed resources. Milestone 1: Find a point person Identify and invite Father Tom TBD 12/18 TBD IT background needed Volunteer or paid position Milestone 2: Announce upcoming communication initiative Inform parishioners and ministries about the communication point person through bulletins, live announcements and mailings. Meet with parish and school secretarial staff to establish new communication system; internal communication procedure Father Tom Communication Point Person 8 2/19 $200 9 5/19 TBD Create contact list for all ministries of St. Michael & St. Joseph parishes. Foster relationships with ministry leaders in order to write/ talk about the ministries. Communication Point Person 12 6/19 TBD
Milestone 3: Get website and social media platforms up and running Compile list of social media platforms for Father Tom to approve Communication Point Person 12 1/20 TBD Work on creating collaborative website Communication Point Person 6-12 Months 6/20 TBD New collaborative website launch Communication Point Person 1 Week 6/20 TBD