P ARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL UPDATE - SEPTEMBER 2011 LIVING the LIGHT A Pennsylvania Charitable Trust 403 Grandview Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15211 Phone: 412-381-0212 Fax: 412-381-9921 Email: smom@smomp.org www.smomp.org You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. (Mt 5:14) Called to be a beacon of God s Light, we are a diverse Roman Catholic community, striving to live the Gospel by loving and serving God and our neighbor. September 2011 Greetings Fellow Parishioners, The twelve members of the Parish Pastoral Council along with Father Michael have been hard at work over the last year and a half in studying the history of our parish and assessing current and future needs. Our work has been based on a process given to us by the Diocese in a book called One Body, One Mission. Recently we have drafted three long-range goals and a series of several objectives within each to be achieved over the next three years. Guided by our mission and vision statements and after much prayer and discussion we chose the areas of Evangelization, Formation, and Catechesis as the three most important needs in our parish. Though these words may not be easily understood, you will grasp their intent by reading the attached statements of goals and objectives. We hope that you will invest in the future of our parish by offering to assist actively in carrying out the objectives. St. Mary of the Mount comprises all of its parishioners, so though the Parish Pastoral Council was responsible for drafting this outline, it is all of us who will bring the plan to life. Attached is a response form that can be returned to the Parish office (by mail, fax, or email) or dropped into the offertory baskets during Mass. Please review and get us your feedback no later than October 9, 2011. In addition, if you would like to meet and give input directly to Parish Pastoral Council members, we will be conducting town hall meetings in the church on Saturday, October 1, 2011 after the 5 p.m. Mass and again on Sunday, October 2, 2011 between the 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Masses. Your input in whatever format you decide is easiest for you is greatly appreciated. Please stay tuned for future updates from your PPC. God Bless, Saint Mary of the Mount Parish Pastoral Council Parish Pastoral Council Christine Jordanoff (Facilitator) * Mary Ann Landry * Karen Martin * Pat McCullom * Debbie Pirring (Recorder) Melissa Rossiter * Ellen Sheppard * Jessica Smith (Co-Facilitator) * Jonathan Sommerer * Rev. Michael Stumpf (Pastor) * Sister Carol Sukitz * Paul (Manny) Wilt
CATECHESIS GOAL: Evaluate current religious education to enhance and revitalize religious education program for both youth and adults. OBJECTIVE Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 1 Ensure all CCD teachers have proper diocesan certification, be in the process of certification, or participate in continuing diocesan education certification by May 31 st of each school year. 2 Initiate a CCD recruitment strategy for intern/student teachers from local universities during the 2011- academic year. 3 Collect and compare data from the current SMOM and St Justin CCD programs in order to improve religious education for youth on Mount Washington by March 31,. 4 Assess the ongoing adult education needs of parishioners throughout the Lenten season and complete by Easter. 5 Assess the need for a full time DRE that meets the diocesan position requirements by Easter. Place two intern/student teachers with certified CCD teachers in the fall of. Implement first year CCD program consolidation Fall. Implement one new adult program by Fall of and second by Spring 2013. Evaluate student/teacher program to expand opportunities.
EVANGELIZATION GOAL: To develop and implement efforts to reach out to and bring in those who were baptized Catholics and have become inactive with the church. OBJECTIVE Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 1 Form and educate Evangelization Increase and enhance active Committee of 5-8 people. Nov participation of SMOMP students, CCD students and their family at liturgical services. Nov 2013 2 Educate inactive parishioners about their call as disciples of Christ through 2 semi annually half day retreats. Dec 2013 Increase liturgical attendance by 5%. October count 2014 3 Recruit 10 parishioners to outreach to the inactive SMOMP students, SMOMP CCD students and their families and provide orientation for their outreach to the inactive. May 4 Monthly encourage mass attending parishioners to invite an inactive relative/community resident to attend mass. Monthly thru 2013 5 6 Annually sponsor a parish open house to Catholics in the 15211 who have left the active participation of their faitt 7 Implement the program Youth of the New Evangelization to challenge young people to extend their roles as evangelist. Sept 2013 Quarterly provide 2 hour prayer events for inactive Catholics. June 2014
FORMATION GOAL: To expand and encourage active engagement in social ministry through service and advocacy for those in need OBJECTIVE Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 1 Implement greet and welcome five seven parishioners interested in welcoming St. Mary of the Mount Mass participants for at least two of four weekend Masses by Feb. 2 Develop a Task group to implement a plan that makes such baby sitting services available for 9:30am Sunday Mass. On or before March 3 Assemble 3-5 parishioners to research and report on existing Meals on Wheels type programs in the Mt. Washington area. Jan - May 4 Conduct a parish survey to determine interest in initiating a buddy system for parishioners who are physically challenged in extreme weather conditions. Mar Formalize the greeters into a Hospitality Committee. with 25-30 parishioners for all four weekend masses Jul-Aug Expand babysitting services to two or more weekend Masses. Oct. Convene of 5-7 parishioners to research the feasibility of regularly scheduled babysitting services for single parents in our community to take Parents Night Out March 2013 Develop plan for active involvement of St. Mary of the Mount Parish in existing Meals on Wheels type programs. July Implement a buddy system for parishioners during who are physically challenged in extreme weather conditions. Oct Expand babysitting services to all weekend Masses. Oct. Provide regularly scheduled babysitting services for single parents in our community ( Parents night out ). October 2014 Expand buddy system to provide year-round support for parishioners who are physically challenged. Nov 2013
FORMATION (continued) 5 Convene a group of five seven parishioners interested in reconnecting established parishioners and welcoming new ones to the parish. Jan Formalize and populate a Social Committee that plans at least two recurring events to connect new and established parishioners. Jul Plan and hold at least four social events. On or before Jun 2013 6 Re-establish music ministry connections with Allegheny County holding one outing Jail. Oct 7 Reform parish grief/ bereavement ministry and determine scope (hospital, home, and/or funeral home visits. May 8 Recruit 5-10 additional Eucharistic ministers. Apr 9 Establish a relationship with a sister parish from another country Establish music ministry connection with neighboring Mt. Washington groups and/or organizations offering o music ministry outings. Oct 2013 Implement revitalized parish grief/bereavement ministry. Jul Implement expanded Communion call plan expanding existing Communion calls to all homebound, hospital patients, and nursing home residents from our parish community. Nov Establish music ministry connection with a local nursing home and Schedule three music ministry outings to prisoner, Mt. Washington, and/or nursing home populations. On or before Jun 2013 Plan a mission trip to the Sister parish from another country
PARISHONER RECOMMENDATIONS & FEEDBACK - PARISH GOALS AND OBJECTIVES Please return on or before Sunday, October 9, 2011 by mail, fax, email or drop into the offertory baskets - thank you! Name(s): Street Address: City: State: Zip Code: Email Address: Home Phone: Cell Phone: Recommendations and Feedback: When the time comes, I am interested in volunteering to help achieve the following objectives (please mark all that apply). Yes, I am Interested CATECHESIS in Volunteering CCD Teacher Certification CCD Intern/Student Teacher Recruitment St. Mary/St. Justin CCD Program Comparison Adult Education Needs Assessment (Religious Education Staff) EVANGELIZATION Committee Membership Student Outreach Parish Open House FORMATION Mass Greet and Welcome Babysitting During Mass Meals on Wheels Type Program Parish Buddy System Parish Welcoming Committee Music Ministry Outreach Grief/Bereavement Ministry Eucharistic Minister Sister Parish (Out of Country)