The document outlines recommendations from a discernment team to help Saint Monica Parish better fulfill its purpose of helping parishioners encounter Jesus and get to heaven. It recommends focusing on encounters through scripture-based small groups, liturgy and worship, and service to others. An implementation plan is proposed with leadership assignments and timelines to recruit volunteers and share the new vision with the parish.
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God calls the Church and our parishes to grow. However, today many of our parishes lack a vision for making disciples, have few or no plans to grow, and can assume that their current members are growing and new disciples are being made, despite evidence to the contrary. In other words, our parishes can be more hopeful than honest. This workshop will address the pastoral reality and current practice of our parishes, offer a renewed vision for making disciples and evangelisation, and suggest practical actions that parishes can take to change the culture and focus of their ministries and groups. It will draw on research into best practice for Church growth both here in Australia and abroad and facilitate a conversation about the nature of parish leadership in this time of change and challenge for faith.
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St. Monica: Encountering Christ (Complete Version)
1. Discernment Team Recommendations 8.25.2017 1Vision for Saint Monica Parish, Berwyn, PA
“Spiritual Journeys &
Vocations”
Threshold Conversations and the “Nicodemus Effect”
2. Discernment Team Recommendations 8.25.2017 2Vision for Saint Monica Parish, Berwyn, PA
Whose in the Pews?
• 30%
• 38%
• 32%
• -----------
• 100%
• Americans raised Catholic & are “practicing”
• (attend Mass once/month)
• ½ of these are at mass any given weekend
• Hold on to their Catholic Identity but seldom/never attend Mass
• No longer consider themselves Catholic
3. Discernment Team Recommendations 8.25.2017 3Vision for Saint Monica Parish, Berwyn, PA
And Whose not …
• “32% No longer consider themselves Catholic “
• 3% - Part of a non-Christian faith
• 14% - Unaffiliated
• 15% - Part of some Protestant faith tradition
• =600 St. Monica Parishioners
• Compare: 800 at Mass/weekend
4. Discernment Team Recommendations 8.25.2017 4Vision for Saint Monica Parish, Berwyn, PA
Issues:
Protestant / Evangelicals:
• Highly attuned to spiritual mobility
of Postmodern Americans
• Constantly consider how to reach
out to them.
• Conviction: every person has a
personal decision to make!
• Personal relationship with Christ
• i.e. “Getting Saved”
Catholics:
• Assume religious identity is largely
inherited.
• Faith can be passed down through
Catholic Schools, PREP, youth
programs, etc…
• Assume religious practice remains
stable throughout one’s life.
5. Discernment Team Recommendations 8.25.2017 5Vision for Saint Monica Parish, Berwyn, PA
Issues:
• Since Renaissance, Catholic Church highly Influenced by power of education
• Strategy:
• Childhood Catechesis
• Sacramental Initiation
• Problem: CCD, Youth Groups, Catholic Grade- High School make little / no
difference whether or not American teen stays Catholic.
• “Eucharist” will not bring them back.
• Sacraments for “their children” will not bring them back.
• Implications for current practice at St. Monica?
6. Discernment Team Recommendations 8.25.2017 6Vision for Saint Monica Parish, Berwyn, PA
It’s About “THE” Relationship …
• Mass attendance depends on possible and personal relationship with God.
• 48% of Catholics: “I don’t have personal relationship with God I believe in”
• More pronounced with younger vs. older Catholics
• Millions of Americans:
• Do not know that explicit, personal relationship with Christ – personal
discipleship – is normative.
• Need to be evangelized first – then sacramentalized - then catechized
• We’ve done it in reverse!
• Are seeking a religious identity
• Are Catholic - yet not sure about a personal relationship with God.
• Are potentially open to Catholic faith
• Self-Identify as “Catholic” attending Mass, though not baptized / confirmed.
7. Discernment Team Recommendations 8.25.2017 7Vision for Saint Monica Parish, Berwyn, PA
…And It’s About The “Call”
Journeys:
1. Interior Journey
2. Ecclesial Journey (Sacraments)
3. Active Journey (Personal Practice)
Vocations:
• Church Vocation (“Call to Holiness”)
• “State of Life” Vocation
• Personal Vocation (“Called & Gifted” Charisms)
8. Discernment Team Recommendations 8.25.2017 8Vision for Saint Monica Parish, Berwyn, PA
Topics We Considered
1. “God Has No Grandchildren.”
1. What Is Normal (and Abnormal) About the Church In America Today?
2. What the landscape really looks like
3. Data Driven Decisions
2. “I Am the vine, You Are The Branches.” (you’re not a trellis!)
1. Supporting structures instead of growing disciples (Lack of fruit)
2. Types and elements of “Vocations”
3. Priorities of people who are growing in the faith
3. Spiritual Stages And Movement Through The Thresholds
1. Stages of Intentional discipleship
2. The Parish: House of lay formation
9. Discernment Team Recommendations 8.25.2017 9Vision for Saint Monica Parish, Berwyn, PA
Topics We Considered
4. What Could St. Monica Look Like If We Took “Priest – Disciple – Charisms”
Seriously?
1. Kerygma: Telling “The Great Story”
2. “Encounters” and Threshold Conversations
5. „Do Tell” – Breaking the Silence / Sharing the great story
1. Establishing a “culture” of discipleship (… or not) and the “Nicodemus
effect”
6. ”This Is All Curious-er and Curious-er.” (Alice In Wonderland)
1. The “Evangelical gap”
2. critical stage: Curious
3. critical stage: seeking
10. Discernment Team Recommendations 8.25.2017 10Vision for Saint Monica Parish, Berwyn, PA
Saint Monica Parish
Encountering Jesus
Helping You Get to Heaven
11. Discernment Team Recommendations 8.25.2017 11Vision for Saint Monica Parish, Berwyn, PA
Spiritual Thresholds:
Parishes & People
Pre-
Trust
Trust
Curious
Open
Seeking
Disciple
Apostle
+ - 70% of
Parish
+-70% of
Church-Go-ers
3% - 7%of
Church Go-ers ??
Catechesis Only
Effective Here
Actively Seeking God
Passive
No
Connection,
Semi-Hostile,
Hostile
Actively Seeking Others
As outlined in
12. Discernment Team Recommendations 8.25.2017 12Vision for Saint Monica Parish, Berwyn, PA
Spiritual Thresholds
Pre-
Trust
Trust
Curious
Open
Seeking
Disciple
Apostle
+ - 70% of
Parish
+-70% of
Church-Go-ers
3% - 7%of
Church Go-ers ??
Catechesis Only
Effective Here
Implications for
St. Monica Parish?
13. Discernment Team Recommendations 8.25.2017 13Vision for Saint Monica Parish, Berwyn, PA
Spiritual Thresholds
Pre-
Trust
Trust
Curious
Open
Seeking
Disciple
Apostle
+ - 70% of
Parish
+-70% of
Church-Go-ers
3% - 7%of
Church Go-ers ??
Catechesis Only
Effective Here
“Small Groups”
Effective Here
What about “On-Boarding,”
“Off-Boarding and
Transitions?
14. Discernment Team Recommendations 8.25.2017 14Vision for Saint Monica Parish, Berwyn, PA
Background and Context
• In June 2016, Fr. Zlock commissioned a group of 20
parishioners to help prayerfully discern the future of the
parish.
• After 14 months of prayer, research, debate, and
discussion, the team reached consensus on
recommendations for the parish purpose, priorities, and
key initiatives for the next three years.
• The team proposes sharing these with the parish staff,
key leaders, and parishioners so they can be refined and
implemented
15. Discernment Team Recommendations 8.25.2017 15Vision for Saint Monica Parish, Berwyn, PA
Our Purpose as a Parish…
…is simply to get more people to heaven, with a special
emphasis on people who live in Berwyn and Devon.
We will evaluate how we spend our time, energy, and
resources in light of our purpose:
• If it will help more people get to heaven, we’ll do it.
• If we cannot see how it will help more people get to
heaven, we will let other organizations do it.
16. Discernment Team Recommendations 8.25.2017 16Vision for Saint Monica Parish, Berwyn, PA
Jesus is the Way
As a Catholic community, we believe that “God so
loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
everyone who believes in him might not perish,
but might have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
The life-changing encounter with Jesus is critical
and as a parish we will help people encounter
Jesus in scripture, the liturgy, and in service to
others.
17. Discernment Team Recommendations 8.25.2017 17Vision for Saint Monica Parish, Berwyn, PA
Encountering Jesus in…
Scripture Based Small Groups
Current research and our own parish experience validates the
power of scripture based small groups to help people encounter
Jesus and grow as disciples.
We will do this for women, men, and youth through:
18. Discernment Team Recommendations 8.25.2017 18Vision for Saint Monica Parish, Berwyn, PA
Encountering Jesus in...
Liturgy & Worship
As a Eucharistic community, we will strengthen the 3 H’s
and 3 M’s to help people encounter Jesus in our worship.
Hymns / Music
• Continue excellence in musical quality
• Increase diversity of liturgical music styles
Homilies / Message
• Ensure preaching is relevant to everyday life
• Provide timely feedback to presiders
Hospitality / Ministry
• Actively connect newcomers to ministry
• Develop welcome culture in all parishioners
5 Components to an
Excellent Homily:
A - udible
P - assionate
O - rganized
U - nderstandable
R – elevant to Life
19. Discernment Team Recommendations 8.25.2017 19Vision for Saint Monica Parish, Berwyn, PA
Encountering Jesus in…
Service to Others
As a Christian community, we are called to see the face of Christ in
others and be the face of Christ to others and so we will help people
encounter Jesus in service to others:
In the
parish
HOPE, Merry
Widows
On Campus
All Abilities,
Helping Hands
Beyond the
parish
Kensington
Bristol
See Jesus in others. Be Jesus for others.
20. Discernment Team Recommendations 8.25.2017 20Vision for Saint Monica Parish, Berwyn, PA
Encountering Jesus
Helping You Get to Heaven
Staff Lead: Jason Carter
IN SCRIPTURE-BASED
SMALL GROUPS
• Volunteer Leads:
• WWP – Melissa Gerding Maureen Kozak
• TMIY – Matt Manion, Tom McGurk
• Youth – Core Team Volunteers
Staff Leads: Fr. Zlock, Frank Orman
IN LITURGY
AND WORSHIP
• Volunteer Leads:
• Recruit New Liturgy Committee
• Hospitality - Martha McGurk
• Contemporary Music Initiative
Staff Lead: ?
IN SERVICE
TO OTHERS
• Volunteer Leads:
• Bridget Cowell, Michelle Manning
• Establish New Service & Outreach Commission
21. Discernment Team Recommendations 8.25.2017 21Vision for Saint Monica Parish, Berwyn, PA
Six Steps Towards Implementation
ACTIVITY LEAD DUE DATE
1. Recruitment for scripture-based small groups MG, MK, MM,
TM, JC
9/21/17
2. Confirm leadership for Service & Outreach
Commission
Fr. Zlock 9/31/17
3. Share vision and priorities with ministry leaders Fr. Z and
Discernment Team
11/15/17
4. Share vision and priorities with all parishioners Fr. Z and
Discernment Team
12/17/17
5. Recruit members of Liturgy Committee Fr. Z and Frank 1/19/18
6. Share the love and mercy of Jesus Christ with
others – in scripture, liturgy, and service
ALL Forever
22. Discernment Team Recommendations 8.25.2017 22Vision for Saint Monica Parish, Berwyn, PA
SUMMARY: What The Lord Wants
EVERY DAYENCOUNTER THROUGH SCRIPTURE
• Just Read the Bible
• Formal Study Group
• Scripture-Based Prayer Aids
EVERY WEEKENCOUNTER THROUGH LITURGY
AND WORSHIP
• Mass
• Adoration
• Abby Fest
EVERY YEARENCOUNTER THROUGH SERVING OTHERS
• Walking With Purpose - Kensington
• Helping Hands - Berwyn
• Holy Name – Bristol
23. Discernment Team Recommendations 8.25.2017 23Vision for Saint Monica Parish, Berwyn, PA
Saint Monica Parish…
• An intergenerational parish community of children,
teens, young adults, middle-age, seniors
• A community of growing disciples who share their
faith, support one another in small groups, and lead
others to Jesus
• A full and active Church at every Sunday Mass
• Catholics who go out and serve others in the name
of Christ
• A legacy of faith for generations to come in Berwyn
and Devon
