Our work as a Next Generation Parish soon will enter its third of four phases. The Implementation phase is two years in length that will bring to reality the priorities and goals of the Envisioning Team (phase two) that were gleaned from the information you, our parishioners, provided on the Disciple Maker Index (phase one). The Implementation Team will be tasked with bringing these priorities into reality. 

Creating an Enriching and Meaningful Worship Experience

The rationale for this priority is to emphasize an understanding of faith, creating a welcoming environment, and introducing unique worship experiences that will help parishioners to meditate upon the meaning of Eucharist and respond to the invitation for discipleship. Furthermore, this priority acknowledges the many social aspects of worship such as from being received upon entry into the worship space to deepening occasions for communal engagement after the liturgy. 

Growing Parish Discipleship

The rationale for this priority finds its source in John 13 – The Washing of the Feet. Jesus gives himself for the life of the Church and he mandates his followers to serve in remembrance of him. This priority challenges us to embrace our Baptismal responsibility as servant leaders, This priority also affords us the opportunity to strengthen our ministry programs and define new programs where all members of the parish are encouraged to exercise their talents to meet the various needs of our parishioners and our community. 

Growing Holiness 

The rationale for this priority is based upon the courage and confidence of St. Paul at the conclusion of the Acts of the Apostles. As a Church we are asked to inspire people to reawaken the passion for the faith as the foundation for their life. This priority seeks to remind us that opportunities for grace and holiness can be found in acts of devotion, prayer experiences, and deepening our comprehension of the Sacraments and the beautiful depth of their significance for our faith life. 

Some of the goals identified through these priorities will be realized in the short term. Others will be achieved through the work of an Implementation Team whose membership will be confirmed during this summer. The Implementation Team, once established, will unfold the priorities’ associated goals throughout the next two years. 

As we look forward to these ideas being brought to fruition, I would like to thank the following members of our Envisioning Team who, for the last seven months, have diligently worked to bring your vision for our parish to fulfillment. I have been privileged to accompany these talented individuals during this process. They indeed are representative of the creativity we are blessed with our parishioners here at Our Lady of Peace. Thanks and God Bless you.

Jackie Basquill

Dennis Drass

Liz Dwyer

Andrew Knob

Rich McKinney

Lauralee Ryder

Sue Southwick

Peg Tomassetti

Nicole Truitt

Deacon Bill

Our parish’s Envisioning Team, part of the Next Generation Parish Initiative, has met on five occasions since the beginning of the year and will continue to meet until the end of April. The following is an update of the work of this dedicated group of parishioners. 

Introduction:

A parish survey for the Catholic Leadership Institute was conducted in the Spring of 2022. The respondents were an eighth of active parishioners, and representative of a particular demographic group of parishioners. The survey was conducted while the awareness of Covid impacts on group gatherings was still fresh. The survey confirmed the strengths of our parish community. We are indeed a loyal community that is called to know, to love, and to serve Jesus. The results also serve as a very workable framework and structure for the future of our parish. Thank you for your participation. Based on the survey results the parish Envisioning Team created a Parish Purpose Statement, identified apparent key threads that were woven within the results, and finally established three priorities for our future.

Our Parish Purpose Statement:

Our parish’s purpose is to serve one another and the community by following the example set by Jesus Christ. We will strive to live His teachings through the sharing of his Eucharistic grace. We will welcome all who enter His Church, recognizing that every individual is a child of God and loved by his Creator. Therefore we will love one another as He loves us. 

Key Learnings: 

Respondents feel a strength of our parish is its care for the community and support of its members in time of need.

Parishioners desire retreat experiences, workshops, and small group gatherings to strengthen their faith, deepen their spirituality, and enhance their sense of community.

We as a community accept our role of discipleship and we recognize that discipleship takes many forms, touching the hearts, desires, and concerns of the various generations within our parish.

Opportunities: 

The parish Envisioning Team, based on the key learnings from the survey, has identified the following priorities for our parish. 

Enhancement of the Worship experience 

Revival of parish ministry programs

Investing in a growing sense of community

Each of these form a foundation that will ideally lead to future program developments where every member of the parish is welcomed, and encouraged to receive the grace of the Eucharist and to go forth in peace to know, to love, and to serve the Lord.

The Envisioning Team is richly blessed to represent this loyal, and caring community. Please feel free to contact me for clarification or further information. Thank you and God bless you with his peace.