Sharing the Vision
Parish Goals & Objectives
2009-2010

1. Revise, review, and present to the Pastoral Council for affirmation the Mission Planning Manual by December 2009.
   
   The Mission Team believes the manual is a work in process and, as such, will never be complete, but will always be revised, and expanded.  The broad outline is completed, the individual presenter requests, requirements along with new ideas are being added.
   
   
2. By December 2009, secure three-year commitments from a total of ten parishioners to establish the Mission Planning Team.
   
   The Team is now comprised of 9-10 active members.
   
   
3. Schedule an annual Parish Mission for the next three years in coordination with the Adult Faith Formation Advisory Team, contracting with outside speakers and scheduling on the parish calendar by June 2010.
   
   Plans for the 2011 mission are progressing and there are suggestions for the 2012 mission.  As finalists are determined, they will be put forward to the Faith Formation Team for input, evaluation and review.

Objectives

1. To provide a method, by December 2009, to follow-up with newly registered parishioners and with people who recently received or participated in the sacraments such as Baptism, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, and Matrimony.
   

   Brainstorming resulted in two key areas:
   A.  Electronic Communications: Team members strongly urged the creation and use of FaceBook and other electronic means of communicating parish events and news.  The parish Facebook page is up and running: Good Shepherd Catholic Parish Tallahassee.
   

   B.  Neighborhood, Family, and Small Group Mentoring: Using software available to the parish, a three step process has been suggested but is still in progress.

   • Use the church bulletin and pulpit announcemenst for interested families to sign up as mentors for newly registered parishioners;
   • Have a meeting with those that are interested to explain in detail the concept and what we hope to accomplish;
   • Begin the program as new people register in the parish by assigning a volunteer-family-mentor in their neighborhood.
   
   
2. To begin implementation of the follow-up plan no later than March 2010.

Several activities have been identified:

1.  Have a celebration/Sacramental service sometime around  Thanksgiving for all parishioners who received any sacraments during the past year. 

2.  College freshmen/high school seniors reunion: We missed the window of opportunity this year, but hope to have fully implemented next year.

3.  Plan and host an activity for newly married couples. 

4.  Plan and host an activity for RCIA class of 2010, with assistance of 2009 class.  We have set the date for the first event which will be August 12th.

Objectives

1. Gather and study resource materials, including the U.S. Bishop's Plan for Evangeliation, to assit in determining future action plans by November 2009.
   
   Many resources, including the U.S. Bishop's Plan for Evangelization were collected and reviewed. Additional paper-based articles and books were also used.  While the gathering of materials, reading and learning about evangelization should be an ongoing effort, the Core Community has obtained enough to provide a basis from which to move forward from.
   
   
2. Publicize the formation of the Evangelization Core Community through various means including personal invitiations and pulpit/bulletin announcements, extending the inivitation for interested parishioners to participate in the development of the ECC by February 2010.
   
   While the Core Community certainly needs more members, this goal could be considered complete because the Core Community was formed. However, there needs to be a continued effort to bring parishioners into the Core Community.
   
   
3. Based on objectives 1 and 2, recommend key areas of focus for upcoming Good Shepherd evangelization efforts by June 2010.
   
   There is a substantial amount of important groundwork that should be done prior to determining key areas of focus.  The Evangelization Core Community will generally focus on efforts external to the parish.