2019 Pastoral Plan
06 January 2019
The Epiphany of the Lord
Re: Pastoral Plan 2019
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Peace and All Good!
Today marks the beginning of so many wonderful things for our parish community as we begin this new year with gratitude to God for all the blessings we have received in 2018 - individually and collectively - as a community of faith. We have been blessed in 2018 with committed leaders and volunteers - humble servants of our parish in many different capacities and ministries. I, personally, was blessed in 2018 to have been welcomed by our benevolent bishop His most Excellency Michael Warfel D.D. in this diocese who placed me as your priest. Indeed, I am blessed to be with you. Looking ahead, we know that we have many things to accomplish in the coming years and with everyone's support and cooperation, we believe that God will continue to bless our commitment and dedication.
Moving forward, I am pleased to lay down my pastoral plan for 2019. This is a draft of what I envision this year to be based on, what I see as our parish needs, and partly based on my dialogue with people in our community.
Allow me to present to you some of them, and as we go along, we will find other programs necessary for the continued growth of our parish communities:
I am very excited for this year. I know that you are all too, because we are in this together. Let us ask the ever Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Mother of the Church - our dear Mother, to pray for us and for all our endeavors during 2019. May she protect us with her love and care so that we will never give up in our resolute to follow the footsteps of Her beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
God bless you all in this new year, together with your family and friends.
May you all have a Blessed 2019.
The Epiphany of the Lord
Re: Pastoral Plan 2019
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Peace and All Good!
Today marks the beginning of so many wonderful things for our parish community as we begin this new year with gratitude to God for all the blessings we have received in 2018 - individually and collectively - as a community of faith. We have been blessed in 2018 with committed leaders and volunteers - humble servants of our parish in many different capacities and ministries. I, personally, was blessed in 2018 to have been welcomed by our benevolent bishop His most Excellency Michael Warfel D.D. in this diocese who placed me as your priest. Indeed, I am blessed to be with you. Looking ahead, we know that we have many things to accomplish in the coming years and with everyone's support and cooperation, we believe that God will continue to bless our commitment and dedication.
Moving forward, I am pleased to lay down my pastoral plan for 2019. This is a draft of what I envision this year to be based on, what I see as our parish needs, and partly based on my dialogue with people in our community.
Allow me to present to you some of them, and as we go along, we will find other programs necessary for the continued growth of our parish communities:
- We will begin planning parish feasts, which will become an occasion for all the parishioners to bond as one family.
- Each parish will form a Liturgy Committee (or LC). All the different ministries will choose its delegate to become part of the committee. The Liturgy Committee has the following general responsibilities - (a). The LC, through its appointed head will ensure that each Mass is duly assigned with respective assignees (choir, lectors etc.). (b) The LC makes an annual or semi-annual plan with regards to special liturgical seasons, feasts and solemnities (advent, lent etc.). (c) The LC assists in liturgical arts and decorations, as well as in disseminating information especially with regard to liturgical celebrations. (d) The members of the LC assists in maintaining cleanliness and orderliness in the sacristy; as well as the organization of liturgical materials and items in the sacristy and the church. (e) The LC head coordinates regularly with the priest and reports directly to the pastor regarding liturgical matters. Note, however, that the above responsibilities can be changed or amended if deemed necessary.
- The parish handbook will be created. The handbook is a compilation of different ministries with their objectives and programs. It will also serves as a ministry directory. Each household registered in the parish will receive this handbook, which will also be included in the welcoming packet to be given to new registered parishioners.
- We will begin to draft our parish Vision and Mission statement, and hopefully before the end of 2019 or the first quarter of 2020 we will launch the draft of the Parish Constitution and By-Laws.
- We will begin the first annual parish Lenten Retreat. Details will be discussed along the way.
- We will choose a parish coordinator for the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings Pastoral Plan. More information regarding the responsibilities of our parish coordinator will be discussed further in the succeeding days.
I am very excited for this year. I know that you are all too, because we are in this together. Let us ask the ever Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Mother of the Church - our dear Mother, to pray for us and for all our endeavors during 2019. May she protect us with her love and care so that we will never give up in our resolute to follow the footsteps of Her beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
God bless you all in this new year, together with your family and friends.
May you all have a Blessed 2019.