IN THIS ISSUE  

Volume 10, Issue 5, January 2022

• Answering the Call to Lead: Pastoral Council 101
• Ministries Bear Fruit for the Mission
• Planning Tools: Building Focus on Mission
• GalileeU – Upcoming Sessions for Parish Leaders
• Growing as Disciples
• Leading like Jesus
• Missionary Planning & Leadership Contact Information 

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Answering the Call to Lead: Pastoral Council 101

An important pastoral council “New Year’s Resolution” is to conduct a “committee audit.” This audit reviews the main committees of your parish to see if they have clear leadership, have sufficient members, are meeting regularly, are communicating consistently, and are fulfilling their designated purpose. This allows parish leaders to diagnose problems and strengthen the outcomes of these committees.

It is especially important to perform an audit on the five standing committees/commissions of the pastoral council. To assist you in this audit, please see the detailed descriptions of each committee in the “Parish Commissions and Committees Manual.”

Ministries Bear Fruit for the Mission

“The purpose of ministries within the Church is to provide nurture and formation for the mission.- Peter Cullinane, Mission, Ministries and Co-responsibility, Sept. 2021

From the earliest days of the Church, the mission has been understood as teaching, sanctifying, serving, and unifying. Pastoral Council commissions or ministry committees are organized into these four basic areas of mission. Organizing the mission into these areas allows a commission or ministry committee to focus on one area and to become vibrant both inside and outside the parish.

Post ministry committee audit (see Answering the Call to Lead: Pastoral Council 101 article in this issue), your ministry teams should understand how they serve the needs of the mission, how to plan strategically for the ministry, and be prepared to monitor the progress of the ministry.

With the goal of ensuring mission vibrancy inside and outside our parishes, each ministry committee should consider…

• What successes have your ministries realized, or what fruit have your ministries produced, both inside and outside your parish?
• How do your ministries need to change to better meet the needs of your community – both inside and outside your parish?
• How would collaboration between ministry committees give strength to your mission in the community?

Contact us for any additional guidance your ministry teams may need.

What is your plan for your ministries to bear more fruit?

Planning Tools: Building Focus on Mission

(Part 4 in a Series)

The Office of Missionary Planning and Leadership can support leaders work in the development of your parish with our Planning Toolbox.

This month, we want you to be aware of a tool called Demographics, Parish Statistics and Trends Study.  This tool gives your parish a picture of trends and statistics both inside your parish and in the mission field of your parish neighborhood.  A trainer from our office will analyze the data for you and then bring you an executive level report on key benchmarks and trends.  The trainer will then help you to identify opportunities for future growth.  Check it out!

(This series began in October and is featured in previous Missionary Leader Update newsletters.)

GalileeU – Upcoming Session for Parish Leaders

Does your parish vision and mission include making more disciples? As a parish leader, learn how to share faith stories and encourage others on their own faith journeys. 

Consider attending this learning session: 

• How to Have Conversations that Lead to Conversion – January 27, 7 pm (in-person at St. Alphonsus, Greendale)

This session will give you practical tools for both listening to understand where someone is in their journey and inviting that person to take the next step closer to Christ and his Church.

Check out GalileeU for more information and registration links. Invite your fellow parish leaders!

Growing as Disciples 

The fruits of our leadership are only as abundant as the depth of our personal discipleship. So all of us need to continually grow in our relationship with Jesus. And, like all relationships, the only way that growth can happen is through consistent quality time spent together.

As Catholics, we call this quality time “prayer.” Unfortunately, many of us have never been taught how to pray. Luckily, we have this wonderful video from Bishop Robert Barron on how to pray. Watch it and discuss it together as parish leaders.

Leading Like Jesus 

As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me!”

Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.”
Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.” He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.

- Luke 18:35-43

• Jesus allowed himself to be interrupted and took time to interact with the blind man. As a servant leader, do you address the needs of those around you, even though it might delay your plans?
• Do you yourself take the time to directly ask Jesus for what you need?
• Do you allow yourself to be silenced by others and let doubt creep in when you are leading?