FROM THE PASTOR
DEAR FRIENDS,
It
is not only hard to believe that school has already started for this
year but it is also hard to believe that our Parish Development effort
is almost two years old! We contracted with the Institute of
School and Parish Development in the Fall of 2008. Their
representative, David Kissell, began work with us in October of that
year. That year of assessing the strengths, weaknesses, and needs
of the parish culminated in June with our Parish Convocation which over
200 parishioners attended and participated. From the needs that
were identified at that Convocation, six Implementation Teams have been
meeting every month for almost a year.
We have already seen
much fruit from this development effort including a Welcome Packet for
new parishioners, Greeters at weekend Masses, A Family Game Night,
gatherings of the “Over 50 Club”, Adult Faith Formation presentations,
and the beginning of a Long-Term plan for our physical plant and Church.
One
of the main purposes of the Parish Development effort is to involve
more people into the life of the parish. It has often been said
that you cannot be a Christian alone. The very nature of being a
follower of Jesus entails loving one another in Christian
Community. To that end, the Outreach and Evangelization
Implementation Team has been organizing a new Pictorial Directory for
our Parish. As you know, a picture directory of families in a
parish can be a great resource in learning the names and faces of the
people we worship with.
This week, the people from LifeTouch
Directories are here taking pictures of our parishioners. It is
very exciting to see families of all shapes and sizes coming in to be a
part of the directory. There is no charge to have your picture
taken for the directory. Each family gets a complimentary
photograph. In addition, you have the opportunity to purchase
additional pictures if you wish.
We currently have about 309
families scheduled to have their picture taken out of 1100 families on
our parish roster. Our goal was 400 families. It would, at
least, be awesome to surpass the 318 families who participated in the
last Directory five years ago.
There are still times
available in September to have your family’s picture taken.
Please call our Directory Chairperson, Julie Kisor, as soon as possible
at (419) 353-7460 to set up a time for you or your family.
May we continue to grow in God’s grace together,
Peace,
Fr. Mark