What questions can we ask to help clarify
- Slides: 7
What questions can we ask to help clarify welcoming and belonging? We want to foster belonging to what/who? Outreach to whom? What are the joys and positive outcome for the parish community? What methods? (target audience) (remote, proximate, immediate) Outreach by whom? What are the obstacles?
Belong to whom or Outreach to whom? Outreach by whom? what? New parents Jesus Individuals Young children The Trinity Parish staff MS/HS youth Catholic Church Pastor/deacon College students Particular parish Parish groups Young adults Diocese of Erie Entire Parish Couples Church’s good Diocesan Offices works Working adults Bishop Small faith Retired/seniors community Marginalized
Do an honest assessment of the potential impact of an initiative, as well as the labor required to do it successfully, and the likelihood of success. Higher difficulty, Lower impact Higher impact Lower difficulty, Lower impact Higher impact At first, strive for initiatives which are lower effort, with the likelihood of high impact.
Examples of Lower Difficulty / Higher Impact • • Training of Ministers of Hospitality. Designate Family to do liturgical ministries. Signage for facilities(bathroom, cry-room, office, schools, religious education, choir, etc. ) Updated Contact list of each ministry, as well as contact information of person in charge. Welcome letter and packet from pastor. Lenten / Advent programs (simple meal with talk) Mentorship / Accompaniment
Examples of Higher Difficulty / Higher Impact • Personal Invitation (invite people to help using their gifts and talents) • Change of Pastor • Change of Mass Times • Secret Guest Survey • Updated website • Change of facility (welcoming / gathering space / accessible spaces) • Additional staff…. Pastoral ministers, full time religious ed leader, full time youth minister, ) • Mentorship / Accompaniment (connecting people). • Recognition / Appreciation dinners or programs. • Retreat Programs.
Examples of Lower Difficulty / Lower Impact • Coffee and Doughnuts after mass monthly. • Announcement after Mass/ Parish Bulletin. • Welcoming packets. • Removing clutter, outdated materials, bulletin boards
Examples of Higher Difficulty / Lower Impact • Change of Pastor. • Survey what people like. • Secret Guest Survey. • Fish dinners or spaghetti dinners (fundraisers) • Parish Picnic
