CHANGINGTHE

CULTUREOF THEPARISH

Stewardship as a tool for

Evangelization

QUESTION 1HOW IS YOUR PARISH PERCEIVED?

Is it:Family oriented?A community that shares its mission?

Growing?A worshipping parish?Fulfilling the needs of the parishioners?

QUESTION 2

Is that how you want your parish to be perceived?

andIf not, are you willing to change?

“If they are not coming to church, maybe it is because we are not

feeding them!”Fr. Joe Creedon; ICSC 2013

CHANGE IS NEEDED! Change is not difficult!

As we age we change.As the weather changes, we change.

As things get old, we replace them.

ACCEPTING CHANGE IS SEEN AS DIFFICULT! Our unwillingness to change

usually comes from the fear of loosing something.

For something to change something needs to be given up.

When it is a group of people, the fear of change is multiplied.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE TRANSFORMED? Vatican II asked us to transform the

culture.

“In the last 50 years, instead of transforming the culture, the culture has transformed us!”

Lois Locey; ICSC 2013

WHAT HAS CHANGED? Church is now seen as a CHOICE. Declining populations.

Fewer people to pay the bills. Increased regulations.

More bills to pay. Shortage of Priests and religious. Greater emphasis on the operations

of the parish.Less emphasis on mission.

“I am concerned that we are headed in a direction

wherein the doctrine of the Church will be dictated by

available resources.”Bishop Mark McDonald; TENS 2001.

THE EVANGELIZATION FORMULA HAS BEEN FORGOTTEN.

Although it was always there, it wasn’t seen as a priority.We forgot how to do it.

Saint John Paul II called for the New Evangelization 20 years ago.We are still trying to figure out how to do

it.

THE COMPETITION Advances in:

Technology (internet, social media etc.)

Marketing TechniquesTransportationCentralization (depopulation of rural areas)

Science Changes towards the “-isms”

(individualism, consumerism, etc.)

THE COMPETITION The positive side!

More activities to get involved with

Increased emphasis on safety, social justice, the environment, well being, etc.

Increased global awareness.We are the most knowledgeable

people in history.

THE “COMPETITION” The negative side!

Increased gap between rich and poor.

Decrease in job securityDiminishment of good citizenshipWhole new areas of crime.

Used as excuses against participation in religion.

“People always seem to have the time and money for whatever they value most”

Lois Locey; ICSC 2013

We need to transform the culture of our Parishes such that

They invite, promote, encourage and assist

people in making faith the thing they value most!

WAYS OF TRANSFORMING THE CULTURE OF THE PARISH

1. Focus on the “pastoral” mission.

1. The Mission should be perceived as the main goal.

2. The Mission needs to be regularly reviewed and evaluated.

3. The Mission needs to be shared. 4. Is the parish leadership, by their

example, a testimony to the mission?

The following is a mission statement that seems to cover all the above bases, clearly and concisely.

  “ We the people of the Roman Catholic parish of

_____________________________ in _______________________, are called to reveal the love of Jesus Christ to our community.

  Strengthened by the Word, Worship, Fellowship and Service,

we commit ourselves to building strong families and supporting all persons on their spiritual journey.

We express gratitude for our gifts by sharing them to strengthen our community by using them to provide opportunities for worship experiences, educational opportunities for all ages and the development of of fellowship and service projects.

  As a parish community of the Diocese of ______________________

we recognize that we are called to share in the ministry of the Catholic Church in cooperative efforts of peace, justice and community building.

Our baptismal call as people of diverse backgrounds and talents is to be a light shining in our community and we commit ourselves to fulfill this mission.”

WAYS OF TRANSFORMING THE CULTURE OF THE PARISH

Parish should be a

“Happy Place”

It should be happy for the right reasons.

The joy that comes from a relationship with God.

WAYS OF TRANSFORMING THE CULTURE OF THE PARISH

The Parish should be:

A Centre of

Spiritual Growth

A CENTRE OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH To follow Christ: “And Jesus went about all the cities and

villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.”

Mathew 9:35

Is your Parish one that:

TEACHES PREACHES

HEALS

A CENTRE OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH

To TEACH Spreading the Good News is not

limited to SundaysTechnology:

Websites:Catholics Come HomeFaithLife ForumSwords of Truth

Catechetical Training from the Diocese Skype The Resource Centre

A CENTRE OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH To Teach by example

Leadership that is exemplary; “You need to be the change that you want to

see in the world.” Ghandi“A good Steward is a responsible evangelist

who helps others find their faith through actions. We show them our faith which, in turn, gives credibility to tell them. If we don’t show them our faith first, they are not going to believe what we tell them.” Fr. Joe Creedon

A CENTRE OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Teach the students in front of you.Consider:

Their agePhysical impairments like poor

hearing and/or sight.Language

A CENTRE OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH

To Preach:All baptised have a priestly

calling. Is the gospel visible anywhere

aside from the mass books.On bannersIn you church sign.In the hall.

A CENTRE OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Does preaching occur in activities other than Sunday mass.Sacramental prepPost sacramental activitiesSpecial Pastoral Functions

Is the preaching both transcendental and reverent.

Fr. Jerome Lavigne

BUILDING COMMUNITY

In your faith community, do your

members share activities directed at a common purpose?

BUILDING COMMUNITY All should share the mission. The members are the community, not

the building. Because it is made up of the children

of God, it should have the same characteristics as a loving family.

Be respectful of the culture of its members.

BUILDING COMMUNITY All should share the mission. The members are the community, not

the building. Because it is made up of the children

of God, it should have the same characteristics as a loving family.

Be respectful of the culture of its members.

OUR PRAYER FOR YOUThat your relationship with God will be

enriched.That the relationship to God of other

will be enriched by you,Because

Faith is the Greatest Gift.

THANK YOU&

GOD BLESS YOU