Faith in Our Future Update

Goals:

The goals of this diocesan-wide process include:

• Strengthening the parishes, ministries, and organizations of the Diocese.
• Exploring new models of leadership.
• Improving our stewardship of personnel, finances, and facilities.
• Establishing collaborative relationships among parishes.
• Providing greater pastoral ministry to Latino Catholics.

Core Team

Our parish core team includes:

• Deacon Kevin O'Boyle, Chair
• Msgr. Thomas Gervasio, Pastor
• Lea Novak, Secretary
• Leonard Commini
• Amanda Baranowski

Our team has reviewed parish data and the responses made in the recent surveys in order to make an honest asssessment of our pastoral life based on criteria for planning in four areas:

1. Sacramental Life
2. Evangelization, Catechesis, & Schools
3. Communal Life
4. Stewardship & Leadership

Based on survey responses, our parish team has identified three strengths of and three challenges for our parish.

• Strengths:
  • Commitment to Catholic Education
  • Generosity to the poor
  • Welcoming spirit
• Challenges/Areas for Improvement
  • Liturgical Music
  • Ministry to Youth/Young Adults
  • New Evangelization to inactive Catholics

Our parish team will be working in concert with teams from local parishes that form a "cohort".

Cohort

Our cohort includes the following parishes:

• Our Lady of Sorrows - St. Anthony
• St. Gregory the Great, Hamilton Square
• St. Raphael-Holy Angels, Whitehorse
• St. Vincent de Paul, Yardville
• St. John the Baptist, Allentown

During the next several months, the parish core teams from each of these parishes will be meeting regularly to discuss our strengths and challenges, and to determine ways we can share strengths and work together on challenges. The cohort has formed four subteams, addressing each of the four planning areas mentioned above. To ensure that each parish is represented in discussions of each area, the subteams are composed of at least one representative from each parish. This phase of the process will culminate in late May/early June with a cohort evaluation and planning suggestions to the Diocesan Planning Committee and the bishop.

Stay tuned for more information as we progress!