Parish Listening Session
On Wednesday, June 18th, sixty parishioners met in an open forum sponsored by the parish pastoral council to solicit ideas for future parish programs, and to voice general concerns and questions. The following lists summarize the many ideas that were presented.
| 1. What are the good things happening now that keep you connected to Sacred Heart Parish? | ||
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• a good, welcoming spirit |
• variety of lay ministries |
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| 2. Where would you like the parish to be four years from now (what would you like to see in the future)? | ||
| • Workshops for parish (i.e. Vatican II documents, new decade of rosary, etc.) • greeters at all activities • youth minister and youth activities • how do we welcome new people? • reverse the general mass attendance drop • more involvement of our Catholic school youngsters at mass and parish functions • welcome letters mailed to those new in the neighborhood • personal contact as part of new parishioner welcome • post-baptismal outreach (i.e. post-baptism letters) • improved sound system • encouragement of handicapped access & participation, designate area of church for their use • follow-up to RCIA process • inclusion of demographic changes • reversal of diminishing parish activities • welcome single adults • parent/child study and play group • adult Bible study (evenings for those who work) • promotion and hosting of AIM • concentration of homilies on fundamentals (ie, sin, sacraments, 10 commandments, etc.) • better planning and communication • more children’s groups • adult religious book group |
• more children and family attendance • ongoing listening sessions • spouse connections as a way to bring more to church • better publicity for Eucharistic adoration • adult evenings of recollection/education • a Lenten family retreat • merged parish from sub-cluster parishes • international potluck dinners • a parish show • social justice education/outreach • sung evening prayer one Sunday a month • passover meal at Holy Week • schedule activities better • more silent reflection time at mass • occasionally have a “teaching mass” • more youth & families coming to mass • increased sub-cluster interaction • small groups to serve as sounding board more frequently • special commissionings of ministers at mass (i.e. parish council/liturgical ministers/choir, etc.) • parish council bios in bulletin at the start of the new session • encourage supportive prayer for parish council • explanation of role of music, encourage singing • young people e.g. a lector (7th or 8th grade) for the Children’s Liturgy of the Word • liturgical dance for the great feasts |
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