Strategic Plan

ST. MARKS
CATHOLIC COMMUNITY

 “RECEIVING AND SHARING THE LOVE OF CHRIST”

Vision

A welcoming, growing Catholic Family that continuously Experiences and Joyfully shares the love of God!

Mission

As members of his body, we come together and are transformed through the Word of God, The Mass, The sacraments and prayer. We Go Forth INTO the world sharing the love of Christ.

Our SPIRIT Values

SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY- NOURISHING ONE ANOTHER
PUTTING OUR FAITH INTO ACTION WITH INTEGRITY
INDIVIDUAL ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS
RENEWED FOCUS ON THE FAMILY
INSTRUCTION IN THE CATHOLIC FAITH
THANKFULLY SHARING OUR BLESSINGS

GOALS

Goal #1:  Go forth and serve by identifying and providing opportunities for our parishioners to engage and serve those in need.

(Focus Area: External Outreach)

Goal #2: St. Mark’s is a welcoming community where we grow in our faith, invite others to participate and serve one another by being active in ministry, and by sharing the love of Christ.

 (Focus Area: Building and Enriching our Parish Community)

Goal #3:  St. Mark’s parishioners experience spiritual development through the Word of God, the Mass, the Sacraments and the Traditions of the church.

(Focus Area: Spiritual Development: Mass and Sacraments)

Goal #4:  St. Mark’s has an organizational structure that is able to effectively execute meaningful plans which are supported by a financially healthy parish.

(Focus Area: Financial and Organizational Effectiveness)

Goal #5:  St. Mark's, through listening to parishioner needs and with purposeful and deliberate communication, encourages parishioners to fully engage in parish life and activities.

(Focus Area: Communication)

Goal #6:    St. Mark’s parishioners grow deeper in their Catholic faith.

 (Focus Area:  Education, Faith Formation and Enrichment)

 

FOCUS AREAS, GOALS, AND STRATEGIES

FOCUS AREA I: External Outreach

Goal #1:   Go forth and serve. Identify and provide opportunities for our parishioners to engage and serve those in need.

Strategies:

  • Identify those Ministries currently involved in external outreach, the spiritual and community needs they are addressing, parishioners that are involved and their roles. Evaluate their efficacy toward achieving parish goals.
  • Identify a leadership structure.
  • Be Bold by taking the Church and the Sacraments to the people.
  • Provide training on the New Evangelization

 

FOCUS AREA II: Building and enriching our existing parish Community 

Goal #2:  St. Mark’s is a welcoming community where we grow in our faith, invite others to participate and serve one another by being active in ministry, and by sharing the love of Christ.

Strategies:

  • Define the behaviors of an active member of St. Mark’s parish (i.e. hospitable, educated in the faith, sharing Christ’s love through ministry, participation in liturgy).
  • Create a list of currently supported in-parish socials, family-building opportunities and youth activities that build community. Evaluate their efficacy toward meeting the parish goals.
  • Identify those ministries involved in internal outreach, needs they are addressing, parishioners that are involved and their roles.
  • Identify and address missing attitudes and behaviors in ministries, services and community building efforts based upon focus groups’ feedback.

 

FOCUS AREA III:  Spiritual Development: Mass and Sacraments

Goal #3:  St. Mark’s parishioners experience spiritual development through the Mass,

The Sacraments and the Traditions of the Church.

Strategies:

3.1   Provide a meaningful and fulfilling experience in the Mass *

        3.2   Education on why we do what we do in the Mass.*

        3.3   Education on other Sacraments.

3.4   Continuing education for clergy (faith formation, spiritual leadership in the Mass and Sacraments, delivery of the message, etc.). 
3.5   Increased Accessibility to the Sacraments (especially reconciliation)
3.6   Select key Traditions and provide educational opportunities.
3.7   Maintain alignment with key messages from the Vatican and our Church. (Vatican encyclicals, Year of Mercy, guidance on staying in touch with the messages our Pope gives to us )    

*suggested to combine 3.1 and 3.2 as the top priority for this goal.     

 

FOCUS AREA IV:  Financial and Organizational Effectiveness

Goal #4:  St. Mark’s has an organizational structure that is able to effectively execute meaningful plans which are supported by a financially healthy parish.

Strategies:

4.1   Review organizational structure, staff, councils, and ministries to clarify roles and responsibilities to provide effective delivery of our mission.
4.2   Annually prioritize elements of the strategic plan to generate an annual plan and operating budget. (Including the creation of an annual parish calendar consistent with the liturgical year calendar that leads to disciplined planning for social events, fundraising and ministry activities).
4.3   Based upon the strategic plan, determine the need for a capital plan to support programs and facilities.
4.4   Elimination of the parish debt

    

FOCUS AREA V:  Communication

Goal #5:  St. Mark's, through listening to parishioner needs and with purposeful and deliberate communication, encourages parishioners to fully engage in parish life and activities.

Strategies:

5.1   Create a Strategic communication matrix

Understand the specific needs of each group and tailor communication to their needs. (External and internal communication)

5.2   Provide training for parish and school staff, councils and ministry leaders in effective communication methods. 
5.3   Identify Internal Communication plan for parish and school staff that optimizes resources.
5.4   Develop an outbound communication strategy (ministries, parishioners), external outreach
5.5   Define roles and methods of communication to ministry leaders and their members.
5.6   Clarify accountability and responsibility of parishioners in the communication process.

 

FOCUS AREA VI:  Education, Faith Formation and Enrichment

Goal #6:    St. Mark’s parishioners grow deeper in their Catholic faith. (through Education, Faith Formation and Enrichment)

Strategies:

6.1   Assess educational needs of various groups in the parish; 

Identified by:
Population segment (ethnic groups, youth, mature population, young families teaching the faith to their children, ongoing education RCIA entrants, returning Catholics, and others).

6.2   Create an annual enrichment plan to incorporate the needs of all groups (including Bible studies, speakers, pilgrimages, retreats, etc.)
6.3   Invite parishioners, family, friends and neighbors to attendance in order to engage their participation.
6.4   Develop a family focused plan incorporating all facets of family life(forming children, parenting, support).
6.5   Support St. Mark’s School in the creation and integration of their Strategic Plan.