New Pastorate Plan Completed for St. John Columbia
St. John the Evangelist parish in Columbia began their planning efforts in November of 2019. The planning team wanted to build on the diversity of their parishioners and community by welcoming all, by serving the underserved, and by being a beacon of hope that fights injustice. They launched their plan with a revival this past fall. They are focusing their initial efforts on:
- Actively engaging diversity in their liturgy planning and celebrations seeking a more inclusive community
- Creating Outreach to Underserved Groups
- Incorporating into all programming a follow-up experience to seek continued engagement in parish life
- Strategically improving their planning and communications seeking to engage greater ownership and volunteerism in parish activities
Click here to read the plan!
New Pastorate Plans Completed for St. Leo Parish and Divine Mercy Parish
St. Leo Pastorate Plan
St. Leo, located in Little Italy in Baltimore, began their planning efforts in July of 2019. Their planning team focused on engaging their current parishioners and reaching out to those in the community and those attracted to the Italian heritage of the parish. They believed that the plan should focus on enhanced communication. To this end, they have hired a Communications director as a member of their small staff. They also want to build up strengths-based ministry, where people’s gifts are discerned as part of their call to different ministries in the parish. They also hope to build small faith-sharing groups, leveraging the groups that have been forming online during the pandemic and offering other gatherings in person. Click here to read the plan!
Divine Mercy Pastorate Plan
Divine Mercy began their evangelization-based planning process in 2018 under the leadership of their Director of Mission, Margie Meyers. The plan kept at the forefront the vision of missionary transformation that guides their strategies and implementation. Lay leadership was heavily involved and this plan is truly the work and inspiration of the people and the Holy Spirit. Some key areas of focus are:
- Strengthening the liturgies at all four of their worship sites
- Increasing their outreach to young adults (both in the community and at Frostburg)
- Forming and strengthening volunteers
- Developing their small faith sharing groups
You can read the plan here, and if you would like more information about their plan and process, please contact Margie Meyers or Fr. Ed Hendricks.
Pastorate Plan for St. Peter (Hancock) and St. Patrick (Little Orleans) Completed
St. Peter (Hancock) and St. Patrick (Little Orleans) used their evangelization-based strategic planning process to build on the work that the leadership had already undertaken in their work on “From Maintenance to Mission” The key areas of focus for the plan are Service, Spiritual and Social renewal of their pastorate. The initiatives they are undertaking include intentional outreach to their communities and creating new gathering spaces and welcome to people who visit their campuses. The pastorate wants to also continue the virtual and personal outreach that they undertook during the pandemic. They are sharing their process and the initiatives with their new incoming priest, Fr. Joe Langan. This will help to ensure a smooth transition so that the good progress that they have made, and the engagement of the lay leaders will continue.
To read the plan, visit the parish website or click here.
2020 Pastorate Cohort Formed
The 2020 Pastorate Cohort is underway! Six pastorates have begun the work of studying and reflecting upon the challenges and opportunities for disciple-making that God has laid before them. Despite still being in the midst of a pandemic, these pastorates have recognized the unique opportunity that the current situation has given us to prepare now to “bounce forward, not bounce back” once the pandemic recedes. By strategically considering how God is calling us to shine the light of Christ in dark days as well as brighter ones, these pastorates bear witness to the great hope we have in Jesus and the promise that his Spirit is with us always, guiding our steps along the path of missionary discipleship.
The 2020 Pastorate Cohort includes:
- St. Peter (Oakland) (Fr. Tom Gills, pastor)
- St. Ann (Hagerstown) (Msgr. Bruce Jarboe, pastor)
- St. John (Westminster) (Fr. Mark Bialek, pastor)
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Ellicott City) (Fr. Mike Triplett, pastor)
- St. Agnes – St. William of York (Catonsville) (Fr. Isaac Makovo, pastor)
- St. Ursula (Parkville) (Fr. Jason Worley, pastor)
2020 Cohort Nominations Now Being Accepted
Nominations are now being accepted for pastorates that wish to be considered for the 2020 cohort of pastorates activated for planning. Initial planning work would begin after October 1, using a virtual meeting environment.
The deadline for submitting a nomination is Sunday, September 20. The online nomination form can be found here. For additional information, please contact Daphne Daly, Director of the Office of Pastoral Planning at Daphne.Daly@archbalt.org or 410-547-5545.
Pastorate Planning Year in Review: Things Look Very Different This Year!
Pastorate planning has looked very different over the past year, especially in the last six months! Find out what the 2019 cohort has been up to and how they have successfully navigated pastorate planning in a pandemic. Also in the newsletter you will find information about nominating your pastorate for the 2020 cohort, testimony from those who have taken up pastorate planning about the positive effect it has had, and ideas for how to get your pastorate headed on a path of missionary discipleship even if you have not been activated for planning.
