Even in the Church we need to play toward where the puck is going to be rather than where it was yesterday or where if is today. While it is true that the lifeblood of the Church is divine grace and divine providence, this truth does not excuse from exercising human prudence. Setting goals is an indispensable part of prudent planning for the future. What are some of my personal goals for the coming year?
My first goal will not be a surprise and I am sick of talking about it.
My second goal is
identifying financial needs at both of our parishes and finding ways to meet them. The fact that Saint Paul expects to operate at a loss this fiscal year should not blind us to the reality that we are under-resourced. For example, Holy Family and Saint Paul have around 600 more parishioners than St. Mary in Muncie yet we have at least two fewer full-time employees and one fewer priest. Both parishes have schools. Other parishes of similar sizes with schools employ even more lay support staff than St. Mary in Muncie does.
My third goal is
facilitating optimally functional consultative bodies and parish staff. Pastoral councils, school advisory boards and finance councils can help a parish implement a vision for the future. They help the pastor to lead effectively. Our small parish staff has much work to do. For this reason, it is important they are empowered to say yes to the most important tasks and say no to those that will not be the most efficient use of their time. I have been working with the diocesan leadership, parish staff and council members to create a scenario where everyone in the boat is pulling together to the greatest extent possibls.
Next week I will start writing about the vision that has been forming for our parish cluster as I think, minister and pray.