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THREE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR ST FAUSTINA PARISH

Effective: October 2, 2017

Table of Contents

A.State of the Parish 1

B.Unleash the Gospel 3

C.Lay Management Organizations 5

1 Parish Pastoral Council 5

2 Parish Finance Council 6

3 Worship Commission (Sacristans, Ushers, Acolytes (Altar Servers), Extraordinary Ministers of

Holy Communion, Lectors, Music Ministry) 6

4 Christian Service Commission 7

5 Stewardship Commission 9

6 Christian Education/Formation Commission 9

7 Evangelization Committee 10

D.Religious Education 11

E.Parish Volunteer and Social Organizations 11

F. Financial Plan 12

G.Parish Facilities & Communications 13

H.Parish Mission Goals and Future Strategic Plan 13

I. Conclusion 14

Chart - Parish Organization Chart 15

OVERVIEW

The Strategic Plan is the guiding document for the direction of our parish. The Parish Council is responsible for revising the Strategic Plan every three to five years to incorporate new information and changing circumstances to meet the needs of the parish community. The current Mission Statement adopted for our parish is: “We continue the work of Jesus Christ and help everyone seek and experience the love and mercy of God."

In order to accomplish the Strategic Plan objectives, the Plan addresses various demographics, current community conditions, input from parishioners, Vicariate and Archdiocese recommendations, job responsibilities, parish staff input, past successes, likely future obstacles and projections for future growth.

A. STATE OF THE PARISH

St. Faustina Parish is located in the Central Macomb Vicariate in the Northeast Region of the Archdiocese of Detroit. Our geographical territory runs approximately from Groesbeck Highway in the east to Van Dyke Avenue in the west and from 11 Mile Road in the south to 13 Mile Road in the north, in the city of Warren, Michigan.

St Faustina Parish, Warren MI Strategic Plan 2017

St. Faustina Parish was formed in July 2013 from the merged parishes of St Sylvester and St Edmund. Continued combining/merging of other nearby Catholic parishes has led to new parishioners joining St Faustina, while some of our original parishioners transferred to other parishes.

The following parish facts are current as of July 2017 (note: parish year starts July 1 and ends June 30 of the following year).

• The parish currently has 1079 registered families. This is a decrease of 366 since 2013 (approximately 25%).

• Our Catholic Services Appeal (CSA) target dropped from $79,900 in 2013/14 to $65,349 in 2015/16, but rose again in to $75,830 in 2016/2017 (see table below). CSA contributions dropped from $47,585 in 2013/14 to $40,799 in 2015/16, a decrease of 14%; however, the parish is on track to meet its CSA target for 2017.

• The parish has not been in debt since its founding due to the proceeds from the sale of the St Sylvester campus (which is in an interest-earning account with the Archdiocese of Detroit (AOD)) and careful stewardship by Father Bogdan and the Finance Council. However, several major projects are underway or recently completed which will significantly impact our fund balance.

• The parish employs eight full and part time people in the following positions: Pastor, Office Manager, Director of Religious Education, Director of Music Ministry (this position is currently unfilled), Bookkeeper, and two Maintenance personnel. One reason our parish operating expenses have dropped is that we have fewer employees, and most employees are now part-time.

• Production of the parish bulletin and maintenance of the parish website are assigned as additional duties to the Office Manager and the Director of Religious Education.

• Church seating capacity is 1,200 and the Fr. McGoldrick Activity Center seats 450.

Church Fiscal Year (July 1 – June 30) 2016/2017 2015/16 2014/15 2013/14

Registered parishioners (households) 1079 1106 1095 1445

Average number of envelopes turned in per week 350 425 415 475

CSA Target 75,830 65,349 72,962 79,900

CSA Contributions (*2017 drive still in progress, figure given is the amount currently pledged)

76,305* 40,799 46,190 47,585

Parish Operating Expenses 556,025 459,600 529,952 642,207

Total Operating Revenue: Sunday collections, gifts to the parish, interest earned on savings (*includes a one-time gift to the parish of $200,000 in 2015/2016)

579,325 942,994* 750,304 750,389

Annual Mass Attendance Count (total weekend attendance averaged over two weekends in October) 710 ? 799 1085

Students enrolled in Religious Education classes 90 111 135 127

Below are some parish sacrament statistics:

Strategic Plan 2017 St. Faustina Parish, Warren MI

Church Fiscal Year (July 1 – June 30) 2016/2017 2015/16 2014/15 2013/14Baptisms 3 16 17 19

Adult Baptisms 0 1 0 2

First Communions 8 16 19 33Young Adult Confirmations 10 22 23 31Weddings 1 3 5 7Funerals 67 69 81 72

According to US Census figures, the population of Warren is aging and declining. All churches in the area are competing for fewer souls. Today's Catholics ignore traditional parish boundaries and look for parishes that are either convenient or serve their personal needs.

Also a factor in our future planning is the availability of priests. There are currently only 260 priests serving 222 parishes in our Diocese. Approximately 45% will be eligible for retirement in the next five to ten years.

The shortage of priests is a sobering statistic. There will not be any turn around in the near future. We must prepare for a larger role for lay people in parish operations. In addition, the shortage of priests will be a driving factor in any future merging/clustering/closing of parishes in the AOD (Archdiocese of Detroit).

We are determined to make St. Faustina a thriving parish. With at least ten other Catholic parishes within a five-mile radius of ours, we must also strive to make St Faustina an appealing choice to local Catholics who become displaced by closed parishes.

B. UNLEASH THE GOSPEL

Under the leadership of Archbishop Vigneron and with the help of the Holy Spirit, steps have been taken to launch a missionary transformation of the Archdiocese of Detroit including: a Year of Prayer for a New Pentecost; “Come, Encounter Christ!” missions; the Amazing Parish Conference; parish Dialogue Gatherings; the Mass for Pardon; and finally, Synod 16. The goal of Synod 16 was to “pray and reflect together on what will make the Church in southeast Michigan a joyful band of missionary disciples”. The Archdiocese is resolved to change our church culture “from an inward, maintenance-focused church to an outward, mission-focused church”. Archbishop Vigneron released a letter on Pentecost 2017 that, among other things, lists the “specific propositions and action steps that …we will take in order to become a missionary Church”. Action steps for parishes, families/individuals, and Archdiocesan Central Services which affirm Synod propositions are spelled out in the letter, titled “Unleash the Gospel”. Parish Action Steps are presented in an abbreviated form below. All Catholics in the Archdiocese should familiarize themselves with the complete wording of the “Unleash the Gospel” letter to fully understand the missionary conversion taking place.

Action Step 2.1 Parish Culture Build a culture of life-changing personal encounter with Jesus that permeates every aspect of parish life and that leads to a loving encounter of our neighbor. (e.g., children, youth, adults, and seniors).

1. AOD Central Services: Office of Evangelization, Office of Catechesis and Office for Christian Worship will lead the development of resources and training by October 2017 to accompany pastors and parish leadership as they seek to fulfill this proposition.2. Pastors will lead the parish to recommit to a daily practice of personal prayer and intercession, including beginning and ending all meetings with time for prayer that is an opportunity to encounter Jesus anew, grow daily as His disciples, and give witness to the power of his mercy.


3. Pastors will create a regular time for Eucharistic Exposition and Marian Devotion for the parish community and promote participation.4. Pastors will provide generous availability of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and inspire the faithful to celebrate and participate regularly.5. Pastors and parish leadership will implement the following by June 2019:5. a. Create a transformational Sunday experience (Hymns, Hospitality, Homily) that effectively models, inspires, and sends individuals and families forth into mission.5. b. Lead the parish in a spirit of radical hospitality that permeates all parish activity and flows out to the community.5. c. Understand the entire geographical territory of their parish to respond with cultural competency and outreach.5. d. Gain a clear and dynamic understanding of a life-changing encounter with Jesus so they can create opportunities for others.5. e. Provide “shallow entry points” for people who are seeking Jesus.

Action Step 2.2 Parish Functions Equip, empower, support and send forth individuals and families in mission (e.g., evangelization , social and economic transformation, and spiritual and corporal works of mercy).

1. AOD Central Services: Office of Evangelization will lead the development of a model of total evangelization around Unleash the Gospel by June 2018.2. AOD Central Service: Office for Christian Worship will develop a plan by June 2018 for equipping parishes with resources and formation to plan transformative Sunday liturgies, and liturgical events that will commission and send forth individuals and families for mission.3. Parishes will begin incorporating this model of total evangelization into their parish by December 2019 and revise their mission statements accordingly.4. Parishes will have a prayer and intercession team by December 2017, to pray for the mission of the parish and intentions from the leadership team and to provide ongoing prayer support of that team.5. Pastors and parish leaders will seek the counsel of families in order to most effectively accompany them as they discern, discover and live out the mission of the family.

Action Step 2.3 Parish Leadership Establish a parish leadership team around the pastor as a normative practice, where team members develop shared responsibility and accountability both to the vision of the Archbishop and the mission of the parish. Extend the same team dynamics and practices to all parish staff.

1. AOD Department of Parish Life and Services and Office of Evangelization will assist in developing Archdiocesan standards and norms for organizational health patterned after elements of the Amazing Parish resources such as: A. Providing formation for all parish staff. B. Building a healthy leadership team and establishing ways to share best practices. C. Creating clarity for the entire parish by having answers to essential questions that guide and define the vision, mission, and assignment of responsibilities. D. Over-communicating clarity throughout the parish through simple and precise messaging using multiple media at all levels of parish life. E. Reinforcing clarity in areas such as volunteers, and hiring, firing, rewarding, and compensating employees.2. AOD Department of Parish Life and Services will lead the development of standards and norms for organizational health in parishes by June 2018, and to establish forums for helping parishes assess their strengths and challenges as they seek to meet these standards.3. Pastors will create a parish leadership team following Archdiocesan standards and norms for organizational


health by December 2018.4. AOD Department of Parish Life and Human Resources will lead the development of a new model for parish structures (corresponding with the constitution of the Church) including consultative bodies and parish staffing that are in alignment with the vision of Unleash the Gospel by December 2019.5. The Episcopal Council working with the Presbyteral Council will create a system of support to clergy by August 2019 through: A. Consultation with the Diaconate leadership, and making full use of the resources of Sacred Heart Major Seminary, develop a curriculum for ongoing formation of the clergy that puts its first priority on evangelizing and forming evangelizers. B. Calling the presbyterate to ongoing formation and ensuring they have time for it. C. While giving full consideration to the leadership responsibilities that necessarily belong to pastors, establishing structures which relieve them of managerial duties which can be delegated to others (in accord with the norm of Canon Law), so they have more time for their munus docendi (teaching office), especially the ministries of evangelization, preaching and catechesis. D. Evaluating the priest assignment process and aligning it with the gifts and charisms of each priest. E. Considering how best to facilitate priests sharing elements of communal life and extending fraternal support to one another.

In addition to our responsibility to complete the Parish Action Steps, we must expect other changes as the AOD strives to complete and implement its Action Steps in response to the Synod propositions, and develops plans for ongoing human and spiritual formation for individuals and families. These propositions and Action Steps, including deadlines, guideposts, and spiritual markers are spelled out in the “Unleash the Gospel” letter.

C. PARISH LAY MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS

The operation of St Faustina requires time and skill, a good portion of which is managerial skill not directly involved with the practice of religion. However, guidelines published by the Archdiocese of Detroit concerning church structure grant the Pastor the final authority over parish operating and executive business matters.

Archdiocese guidelines currently require maintaining Commissions consisting of a Parish Financial Council, Parish Pastoral Council, Worship Commission, Christian Service Commission, Education Commission, Stewardship Commission, and Evangelization Committee. The first four councils/commissions are established and meet regularly, but are not fully staffed. The remaining three – Education Commission, Stewardship Commission, and Evangelization Committee are also required, but need to be established and staffed. The lack of a Stewardship Commission, whose responsibilities include encouraging parishioners to share their time, talents and treasure, contributes to the scarcity of parishioners volunteering to serve on commissions.

As noted in Action Step 2.3, Parish Leadership, item 4, the AOD will be developing a new model for parish structures by December 2019 including consultative bodies and parish staffing. We do not yet know whether changes will be wide or narrow in scope, but until a new model is presented, we must continue to work within the current guidelines.

Details of Lay Management Organizations:

1. Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) The PPC collaborates with the pastor to discern and articulate the mission/vision of the parish and to establish the pastoral priorities of the parish. The PPC coordinates and assists the pastor in the implementation of the pastoral priorities after they have been established, in concert with other parish lay management organizations.

SHORT TERM GOALS


Solicit the wisdom of the parish community on pastoral matters. Form a consensus about pastoral planning which addresses the needs of the parish. Communicate the pastoral vision to the parish as a whole.

LONG TERM GOALS

Involve the parish councils/commissions in implementing the Parish Action Steps from the “Unleash the Gospel” letter by the deadlines given.

Update the parish Strategic Plan no later than July 1, 2020.

2. Parish Finance Council (PFC) The Finance Council, in communion with the pastor and the PPC, is responsible for long-term planning and providing for and supervising the financial affairs and the physical properties of the parish. It is concerned with the budget, stewardship, church support, and the effective utilization and maintenance of the parish campus. The PFC communicates regularly, but not less than annually, the financial condition of the parish, including sources and amounts of income, parish debt, unpaid bills, and parish savings and investments. The annual report is provided first to the Parish Pastoral Council, which communicates the information to the parish, and then to the Archbishop through the Department of Finance and Administration.

SHORT TERM GOALS

Supervise project to excavate the old HVAC system and successfully install a new HVAC system. Continue supervising parish roof repair project progress. Remove the old interior parish campus lights and replace them with energy-efficient lighting.

LONG TERM GOALS

Improvements to the parking lot (patching, re-striping, etc.). Review and assess the church interior regarding number of pews needed and improvements which

may be necessary for a more conducive worship space. Improve parish participation levels in weekly offertory, Catholic Services Appeal, and other

collections. Participate and help plan the parish’s 5th Anniversary Celebration in July 2018. Participate and help plan Father Bogdan’s 40th Ordination Anniversary Celebration in June 2020.

3. Worship Commission The purpose of the Worship Commission is to guide the continuing liturgical renewal of the parish by providing opportunities for liturgical education, by preparing the liturgical celebrations and by evaluating these celebrations.

The Commission’s education responsibilities are to: Update its members with the knowledge, understanding and expertise needed to function

effectively. Oversee the continuing education and formation of the parish in liturgical matters. Support the continuing education and formation of all liturgical ministers according to

Archdiocesan directives, guidelines, norms and policies. The Commission’s worship responsibilities are to:


Discern the parish’s worship/liturgical/prayer needs. Assist in providing quality liturgical celebrations and prayer services through involvement in the

preparation and evaluation of these. Plan and prepare liturgical events and celebrations. Ensure compliance with liturgical directives, guidelines, norms and policies of the parish,

Archdiocese, and universal Church. Collaborate on liturgical aspects of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), infant

baptism, sacramental preparation, marriage preparation, Eucharist to the hospitalized and homebound, funeral celebrations and ministry to the bereaved and with those parish committees and other groups specifically charged with work in these and related areas.

Foster an atmosphere of hospitality and harmony in all aspects of its work. The Commission’s administrative responsibilities are to:

Make recommendations to the Parish Pastoral Council regarding the priorities, policies, guidelines, and directives of the parish, Archdiocese and universal Church which should be considered in the planning and carrying out of the worship life of the parish.

Coordinate the preparation of the liturgical celebrations for all seasonal and special feasts. Coordinate and oversee the preparation, functioning and evaluation of all liturgical ministries in

the parish, i.e., lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC), musicians, acolytes (altar servers), sacristans, ushers, and/or ministers of hospitality, etc.

Provide appropriate scheduling of celebrations and prayer services throughout the liturgical year.

SHORT TERM GOALS

To coordinate liturgical ministers with the pastor and mass so everyone is on the same page. Altar Servers: To have more training days, and have more servers at the 4pm and 8:30am masses. Ushers: To increase the number of ushers, and replace aging service jackets. EMHC: To increase the number of EMHC’s, and have yearly training. Sacristans: To maintain and post a contact list of all sacristans, and recruit more volunteers. Lectors: To increase the number of lectors.

The Worship Commission coordinates with the Minister of Music (a staff position) for liturgy purposes.

4. Christian Service Commission The purpose of the Christian Service Commission is to empower the members of the parish to fulfill the Church’s mission of love, justice, freedom and peace under the mantle of evangelization by communally responding, in an organized way, to societal and individual needs. The commission creates and/or promotes programs that strive to address human needs and achieve justice whether locally or in the broader communities of vicariate, region, Archdiocese, state, nation and world.

The Commission’s educational responsibilities include: Educate the members of the commission regarding Catholic social teaching. Gather and share accurate information about human needs in the parish and total community. Gather and share accurate information about service and service providers in the area. Evaluate and report on Christian service in response to changing communion needs. Bring the parish communion to an awareness of action needed to resolve human needs and

achieve justice and human dignity. Provide information to the parish and staff concerning opportunities that address justice and life

issues.


The Commission’s ministerial responsibilities include: Maintain effective communication and strong working relationships with the pastoral staff, Parish

Pastoral Council commissions and the Archdiocesan Offices. Continually increase the number and variety of parishioners involved directly with Christian

service. Work with the parish pastoral leadership in discerning how to respond to the needs of the poor

and vulnerable throughout the area and, especially, within the parish boundaries. Support existing social ministry programs that adequately meet the needs of the parish and

community, linking with other parishes and/or community groups whenever possible. Develop and implement parish social ministry programs to address needs not met by parish or

community programs. Develop and help implement, in concert with community service providers, necessary programs

that are beyond the resources of the individual parish. Provide training for volunteers in social ministry activities. Develop new social ministry leadership among lay people of the parish communion.

The Commission’s administrative responsibilities include: Maintain a close working relationship with, and coordinate the efforts of, all parish social

ministry organizations to maintain the strength of individual organizations within the effectiveness of the whole.

Engage Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan and other Archdiocesan charities, organizations and institutions, as well as other local community resources when appropriate and, when necessary, after consultation with pastor/vicar.

Coordinate parish response to national Catholic action for justice programs, e.g., Catholic Relief Services, Catholic Campaign for Human Development and others designated by the Archdiocesan Department of Parish Life and Services.

Provide within the Christian service budget a model of good stewardship and, within the social ministry goals and objectives, a functional model that takes into account parish, community and global outreach.

Recent Christian Service Commission activities include: Back to School Backpacks; Crop Walk; Right to Life Christmas Cards; Coat and Blanket Drive; The Giving Tree; the Warming Center; Bereavement Ministry; and Right to Life Mother’s Day Flower Sale. The Christian Service Commission requests donations from parishioners to support many of these activities.

SHORT TERM GOALS

To increase membership.

LONG TERM GOALS

Identify one new project to benefit a group or organization for spring season.

5. Stewardship Commission (not yet formed) The Stewardship Commission is concerned with the promotion of Christian stewardship as a way of life, and how living out our call to discipleship in service to the Church and her members provides a living example by which the spirit of evangelization is witnessed.


The Commission’s education responsibilities are to:

Foster a parish environment in which Christian stewardship as a way of life is understood, accepted and practiced.

Develop programs that allow parishioners to discern their God-given skills and talents and how they may be put to use in the ministries of the Church.

Develop family finance study programs based on Scripture and The Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Encourage parishioners’ endowment gifts through distribution of planned giving newsletters, wills awareness seminars and other materials.

The Commission’s stewardship responsibilities are to:

Coordinate the process for encouraging parishioners to share their time, talents and treasure in parish ministries, activities and support.

Plan, recommend, and with Parish Pastoral Council and Parish Finance Council approval, implement actions for the most effective use of parish resources; these resources include parishioners’ time, skills and talents, and offered funds.

The Commission’s administrative responsibilities are to:

Coordinate the annual parish Catholic Services Appeal (CSA) campaign following guidelines in the Archdiocese of Detroit manual, Catholic Services Appeal: Steps to Success.

Coordinate all parish fundraising programs and activities in accordance with Pastoral Council and Finance Council approval and in line with overall parish priorities and objectives.

6. Christian Education/Formation Commission (not yet formed) The Education Commission is responsible for seeing that the parish community’s teaching mission is addressed in ways that assist each individual to grow in faith throughout their life. Through the commission’s committees, it determines programs that promote and support total parish education and formation. The commission supports the parish professional staff in working toward that goal.

The Commission’s educational responsibilities are to: Discern the parish’s formational/educational needs at all levels. Assist in providing an array of informational and formational opportunities for people at every

stage of life. Ensure compliance with educational directives, guidelines, norms, and policies of the parish,

Archdiocese and universal Church.

The Commission’s formational responsibilities are to: Assist commission and committee members in their understanding of Church catechetical

documents and best practices, emphasizing the lifelong aspects of Catholic formation. Support the continuing education and formation of all educational ministers according to

Archdiocesan directives, guidelines, norms and policies.

The Commission’s administrative responsibilities are to: Annually establish and recommend objectives to the Parish Pastoral Council. Objectives should

flow from the parish vision, mission statement and goals, and address the educational and


formational needs in the areas of Adult Faith Formation, Catholic Schools, Family Ministry, Faith Formation/Catechetic, Vocations, Youth Ministry, and Campus Ministry/Young Adults.

Quarterly review and evaluate the progress of the commission’s objectives. Promote and support the Archdiocesan policies of the Department of Evangelization, Catechesis

and Schools, as they pertain to the parish.

7. Evangelization Committee (not yet formed) The Evangelization Committee serves as a catalyst for the total evangelizing effort in the parish. The committee works directly with the pastor, pastoral staff, Parish Pastoral Council, and the parish commissions to ensure that evangelization is the parish priority and is integrated into all areas of parish life.Education, Formation and Service Responsibilities:

To form themselves into an evangelizing group through prayer, reflection and study. To have a basic familiarity with some of the documents of the Church regarding evangelization

such as: Ad gentes, Evangelii Nuntiandi, The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Redemptoris Missio, Ecclesia in America, and Go and Make Disciples.

To develop goals and objectives that coincides with the parish mission statement and Go and Make Disciples.

To collaborate with the parish staff and council and educate them on the definition and urgency of evangelization.

To assist the Worship Commission in establishing and training a hospitality team for the Sunday Liturgies.

To assist the Education Commission in coordinating a year-round inquiry process, with a special emphasis on personal encounter with Christ.

To assist the Christian Service Commission in helping their ministers to discover best practices in sharing the faith while meeting the physical needs of those whom they serve.

To assist the Stewardship Commission in promoting an awareness that stewardship is not only about finances but primarily about the discernment and calling forth of our natural talents and spiritual gifts and placing them at the service of God for the building up of the Kingdom.

To evaluate, and hold accountable, the overall evangelistic effort of the parish and give reports to the Parish Pastoral Council.

To write bulletin articles on Evangelization. To discern and propose evangelization strategies and programs for the parish, in conjunction with

the parish commissions/committees. Assist in coordinating efforts at establishing new evangelization initiatives, prayer experiences,

retreats and missions for the parish, and help cultivate small groups by providing training and resources.

To collaborate with the Archdiocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis to provide training of parish evangelization teams.

D. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

The Religious Education Department is responsible for educating the children of our parish regarding the Catholic Faith. We employ one part-time Director of Religious Education, whose duties include:


Recruit and train catechists for Religious Education classes. Organize weeknight Religious Ed classes for parish children in grades one through nine. Select proper educational programs. Ensure students are prepared for the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist in the

second grade and the Sacrament of Confirmation in the ninth grade. Organize Children’s Liturgy of the Word for Sunday 11 am mass.

SHORT TERM GOALS

To get to know all of the students and parents in the Religious Education program. To provide a comfortable environment so the students will want to come here to learn about the

Catholic faith. To develop a good relationship with the student and their families to get them involved in our parish.

LONG TERM GOALS

To get more students involved in our program. To provide different learning activities to keep students interested so they look forward to coming

here. To make more family nights a part of the curriculum so the parents can enhance their education in

their faith. To do community service with all of the grades.

E. PARISH VOLUNTEER AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS

Knights of ColumbusThe Knights of Columbus is a fraternal benefit society. The Order’s founding principles are charity, unity and fraternity. Mutual aid and assistance are offered to sick, disabled and needy members and their families. Social and intellectual fellowship is promoted among members and their families through educational, charitable, religious, social welfare, war relief and public relief works. St. Faustina Knights of Columbus Council #7340 invites all men over the age of 18 to join the organization.

Rosary Society The Saint Faustina Rosary Society is a group of parishioners who come together to form a Living Rosary. While one society, each individual Rosary group consists of 20 members. Each member, at their own convenience, prays at least a particular decade of the Rosary every day for 30 days, generally for a specific prayer intention. On the first of the next month, each member transitions to the next decade. The Rosary Society come together on the first weekday of each month to pray the Rosary together, for connection, communication, updates, and a social gathering.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul The Society of St. Vincent de Paul offers tangible assistance to those in need who live within the chapter's boundaries. It is a personalized involvement that makes the work of the Society unique. Members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (or “Vincentians” ) are men and women who strive to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to individuals in need.

Senior Social ClubAnyone over 55 years of age is welcome to come to the Senior Social Club gatherings, to play cards and other games.

F. FINANCIAL PLAN


BACKGROUND

The facts below demonstrate the requirements of a parish at the Diocese level:

All church revenues, other than that needed for day-to-day operation, must be deposited with the Diocese All revenue deposited with the Diocese earns interest. No church may make a loan from any agency other than the Diocese. Every parish in the Diocese pays a tax to the Diocese based on that church's Total Operating Revenue

(TOR), which is comprised of Sunday collections, gifts to the parish, and interest earned on savings. The tax paid by each parish to the Diocese is 4% on the first $25,000 and 7% on all amounts over

$25,000.

At the parish level:

St. Faustina Parish has an interest earning account at the Diocese. The amount in the account will fluctuate from hundreds of thousands of dollars down to very little.

St. Faustina Parish has not been in debt since its founding.

ISSUES

In order to administer the religious welfare of the parish community, the parish requires funds for personnel, facilities and equipment. The parish has operated on a sound management and financial planning basis in administering our annual budgets.

Over recent years, parish operating costs have been cut by reducing hours for parish staff, who are now mostly part time employees (saving wages and benefit costs). Also, heating and cooling operating costs will be reduced by replacing our HVAC systems, and electrical bills will shrink due to replacing parish incandescent lights with LED lights.

On the other hand, our parish community has failed to meet its Catholic Services Appeal (CSA) target for the past three years. We have been able to make up the shortfall so far due to the money in our AOD account and the interest it earns, along with several generous endowment gifts from parishioners. However, we expect our AOD account to be depleted by the major projects currently underway. Formation of a Stewardship Commission will be important to our parish’s future success. Christian stewardship is a commitment made in response to God's generosity: to live a life of gratitude; to make daily decisions to glorify God; and to share oneself and one's gifts generously as circumstances and talents allow. The decision to share one's financial resources with one's communion of faith is an important aspect of being a Christian steward.

Other than a yearly parish rummage sale and the sale of raffle tickets for our yearly Parish Picnic, St. Faustina has no regular fundraising events. We do host Pierogi dinners during Lent but this is primarily a social event. Fundraisers were held in 2015 and 2016 to send parish youth to World Youth Day in Poland in 2016. Currently, monthly Euchre nights bring in more money than they cost to run, but few St. Faustina parishioners attend.

G. PARISH FACILITIES AND COMMUNICATIONS

The Church was built in 1962. This makes it approximately 55 years old. The Fr. McGoldrick Activity Center was built in 1960-61. Both buildings have seen various refurbishment/improvement efforts over the years; however several major repairs were needed and are currently in the planning and/or implementation stages.


Roof repair: both the church and McGoldrick Center needed work. After investigation and deliberation, an engineering company and contractor were chosen and roof repair began in 2016. Over 3-5 years, repairs will be made as necessary, and the roof membrane under the tiles on the church will be replaced.

The heating and cooling systems for the church, McGoldrick Center, and rectory were replaced in 2017. Parking lot repair and re-striping was done in summer 2017; the parking lot has approximately five years

left before it needs major work. Other projects that have been completed in our first four years include: Installation of a security camera

and alarm system, replacing parking lot lights with LED’s and painting the light posts, replacing lights in the church, McGoldrick center, and rectory with LED lights, installation of an electronic sign on 12 Mile Road, rectory window replacement, fence replacement between the rectory and church, re-painting the main hall area in the McGoldrick Center, and sprinkler system repair, and professional tree trimming.

Additional projects that need to be addressed: sound system/audiovisual system upgrade, bathroom repair (floor crack), and ceiling repairs in various spots where water leakage occurred.

Before the next Strategic Plan update, a survey of parish facilities to identify necessary repairs and updates should be completed, so St. Faustina parish can be proactive in keeping parish facilities in good condition, including accommodations for aging and disabled parishioners’ needs. In addition, parishioners need to be heard regarding changes/updates they would like to see.

COMMUNICATIONS

In 2016 the parish replaced its manual sign with an electronic sign to advertise parish information. The parish established a social media presence with a St. Faustina Parish Facebook page. The parish created a web site (http://www.stfaustina-mi.org) which includes current events and access to the

parish bulletin; it is currently being maintained in-house rather than professionally. We provide printed copies of our parish bulletin to accommodate parishioners without internet access. The parish office will be transitioning from ParishSoft to a new software program which will improve

information exchange with the AOD.

Our parish must continue to upgrade our tools (both hardware and software) to take advantage of evolving technology which will allow us to evangelize more efficiently. We must also have the time and training to operate and further develop these communication methods – for example, if parish staff does not have sufficient time or skills to manage the parish webpage, perhaps parishioners could assist, or the work may need to be outsourced.

PARISH MISSION GOALS AND FUTURE STRATEGIC PLAN

“Parishes are to be founded upon prayer and a culture of encounter with Jesus. This will lead to parishes that are ready to welcome others and mobilized to evangelize: invite, connect, mentor and send families and individuals into mission. Every activity and resource of the parish must be in alignment with the fundamental commitment to evangelization. Parish leadership should manifest a healthy teamwork that is oriented to equip parishioners with the necessary training, formation, planning and resources to initiate and realize meaningful endeavors to extend the Gospel to every corner of the parish territory.” Unleash the Gospel letter

Form a Stewardship Commission, an Education Commission, and an Evangelization Committee.

By December 2017 – Have an active prayer and intercession team in place.

By December 2018 – Have a parish leadership team in place.


http://www.stfaustina-mi.org/

By June 2019 – Create a transformational Sunday experience, practice radical hospitality, understand our geographical territory, understand encounters with Jesus and create opportunities for encounters, and provide “shallow entry points” for people who are seeking Jesus.

By December 2019 – Begin incorporating a new model of total evangelization into the parish and revise mission statements accordingly, if needed.

The three upcoming years encompassed by this Strategic Plan will be filled with challenges and hard work. As Catholics, we must put aside bad habits and take on good habits which are crucial to the cultural change taking place. We must humbly recognize that “the Church belongs to Christ as his body, his beloved bride. It is Christ who directs the mission and activity of the Church and who will bring her without fail to her final destiny. All of us, clergy and laity alike, are servants of the Lord, who will one day render an account of our service to him.” Unleash the Gospel letter

The process of merging parishes caused many people pain and suffering, but hopefully enough time has passed to “let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31-32

Three years from now when it is time to update this Strategic Plan, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, our parish will be well on the way to fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission and God’s plan for us here on Earth.

H. CONCLUSION

It is up to the Parish Pastoral Council to finalize and implement the Strategic Plan; however, to act on these proposals does not mean they must be accepted in their entirety. Some of these proposals will take extensive planning and effort to implement. With the help of the Holy Spirit, the Pastor and the Parish Council must determine what the priorities and direction should be for the parish.

The Parish Pastoral Council Strategic Plan Subcommittee is grateful for the opportunity to serve our parish, and we would like to thank everyone who contributed to this document. Sources and contributors include: St. Faustina Parish staff and parishioners; US Census Bureau; The Parish, Vicariate, and Archdiocesan Councils Handbook (2013 update); Unleash the Gospel – 2017 Pastoral Letter; the Archdiocese of Detroit website; and Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church, Waterford MI Strategic Plan (2012).

Approved by the St Faustina Parish Pastoral Council on _______________________________, 2017

_____________________________________ _________________________________________Thomas Jekielek, PPC Chairperson Rev. Bogdan Milosz, Pastor

Chart: Parish Organization Chart


https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+4%3A31-32&version=ESV


Pastor

Evangelization Committee

Worship Commission

Altar Servers

Lectors

Sacristans

Ushers

Eucharistic Ministers

Christian Education / Formation

Commission

Stewardship Commission

Christian Service

Commission

Parish Pastoral Council

Parish Finance Council

Bookkeeper Collection Counters

Director of Religious Education

CatechistsMusic Minister

Choirs Musicians

Office Manager

Maintenance Staff

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