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Guiding Iowa Organizations to New Heights ©2017 Brimeyer LLC St. Cecilia Parish 2017 Strategic Plan Revised: 20 Jan 2017
Guiding Iowa Organizations to New Heights ©2017
Brimeyer LLC
St. Cecilia Parish 2017 Strategic Plan
Revised: 20 Jan 2017
Guiding Iowa Organizations to New Heights ©2017
Brimeyer LLC
Mission Statement
FORMED by the Word of God …
UNITED by the Holy Eucharist …
ENLIVENED by the Holy Spirit!
Guiding Iowa Organizations to New Heights ©2017
Brimeyer LLC
Our Values (Virtues)
Charity
Chastity
Diligence
Humility
Kindness
Patience
Temperance
Guiding Iowa Organizations to New Heights ©2017
Brimeyer LLC
St. Cecilia Parish Vision
As a Christ-centered community, we will be
• Welcoming
• Evangelizing
• Noticeably vibrant in our faith
Guiding Iowa Organizations to New Heights ©2017
Brimeyer LLC
SWOT Analysis Weaknesses
• Coordination of communication (message consistency & planning)
• Focus on engaging parishioners • Supporting parishioners in need • Outreach globally • Systematic lifelong faith formation • Evangelization • Recruitment of lay leadership • Facilities space & varied condition
Strengths • Sacramental life & liturgy • Eucharistic Adoration • Faith formation • Social justice • Welcoming to new members • Resources (physical & spiritual) • Youth ministry • Bereavement ministry • School community • Leadership (Pope, Archbishop)
Opportunities
• Continued enhancement of Lay Leaders • Collaboration w/larger faith community • Ability to use technology to provide
“personal touch” to all members • Planned giving • Emphasis on vocations for EVERYONE • Ames is an innovative, destination
community • Broad appeal of the message of Mercy • Quality Catholic resources (Formed.org)
Threats • Moral values in society (secularism)
impacting priorities • Recruitment by other faith
communities • Priest shortage (access to sacraments) • Decreasing Mass attendance • Cultural pressure to marginalize
religious expression • Isolationism, disengagement and
partisanship Rev. Jan. 2017
Guiding Iowa Organizations to New Heights ©2017
Brimeyer LLC
Top Level Objectives
1. Increase PARISHIONER REGISTRATION
2. Increase SACRAMENTAL PARTICIPATION
3. Increase MASS ATTENDANCE
4. Increase FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS
5. Establish a baseline for a composite
PARISHIONER SURVEY score
Guiding Iowa Organizations to New Heights ©2017
Brimeyer LLC
1951 1916
2007 1948
1911 1851
1749 1781
1813 1786 1761
1565 1562 1514
1799
1533
1429
1321
1394
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Ave
rage
Wee
kly
Att
en
dan
ce (
All
Mas
ses)
Mass Counts
Average weekly attendance at Mass (recorded at all Masses each October)
Fire at St. Tom’s Dropped 11:15 am Mass
Added 5:00 pm Mass
Counted during Mass
Guiding Iowa Organizations to New Heights ©2017
Brimeyer LLC
Strategies (1-3 years) 1. Promote stewardship as a way of life with the
spiritual engagement of everyone's time, talent and treasure
2. Prepare ALL parishioners to be well-formed and active witnesses (apostles) of Catholic teaching
3. Identify, call and develop the laity to leadership within the parish
4. Call and strengthen vocations (single, married, religious and ordained)
Guiding Iowa Organizations to New Heights ©2017
Brimeyer LLC
Strategies (1-3 years)
5. Foster the development of an engaged parish community and family life (youth & parents)
6. Ensure facilities support and enhance parish ministries
7. Continued enhancement of Sunday assembly for Holy Mass
Guiding Iowa Organizations to New Heights ©2017
Brimeyer LLC
Initiatives – Faith Formation 1. Provide faith sharing opportunities and resources for
singles, families & family groups
2. Implement processes for recruiting, forming, placing & mentoring lay catechists*
3. Implement the catechetical plan for the lifelong faith formation needs of all parishioners
4. Strengthen the operations of the existing school and explore the potential for a K-12 school
5. Break down old perceptions and barriers; rebuild integration/collaboration among parish & school
*Shared with Stewardship
Guiding Iowa Organizations to New Heights ©2017
Brimeyer LLC
Initiatives - Stewardship 1. Develop, implement, and annually review a parish stewardship
plan with an emphasis on gratitude, time, talent and treasure
2. Develop a successful process for regularly approaching parishioners to ensure financial resources for lifelong faith formation and parish operations*
3. Implement processes for recruiting, forming, placing & mentoring lay catechists**
4. Create an ad hoc committee to explore a part-time staff position to coordinate communication strategy utilizing all media***
*Shared with Finance Committee
**Led by Faith Formation
*** Led by Pastoral Council
Guiding Iowa Organizations to New Heights ©2017
Brimeyer LLC
Initiatives – Social Justice
1. Continue to educate Social Justice Committee members and parishioners on Catholic social justice teachings and activities
2. Develop an annual process for reassessing our local partners to support needs within the local community
3. Establish a system for parishioners to become aware of the financial needs of parishioners and to assist them
Guiding Iowa Organizations to New Heights ©2017
Brimeyer LLC
Initiatives – Parish Life
1. Develop a life cycle map and identify underserved demographics within the parish
2. Provide structure and help new groups form if/when leaders step forward
Guiding Iowa Organizations to New Heights ©2017
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Initiatives – Finance 1. Develop a successful process for regularly
approaching parishioners to ensure financial resources for lifelong faith formation and parish operations*
2. Develop a (5-year) plan to enhance or replace existing facilities
3. Improve communication between Pastoral Council, Finance Committee, Staff and the parish to provide transparent financial direction
* Led by Stewardship Committee
Guiding Iowa Organizations to New Heights ©2017
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Initiatives – Liturgy
1. Research options to enhance the existing worship space in accordance with “Built of Living Stones”
2. Enhance parishioners’ understanding of full conscience and active participation of Holy Mass
3. Explore means of making the Liturgy accessible to those with special needs
Guiding Iowa Organizations to New Heights ©2017
Brimeyer LLC
Initiatives – Pastoral Council 1. Continue to evaluate current programs against needs as
identified by a parishioner survey & parishioner forum 2. Survey best practices of other parishes and evaluate as
appropriate to our parish’s core Catholic identify 3. Continue refinement of the plan and timeline for
addressing facilities (space and maintenance) needs, including adding a columbarium
4. Create an ad hoc committee to explore a part-time staff position to coordinate communication strategy utilizing all media*
*Shared with Stewardship Committee
Guiding Iowa Organizations to New Heights ©2017
Brimeyer LLC
Communication Plan
• Participating individuals should share the plan with their respective Committees
• Committees should provide feedback on the plan; suggest revisions if necessary
• Future CCC meeting should communicate the updated plan
Guiding Iowa Organizations to New Heights ©2017
Brimeyer LLC
Monthly Review Schedule Month Committee
March 2017 Stewardship
April 2017 Parish Life
May 2017 Liturgy
June 2017 Finance
August 2017 Pastoral Council
September 2017 Faith Formation
October 2017 Social Justice
November 2017 Stewardship
