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Northern Burlington Deanery Update

March, 2007

Discover phase findings turned over to parish leadership teams for review, feedback

With the Dream stage of the Northern Burlington Deanery Study concluding and preparation for the Design stage underway, study team members were recently given a framework in which to build new parish models in the northern, central and southern clusters. At the Feb. 15 meeting, delegates from the 14 participating faith communities looked at what would be expected of them as they prepared to identify and develop a specific set of goals, objectives and actions.

In the context of the study, definitions for these key terms were provided as follows:

Goal -- A clearly defined, constructive statement of a desired direction or activity in broad, general terms.

Objective -- A specific, time-oriented and realistic statement of "what" is going to be done, for "whom," "when" it will be done, and "how much" you intend to do.

Action -- One step or one specific act in the attaining of an objective; also called a strategy. A group of actions or strategies is a Plan of Action spelling out how an objective will be reached

Each of the three cluster teams was asked to develop five priority goals drawn from a much broader list of shared goals developed in the Discovery and Dream phases. Answering the questions: "What would we like to achieve?" and "What is the desired outcome?" cluster team members identified the following priority goals or areas in which goals will be written:

Northern Cluster

• The parishes will celebrate Sunday Mass as the source and summit of parish life.
• The parishes will provide faith formation opportunities to people of all ages.
• The parishes will encourage greater lay participation in the ministry of the Church.
• The parishes, together and individually, will effectively reach out to Catholics in various life stages -- active, inactive and new families.
• The parishes will work together to establish interaction between parishes of the cluster.

Central Cluster

• The parishes of the cluster, together and individually, will reach out to all parishioners, active and inactive, to increase their participation in the life of the parish.
• The parishes of the cluster, together and individually, will recognize and celebrate the ethnic diversity of its members.
• All parishes of the cluster, collectively, will develop a Social Justice Ministry in adherence to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
• The parishes of the cluster, together and individually, will work to expand Youth Ministries and increase the participation of the youth in the life of the parish.
• The parishes of the cluster, together and individually, will work to expand our Bereavement Ministries.

Southern Cluster

• Each parish in the cluster will deepen the spirituality of its parishioners.
• Each parish will meet its operating expenses and not be burdened by its debt.
• The parishes of the cluster will evangelize all age and demographic groups and coordinate their efforts.
• Improve the coordination and communication between parishes to accomplish shared goals.
• The parishes of the cluster, together and individually, will coordinate to minister to youth and young adults, to increase participation in the life of the Church.

These goals provide the groundwork for the coming months, explained Father Joseph A. Tedesco, director of the diocese's Office of Research and Planning. With the development of objectives to support the goals, the study will move into the Design stage of new ministry models.

Describing the goal setting as "a refinement of the hard work the team has done since October," Father Tedesco said that the five goals represent what each of the clusters determined to be most important after looking at all of the critical issues, challenges and opportunities shared among the parishes and regions involved.

The teams determined that limiting the goals to five would give each of the clusters a manageable number to achieve over the next five years, Father Tedesco noted. The next meeting of the Northern Burlington Deanery Study will take place March 15, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

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Update is issued monthly to all parishes involved in the Northern Burlington study.

Director: Rev. Joseph A. Tedesco
609 406-7400 ext. 5635
Fax: 609-406-7444
E-mail: jtedes@dioceseoftrenton.org

Associate Director: Michael Fabian
609 406-7400 ext. 5636
Fax: 609-406-7444
E-mail: mfabia@dioceseoftrenton.org