Parish Vision Plan
Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church
CASTING A VISION
Dear Our Lady of Grace Family,
God is active and is building something among us! During my time at our parish, I have witnessed a growing excitement as a young, vibrant life continues to develop here. Being welcomed into this community over the past two years, that excitement has become my own and I find joy and peace in dreaming of what God’s future plan for us may be.
As a parish, we are blessed in our diversity: many different communities, generations, and cultures all call Our Lady of Grace “home.” Over the past months, I have met with our parish Pastoral Council––representative of the diverse communities of our parish––to harness all the positive energy we have seen and to give it a particular direction. Now, we are pleased to present you with the rolling three-year plan that follows.
The plan articulated here will be the overarching vision that guides our activity as a parish during the coming years. It will be the tool by which we make decisions regarding the activities and programs in which we will engage and those activities and programs which––though good in themselves––we will decline or set aside for a future time.
As you read through the plan, you will notice a particular emphasis on developing an ability to evangelize, growing in discipleship, building a deeper sense of communion with Jesus and with one another, fostering family life, and deepening our awareness of the treasure we possess in our Catholic faith. All of these goals align seamlessly with the diocesan Uniting in Heart 2030 Pastoral Plan and its three pillars of Mission, Community, and Witness.
In a beautiful way, this vision––assembled with your survey input and by the hard work of our Pastoral Council––stands as a beautiful response to the work that God is inspiring among us. But we need your help! A vision plan is only effective if it is met with collaboration by the community for whom it was created. So, I ask that you open your hearts wide to the vision laid out here, to generously participating in it, and to a growing depth of communion with Jesus Christ and one another.
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Clayton
LEARN TO WELCOME AND SHARE THE GOSPEL
CREATE A CULTURE OF EVANGELIZATION
Equip and enable parishioners to evangelize by teaching them how to share their personal faith story and the Gospel.
- Form Small Groups to share faith stories
- Implement sharing of faith stories in meetings and ministry
- Spotlight compelling stories of faith
Increase our hospitality efforts at Sunday liturgies.
- Provide regular training for hospitality ministers
- Quarterly Name Tag Sundays
- Regular reviews of hospitality effectiveness
Refocus sacramental preparation so that it emphasizes evangelization and the necessity of an ongoing relationship with Christ, which continues after the sacrament is received.
- Implement redesigned sacramental preparation programs
- Train 30-50 mentor or companion couples
- Integrate an accountability system into sacramental preparation
Expand and promote Eucharistic Adoration and Reconciliation.
- Promote National Eucharistic Revival with more opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration
- Provide resources leading to more fruitful participation in Adoration
- Expand Reconciliation offerings
Fashion the Home into which We Welcome Others to Experience the Gospel
MAKE OUR FACILITIES AND GROUNDS AS BEAUTIFUL, PRAYERFUL, & PLEASING TO GOD AS POSSIBLE
Update and improve indoor and outdoor signage to welcome visitors more effectively.
- Create comprehensive study of all signage
- Create a formal campus map
- Install new signage in conjunction with the parish master plan
Complete interim sanctuary makeover
- Complete a sanctuary makeover according to current Church guidelines
- Catechize parishioners on the reasons for these changes
- Complete restroom renovation
Complete a master plan for parish campus and facilities
- Engage all critical parties to create a comprehensive master plan
- Complete a vision for a full church sanctuary renovation
- Develop plans for school facilities to meet future needs
ENCOURAGE PARISH FAMILIES TO MAKE THE LIFE OF OLG A PILLAR OF THEIR FAMILY LIFE
FORM ONE COMMUNITY, ONE FAMILY, ONE COMMON LIFE
Establish a yearly calendar of parish life for families
- Formalize annual calendar of signature parish events, mainly centered on liturgical life
- Distribute biannual handout outlining major events to all families
- Create personal witness videos to highlight key events
Focus on communication and celebrate our successes to draw parishioners into parish life
- Establish a Media Team to recap parish activities with photo, video, and articles
- Create an online repository for families to submit personal photos from OLG experiences
- Investigate solutions to organize parishioner contact information in order to keep them updated
Engage families by forming personal connections and making activities family- and kid-friendly
- Expand offerings of whole-family gatherings to twice per month
- Sponsor a casual social event for the parish to gather together and celebrate
GROW MISSIONARY DISCIPLES THROUGH FAITH FORMATION
NOURISH OURSELVES IN ORDER TO NOURISH OTHERS
Identify and promote a "cornerstone event" that we believe all parishioners should experience
- Develop a regular spiritual experience (such as a retreat) to serve as the primary on-ramp for parishioners to deepen their faith and parish involvement
- Stemming from this cornerstone event, form small groups that will be encouraged to continue to meet
Foster a culture of small group communities as a way to deepen faith
- Equip small groups by providing a "toolkit" with suggestions and resources
Prepare and support parishioners to live faithfully in today's world
- Prepare an annual study theme to direct parish faith formation efforts
- Offer catechesis on the Mass in order to help parishioners enter more deeply into the Eucharist
- Offer regular teachings on relevant topics using digital communication
NuesTRA SEÑORA DE LA GRACIA
Plan de Visión Parroquial
Crear una Cultura
de Evangelización
- Equipar y capacitar a los feligreses para evangelizar, enseñándoles cómo compartir su historia personal de fe y el Evangelio
- Incrementar la hospitalidad en las Liturgias Dominicales
- Reenfocar la preparación sacramental que enfatice la evangelización y la necesidad de una relación continua con Cristo, que continúa después de recibir el sacramento
- Expandir y promover la Adoración Eucarística y la Reconciliación
APRENDER A RECIBIR Y COMPARTIR EL EVANGELIO
- Actualizar y mejorar la señalización del interior, exterior y de las vías para darle la bienvenida a nuestros visitantes más efectivamente
- Completar un cambio de imagen interino del santuario
- Completar un plan maestro para las instalaciones de la parroquia
Hacer nuestras instalaciones y terrenos tan Hermosos, Piadosos y Agradables a Dios como sea Posible
Remodelar el Hogar en el que le damos la Bienvenida a los Otros para Experimentar el Evangelio
Alentar a las familias parroquiales a hacer de la vida de Nuestra Señora de Gracia un pilar de su vida familiar
Formar Una Comunidad, Una Familia, Una Vida Común
- Establecer un calendario anual de vida parroquial para las familias.
- Centrarse en las comunicaciones y celebrar nuestros éxitos para atraer a los feligreses a la vida parroquial
- Involucrar a las familias formando conexiones personales y haciendo que los eventos y actividades sean aptos para familias y niños
Desarrollar Discípulos Misioneros a través de la Formación en la Fe
- Identificar y promover un “evento fundamental” que creemos que todos los feligreses deberían experimentar
- Fomentar una cultura de comunidades de grupos pequeños como una forma de profundizar la fe
- Preparar y apoyar a los feligreses para vivir fielmente en el mundo de hoy.
Nutriéndonos nosotros mismos para nutrir a los demás
TIMELINE
2022
Name Tag Sundays
Form Media Team
Hospitality Minister Training
Sanctuary Changes Catechesis
Restroom Renovation
2023 Part 1
Hospitality Review System
Expand Adoration Opportunities
Expand Reconciliation Opportunities
Signage Study & Master Plan
Sanctuary Makeover
Signature Events Calendar
Expand Whole-Family Gatherings
Annual Study Theme
2023 Part II
Faith Story Small Groups
Train Mentors & Companion Couples
Sacramental Prep Accountability
Signature Events Handout
Parishioner Contact Info Solution
New Parish Social Event
Expand Catechesis on Mass
Formal Campus Map
2024
Online Photo & Story Repository
Expand Digital Catechesis
Personal Faith Story Sharing
Witness Videos for Major Events
Begin Cornerstone On-Ramp Event
Expand Small Group Ministry
2025
Digital Faith Story Spotlighting
Complete Sacramental Prep Redesign
Vision for Sanctuary Renovation
Assess School Facilities for Future
Small Group Toolkits
New Indoor and Outdoor Signage
OUR LADY OF GRACE
Parish Vision Plan
2022-2025
FALL 2022 UPDATE
Implement and promote name-tag Sundays on a quarterly basis at all Masses, beginning fall 2022.
Establish a Media Team focused on celebrating events with photos, summaries, or recaps of parish events by fall 2022.
Complete a renovation of the restrooms nearest the sanctuary to provide for the needs of all parishioners by winter 2022.
Provide training to all hospitality ministers and ushers, encouraging them to be more actively involved in welcoming parishioners and visitors beginning Advent 2022.
As part of the National Eucharistic Revival, expand current opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration by Lent 2023.
OUR LADY OF GRACE
Parish Vision Plan
2022-2025
Ask questions or learn more by contacting:
vision@ologn.org