Holy Rosary Cathedral
Pastoral Plan for July 2007

• Overview
  • Background
  • Format
  • Conclusion
     
• Enhancing Current Activities
  • Primary Priority
  • Secondary Priority
     
• Initiatives for 2008
  • Primary Priority
  • Secondary Priority
     
• Initiatives for the Next 3 Years
  • Primary Priority
  • Secondary Priority

Background:

For the purpose of establishing a parish pastoral plan for the Cathedral, three consecutive Tuesday evening meetings were called, June 12th, 19th , and 26th, to which were invited approximately 45 participants from a cross section of people involved in the Cathedral parish. Each was given a copy of the Declaration of the Archdiocesan Synod, in readiness for our meetings, the agenda for which was divided into three focus categories, as follows:

1. What we are currently doing, and can we improve in some way.
2. What new initiatives can we put into place for the next year.
3. What potential initiatives can we put into action for the next 2 to 3 years.

At each meeting those in attendance were divided into 4 discussion groups, and given the above mentioned tasks to accomplish. The 2nd and 3rd meetings also took some time to set priorities from what was recommended at the previous meeting.

At the conclusion of these three sessions, the pastoral plan for the next few years at Holy Rosary was drawn up by myself, having been given much feedback from the lively discussion enjoyed by everyone involved.

Format:

At each meeting I started with a prayer, a bible passage, and a short introduction. All participants were given a guide sheet with various categories for discussion, and then counted off to form small groups. Each group reported back with their recommendations. At the 2nd and 3rd meetings, each person was asked to spend a short amount of time looking over the collated recommendations from the previous meeting, and after marking their preferences, I collected the forms and categorized them while the groups had their discussion.

Conclusion:

The Pastoral Plan for the Cathedral is meant to be both practical and prophetic. We already do much to serve the Lord and his people, but could always strive to be more effective. We need to do more in order to better evangelize and nourish the faith and commitment of our parishioners, as well as to draw new people to the Lord and His Church. We need also to be challenged to reach out and venture into new initiatives that have yet to be tried.

The Cathedral Parish will strive to bring about these objectives, with the following Pastoral Plan initiatives being undertaken over the next 3 years.

Enhancing current activities:
(What we do already, and will try to do better)

1. Primary priority:

A.) Liturgical life:

Concerted effort in recruiting, work-shopping and training for our Eucharistic Ministers, Readers, Altar Servers, and Ushers.

B.) Faith Formation:

Convey more effectively the Rite of Christian Initiation program in the parish (ie. the RCIA), especially to potential participants.

2. Secondary priority:

1. Sacristy duties more effective on the weekends.
2. Improve effectiveness of volunteer receptionists.
3. Enhance availability of the Gift Shop.
4. Promote music at the 8am and 8pm Sunday Masses.
5. Promote more care of the Cathedral grounds.
6. Provide adequate information regarding the Catholic Women’s League, the Legion of Mary, the Youth Group, and all groups in the Parish.
7. Promote more gatherings by our Youth Group.

Initiatives for 2008:
(New ideas for next year)

1. Primary Priority:

1. Establish a committee to organize volunteers at the Cathedral.
2. Establish seasonal Lecture Series with liturgical and spiritual emphasis.
3. Establish a Bible Study program.
4. Establish a committee of Eucharistic Ministers to visit the sick.
5. Celebrate an annual Mass with the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.
6. Establish a Marriage Preparation Program here at the Cathedral.

2. Secondary Priority:

1. Publish a prayer list for the sick in our Sunday bulletin.
2. Have a welcoming committee to organize greeters at our Sunday Masses.
3. Provide a cantor for the 8am Sunday Mass.
4. Establish an RCIA level 2 type program for faith renewal in the parish.
5. Enhance the Youth program with more social activities.

Initiatives over the next 3 years:
(New ideas for the near future)

1. Primary priority:

1. Establish a Parish Pastoral Council.
2. Establish a Parish Liturgical Committee.
3. Establish a Parish Faith Formation Team.
4. Establish a Multi-Cultural Committee for the 2010 Olympics.

2. Secondary priority:

1. Organize a follow-up program for new Catholics after the RCIA.
2. Convey more effectively the programming at the Cathedral.
3. Establish a Stewardship Committee for the Cathedral Parish.
4. Enhance the outside beauty of the Cathedral.
5. Establish a more effective means to reach out to the elderly of our parish.
6. Establish a “Ministry to Young Families” type of programming.
7. Support the ministry of the Sisters of the Atonement on Cordova Street.

I am pleased to bring this Pastoral Plan to the attention of the Cathedral Parish. I ask the good Lord to bless us in our efforts to act upon these recommendations for the good of our parishioners and the glory of almighty God.

Very Rev. Glenn Dion, Rector
Holy Rosary Cathedral
July 2007