Over this summer, we have been sharing some details of the work our parish leadership team has been doing so that we may bring clarity of the purpose and mission of our church to everyone engaged in Holy Family Parish. This work revolved around six key clarity questions:
- Why do we exist?
- How do we behave?
- What do we do?
- How will we succeed?
- What is most important right now?
- Who does what?
We continue this information this week with a look at:
QUESTION 4: HOW WILL WE SUCCEED?
While these same clarity questions are applied to and used for many different secular businesses to bring a clear direction to their branding, marketing and strategic plans, by now you can see how they carry a different meaning, a very different meaning, for our purposes here at Holy Family Parish. This process is actually a very well-established model used in the business world to ensure that those working for a company are able to support and clearly communicate what their employer is about, AND so that the vision and mission of the company is clearly communicated to and understood by the public.
So then what does this mean for us here at Holy Family? How will we know that we are succeeding in living and carrying on our mission to love God, love others and make disciples? If our mission truly permeates all that we do in our parish, then we will be succeeding when we can see that our decisions and plans are all based on three important spiritual filters. After great discussion, thought and prayer about all the things that happen here at Holy Family, we arrived at the following three spiritual filters:
We have an invitational environment –
In all that we do, at all times, let us be mindful of both our interpersonal openness and welcome invitation to others, and the physical and spiritual environment that we create here in the church. “Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers for by doing that, some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13: 1
We have constant opportunities to grow –
Over the past few years, we have endeavored to be very deliberate not only in the choices of programs, events, and activities that are offered at Holy Family, but also in the specific times and structure of these opportunities. This is so that hopefully everyone would be able to connect with an experience that meets their needs and allows them to further grow in their faith. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2
We are focused on forming Catholic leaders –
The health of our parish community depends on the ongoing and intentional formation of our leaders in ministries, programs and responsibilities and the succession of these people into service. We are so blessed to have people who genuinely respond to the personal call to belong to and engage with our parish. “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater…” 2 Thessalonians 1:3
As you continue to reflect on our parish mission to love God, love others and make disciples and the implications of embracing this, consider how decisions and plans are made based on these three spiritual filters. And that when we do make decisions for the right reasons, we will be successfully living out our mission. You are also invited to think about the next clarity question: What is most important right now?
