St. John the Baptist Parish Pastoral Plan, Fall 2023

Parish Purpose Statement: 

St John the Baptist, is a bold voice ringing out in the wilderness,

Proclaiming ‘Behold the Lamb of God’

Pointing the way to Christ for the faithful and the seekers,

Challenging all to live joyfully as disciples of Christ.

Parish Priority #1:
Discipleship

Definition: To invite each member of our faith community to deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ, to be gradually transformed into committed disciples, and to be empowered to joyfully and boldly give witness to how Jesus Christ lives in their hearts, in order to ignite within our community a fire for Christ.

Discipleship:
Goals

1.      To help parishioners create and confidently share their faith story to inspire others.

2.      To create a culture of “discipleship” within all levels of parish life.

3.      To recognize and celebrate the disciples among us as role models for others.

Discipleship:
Specific Objectives

·        Educate parishioners on the concepts and importance of “discipleship”.

·        Infuse our religious education programs with the concepts and practices of discipleship.

·        Offer spiritual development programs to help individuals enhance their role as disciples.

·        Help parishioners identify and apply their spiritual gifts more fully.

·        Create opportunities to raise the visibility of disciples among us.

Parish Priority #2:
Community Building

Definition: Ensuring people experience Christ through us in how we welcome, interact, and integrate individuals into our parish and in how we exist in our neighborhood(s).

Community Building:
Goals 

1.      To nurture a culture of welcome within and across the life of the parish.

2.      To establish effective practices which help parishioners get fully involved into parish life.

3.      To develop proactive participation in the larger community and contribute faith-based problem solving.

Community Building:
Specific Objectives

       I.           Within the parish:

·        Establish consistent procedures which welcome and help integrate new individuals and families into the parish.

·        Establish a formal hospitality ministry and incorporate across all aspects of parish life.

 Develop practices to create and maintain connections with the newly married, newly baptized, newly joined and

any who leave the parish.

·        Better utilize technology to track and leverage information on parishioner gifts, skills and ministries.

     II.           Within the community:

·        Help form an association of places of worship who come together and work together for the community.

·        Establish a presence and voice at Community Meetings (i.e. development and civic associations).

To view excerpts from our Parish Assembly held in November of 2023, click the following links to view:

Missionary Discipleship

Personal Testimony 1

Personal Testimony 2

Parish Survey Data

Updated Parish Plan

4/23/24  LKC