October 2006

Dear Parishioners,

The parish leadership hopes you are aware that for the past two years we have been involved in a major strategic planning process to help create a realistic and yet creative VISION for our parish and the important role it can play in our daily lives. This has been commissioned by the past directives of the Parish Council.

This effort has been a major undertaking of many parishioners. More than 75 people have been actively involved in the Leadership Commissions since January 2005. In addition, prior to 2005, more than 200 parish families completed a survey to obtain their thoughts and hopes for the future of the parish, another 50 parishioners participated in focus group discussions in early 2005, and over 120 people have participated in “fireside chats” over the past year.

Much has been accomplished. We hope you have also seen the effects in the many programs, events and outreach activities that now are beginning to enliven our parish. Last year alone, over 1,100 individuals were involved in various parish ministries.

The Parish Council and Administration and Finance Commission have set as a goal the development of a long-term plan, including a review of the facility needs to advance our ministry goals. As such, a Master Planning Task Force was created in September 2005 at the direction of the Parish Council and endorsed by me. The Task Force has been asked to bring forth a proposed master plan to the Parish and Finance Council for their approval. The Task Force is comprised of 22 parishioners and 7 staff members. After meeting several times, they recommended hiring Murray and Company as outside consultants to facilitate our “envisioning” process for facilities as we redefine our future programmatic needs and wants.

As this process continues, a parish wide “Fireside Chat” will be held again to bring all parishioners up-to-date on the process, answer your questions and present information gathered to date. When such a meeting is scheduled we hope you will come and give your input for the future of the parish. Your presence will be very important. We will keep you updated in the bulletin as to the future meeting dates. Again, we hope you will join us with your valued input.

Thank you in advance for your ongoing support and commitment to our parish community. May God bless you all.

Fr. Kevin J. Spiess, Pastor     

OVERALL VISION for the PARISH

The Vision of Ss. Faith, Hope and Charity Parish is that of lives grounded in the sacraments and gospel of Jesus Christ evidenced by the vibrant worship of God in the Eucharist as the center of our parish life. We are committed to:

• Providing more opportunities and space to enhance the prayer and spiritual lives of our parish
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• Strengthening the understanding of our individual and collective experience of Christ within our parish, Church and the world
• Energizing our parish community by developing and utilizing the gifts of each individual and family
• Promoting the laity’s role in the shared stewardship of parish resources, ministries, and the facilities needed for its activities
• Welcoming all who wish to share the joy of our faith and show loving care for one another
• And becoming active disciples, doing God’s work in the world, by promoting the dignity of every human being and serving those in need within and outside of our parish.

It is the hope of all who are involved in long-range planning for Ss. Faith, Hope and Charity Parish that the lay leadership model of commissions working with the Parish Council and Pastor will assume the responsibility of faithful stewardship with active support and participation to bring about success for their parish in the work of the Church. We are grateful to members of the parish for participating and cooperating in the work of strategic and master long-range planning, particularly to those who have served on committees identified in this report. Their time, effort, expertise, wisdom, insights and dedication have been of tremendous value in bringing the process forward and in the very difficult decisions that are being made.

A “Master Facility Plan” provides the Parish with a roadmap for aligning its facilities with its strategic pastoral directions and its core purpose. The plan is designed to address the facility needs and corresponding funding requirements to accomplish all the targeted Parish and Commission projects, fulfilling the broad objectives of the mission of Ss. Faith, Hope & Charity Parish.

The tasks of reviewing current parish conditions and planning for the future arose from strategic planning for SS. FHC in 2004-2005 and the subsequent reorganization of lay leadership. Commission members brought to the surface a number of desires in addition to the existing needs of the parish.

In 2005, aware of deferred maintenance issues and a series of spontaneous physical problems, the Administration/Finance Commission began to examine a best course of action. As a result, the Master Planning Task Force comprised of 22 active parishioners was organized to develop a long-range plan for parish facilities.

Numerous meetings and consultations were held including five opportunities to which the entire parish was invited to participate. A wide variety of suggestions were offered during these sessions. The considerations fell into the general categories of worship, fellowship, education, staff needs, and priests’ needs.

In June 2006 the MPTF presented recommendations to the Parish Council and Finance Council. It found strong support for such efforts.
 
 
   

Developing a strategic plan at this time allows the parish the opportunity to address three major issues:

• A new lay leadership structure with commissions have refined and prioritized parishioners’ goals for future ministries and needs of the parish.
• With creation of the Buildings and Grounds Committee, it was felt that an assessment was necessary for Ss. FHC’s facilities. The Archdiocese recommended engaging an outside engineering firm, EMG, for that assessment. EMG’s report completed in September 2005, highlighted significant future maintenance needs to maintain the care and integrity of the buildings for the next decade.
• Ss. FHC has a unique and time-limited opportunity to acquire contiguous properties if the parish deems them necessary or desirable.

WORSHIP

Maintain church’s architectural character
Incorporate post-Vatican II changes
Increase congregation’s engagement in Liturgy
Improve lighting/sound systems

FELLOWSHIP

Gathering space before and after Mass
Improve sense of welcome for community
Broader variety and number of meeting spaces
Space for large parish gatherings
Adaptation of space for physically challenged parishioners

EDUCATION

Address various groups’ needs:
Adults, Teens/MATRIX, Religious Education, School
Flexible space for current/future uses
Technological improvements
Adaptation of space for physically challenged parishioners

STAFF NEEDS

Central location for administrative functions
Better/more convenient space for meetings and interaction with parishioners
Upgrade communications infrastructure
More storage space for all ministries

PRIESTS’ NEEDS

Separate residence from business/ministerial space

There is strong support within the Master Planning Task Force (MPTF), Parish Council and Finance Council for the following:

• Address the EMG Property condition assessment of deficiencies and upgrade to ADA compliance throughout the campus;
  
• Acquire the available Ridge Avenue properties that are contiguous to the primary Parish property in the block bounded by Ridge Avenue, Hill Road, Linden Street, and Sunset Road prior to the expiration of the Parish’s purchase option in March of 2007;
  
• Update the Church interior;
  
• Redesign the current school building into a new parish “Education Center” which will serve as a facility for the Religious Education needs, adult formational needs, MATRIX needs, and School needs. This newly designed facility will provide maximum flexibility for intergenerational needs. The south wing will be replaced as part of this new building;
  
• Add a new Parish Meeting Hall; and
  
• Initiate a major reserve/endowment for the Parish and its future programs.
  
     
  

Next Steps:

• Contract with an outside fundraising firm to commence a Feasibility Study;
  
• Contract with a liturgical architectural firm to work with a parish-wide sub-committee on proposed space changes within the church;
  
• MPTF reconvenes to study and to propose an implementation plan to the various councils;
  
• Present the MPTF Recommended Plan to Parish;
  
• Study and approval of Parish Council and Finance Council on the recommendation of the MPTF.