THE SEVEN ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF PARISH LIFE

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THE SEVEN ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF PARISH LIFE
The Essence of Parish Life
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The 7 Essentials The Parish Council
These Essentials are tools Used by Pastors
Pastoral Councils to evaluate Current Parish
Life And Plan for the Future Direction of the
parish
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The Foundations for the Seven Elements of Parish
Life

• Found in the Code of Canon Law
• cc528-530, 536
• Describes the Normative Pastoral Activity for a
  Parish
• Pastors Responsibility to Carry out
• Parish Councils are an advisory body to assist
  the Pastor through collaboration

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Evangelization
Overlays all other elements  

• All parish life contributes to witnessing
  Gospel Values

• All parish activities are aimed at showing the
  Love of God through Christ

• Evangelization is the mission of all members of
  the Church

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WORSHIP
The Spiritual Life of a Parish Animates its
Mission
The worship of the community interfaces with and
supports all other essential elements of the
pastoral mission
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Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy
10 The Liturgy is -
at the same time
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WORD
Word relates to and is part of all other
essentials.
Preaching Teaching the Word Builds COMMUNITIES
of Faith
Deepening Faith comes from echoing Gods Word
The WORSHIP, SERVICE, STEWARDSHIP and LEADERSHIP
of these communities of faith all contribute to
EVANGELIZATION
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COMMUNITY
An essential element of parish life
The basis for and outgrowth of the Pastoral
Mission
A place where everyone belongs
Joins together in WORD and WORSHIP,
EVANGELIZATION efforts, SERVICE to others,
STEWARDSHIP of Gods gifts, and shared LEADERSHIP
An ongoing process
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SERVICE
The mission to which Christ calls the Church
Jesus modeled and mandated outreach service to
others
Clergy Councils must call forth this essential
element of the pastoral mission from the community
Faith without Service is lifeless
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STEWARDSHIP
Making the most responsible use of ones gifts
and resources, recognizing that life is a gift
from God
More than money!

• Sharing of ones time and talent

• Commitment of communal resources in service to
  the community

• Care for and responsible use of the earth

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• STEWARDSHIP leads people to share
• in the work of EVANGEIZATION
• in ministries of the WORD
• in SERVICE to others through works of mercy and
  justice.

These elements form the COMMUNITY of faith which
carries out its call to Discipleship.
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LEADERSHIP
Effective Pastoral Councils require
collaborative leadership Clergy and Laity
This collaboration calls forth gifts
- Visioning
- Planning
- Evaluating
- Empowering
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SUNDAY EUCHARIST
This is the source and summit of the 7 Essential
Elements - it is at the core of all we do
From the first COMMUNITY of faith gathered in
WORD and WORSHIP, we received the mission of
EVANGELIZATION, SERVICE, STEWARDSHIP and the
ministry of shared LEADERSHIP.
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GUIDE TO PASTORAL PLANNING
If you dont know where you are going, any road
will get you there!
Pastoral Plans provide rootedness, grounded in
the mission of Christ
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THE PASTORAL PLAN IS GROUNDED IN CHRIST
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Components of a Pastoral Plan

• The Parish Mission Statement
• Visioning
• Goals
• Objectives
• Action Plan

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Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to
walk from here? said Alice. That depends a
good deal on where you want to get to, said the
cat. I dont much care where, said
Alice. Then it doesnt much matter which way you
walk, said the cat.
Alices Adventures in Wonderland
By Lewis Carroll
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THE MISSION STATEMENT
Is Not interchangeable
Is a statement of identity direction
Is philosophical, value-oriented, long-term
declarations of fundamental purpose
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Visioning
Where Are We Now?
Where Do We Want to Be in 3 to 5 Years?
What Are Our Blessings / Resources?
What Are Our Obstacles?
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GOALS 3 to 5 Years

• Descriptive Statements of Achievements
  to be attained

• Explicit extension of Mission Statement

• Results-oriented clearly defined do-able

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OBJECTIVES
Concrete, explicit outcomes in pursuit of a Goal
How
- The Action Plan
What
- The Objective
Who
- The Person Responsible / Accountable
When
- Date Certain for Completion
WHY??
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THE NUTS BOLTS