GOAL 1: St. Catherine of Siena Parish will establish and/or enhance youth ministry opportunities by September 1, 2021

For this goal, we may need assistance in the area of:  none at this time.

Strategy 1: Develop a Faith Formation Youth/Young Adult Commission of 7-9 members by July 2021.

STATUS: Completed as of July 27th 2019

REVELANCY:

St. Catherine Siena’s Life Teen program includes a diverse student population relative to configuration of their families, culture practices, maturity levels, motivation to involved in Faith Formation opportunities, and experiences with and knowledge/practice of their Catholic Faith, including the sacraments, scripture, and the Mass in general. The Core Team of Faith Formation leadership are primarily adults who feel the need for greater understanding of what is relevant to teens of this age and era, strategies that may more effectively and productively engage them in faith formation activities and facilitate their understanding of and yearning for more interactions and relationships with the Lord and their Catholic Faith.

This type of effort is: brand new for us & a major leap of faith

PROGRESS MILESTONES:

1. Identify and send 1-2 active high school aged parishioners to attend a leadership camp by July 30, 2019. Status: Completed. Faith Formation Staff, Monsignor Morris and 4 high school youth attended Notre Dame Vision for June 17th – 21st. This is a national leadership conference which provided our youth and adults the resources and education to explore how God is calling them to use their talents in service to the Church and world. High school teens participated in the “ND Vision for Youth” track to empower them to be leaders in the Church and in our world.
2. Identify 3-5 youth/young adults to serve on the Youth/Young Adult Faith Formation Commission by June 30, 2020. Status: Completed. July 27th 2019 was the inaugural Life-Long Faith Formation Commission with 8 attendants. The Commission will meet every other month to plan how to guide and direct various aspects of Faith Formation at the St. Catherine of Siena Parish Community. The next meeting is September 26th, 2019 with the meeting agendas.
3. Create a commission of 7-9 youth/young adults who will attend sessions with the teen core members in order to share information and recommendations for Youth Ministry by September 1, 2021.  Status: In Progress. 4 teenagers attended ND Vision for Youth, a leadership camp, and will be assisting as student peer ministers in the 2019-2020 Faith Formation Year. We are allowing one year to give these teenagers the time to grow in their leadership skills before establishing a youth commission.

Point person(s): Sherri Briand and Mandy Westrich

Strategy 2: Recruit an additional 20-30 Faith Formation Volunteers by September 2021

Status: In Progress

RELEVANCY:

St. Catherine Siena currently has 100 plus students enrolled in the Kindergarten to 5th grade program on Sunday mornings, over 50 students enrolled in EDGE, the middle school program, and approximately 20 students enrolled in Life Teen, the high-school program. Additionally, St. Catherine’s instituted a youth Faith Formation program that aligns with RCIA for those youth who have not received one or all sacraments of initiation.  Given the vast and divergent needs of the students and numbers of those participating, St Catherine’s Faith Formation programs are in always in need of volunteers who can assist with programming and instruction in each of the Faith Formation programs.

This type of effort is: Building on current efforts

PROGRESS MILESTONES:

1. Identify a minimum of 6-8 tasks essential for classroom management that will equip and empower volunteers/catechists by July 30, 2019. Status: Completed. On Sunday August 11th, our Faith Formation staff members hosted a training for catechists and volunteers featuring a representative from Sadlier. Sadlier is our catechetical resource that we use for our religious education classes in Children’s Faith Formation. This training included implementing classroom management strategies to make our programs effective in sharing the faith with our youth. We have implemented a special needs “cool down box” to serve our students who require specific behavioral accommodations. Another task we have implemented is that we have lengthened the class morning session time as a means to enhance our evangelization.
2. Advertise in all social media available to the parish the need for Faith Formation volunteers including responsibilities and tasks expected of such volunteers by August 1, 2019. Status: Incomplete. Social media was not utilized to promote our need for Faith Formation catechists for volunteers. Our Faith Formation was able to recruit members to the team to fulfill the needs of the program. This was done through personal invitation as well as promoting in the weekly bulletin and Mass announcement slides. 
3. Recruit, train and maintain 5-10 volunteers by August 1, 2020. Status: In Progress. We have retained 99% of our catechists from the 2018-2019 Catechetical year. We have recruited an additional 10+ volunteers to service our program from Kindergarten through our adult programs for the 2019-2020 Faith Formation year. Our Faith Formation team plans to continue to grow our relationships with volunteers and families as we seek to complete this goal.
4. Recruit, train and maintain an additional 5-10 volunteers by August 1, 2021.
5. Recruit, train and maintain an additional 5-10 volunteers by August 1, 2022.

Point person(s): Sherri Briand and Mandy Westrich

Strategy 3: Hire a full-time Communications/IT individual by May 1, 2019

STATUS: Completed; Nora Bourke was hired as Communications Coordinator in March 2019

REVELANCY:

St. Catherine of Siena currently has two part-time employees each of whom works independently to maintain St. Catherine’s web site and social media. The discrepancy between the work schedules of social media/technology staff and the other Parish staff have compromised opportunities to share information.  The hiring of a full time individual with expertise in both social media and technology who will work similar hours as the parish staff will alleviate current communication issues.

This type of effort is:  Brand new for us

PROGRESS MILESTONES:

1. Establish a communication plan for the resourcing of photos, events and other information pertinent to the parish community by August 1, 2019 October 1st, 2019. Status: Completed as of August 12th, 2019. New Communication Request Form was created and distributed to ministry leaders and parish staff by June 1st, 2019. This new Communication Request Form is a more efficient way for ministry leaders, parishioners, and organizations within the diocese to request announcements through any of the parish’s communication forums (bulletin, website, mass announcement slides, and social media). Click here to read the SCOS Parish Communication Plan.
2. Establish a committee of volunteers to assist in the dissemination of photos and information for the various ministries of the parish by January 30, 2020.  Status: In Progress. The SCOS Communications Advisory Committee has 1 member who assisted in writing the Communication Plan. We are presently recruiting in order to expand the committee by January 30^th 2020.
3. Establish a “featured family/parishioner” program to run at various times throughout the year October 2019.  Status: In Progress. The goal for the featured family/parishioner program is included in the Communication Plan. We are planning to have various parishioners featured, including new and seasoned veterans of the parish.
4. Increase social media presence of the parish by August 2020. Status: Complete. Presently making weekly posts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
5.  Additional Update: Though this was not specified in the initial Parish Action Plan, a need was made present when our parish began to suffer many technology issues. Beginning September 1st, 2019 we began a 2-year contract with Data Integrity Services. This new IT support does a more preventative and hands-on approach to maintenance of our parish server, phone system, and computers. Data Integrity is a highly reputable company that is experienced in support for churches as well as highly familiar with ParishSoft. As the parish grows and as technology continues to evolve, our IT support falls under Communications.

Point person(s): Monsignor Morris

GOAL 2: St. Catherine of Siena parish will enhance or establish family ministries to respond to the diverse needs of families by Pentecost 2020 (May 31, 2020)

For this goal, we may need assistance in the area of: Intercultural competency, Communications

Strategy 1: Engage parents more fully in the life of the parish by giving them the tools to practice their faith within the domestic church by June 30, 2020.

Status: In Progress.

Debbie Barry is a parishioner and student with the Lay Pastoral Ministry Institute, LPMI. Her practicum focuses on engaging parents more fully in the life of the parish. She is planning activities for the upcoming 2019-2020 year.    

RELEVANCY: Parents of the Parish have requested assistance with ideas and strategies so they can more fully engage their children in the Catholic Faith.  providing carry over into the home of concepts and activities discussed and implemented in Faith Formation classes.

This type of effort is:  Brand new for us

PROGRESS MILESTONES:

1. Host two to four parent sessions by June 2020. Status: In Progress. Presently this is being planned with the Faith Formation staff and Debbie Barry as part of her LPMI practicum. We have three sessions planned for the coming year for parents: one for the parents of children in our sacramental preparation programs and four Family Faith Cafes.
2. Establish a core team of leading families who will identify priorities of Parish families by January 1, 2020. Status: Presently this is being planned by Debbie Barry as part of her LPMI practicum.
3. Implement identified priorities of the family core team with 30-50 additional families by June 1, 2021. Status: In Progress. Debbie Barry, as part of her LPMI practicum, is planning an information session in which she and her volunteer team can identify the needs of parents and families. This feedback will shape how this ministry will move forward.
4. Provide parents with Faith Formation resources, activities and religious instructions so the faith can be nourished within the home life by September of 2019. Status: In Progress. Vacation Bible School took place in June 2019, as it was re-introduced to the parish after taking a break for a year. The event was energetic and successful, with great feedback from our families. Parents, young adults, and teenagers served as leaders which helped equip sharing of the faith for the families involved. Our Faith Formation staff sent a daily email update about the VBS theme, allowing families to extend the catechetical message to their domestic church in the home after their children had the experience. 

Faith Formation Staff, Monsignor Morris and 4 high school youth attended Notre Dame Vision for June 17th – 21st. Monsignor Morris and Mandy Westrich, Faith Formation Coordinator, attended the track titled “Liturgical Formation: Forming Families for Full Conscious, and Active Participation.”

Our Faith Formation is  providing Book-of-the-Month Club through Dynamic Catholic to be distributed to adults. Beginning in September, the Book-of-the-Month club is being targeted to parents and adults within the parish to meet at 10:15 am on Sunday mornings to coincide with Children’s Faith Formation classes. Not only is this an intentional way to invite parent participation in a ministry while their children are in religious education classes, but it is a priority that we provide opportunities for adults to deepen their faith. The simple format for this new Adult Book-of-the-Month Club is meant to be approachable for busy adults to encounter the Lord alongside one another in prayer, fellowship, and candid conversation.  The first book that is being featured in this ministry is Resisting Happiness by Matthew Kelly.

Point person(s): Mandy Westrich, Sherri Briand and Debbie Barry

Strategy 2: Offer presentations that will meet the diverse needs of families by June 1, 2021

RELEVANCY:

Families of St. Catherine of Siena reflect the diversity of the world in which we live.  Including, but not limited to, blended families, families of divorce, families with unique cultural traditions, families with members who have special needs/disabilities, widows/widowers, etc. SCOS families have expressed a desire to create family-based activities that are inclusive for all.

This type of effort is:  Building on current efforts

PROGRESS MILESTONES:

1. Develop and implement three annual family activities by September 1, 2020. Status: In Progress. We are planning the Family Fall Festival, Caroling for Cans, Easter Egg Hunt, and the Living Rosary to commemorate the end of the Faith Formation year. 
2. Recruit six families to witness their faith in family life by July 1, 2021.
3. Provide counseling opportunities through Baycare for 10-15 families by July 1, 2021. Status: In Progress. We are looking to BayCare Behavioral Health and other programs to provide presentations and resources for families. The first program is schedule for October 20th at 4 pm in the Family Life Center and has been advertised to the rest of the diocese by the diocesan Office of Life, Justice, and Advocacy. Our parish has invested in a Parish Assistance Program through BayCare Behavioral Health. Through this program parishioners are entitled to 3 professional sessions to help them in mental health counseling with anxiety/depression, Stress, Relationship Issues, Family Issues, Grief/Loss, Addictive Behaviors.

Point person(s): Sandra Garcia-Olivares and Bethany Davis

GOAL 3: St. Catherine of Siena Parish will equip Parishioners as Missionary Disciples who are inspired to invite and accompany others by July 1, 2021.

For this goal, we may need assistance in the area of: Intercultural competency,  Technology, Communications

Strategy 1: Provide ministry and services to the Spanish-speaking residents of our parish by July 1, 2020.

Status: In Progress. Our parish presently has a part-time priest, Fr. Jesus Martinez effective July 1st, 2019. We have Deacon Paco Martinez-Pacini assigned to our parish and he serves various parish ministries and faith formation. Both will enhance our efforts to minister to our Spanish-speaking parishioners.

REVELANCY:

St. Catherine of Siena has an increasing population of Parishioners whose primary language is Spanish however there is currently no priest in residence who can preside at a mass in Spanish. As the Spanish population continues to grow within our parish boundaries, the need for a weekly mass, faith formation, sacramental preparation, sacraments, etc. in Spanish is evident.

This type of effort is:  Brand new to us & a leap of faith

We are in partnership with:  Holy Cross for this strategy

PROGRESS MILESTONES

1. Establish a Sunday Mass (Saturdays at 6pm) in Spanish by July 1, 2019 October 27th, 2019. Status: In Progress. As of September 8th, it was announced to the parish that a regular Spanish Mass will begin the weekend of October 27th at 2:30 pm. 
2. Begin to offer various parish announcements and communication in both English and Spanish by November 1, 2019. Status: In Progress. As of September 2019 the parish staff collaborated on an improved and new parish registration form. Our staff members collaborated about a better solution to accommodate unique family situations, Spanish-speaking parishioners, and important criteria for our ParishSoft database. Our new parishioner registration form is designed to accommodate mixed families with varying last names, Spanish speaking parishioners, and families with adult children or other adult relatives living in the home. Our parish has also begun creating the front cover of our weekly bulletins as bilingual. As our Hispanic population increases at the parish we will continue to evaluate how to continue to incorporate Spanish in our bulletins and other communication forums.
3. Invite 15 to 20 Spanish-speaking parishioners to serve in various liturgical ministries by September 1, 2020.
4. Work collaboratively with partnership parish in faith formation programs.
5. Provide parish facilities for prayer groups and ministries by July 1, 2019. Status: Incomplete. Our Spanish groups and ministries will be established after we have begun our new Spanish Mass. We will provide a new deadline date soon.

Point person(s): Deacon Paco

Strategy 2: Invite 750 current parishioners to invite a non-parishioner to attend a Mass or parish event by January 1, 2020.

 Status: In Progress. We are presently planning a Parish Welcome Weekend in which a witness talk, from an active parishioner who was personally invited to our community, will be shared at each mass. The congregation will be encouraged and prepared to invite non-Catholics and/or non-practicing Catholics to events and opportunities of worship at the parish. In the months/weeks following, we will plan a follow up with the individuals who had been invited into various opportunities of parish involvement.

REVELANCY:

Our parish DMI survey indicated that 25% of survey respondents never invite someone to Mass.

This type of effort is:  Brand new to us & a leap of faith

PROGRESS MILESTONES

1. Create and distribute promotional parish invitation cards by June 2019 March 2020 (revised date). Status: In Progress. These are in the plans for our Welcome Weekend.
2. Promote the program at various masses and parish events by September 2019 March 2020 (revised date). Status: In Progress. These are in the plans for our Welcome Weekend.
3. Invite ministry members to become ambassadors in extending the invitation to those outside the current parish community by September 2019 January 18, 2020 (revised date). Status: In Progress. These are in the plans for our Welcome Weekend.

2 Corinthians 5:20 – “We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us”

Point person(s): Father Jack Marino and Nora Bourke

Strategy 3: Establish an additional 12-Step Program as a service to the Community by January 1, 2020.

REVELANCY:  There is a growing need of 12-Step programs in Pinellas County.  We presently host weekly Narcotics Anonymous and Al-Anon meetings at St. Catherine of Siena Parish.

This type of effort is:  Brand new for us

PROGRESS MILESTONES

1. Establish a committee by July 1, 2019 Status: In Progress. Wayne Price and Monsignor Morris are planning how to implement a new committee.
2. Research the demographics of the Clearwater/Largo area (Coral Heights communities). Contact National/Regional delegates.
3. Find locations and times of present meetings by October 1, 2019. Status: In Progress. We are presently planning what will be our new 12-step program(s) with its location/time still to be determined.

Point person(s): Walter Price

Proposal for Southwest Deanery Catholic Impact Initiative

What is Pinellas Hope?      

Pinellas Hope began as temporary solution for homeless adults in response to St. Petersburg’s increasingly visible homeless population. The homeless resided in what was referred to as “tent city” and the mayor finally had ordered the police to slash the tents to put an end to the homeless camp. Formed as a partnership between Pinellas County, the city of St. Petersburg and Catholic Charities, Pinellas Hope was only a short term solution and was not to stay open more than 6 months. Bishop Robert Lynch gave 10 acres of diocesan land to make this pilot project happen. Eleven years later, Pinellas Hope has expanded from a small tent shelter to a facility that includes over 160 tents, 72 “Hope Cottages” made from shipping containers, 10 of which are set aside for medical respite residents and 156 supportive apartments.

In addition to providing emergency shelter, Pinellas Hope provides case managements, substance abuse programs, transportation, continued education classes through Pinellas County Schools, laundry and shower facilities as well as three volunteer provided meals each day when able to do so. Since the opening of Pinellas Hope in December 2007, it has assisted more than 10,000 people with about 3,800 moving to stable housing.

The next four phases of Pinellas Hope began in 2011 and was completed in 2016. Pinellas Hope II-V is a 156 until Permanent Supportive Housing Program for the homeless of which, thirty percent of these units are dedicated to veterans. This program is a natural progression for homeless to transition from the shelter to permanent housing.

Pinellas Hope continues to mission to provide a safe living environment for homeless individuals as well as provide support for them to gain a sense of self sufficiency.

Commitment

It is the conviction of the dean and pastors of the Southwest deanery that each parish should offer a regular commitment of the following:

1. Education- each parish of the Southwest deanery will be provided an informational session of the mission for Pinellas Hope.

2. Serving – it is the conviction of the dean and pastors of the Southwest deanery that each parish should provide a meal once a quarter to Pinellas Hope.

Status: Complete.

St. Catherine of Siena, through he leadership of Sr. Kathleen Beatty SSJ, prepares and serves one meal per month to the residents of Pinellas Hope.

3. Financial – each year the Southwest deanery will support a capital project that has a lasting and sustainable impact to Pinellas Hope and its residents.

4. Spiritual – each parish of the Southwest deanery will support the spiritual life of Pinellas Hope residents by hosting weekly masses to shelter and housing residents. In addition the Southwest deanery will provide support and further religious education for residents of Pinellas Hope I & II who desire to become a member of the Catholic Church.

Status: In Progress.

Deacon John Ustick, a parishioner of our parish and deacon assigned to St. Cecelia parish, currently does all planning and implementing of the spiritual ministry and various community events for the residents of Pinellas Hope. As of September 2019, Deacon Ustick and Monsignor Morris are planning how to build the team to serve which will serve under Deacon Ustick’s leadership. The team will build upon the ministry and events he has already begun in order strengthen our efforts of evangelization.

5. Counseling/Wellness – it is required by Pinellas Hope that Deacon John Ustick continues his service to our shelter and housing residents. It is encouraged for more volunteers serve as mentors, counselors, etc. to help encourage and support Pinellas Hope’s residents.

   Status: In Progress.

   Deacon John Ustick and Monsignor Morris are working on recruiting his team of volunteers and mentors.