Spiritual Life and Worship
Our Beliefs
At St. Matthew the Apostle
Catholic Church, we believe that the spiritual and prayer life of our parish is
essential in carrying out the mission of the Church. We believe that we receive the Good News of
Jesus Christ through the celebration of the Sunday Eucharist and our personal
and communal worship and prayer. We
believe that through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to proclaim the
Gospel and build the
Section 1
Spiritual
Life and Worship: Goals and Objectives
Goal 1: To strengthen our spiritual and worship life at St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic Church by increasing parishioners’ participation in our liturgical celebrations
Objective 1.1: By March 2005, to develop and implement a plan to encourage parishioners to actively participate with the choir in singing.
Objective 1.2: By March 2005, to create and implement a plan to facilitate parishioners’ participation in the Eucharistic celebration.
Goal 2: To strengthen our spiritual and worship life at St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic Church by increasing our spiritual formation efforts
Objective 2.1: By July 2005, to plan and facilitate transportation for seniors so that they may attend spiritual formation events held in the evenings, nights, and/or in other faith communities.
Objective 2.2: To plan and facilitate education for the parish community on the meaning and experiences of Black Spirituality by November 2005.
Objective 2.3: By November 2005, to plan and facilitate spiritual formation programs that address the needs of our children, youth, and young adults.
Objective 2.4: By November 2005, to devise and facilitate a mentoring plan so that the elders may share their expertise with the younger members of the congregation.
Objective 2.5: By January 2006, to develop and implement a plan to provide meditation and prayer materials to parishioners so that they may have the opportunity to independently deepen their faith and their relationship with God.
Goal 3: To strengthen our spiritual life and worship life at St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic Church by expanding the content of our liturgy.
Objective 3.1: To identify and plan liturgical celebrations for specific African American Holidays and Holy Days by October 2004.
Objective 3.2: By November 2004, our pastor will deliver homilies that relate the gospel values and teachings to the experiences and culture of the parish community.
Objective 3.3: By the end of this
calendar year, 2004, and each subsequent calendar year, the commissioner and
commission members will attend at least one training session/workshop that
focuses on ways to enhance our liturgical celebrations.
Objective 3.4: By the end of this
calendar year, 2004, and each subsequent calendar year, the commissioner will
make a brief report to the Pastoral Council about the training session/workshop
attended.
Objective 3.5: To develop a plan to educate parishioners on the basic meaning of the Nicene Creed in order to clarify our Catholic beliefs by January 2005.
Objective 3.6: To implement the plan to educate parishioners on the basic meaning of the Nicene Creed in order to clarify our Catholic beliefs by November 2005.
ACTION PLAN
Commission: Spiritual Life and Worship
Goal 1: To strengthen our spiritual and worship life at St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic Church by increasing parishioners’ participation in our liturgical celebrations.
Objective: 1.1 By
March 2005, to develop and implement a plan to encourage parishioners to actively
participate with the choir in singing.
|
Action Step |
Person(s) Responsible |
Beginning Date |
Completion Date |
|
1. Publish words to Communion
Song and titles to all songs each week in the bulletin. |
Judy, Sallie, Janet |
8-29-04 |
Ongoing |
|
2. Teach responsorial psalm
prior to Mass |
Judy & Sallie |
8-29-04 |
9-26-04 |
|
3. Evaluate step 2 |
Commissioners |
October 2004 |
. Ongoing |
|
4. Seek Cantor Volunteers |
All involved; Mark in
bulletin |
August 04 |
Ongoing |
|
5. Program for St. Matthew,
Christmas & Easter |
Judy, Sallie, Janet |
Sept, Dec, March |
Ongoing |
|
6. 3 songs in the bulletin |
Judy, Sallie, Janet |
Advent |
Ongoing |
|
7. Praise & Worship before
Mass – experiment |
Sallie & Judy |
Advent |
Ongoing |
|
8. Evaluate the various steps |
All involved |
Step by step |
Ongoing |
ACTION PLAN
Commission: Spiritual Life and Worship
Goal: 1 To strengthen
our spiritual and worship life at St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic Church by
increasing parishioners’ participation in our liturgical celebrations
Objective: 1.2 By March 2005, to create and implement a
plan to facilitate parishioners’ participation in the Eucharistic celebration.
|
Action Step |
Person(s) Responsible |
Beginning Date |
Completion Date |
|
1. Publicize existence of
laminated prayer cards |
Mark |
September 2004 |
September 2004 |
|
2. Train Greeters to offer
prayer cards to all at the door before Mass |
Mark & Regina |
October, 04 |
Ongoing |
|
3. Advertise for more
liturgical ministers: EEMs, Lectors, Choir members,
Acolytes, Greeters, Ushers |
Mark |
September 2004 |
October, 04 |
|
4. Schedule a training for each
liturgical ministry |
Mark & Regina |
October – November, 2004 |
Ongoing |
ACTION PLAN
Commission: Spiritual Life and Worship
Goal: 1 To strengthen
our spiritual and worship life at St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic Church by
increasing parishioners’ participation in our liturgical celebrations
Objective: 1.3 By March 2005, to create and implement a
plan to facilitate youth participation in the Eucharistic celebration.
|
Action Step |
Person(s) Responsible |
Beginning Date |
Completion Date |
|
1. Keep youth involved in
ministries once a month, 4th Sunday |
All |
Ongoing |
Ongoing |
|
2. Invite more youth to all
ministries: EEMs, Lectors, Choir members, Acolytes,
Greeters, Ushers |
Mark will talk to Melynie & Lillian |
October, 04 |
Ongoing |
|
3. Specifically invite youth to
training for each liturgical ministry |
Mark & Regina,
Melynie & Lillian |
October – November, 2004 |
Ongoing |
|
4. Schedule youth on 4th
Sundays for one or another ministry, as well as on 5th Sundays for
all ministries. |
Mark & Regina, Melynie
& Lillian |
Ongoing |
Ongoing |
ACTION PLAN
Commission: Spiritual Life and Worship
Goal: 2 To strengthen
our spiritual and worship life at St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic Church by
increasing our spiritual formation efforts.
Objective: 2.1 By July 2005, to plan and facilitate transportation for seniors so that they may attend spiritual formation events held in the evenings, nights, and/or in other faith communities.
|
Action Step |
Person(s) Responsible |
Beginning Date |
Completion Date |
|
1. Bulletin Article
inviting people to sign up to ride van to vote. |
Mark & Janet |
October 2004 |
November 2, 2004 |
|
2. Contact drivers for
van (Al Leake, Jim Hauschultz) |
Mark & Janet |
October, 2004 |
October, 2004 |
|
3. Drive people to the
event |
Al,
Jim, etc. |
November 2, 2004 |
November 2, 2004 |
|
4. Evaluate |
Commission |
December 2004 |
Ongoing |
|
5. Develop a calendar of
such events |
Commission, with PPC
input |
November 2004 |
December 2004 |
|
6. Communicate this
calendar to Janet |
Barbara |
November 2004 |
Ongoing |
|
7. Repeat Steps 1-4 for
the King Mass in January |
Mark & Janet, Commission |
December 2004 |
February 2004 |
|
8. Repeat Steps 1-4 for
4the Revival in March |
Mark & Janet, Commission |
February 2004 |
April 2004 |
|
9. Repeat Steps 1-4 for
each other event on calendar |
Mark & Janet, Commission |
Ongoing |
Ongoing |
|
10. Review and update
Calendar |
Commission |
Ongoing |
Ongoing |
ACTION PLAN
Commission: Spiritual Life and Worship
Goal: 2 To strengthen our spiritual and worship life at St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic Church by increasing our spiritual formation efforts
Objective: 2.2 To plan and facilitate education for the parish
community on the meaning and experiences of Black Spirituality by November
2005.
|
Action Step |
Person(s) Responsible |
Beginning Date |
Completion Date |
|
1. Encourage people to
read Black Catholic Pages through bulletin |
Mark |
November 04 |
November 04 |
|
2. Encourage people to
read Black Catholic Pages from pulpit |
Mark & Speaker |
November 04 |
November 04 |
|
3. Provide a complete
index of the pages to this point. |
Louisa Thompson |
November 04 |
November 04 |
|
4. Invite parishioners
to complete their sets. |
Louisa, Janet & Mark |
November 04 |
December 04 |
|
5. Provide a copy of
Black Catholic Pages to new parishioners when they register. |
Janet |
Ongoing |
Ongoing |
|
6. Plan celebration of
Black Catholic History Month |
Commission |
September 04 |
November 04 |
|
7. Celebrate Black
Catholic History Month in November |
Commission & Others |
November 04 |
November 04 |
|
8. Plan celebration of
Black History Month |
Commission |
December 04 |
February 05 |
|
9. Celebrate Black
History Month in February |
Commission & Others |
February 05 |
February 05 |
|
10. Develop a calendar
of other celebrations…. |
Commission |
November 04 |
December 04 |
|
11. Plan celebration of
Kwanzaa |
Commission |
November 04 |
December 04 |
|
12. Celebrate Kwanzaa |
Commission & Others |
December 04 |
February 05 |
ACTION PLAN
Commission: Spiritual Life and Worship
Goal: 2 To strengthen our spiritual and worship life at St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic Church by increasing our spiritual formation efforts
Objective: 2.3 By
November 2005, to plan and facilitate spiritual formation programs that address
the needs of our children, youth, and young adults.
|
Action Step |
Person(s) Responsible |
Beginning Date |
Completion Date |
|
1. Contact Youth Ministers
to explain objective and invite them to brainstorming session |
Barbara |
November 2004 |
December 2004 |
|
2. Contact Christian
Formation Commissioner to explain and invite her to brainstorming session. |
Barbara |
November 2004 |
December 2004 |
|
3. Hold Brainstorming
Session |
Commission & Others |
March, 2005 |
March, 2005 |
|
4. Follow up on results
from #3 |
|
March, 2005 |
November, 2005 |
|
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ACTION PLAN
Commission: Spiritual Life and Worship
Goal: 2 To strengthen our spiritual and worship life at St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic Church by increasing our spiritual formation efforts.
Objective: 2.4 By
November 2005, to devise and facilitate a
mentoring plan so that the elders may share their expertise with the younger
members of the congregation.
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Action Step |
Person(s) Responsible |
Beginning Date |
Completion Date |
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ACTION PLAN
Commission: Spiritual Life and Worship
Goal: 2 To strengthen our spiritual and worship life at St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic Church by increasing our spiritual formation efforts
Objective: 2.5 By January 2006, to develop and implement a plan to provide meditation and prayer materials to parishioners so that they may have the opportunity to independently deepen their faith and their relationship with God.
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Action Step |
Person(s) Responsible |
Beginning Date |
Completion Date |
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ACTION PLAN
Commission: Spiritual Life and Worship
Goal: 3 To strengthen
our spiritual and worship life at St. Matthew by expanding the content of our
liturgy.
Objective: 3.1 To identify and plan liturgical celebrations for
specific African American Holidays and Holy Days by October 2004.
|
Action Step |
Person(s) Responsible |
Beginning Date |
Completion Date |
Status |
|
1. Get a calendar and make a
list of Black Catholic Holidays and Holy Days. |
Barbara |
6/26/04 |
7/10/04 |
Done |
|
2. Choose holidays for
celebration and assign dates for the celebrations. |
Commission |
7/10/04 |
8/04 |
Done |
|
3. Plan the first celebration.
(Black Catholic History Month) |
Celebrant, Choir
Director & one or more members |
10/04 |
11/28/04 |
Done |
|
4. Implement the first
celebration. |
Fr. Mark to Louisa or Whoever is appropriate |
11/07/04 |
11/28/04 |
Done |
|
5. Evaluate the first
celebration. |
Commission |
December 2004 |
December 2004 |
Done |
|
6. Plan the next celebration.
(Kwanzaa) |
Celebrant, Choir
Director & one or more members |
December, 2004 |
January, 2005 |
Done |
|
7. Implement the next
celebration |
Whoever is appropriate |
2/6/05 |
2/27/05 |
Begun |
|
8. Evaluate the next
celebration. |
Commission |
3/5/05 |
3/5/05 |
|
|
9. Repeat the process
throughout the year |
|
Ongoing |
Ongoing |
|
Ideas for planning:
Printed bulletin, music, dress, dance, decorations / environment, Black Pages
and other sources to talk about Saints at Communion meditation, advertise with
other parishes.
Calendar: November Black Catholic History
Month
January –
February Kwanzaa
February National Black
History Month
ACTION PLAN
Commission: Spiritual Life and Worship
Goal: 3 To strengthen our spiritual and worship life at St. Matthew by expanding the content of our liturgy.
Objective: 3.2 By
11/2004, our pastor will deliver homilies that relate the gospel values and
teachings to the experiences and culture of the parish
community.
|
Action Step |
Person(s) Responsible |
Beginning Date |
Completion Date |
Status |
|
1. Develop an evaluation tool
for parishioners to assess how effective Fr. Mark has been in his preaching |
Fr. Mark & Commissioners |
7/10/04 |
7/10/04 |
Done |
|
2. Pilot the use of the
tool: “Partners in Preaching” |
Commission Members |
8/01/04 |
8/31/04 |
Done |
|
3. Provide feedback to
preacher. |
Facilitator of each Sunday |
8/01/04 |
8/31/04 |
Done |
|
4. Implement suggested changes
from evaluation tool. |
Fr. Mark |
8/01/04 |
Ongoing |
Ongoing |
|
5. Evaluate the effectiveness
of the approach. |
Commission Members |
9/04/04 |
Ongoing |
Ongoing |
|
6. If evaluation is positive,
repeat the process as needed. |
Commission Members |
Ongoing |
Ongoing |
|
ACTION PLAN
Commission: Spiritual Life and Worship
Goal: 3 To strengthen our spiritual and worship life at St. Matthew by expanding the content of our liturgy.
Objective: 3.3 & 3.4 By the end of this calendar year, 2004, and each
subsequent calendar year, the commissioner and commission members will attend
at least one training session/ workshop that focuses on ways to enhance our
liturgical celebrations. The commissioner will then make a brief report to the
Pastoral Council about the training session/workshop attended.
|
Action Step |
Person(s) Responsible |
Beginning Date |
Completion Date |
Status |
|
1. Contact Archdiocese to see
what is available. |
Sr. Regina |
7/1/04 |
7/10/04 |
Done |
|
2. Pick which workshop each
will do, or all will do. |
All |
7/10/04 |
9/4/04 |
Done |
|
3. Attend workshop. |
All / each |
|
6/05 |
|
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4. Report & discuss results
at Commission meeting |
All |
|
7/05 |
|
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5. Report to the Pastoral
Council about the training session/workshop attended |
Commissioner |
12/04 |
7/05 |
|
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6. Repeat each year. |
All |
Ongoing |
Ongoing |
|
Note: For 2005, the recommended workshop is the
Archbishop James Patterson Lyke Conference in
ACTION PLAN
Commission: Spiritual Life and Worship
Goal: 3 To strengthen
our spiritual and worship life at St. Matthew by expanding the content of our
liturgy.
Objective: 3.5 To develop a plan to educate parishioners on the basic meaning of the Nicene Creed in order to clarify our Catholic beliefs by January 2005.
|
Action Step |
Person(s) Responsible |
Beginning Date |
Completion Date |
Status |
|
1. Preliminary interviews with
Parishioners to find out the issues that gave rise to this need. |
Barbara |
7/1/04 |
7/10/04 |
Done |
|
2. Revisit this issue with
clearer ideas. |
All |
7/10/04 |
8/05 |
Done |
|
3. Use introduction to Creed
that invites people to be attentive. |
Fr. Mark |
7/10/04 |
Ongoing |
Ongoing |
|
4. Periodically connect homily
to the Creed. |
Fr. Mark |
7/10/04 |
Ongoing |
Ongoing |
|
5. In bulletin, explain the
purpose of the Creed. |
Fr. Mark |
7/25/04 |
7/25/04 |
Done |
|
6. Evaluate this approach. |
All |
October, 04 |
January, 05 |
|
of
St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic Church
___________________
Date