resonating + next steps / final thoughts from day

[Ed Poliandro asked us at the end of the day to write down (1) one thing that really resonated with us, and (2) what next steps could we take in response to the day. I collected them and could decipher all but a few. You may find that they are as powerful as I do:]

name 1 thing that resonates from today

• "we are a living, breathing parish"
• generosity / servant
• fluid
• joy
• refresh
• serving is holy
• community = caring purpose
• being open to promptings of the spirit
• evolving in + out
• many ministries but all done for One Spirit, One Lord
• Gospel / G I F T / gratitude
• share + cultivate ideas
• as a minister I am someone else's experience of Church, and of Christ. This is a responsibility and a joy
• effective, consistent communication is vital to the health of any ministry
• personal invitation / patience
• inclusion / responsible / commitment
• small faith community
• joy
• ministry starts with prayerfulness
• acceptance - nurturing of a gift within us - through us - for one another - day by day
• we are a collective gift
• calmness as a quality of leadership
• leadership is about living with consensus+ admitting when you are wrong
• recipients of our ministry draw us closer to
• God + not the other way around
• discerning - what to let go - cut back on - learning when to let go
• I'm a part of a bigger love, a bigger community
• faith is a gift

next steps?

• being open to the spirit + branching out
• channel evolvement example
• Peace + Justice - become more involved
• expand participation / deepen faith thru SFX
• continue volunteering / do more
• mobilize ministries
• working together: music + G I F T + Xavier Co
• to put my body where my mouth is
• open heart to ministry to others
• find a place myself to manifest the spirit
• Spanish bible every other Sunday in Welcome Table?
• I hope to delegate more, to ensure continued ministry beyond me
• become more involved with + aware of the ministry I participate in
• I'm not sure - Spirituality (self or group)
• whatever comes along
• Mission Stmnt evaluation - could G I F T do that?
• to step up + partake
• cultivate gratitude
• work harder in areas to which I have committed myself
• suggestion boxes
• join a ministry committee in order to become truly part of our holy community
• where (what single or 2) ministry might I keep until my energy / xxx give out?
• continue looking for ways of cross-ministry participation + collaboration
• expand service role at Xavier

pictures from the day

Intrepid photographer Carlos Martin took a series of photos of the day, and posted them to his MobileMe Gallery, which you can access here. Thanks, Carlos.

add your general comments or feedback here

This post is the place to put your general comments on ministry formation day, including feedback, whether you attended or not

preparing for the day / reflections on scripture + Mission Statement

[people planning to attend were asked to reflect in advance, as follows]

In anticipation of the day, it might be worthwhile if you reflect on your own experience within a parish ministry: in what ways has it refreshed you, or stressed you? What gifts do you bring? In what ways could the ministry better serve its purpose, or the Mission Statement of the parish? What other (or different) roles might you want to play within any parish ministry? Two epistle excerpts and the Mission Statement follow.

We look forward to sharing a wonderful day on Saturday!

Ephesians 4:11-14 (NAB):
And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ, so that we may no longer be infants, tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching arising from human trickery, from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming.

2 Corinthians 9:11-14 (NAB):
You are being enriched in every way for all generosity, which through us produces thanksgiving to God, for the administration of this public service is not only supplying the needs of the holy ones but is also overflowing in many acts of thanksgiving to God. Through the evidence of this service, you are glorifying God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ and the generosity of your contribution to them and to all others, while in prayer on your behalf they long for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.

7th segment / Calendar Guidelines

[segue: speaking of planning, you know that sometimes there is so much going on in the Parish it is almost an embarrassment of riches, and sometimes a strain on those of us who want to attend, not to mention those who plan and on the facilities and space. As yet another reflection of the Pastoral Council interest in getting us all working together on the same page, and making administration of so much activity both more fair and simpler, the Staff has developed a set of Guidelines that Pastoral Council has approved. (They are on the table) Joe would like to introduce them.

Joe Costantino spoke about the Calendar Guidelines; they are:]

St. Francis Xavier Guidelines for Calendar Submissions and Space Requests for 2009-2010

We are truly blessed that parishioners at St. Francis Xavier are filled with a spirit of enthusiasm and energy for finding new and creative ways to incarnate aspects of our parish Mission Statement. Meeting regularly through committees and groups, parishioners develop and offer valuable programs and events for the great benefit of the entire parish. Given such abundance, and the ever-increasing demands for use of parish space, the parish staff, with the approval of the Pastoral Council, has developed the following Guidelines. We hope this outline will help us to better serve you and ensure a just and adequate appropriation of space and programming.

Parish Yearly Calendar (September 2009 to August 2010)
June 1st is the deadline for requests for our yearly parish calendar: this includes on-going, regular space requirements as well as requests for special or major programs and events.
All requests are to be emailed to CManning@sfxavier.org by 4pm June 1st.

In lieu of email, a request may be submitted in writing and mailed to the attention of Corrine Manning

Requests must include name of group, contact person, purpose, time space is needed, and the actual time of the event. There should be only one contact person per group.

Requests for space, including regularly scheduled weekly, biweekly or monthly meetings, are not guaranteed.

Requests will be reviewed by the parish staff to eliminate conflicts and finalized during the week of June 15th.

Regularly scheduled meetings cannot take place during parish-wide events or programs – e.g., when the Parish has its annual Advent or Lenten Reconciliation Service.

Some groups/committees will be required to reschedule their meetings or programs depending upon conflicts and other parish needs.

Any advertised presenters and speakers need the approval of the Pastor and in some cases the Pastoral Council.

Committee sponsored programs, events or speakers should be submitted to the Pastor to determine whether they need to be submitted to the Pastoral Council for discussion and approval.

Individual parishioners with an idea for a program or event need to have their idea vetted in a discussion with an appropriate committee for its sponsorship. If in doubt, your request should be given to the Pastor for possible future Parish Pastoral Council review if needed.

Requests for programs or events after June 15th will be considered on an ad hoc basis.

Because of limited resources, it is unlikely that major programs or events will be able to be scheduled after the yearly calendar is set.

After Calendar is finalized:
All requests for meeting space should be emailed or mailed to Corrine Manning.
Requests need to include name of organization, number of people and type or purpose of meeting.
Special room requests are usually honored if the space is not already booked.

Cancellation Policy
You should let Corrine Manning know at least 48 hours in advance if you are not going to use an assigned space.

Hurtado Hall Requests
Since the Hall is used on a nightly basis for our Mission Shelter, groups are asked to vacate the space by 9:30pm, unless prior arrangements have been made with Cassandra Agredo for a later departure.

6th segment / G I F T / encouraging life-long faith formation + parish unity

[segue: remember when we started I said Pastoral Council has been concerned about issues of fragmentation/unity for years, and invited John Roberto to talk to us about how modern parish life makes things more difficult for many things? if you saw Roberto, you know he talked about parish-wide (inter-generational) catechesis as a way to increase unity and encourage life-long faith formation. After Roberto, Pastoral Council encouraged various efforts towards those ends. Our Director of Religious Education, Luz Marina Diaz, prepared a PowerPoint presentation about one such effort.]

The PowerPoint was shown

[Continuing our efforts to be reflective and true to our mission, Pastoral Council is meeting Monday night in fact to discuss a report from the G I F T planning team, assessing how effective these 2 events have been and how we might improve on that going forward. Consider this a head's up, as you -- or your ministries -- may be invited to participate in planning, in preparing, in presenting and - certainly -- in attending whatever we do next year.]

mid-point prayer

[segue: As I mentioned, one of the rich additions to Pastoral Council meetings was the introduction of a mid-point prayer, bringing us back from wherever we've been (arguing, perhaps) into a shared intentionally spiritual space. First I will move some of you around, then Jackie Perez will lead us back to a place with the spirit.]

SILENT REFLECTION

SONG: The One Same Spirit (M.Ward)

Refrain: There are many gifts but one same Spirit,
And many works but one Lord;
And in different ways in different people,
The one same Spirit is made known.
For in each of us, the one same Spirit,
Is manifest in some way
For the good of all
Who are united in Jesus Christ the Lord.