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.

4th segment / parishioner panel

[segue: we will spend more time this afternoon talking about issues from the perspective of the ministries (as opposed to the ministers), but this segment will begin a transition from the Personal to the Group level. Anne Sheridan will moderate a panel of parishioners who have been much involved (Jim Fox, Paddy Loughlin, Tom Mulholland, Joan O'Brien), to deal with what attracts people to ministries, how to keep them refreshed, how to recruit + support leaders, and about ministry leadership + participation models. The purpose is to stimulate your own individual reflection on service, ministry, leadership by revealing in some depth the true stories of some parishioners. When this is done, we will break for lunch for 45 minutes, allowing time for you to reflect, chat, relax. When we start up again I will explain how we will shuffle the seating. Take it away Anne ... ]

2d segment / a discernment drama

["Interview" of Joseph about his experience the day he was not selected to replace Judas, with audience playing 'chorus' parts as The Assembly, as Joseph's family & fans, as Matthias' partisans.]

INTRODUCTION + segue:
Now for breaking news from long ago, we have access to an interview with the disciple Joseph, about the day the entire church community gathered in Jerusalem to select a new 12th apostle. Let's listen:


INTERVIEWER:
Do you remember that day, Joseph?

JOSEPH:
Like it was yesterday! Word went out through the assembly that Judas (God have mercy on his soul) was going to be replaced, so that The Twelve would again be twelve. There was a lot of excitement -- a real buzz in the crowd.

People were standing around, and just started shouting out names. My name, Matthias of course, Nicanor, Timon, Nicholas (although a Gentile), even Tabitha and Martha (Mary's sister) had their fans. It was bedlam.
CHORUS: buzz, buzz, buzz

INTERVIEWER:
So what happened?
JOSEPH:
Well, when Peter and the others came out from the room they had been in, everyone fell silent in an instant. I don't even know how everyone knew to do that, but it always happened like that
-- in a flash -- just as the apostles came out. Peter said they had been praying about whether to replace Judas, and with whom. And that they had decided "It was entirely fitting therefore, that one of us who was of our company while the Lord Jesus walked among us, from the baptism of John to the day he was taken up from us, to be named as witness with us to his Resurrection". So then the buzzing started up again ...

CHORUS:
Timon was one of us from the earliest days, choose him!
No, no, no -- he came later, don't you remember?
Matthias, Matthias, Matthias.

JOSEPH:
The crowd was strong for Matthias
[CHORUS: Matthias, Matthias, Matthias!]
but my kin never got along with Matthias' kin, so they started to boo [CHORUS]. Well, one look from Peter at practically my whole family, and they shut up immediately. But then they found their voices in a more ...positive manner.
CHORUS:
Joseph, Joseph he's our man, if he
can't do it nobody can. [repeat]

JOSEPH:
Then Peter announced that the Eleven had decided that it would come down to either Matthias or me -- nobody else should be considered. That provoked another general hubbub. My family was getting into it again...
CHORUS:
Joseph, Joseph he's our man, if he can't do it nobody can. [repeat]

JOSEPH:
...some of the women, and the men standing around them, didn't like that it was to be him or me. They were yelling names [CHORUS: Martha, Tabitha, Mary, Mary, Martha, Tabitha, Mary...] until Peter shot them a look (a gentle look) and gestured with his hands, so they stopped.

INTERVIEWER:
What did you think at that point?
JOSEPH:
Of course I wanted to be one of The Twelve! They didn't have any money, or houses, but everyone looked up to them. Who wouldn't want to be with the big guys? I have an ego (you may not know that), but I think my ego is a pretty big part of who I am. So, of course I wanted it. It was only later that I really thought about it -- how hard it might be, and whether I would really
want to be that far out in front. I mean, I *like* to talk, don't get me wrong. But I don't always say the right things. Kind of like Peter, I thought, so maybe that is not a bad sign.

Right then Peter put out his hands and looked up, saying "O Lord, you read the hearts of men. Make known to us which of these two you choose for this apostolic ministry, replacing Judas, who deserted the cause and went the way he was destined to go". THAT got everyone serious in a second. I mean it is one thing for us to choose -- based on who we like and what we know and want [CHORUS: Joseph, Joseph he's our man, if he can't do it nobody can.]
OTHER CHORUS: Martha, Tabitha, Mary, Mary, Martha, Tabitha, Mary...]
JOSEPH:
(see what I mean?), but it is another thing to ask us to figure out what God wants.
INTERVIEWER:
How'd you do that?

JOSEPH:
I can't speak for anyone else, but I can tell you what I did after Peter told us to listen for God telling us who to choose. I prayed like I never have before. And thoughts were just flying through me. I may have been hyper-ventilating. I started to worry about whether I was strong enough to be an apostle, instead of thinking how much I deserved it. I realized that Matthias has a lot to offer -- he's way more clever than I am. And that stuff between my family and his? I couldn't even remember how that started. I looked around -- a lot of people were davening, or in trances, or lying face down. It became a VERY serious group.
INTERVIEWER:
Well, what about a woman? I interviewed a number of people -- men and women -- about whether a woman should have been chosen. I did not get a consensus on any point. Some thought that a woman would not be accepted by new converts; others said The Word is The Word and it should not matter in the new church we are creating. What did you think?
JOSEPH:
I did not really think about it then. When it came down -- finally -- to him or me, I pushed all those thoughts out and I got real quiet inside, cold even. If I was breathing, it was with the softest breaths I have ever taken. I realized that if God were calling me, I wasn't feeling it. I wondered if the cold was fear -- that I was afraid of what I might have to do as an apostle. And I thought that I had no idea -- if I was really feeling afraid -- what that would mean for who God wanted.
INTERVIEWER:
Tell me about that cold.

JOSEPH:
Well, the cold did not feel like fear. In fact, I had a sense of peace, just not of being called. I have no idea how much time passed, but when I looked up, my whole family was looking at me. I smiled, pointed at myself, and shook my head from side to side. Only one of my cousins got it at first [CHORUS: Matthias, Matthias, Matthias!], but I smiled at him, and then the others picked it up [CHORUS: Matthias, Matthias, Matthias!]. When the rest of the assembly saw who it was that had changed their tune, the whole group started chanting [CHORUS: Matthias, Matthias, Matthias!].
I may have imagined it, but I think the sun just came out then, too. Peter looked over at me, I smiled, said Matthias, Matthias, Matthias! and that was that.

INTERVIEWER:
Well, wait a minute here ... what about a woman?
JOSEPH:
Look, this was just one selection. We never in a thousand years thought a woman would never be selected. In fact, I think everyone understood that we would have to have women in any top group. Just not that day. What does the book say? "God's time is not like our time". If you're telling me it won't be for thousands of years, well, that's crazy. But maybe that is God's time....

FINIS

the welcome / setting the context for the day

[this is the outline for my Introduction, when we started the day:]

THANKS for coming, a wealth of talent + commitment in the room (emblematic of talent in the parish)
you were invited by Pastoral Council to deal with issues of long-time concern

• feedback about fragmentation from Town Halls a few years ago
• PC reflections on fostering 'unity', cross-ministry efforts
• PC as stewards of The Mission Statement
• Roberto presentation at Leadership Day 2 years ago (parish-wide catechesis as way to promote life-long faith formation + 'break down silos')
• PC concerns about our own rotation of leadership, so thinking about leadership recruitment, renewal, rotation

discernment as our decision-process, tied to Mission Statement (reflective, intentional)

today: 3 prayer times (PC meetings show import to re-focus at mid-point)
point to bathrooms, use as needed (no official breaks)
we will stay on schedule! my job may be to stop wonderful conversations
use the bell to mark transitions

paperwork is in folders on tables, to access when needed
varied presentation modes
enough paper on the table for you to take notes

the program is a framework, not a curriculum
provide opportunity for us to learn from each other / a structure for good people to share
not a one-shot day, but a process (continuing work of PC, germination for cross-ministry work ...)
will capture work of day on white boards, feel free to supplement with Post-Its (on tables) to add at lunch or after 3
will be website with outline of day + white boards

---

we began the day with prayer

[Jackie Perez led us in prayer; I've added the text of John]


MORNING PRAYER
Leader


OPENING SONG: Gather Us In (M. Haugen)


OPENING PRAYER

Leader: Now is the hour to wake from sleep: come let us adore!

PSALM 108

L: My heart is ready, O God;
I will sing, sing your praise.
R: Awake, my soul; awake, lyre and harp.
I will awake the dawn.
L: I will thank you, Lord, among the peoples,
among the nations I will praise you.
R: For your love reaches to the heavens and
your truth to the skies.
O God, arise above the heavens; may your glory shine on earth!
All: Glory to the Father…


READING: John 1: 35 - 42

The next day John was there again with two of his disciples,

and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, "Behold, the Lamb of God."

The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.

Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?"

He said to them,"Come, and you will see." So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon.

Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.

He first found his own brother Simon and told him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated Anointed).

Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter).

SONG: You Are Mine (D. Haas)

REFLECTION

MISSION STATEMENT


Leader: O God, you call us to rise and follow Christ. May Christ, your Word
and our Light, lead us in the ways of life. We ask this as always in the
name of your Son, Jesus Christ.
All: Amen.


CLOSING SONG: Gather Us In (M. Haugen)

final segment / White Boards / the summary

[in this segment, Ed Poliandro pulled together many important threads in the discussions of the day, then asked participants to share some of the Next Steps they resolve to take in response to the day's discussions; the White Boards reflect Ed's bullet points (though not his eloquence!) and the several Next Steps shared by participants:]

SUMMATION [Ed Poliandro] [combining 2 sets of notes]
mindful that we are in Hurtado Hall
recall all those who have ministered
we are part of the past
evolving
Eucharist, social events (Irish-American teenager)
we are stewards of our parish Mission Statement
"alienated + marginalized become refreshed + renewed"
tension (holy tension) healthy tensions
allow spirit in
we are called to minister to each other
what, who is leader among us?
where do we get our authority?
Ans: we are all leaders
focus on: who is around us
Burnout - minister to ourselves as well as to others
be alert to: other, ourselves, each other
healthy BOUNDARIES should be established
signs of burnout: healthy feeling of resentment + anger
not healthy - negative feelings can be door way to spiritual life
embracing everything
"honor shadow"
what does justice mean?
all live in justice
right relationship with God + others + world
holistic living

renewal + refreshment
many ministries, one spirit
welcoming
share + cultivate ideas
serving is holy
survey
generosity
leadership living with consensus
inclusion, responsibility, commitment
knowing when to let go
answer the call of the spirit
acceptance + gratitude

NEXT STEPS FOR YOU
continue to volunteer
suggestion box for ministers and clients
put my body where my mouth is
seeking ways of cross ministry + collaboration
continue praying, working in faith

WE ARE THE LIGHT FOR EACH OTHER

[please see this first post about the White Boards: http://xavierministrydaymay162009.blogspot.com/2009/05/white-boards-are-raw-unexpurgated.html]

White Boards / 5th segment / small group discussion of our ministry mission

[segue: Again we will use the model of small group discussion feeding back to the whole group. We will expand from the morning's work, especially the Panel, to share our own stories as participant or leader in a Xavier ministry, then answer questions (to be reported back) about what makes volunteers, leaders and ministries effective (or ineffective) and issues having to do with 'work-style'. Again, 30 minutes in small group discussion, 15 for the table to address the questions to be answered, then 15 minutes for the tables to report to the whole group. (You have a handout on the table) Be sure to designate a spokesperson.

the reports to the full group are reflected on the White Boards:

• What qualities do successful leaders exercise as they seek to guide the activities of a ministry?
• What makes for an effective volunteer member of a ministry?
• How do ministries keep their volunteers motivated and involved?
• How should ministries evaluate their work – and make needed changes in purpose or working style?]

MINISTRY WORK STYLE

what do we do with our individual calls?
how do we make it work?
contemplation and/or action
parish community grounded in spirituality
how do we work it out?

individual call vs other call
center for contemplation + action
thought vs. frenzy
deep spirituality with action
___
Table 6

responsibility
sharing + cultivate ideas of participants
volunteering: how do we keep them involved?
evaluation of our work - self-examination
who are we serving?
learn to say NO!
prevent burnout by knowing your limits

______
Table 4

understanding personal development of individual volunteers
how can we see total picture?
flexibility
informal + formal evaluations to see how we are doing

_______
Table 2
3 qualities of leadership: calmness, confidence, live with consensus
volunteer has similar qualities
membership in community
[fresh?] participation is one we see has a community
must have mindfulness [for] what's going on
"we have always done it that way" syndrome -- good + not so good

_______
Table 1
qualities of leader: consensus builder, authoritative not authoritarian, flexible, admit wrongs
volunteer: acceptance [of responsibility]
attendance = dependable

motivate?
nurturing
feedback sought
define role of service

continuously challenged

sense of ownership

key roles: catechist + cantor - stipend y/n?

________
Table 3
Leaders:
fluid - changing - accepting
team player
accountable
openness
generous - kind - spirit
creative
good listener

Volunteer:
responsible
do any assignment
allow for others
gratitude - express thanks

keep volunteer motivated:
inform group
feel needed

evaluating work of ministry:
self-evaluation
set goal for evaluating success

________
[Table 5?]
importance of Awareness + Discernment
= life, vibrant, yeast
ministries may be at different stages: Forming, Storming or Norm-ing

leader: organized
art + science
function + form --> spirit

leaders hopeful
Ignatian wish list for successful leaders:
visionary - pioneers
open
welcoming
respectful
practical
discerning
stay connected
satisfied with discernment

how to motivate?
prayer essential - individual + community
fellowship - vibrant
intentional parish

how evaluate ministry work?
open communication essential
- to Pastoral Council
- to church at large
who to call?

[please see this first post about the White Boards: http://xavierministrydaymay162009.blogspot.com/2009/05/white-boards-are-raw-unexpurgated.html]

White Boards / 3rd segment / small group discussion of our individual call to ministry

[segue: we stay at the level of the individual, as this segment involves reflection and small group sharing about your own individual 'call' to ministry here at Xavier (about 30 min), then responding to some key questions in the small group to be reflected back to the full group, for which you need to select a spokesperson (15 minutes), then 15 minutes with the full group hearing from the smaller groups; some Guidelines for discussion (a) respectful listening, (b) each an expert on own experience, (c) not a time to interrupt, argue, persuade, (d) "I" statements preferred

the small-group reports are reflected in the White Boards:

• What are the key qualities that make individuals successful as Xavier volunteers?
• Should volunteers be encouraged to experiment with ministries different than those in which they are currently active?
• How do ministries develop members to assume expanded leadership roles – and facilitate that process?
• How do leaders know when to make room for other to take on more responsibility?
• How should ministries recruit parish members to be active in ministries? ]

INDIVIDUAL CALL

Table 1
Key qualities for volunteer:
larger committee
generosity of spirit
mutual support
flexible - open - thick skin

encourage additional (other) ministries? YES

developing leaders:
discernment process
servant leadership

how do leaders know when to make room?
listening to members
seeing gifts of other

how to recruit new members?
socials - fairs - gatherings
share ideas
ritual of sending forth (powerful, inspiring), e.g., Home Bound, Honduras

rewards / frustrations:
sharing gifts
personal blossoming
empowering
satisfaction
(working with) other talented people
difficulty of working with other human beings -- no response to phone, email; feelings of rejection

avoid burnout:
self-awareness
self respect / respect from group - if need a break ... take it!
time management
rotate
prayer
group retreat

______
Table 4

[groups need?] a point of contact [with Pastoral Council?]

people have many talents
- we must recognize their varied gifts
- give + find ways to serve the community

ministry grows out of matching gifts to values

________
Table 3

successful volunteers are:
prayerful

encourage additional (other) ministries? YES if:
are you called?
do you hear the call?

recruit new members:
encourage new ways
renewed
how are leaders appointed?

leadership questions:
responsibility
training / mentoring
open to community / change
styles of leadership
measure up?
[Post-It: important programmatic concern: putting consistent, strong systems in place for others to take on / lead themselves]

_________
Table 6

some are leaders
some are in ministries
some looking how to partake in our ministries

community is vital

allow ministries to evolve + shut down

________
Table 2

volunteers (should be):
good listeners
seeing good + God in all
flexibility in (times??) -- responsible as well as flexible
invite members to share responsibility

YES to experimentation [in trying ministries]

empower + invite to share responsibility

how leaders know when to make room?
discernment
observing other members, where their gifts are

how recruit?
personal invitations for new [members? parishioners?]

[virtual Post-It: a "challenge" (or some other spiffy word) for us all to attend one thing per year at Xavier that is not something we "belong to" or would go to anyhow ... It wouldn't be a commitment to that new thing, just a one-time attendance, that who knows, might spark something new in someone.]

[please see this first post about the White Boards: http://xavierministrydaymay162009.blogspot.com/2009/05/white-boards-are-raw-unexpurgated.html]

White Boards / discussing the Mission Statement

[introduction / segue: we start the substance of the program by touching our foundation document, (1) 2 minutes of individual quiet reflection on Mission Statement we just read, then (2) 15 minutes of full group discussion on 3 questions (answers summarized on White Boards)

• what words / ideas in Mission Statement are most meaningful for you personally?
• in what ways do we best live up to Mission Statement / not live up to Mission Statement?
• what important things about Xavier in 2009 are not reflected in Mission Statement?]

MISSION STATEMENT
[combining 2 sets of notes]

in what ways do we live up (not live up) to our Mission Statement?

live up to:

being a community
prophetic
Christ as companion
outreach + service
spirit of inclusion + collaboration
incompleteness
celebration of faith
cooperate with grace
are are refreshed
marginalized are included
challenge injustice
people of hope
we as Church

not live up to:

do not live in justice
acknowledge incompleteness
fragmented
explore new opportunities to proclaim Gospel
hang on to past (positive and negative)
bolder!
examine collaboration


what important things about Xavier in 2009 are not reflected in our mission statement?

community of joy
intentional parish
Ignatian
humility - grace? [should we be more humble?]
do we live up to ideal of prophetic community?
include young Catholics
"Catholic christian"
[tension between being] Roman Catholic vs prophetic
follow spirit - discernment
life-long faith formation

tension between "inclusive" -- baptized vs all God's people
reflect us as Body of Christ?
more emphasis on liturgy

reduce length of Mission Statement
- longer= less intense message

catechesis

who are "alienated + marginalized" in the Mission Statement?

[please see this first post about the White Boards: http://xavierministrydaymay162009.blogspot.com/2009/05/white-boards-are-raw-unexpurgated.html]

the White Boards are raw + unexpurgated

The White Boards from Ministry Day will be posted, but some caveats are in order.

They are recorded here (nearly) verbatim, though the White Boards themselves could not possibly be verbatim recitals of the rich conversations that day. Rather, they are evocative of the discussions and -- being 'summary' in nature -- are often difficult to interpret, particularly for someone who was not present.

That said, I found them to be incredibly powerful reminders of the day. As memories fade, they will lose some of that power, I suspect, but -- for now -- they easily provoke in me memory of some specific individual speakers speaking passionately about something that is recorded here. In my mind, I hear the cadence, the pauses, the emphasis. If you were there, I hope you have the same experience in reading these notes. If you were not there, I hope this material informs you -- but try not to read too much into it. Later posts will, I hope, provide more of an overview and interpretation of the day.