WINDSOR, NORTH CAROLINA
PARISH PLAN
2007-2008
We are a small, vibrant community of faith-filled Catholics who are served by a Glenmary missionary priest, Reverend Michael Langell. At the heart of our community is an active group of educators and their families who have come from the Philippine Islands to teach in Bertie County. This seed group of faithful Catholics came together in December 2004 with the guidance of Father Mike and organized the Catholic Community of Bertie County. In two years the seed has grown to include Hispanic workers in the area and a handful of Anglos who have been waiting over thirty years for a Catholic presence in Bertie County.
Through the generosity of the Windsor United Methodist Church who rent their church to us, the Catholic community has a sanctuary where we can worship. Our dream is a church of our own where we can carry on the work of the Lord and minister to God’s people all week long, not just on Sunday.
Since the establishment of our parish pastoral council in May 2006 we have begun to organize our efforts as we strengthen our faith community and spread the Word of God.
__________________
The Catholic Community of Bertie County, NC is a community of baptized Christians, responding to the call of Jesus, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Ours is a culturally diverse community, ecumenical in focus, striving to serve all who come to us.
Therefore, for the greater glory of God, nourished by Prayer, Word and Sacrament, we proclaim to all people the saving message of the Gospel, and willingly share our time, talents, and resources in works of mercy and justice, both within and beyond our parish community.
strengthen our faith community and spread the Word of God. (V 8)
OBJECTIVE 1: To encourage participation in the leadership of the
parish through the Parish Pastoral Council.
Strategy: Hold yearly elections and training of
new Parish Council members every May.
Responsibility: Pastor & Parish Council
Status: Initiated
OBJECTIVE 2: To develop a calendar of activities for the year.
Responsibility: Parish Council, pastor, and committees
Status: To be initiated
Strategy 1: Provide the parishioners with an opportunity
to have input through a “Praises and Concerns”
box.
Responsibility: Parish Council & Pastor Status: To be initiated
Strategy 2: Plan semi-annual meetings to analyze our
experience as Church, addressing strengths
and weaknesses.
Responsibility: Pastor & Parish Council
Status: To be initiated
OBJECTIVE 4: To promote stewardship of the resources that God
has given us.
Strategy 1: To utilize committees to provide direction and
energy to accomplish our mission.
· Faith Formation
· Worship Committee
· Social Committee
· Finance Council
· Evangelization
Responsibility: Pastor & Parish Council
Status: Initiated
Strategy 2: Encourage financial support of the parish,
including special collections and the BAA.
Responsibility: Finance Council
Status: Ongoing
Strategy 3: Explore the possibility of becoming a
Stewardship Parish.
Responsibility: Pastor & Finance Council
Status: To be initiated
Strategy 4: Plan a fund-raising activity such as a
“Spring Yard Sale”.
Responsibility: Parish Council & Parishioners
Status: Initiated
GOAL 2: To nurture our community of faith believers as we continue to value
unity in diversity. (V 2, 4, 5, 7)
OBJECTIVE 1: To celebrate in Word and song the presence of God
in our lives.
Strategy 1: Continue to encourage congregational
participation in song at Mass.
Responsibility: Choir Director
Status: Ongoing
Strategy 2: Recruit and train altar servers, ushers and readers.
Responsibility: Pastor
Status: Ongoing
Strategy 3: Continue special prayer services such as
weekly novenas.
Responsibility: Pastor & Laity
Status: Ongoing
Strategy 4: Welcome all people who join us in prayer.
Responsibility: Congregation & Pastor
Status: Ongoing
OBJECTIVE 2: To minister to the Hispanic members of our
community.
Strategy 1: Facilitate access to community college programs
which lead to the GED.
Responsibility: Hispanic Minister
Status: Ongoing
Strategy 2: Facilitate access to programs which teach ESL.
Responsibility: Hispanic Minister
Status: Ongoing
Strategy 3: Provide “in home” Faith Formation programs.
Responsibility: Hispanic Minister
Status: Initiated
Strategy 4: Provide instruction in the Spanish language for
the English-speaking community.
Responsibility: Hispanic Minister
Status: Ongoing
OBJECTIVE 3: To strengthen our Catholic identity by instructing
our total faith community in the traditions of Catholic
values and theology.
Responsibility: Pastor and faith formation team
Status: Initiated
Strategy 2: Make use of diocesan resources to strengthen
religious formation classes for the children.
Responsibility: Faith Formation Team & Pastor
Status: Ongoing
Strategy 3: Develop a total youth ministry for the teens-
to include fun activities as well as outreach
programs in the community and activities with the
younger children.
Responsibility: Youth Minister
Status: To be initiated
Strategy 4: Establish an RCIA Team to include catechists and
sponsors.
Responsibility: Pastor & Parish Council
Status: To be initiated
Strategy 5: Explore the options for an adult Bible study
program.
Responsibility: Pastor
Status: To be initiated
OBJECTIVE 4: To build a sense of belonging among our members
and to celebrate our cultural diversity.
Strategy 1: Plan at least two social events for the coming year
to include all our members.
Our Lady of Guadalupe in December &
Señor Santo Niño in January
Responsibility: Social Committee, Parish Council & Hispanic Minister
Status: Initiated
Strategy 2: Celebrate our cultural heritage by planning an
International Festival for Bertie County.
Responsibility: Parish Council, Social Committee
& Hispanic Minister
Status: Initiated
Strategy 3: Plan activities for the children of the parish
such as a Summer Sport Festival.
Responsibility: Youth Minister & laity
Status: To be initiated
Strategy 4: Improve communication among our members by
updating our church directory semi-annually.
Responsibility: Pastor
Status: Ongoing
GOAL 3: To give public witness to God’s Word as we reach out to the larger
community of Bertie County. (V 6)
OBJECTIVE 1: To make the people of Bertie County more aware
of the presence of the Catholic Church community.
Strategy 1: Use the Bertie Ledger-Advance to publicize
church activities and continue Father Mike’s
weekly column.
Responsibility: Parish Council & Pastor
Status: Ongoing
Strategy 2: Distribute the Mass schedule through the Chamber
of Commerce.
Responsibility: Parish Council
Status: To be initiated
Strategy 3: Put up signs around the county advertising the
Mass times and place of worship.
Responsibility: Parish Council & Pastor
Status: To be initiated
Strategy 4: Participate in the Windsor Christmas Parade.
Responsibility: Parish Council & parishioners
Status: Initiated
Strategy 5: Celebrate at least one ecumenical service
with other Windsor area churches (e.g. Lent,
Thanksgiving, Advent)
Responsibility: Pastor & parishioners
Status: Initiated
OBJECTIVE 2: To plan an outreach program to benefit the larger
community of Bertie County.
Strategy 1: Engage the entire congregation in projects
which benefit the elderly and poor in our county.
(e.g. Clothing collection, blankets & coats in winter,
food collection, nursing home visitation)
Responsibility: Parish Council
Status: To be initiated
Strategy 2: Encourage the youth of the parish to develop a
project that would benefit the community.
Responsibility: Youth Chairman
Status: To be initiated
GOAL 4: To work toward the purchase of land and a church of our own.
OBJECTIVE 1: To meet with the Chancellor of the Diocese of
Raleigh to begin the planning process.
Responsibility: Pastor
Status: Initiated
OBJECTIVE 2: To form a Land/Building Committee to locate
5 acres of land near the town of Windsor.
Responsibility: Pastor & Finance Council
Status: To be initiated
OBJECTIVE 3: To develop plans for building a multi-purpose
facility to be used for worship, faith formation,
outreach activities and social gatherings.
Responsibility: Building Committee
Status: To be initiated
OBJECTIVE 4: To plan fund-raising events toward land purchase
and building program, as well as ministries.
Responsibility: Finance Council
Status: To be initiated