Sept. 30/Oct. 1, 2016 Bulletin - Over the last year and a half, members of Parish Council have worked hard to determine the goals, strengths, and weaknesses of the parish using the Pastoral Plan for Evangelization as a guideline. Below is a summary of this process. Parish Council will continue to address these areas and help put into action possible solutions and improvements.

Following the development of the Diocese of Youngstown’s Pastoral Plan for Evangelization (published in July of 2015), St. Joseph’s Parish Council began it’s own Pastoral Planning Process by determining short, medium and long-term goals of the parish. Through a structured process, the purpose and goals of Parish Council were defined. A Council model of “Envision Future” was adopted. Then the strengths and weaknesses of the parish were identified and prioritized. A parish survey was developed in the Spring of 2016 to obtain parishioners’ opinion of what was important to them. Results showed that what Parish Council recognized as strengths and weaknesses were the same as what those responding to the survey felt as well. Throughout the next couple of years, Parish Council focused on addressing the areas that came out during their analysis and the parish survey results. Devoting at least one meeting per area, the Pastoral Plan for Evangelization for the Diocese of Youngstown was used as a guide for recommended actions and were then applied to St. Joseph’s circumstances to develop action items and possible solutions or improvements.

FAMILY LIFE – Reach out to Inactive as well as connecting with Active members

• Letter from Pastor sent to every registered family with introduction to new pastor and a short survey to solicit parish strengths & weaknesses from parishioners (survey also available on parish website); survey results communicated through bulletin, pulpit presentation, and parish website (action items included add Youth Programs, address Church Repair & Improvements, enrich Liturgical Music, enhance Parishioner Involvement & Evangelization).

• Personal letter/card sent to Inactive from Council member to initiate conversation, gathering their thoughts, wants, and needs. Council members’ names, contact & short bio included.

• Parish Social Life Committee to be developed to engage members of all ages.

• Divorce/Annulment Process reforms highlighted in bulletin.

• Father/Son Group (5-16 yrs.) could be formed if leadership and interested families come forward.

DISCIPLESHIP - FAITH FORMATION / CATECHESIS – Offer more opportunities for all ages with a focus of reaching out with all types of media as communication & educational tools

• Men of St. Joseph (Men’s Spirituality Group) & Women’s Spirituality Group formed.

• Laudato Si Study Group developed.

• The Word Among Us publication offered during Advent & Lent.

• Highlight available Internet opportunities (such as www.usccb.org, Formed.org); increase offerings and information in bulletin (“Catholic Refresher”), parish website, and Facebook page.

• Continue providing information of activities for youth through bulletin & other media; share invitations to other area parishes’ programs; figure out ways to springboard off of summer enthusiasm of Appalachian Experience and Ox Roast Fair volunteerism; find a great leader and ways to fund a program for youth.

WORSHIP & PRAYER – Find ways to encourage more participation in Liturgical Ministries & devotions

• Education/catechesis and personal invitations will help recruit more Liturgical Ministers; 4^th grade PSR students are currently being trained as servers.

• Rosary devotion begun on first Saturday of each month.

• Participation in monthly Eucharistic Adoration to be encouraged more.

• Future plans to address sound system issues and trying to get more involvement in choir and participation from congregation will help improve Music Ministry.

CHRISTIAN SERVICE – Bring more awareness of opportunities and encourage more personal connection

• St. Joseph Cares not only addresses financial deficits for those in need but they also provide monthly support to Catholic Charities and 4C’s Food Cupboard. Other activities include adopting several families at Thanksgiving and Christmas, volunteering at Portage County Clothing Center, providing Bingo at Streetsboro’s The Arbors (long-term skilled nursing care and short-term rehabilitation facility), sending cards to those on our prayer list & care packages to members of our parish who serve in the military. The group has also just begun an effort to bring more awareness to the addition epidemic by highlighting area programs and events. In addition, clothing drives will begin in May, 2017 to support an area free clothing giveaway in the Crestwood area.

• Appalachian Experience group continues with annual trips to the western tip of Virginia helping do housing repairs to owner-occupied homes; effort to keep high school teens participating is sometimes a challenge; fundraisers need to fund due to tight parish budget.

• Annual Ox Roast Fair not only offers a way for hundreds of parishioners and their families and friends to give of their time and talent but it also reaches out as an evangelization tool as well as community building and fellowship event.

• Revamp of Parish Booklet featuring organizations, committees, and ministries planned for future.

EVANGELIZATION – Reach out to the less active and provide information to community

• Develop a library of items available for parishioners’ use.

• Initiate Q & A sessions with Fr. Ed & Deacon Gerry with evening prayer and “fireside chat” style format around fire pit on parish grounds.

• Provide informational flyer at Ox Roast Fair and other events; investigate Welcome Wagon and other opportunities to share parish information.

• Establish a formal Welcoming Committee.

FINANCES – Find ways to generate a regular flow of income to cover day-to-day expenses as well as fund upcoming projects.

• Pastor & Finance Council member to attend upcoming Diocesan Stewardship Training.

• Finance Council continually working on prioritizing maintenance needs and ways to address them (church roof, church interior, parking lot, hall kitchen, parish center).

• Provide reminders of parish needs and ways families can support parish.

• Promote rental of facilities more to generate income.

ADMINISTRATION – Look for ways to offer more support while not taxing budget (i.e. Hall Mgr.)

Parish Council will continue to address action items brought out by our assessment and parish survey results. It was stressed to parishioners that the survey was just the beginning of an ongoing process addressing the Diocesan Plan for Evangelization and that opportunities to comment and be invited to give additional input will be offered in the future. Communication to parishioners about process will take place periodically.