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ARCHDIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY IN KANSAS

TOPEKA REGION

TOPEKA WEST CLUSTER

CLUSTER EVALUATION OF CRITERIA FOR PLANNING

In Preparation for Making a Suggestion for a Future Model or Models

To work as a cluster you will need:

1.  Each Parish’s Long Form, Short Form, or Combo Form Evaluation of the Criteria for planning (at least one copy so a representative can speak from it.)

2.  Each Parish’s Data Verification Form (one copy for each member of the Cluster Team)

3.  Each Parish’s “Parish Summary” (one copy for each member of the Cluster Team)

4.  One copy of this document for each member of the Cluster Team.

Please use the pages which follow to:

1.  Gather in prayer, reflection, and faith sharing using one of the readings which will be proclaimed at next Sunday’s liturgy.

2.  Evaluate your cluster’s experience of the criteria related to:

·  Conversion - Sacramental Life of the Parish

·  Evangelization – Go and Make Disciples

·  Catholic Education in all its Forms

·  Serving Those in Need – Justice, Advocacy, Prolife and Outreach

·  Stewardship - Effective Administration

3.  Plan for a cooperative opportunity with your cluster parishes by suggesting a parish model or models for your future.

This work will be the basis for your suggestion to be developed for the Regional Planning Commission.

Parish: _Holy Family ______City__Alma______

Parish: _Immaculate Conception ______City__St. Marys______

Parish: _Sacred Heart______City__Paxico ______

Parish: _St. Bernard______City__Wamego ______

Parish: _St. Joseph______City__Flush______

_

Parish: _St. Stanislaus______City__Rossville ______

ARCHDIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY IN KANSAS

TOPEKA REGION

CLUSTER PLANNING

CONVERSION - SACRAMENTAL LIFE OF THE PARISH

Name of Cluster Parishes

Parish: _Holy Family ______City__Alma______

Parish: _Immaculate Conception ______City__St. Marys______

Parish: _Sacred Heart______City__Paxico ______

Parish: _St. Bernard______City_Wamego ______

Parish: _St. Joseph______City__Flush______

_

Parish: _St. Stanislaus______City__Rossville ______

ARCHDIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY IN KANSAS

TOPEKA REGION

CLUSTER PLANNING

CONVERSION - SACRAMENTAL LIFE OF THE PARISH

Name of Cluster Parishes

Parish: _Holy Family ______City__Alma______

Parish: _Immaculate Conception ______City__St. Marys______

Parish: _Sacred Heart______City__Paxico ______

Parish: _St. Bernard______City__Wamego ______

Parish: _St. Joseph______City__Flush______

_

Parish: _St. Stanislaus______City__Rossville ______


CLUSTER PLANNING

CONVERSION - SACRAMENTAL LIFE OF THE PARISH

Current Reality

1.  Discuss among the cluster parishes the present activity, strengths, and concerns related to Criteria # 1, 2, 3, 5 and 5 of Sacramental Life of the Parish which each parish evaluated. Significant discussion points included:

  1. Continuing to offer meaningful worship experiences to the parishioners, including appropriate music.
  2. Retreats, missions, and schools of faith are currently available in the region under the linked model. Encourage participation and membership at the parish level.
  3. Offering training and education for parishioners to foster an understanding and appreciation of the Mass, and encourage more volunteering to help support the activities of the parish community.

2.  What key thoughts occurred to you from looking at the present reality?

  1. As a whole, the sacramental life and celebrations of Mass are a strength in the region, especially in areas of liturgy and music.
  2. We need to support the parishes in continuing to offer meaningful celebrations of the Mass.
  3. Continued evangelization/outreach to maintain and grow active membership in our respective parishes.

3.  What are the planning implications based on the information from the Data Verification material and each parish’s Parish Summary for Sacramental Life of the Parish?

  1. Combining resources to provide support for the pastors for our linked parishes. This might be sharing training sessions or education opportunities.
  2. Focused evangelization efforts as a cluster to maintain and grow our memberships.

Preferred Future

  1. What are some ideas we might explore together to enhance our experience of Sacramental Life of the Parish as a cluster?
  2. Offering training opportunities and sharing recruitment ideas among the parishes to ensure that the ministers serving at the Mass are well-trained and effective.
  3. Offering more comprehensive education (especially for adults) to enhance their understanding of the celebration of the Mass and make it more meaningful.

2.  What are some hoped for results?

a.  All the parishes in our cluster will remain open and financially sound, and continue to foster meaningful, reverent celebrations of the Mass for their members.

b.  Membership in the parishes will increase, through recruitment of new members and evangelization of non-practicing Catholics.

c.  Parishes are able to support each other in keeping active physical presences in each community.


ARCHDIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY IN KANSAS
TOPEKA REGION

CLUSTER PLANNING

EVANGELIZATION — GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES

Name of Cluster Parishes

Parish: Immaculate Conception City: St. Marys

Parish: St. Stanislaus City: Rossville

Parish: Holy Family City: Alma

Parish: St. Joseph City: Flush

Parish: St. Bernard City: Wamego

Parish: Sacred Heart City: Paxico

CLUSTER PLANNING

EVANGELIZATION — GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES

Current Reality

1.  Discuss among the cluster parishes the present activity, strengths, and concerns related to Criteria # 6, 7 and 8 Evangelization which each parish evaluated.

Significant discussion points included:

a.  Need for adult education and a formal program for our youth beyond Confirmation.

b.  Need for consistent pastoral/parish council structure and to define the Finance Council duties from those of the pastoral/parish council.

c.  Method to evangelize those parish members who do not attend church on a regular basis.

2.  What key thoughts occurred to you from looking at the present reality?

a.  Train our greeters at Mass how to identify new members and to suggest they register at the parish office.

b.  Expand RCIA into/for current parish members.

c.  Need for a pastoral council to help oversee these initiatives.

3.  What are the planning implications based on the information from the Data Verification material and each parish's Parish Summary related to Evangelization as a cluster?

a.  All parishes appear to be remaining steady and or increasing in numbers which should keep our parishes vibrant for the future.

b.  New members need a better method to be identified and then a resulting methodology to notify the remainder of the parish.

c.  Publicize church events amongst the parishes — especially special events that have the possibility to spread the Good News of the Gospel.

Preferred Future

1.  What are some ideas we might explore together to enhance our sense of welcoming and Evangelization as a cluster?

a.  Develop a program to reach out to "fallen away members" to help them return to the Church.

b.  Develop joint web site construction, management and enhancements.

c.  Expand modern media outlets (social media) with proper due diligence.

2.  What are some hoped for results?

a.  Consistency amongst the parishes in running parish operations (finance & pastoral parish councils).

b.  Help get adult members more comfortable in explaining and defending their Catholic beliefs.

c.  Energize more parishioners to spread the Gospel and good news of the Church.

Evangelization Committee — Topeka West Cluster - Meeting Results 3/31/14

Current 1:

a.  Need for adult education and a formal program for our youth beyond Confirmation.

b.  Need for consistent pastoral/parish council structure and to define the Finance Council duties from those of the pastoral/parish council.

c.  Method to evangelize those parish members who do not attend church on a regular basis.

Current 2:

a.  Train our greeters at Mass how to identify new members and to suggest they register at the parish office.

b.  Expand RCIA into/for current parish members.

c.  Need for a pastoral council to help oversee these initiatives.

Current 3:

a.  All parishes appear to be remaining steady and or increasing in numbers which should keep our parishes vibrant for the future.

b.  New members need a better method to be identified and then a resulting methodology to notify the remainder of the parish.

Preferred Future:

a.  Develop a program to reach out to "fallen away members" to help them return to the Church.

b.  Develop joint web site construction, management and enhancements.

c.  Expand modern media outlets (social media) with proper due diligence.

What are the hoped for results:

a.  Consistency amongst the parishes in running parish operations (finance & pastoral/parish councils).

b.  Help get adult members more comfortable in explaining and defending their Catholic beliefs.

c.  Energize more parishioners to spread the Gospel and good news of the Church.

ARCHDIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY IN KANSAS

TOPEKA REGION

CLUSTER PLANNING

CATHOLIC EDUCATION IN ALL ITS FORMS

Name of Cluster Parishes

Parish: _Holy Family ______City__Alma______

Parish: _Immaculate Conception ______City__St. Marys______

Parish: _Sacred Heart______City__Paxico ______

Parish: _St. Bernard______City__Wamego ______

Parish: _St. Joseph______City__Flush______

_

Parish: _St. Stanislaus______City__Rossville ______

CLUSTER PLANNING

CATHOLIC EDUCATION IN ALL ITS FORMS

Current Reality

1.  Discuss among the cluster parishes the present activity, strengths, and concerns related to

Criteria 9, 10, 11 and 12 Catholic Education in all its Forms (including vocation awareness) which each parish evaluated. Significant discussion points included:

a. Current status and needs for K-8 Education

b. Current Status for Post Confirmation through Senior in High School and needs

c. Adult education programs and needs

2. What key thoughts occurred to you from looking at the present reality?

a. We have some Catholic Education programs but we are not convinced that they truly meet the needed growth of our Catholic faith

b. We see great needs for programs focused on grades 9-12 to solidify & grow the commitment to our faith through interactive programs and education

c. We have adults that are hungry for opportunities to learn more about our faith through programs, classed and other offerings

3.  What are the planning implications based on the information from the Data Verification material and each parish’s Parish Summary for Catholic Education in all its Forms as a cluster?

a. Vocations – There needs to be more of a focus and support is needed in this area. There is no established program or course outlined for those interested in vocations.

b. Most rural churches have a great majority of volunteer staff for K-12 education. We need support & guidance in selection of textbooks, teacher training, programs, etc.

c. More opportunities are needed for families to grow in the faith and more focus, programs or opportunities are needed for Adults / program involvement.

Preferred Future

1.  What are some ideas we might explore together to enhance our Catholic Education?

a.  Require parents to attend the first 6 or more 2nd grade classes as children prepare for First

b.  Reconciliation and First Communion and 7th/8th grade years s young adults prepare for Confirmation & or Volunteer in at least one class during the year for the other grades.

c.  More dynamic classes for K-8 education that sticks with our children. More involvement & more focus on what they need to learn & retain.

d. Support for teacher education to build knowledge base for teachers

e. Support continuing education & awareness of offerings for young adults and mature

adults that better educate and prepare all to participate more fully in our faith.

f. Add opportunities like “Family Mass” to promote involvement

2. What are some hoped for results?

a.  Continued program with better understanding of being Catholic from K-Adult that

develops our Catholic Faith and prepares us with a more robust understanding of the Church teachings

b.  More active, informed and involved Adult Catholic membership that helps promote,

teach and Live our Catholic Faith

c. Overall Family centered celebration of our Catholic Faith

d.  More Priest involvement in educating at all levels & ages. More opportunities to interact

with our Parish Priests

e. Encourage Priests to help educate our Church membership at every mass

ARCHDIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY IN KANSAS

TOPEKA REGION

CLUSTER PLANNING

SERVING THOSE IN NEED – JUSTICE, ADVOCACY, PROLIFE AND OUTREACH

Name of Cluster Parishes

Parish: _Holy Family ______City__Alma______

Parish: _Immaculate Conception ______City__St. Marys______

Parish: _Sacred Heart______City__Paxico ______

Parish: _St. Bernard______City__Wamego ______

Parish: _St. Joseph______City__Flush______

Parish: _St. Stanislaus______City__Rossville ______


CLUSTER PLANNING

SERVING THOSE IN NEED – JUSTICE, ADVOCACY, PROLIFE AND OUTREACH

Current Reality

1. Discuss among the cluster parishes the present activity, strengths, and concerns related to Criteria # 13, 14, and 15 Serving Those in Need which each parish has evaluated. Be sure to discuss each criterion: Justice, Advocacy, Prolife and Outreach.

Significant discussion points included:

a.  Homilies, The Leaven, Religious Articles

b. Assist with utilities, food distribution, Christmas gifts, Harvesters, Community Health Ministries. K of C March for Life - Religious Freedom Rally

c.  Will begin working with Catholic Charities. Counseling for those who have had abortions is available thru the Community Health Ministries for Wab. & Pott. Co.

2. What key thoughts occurred to you from looking at the present reality?

a.  Many long term goals are limited due to priest changes or not living in our rural vicinity.

b.  Do a good to excellent job of sharing resources in small rural parishes.

c.  In Pott. & Wab. Counties Legal guidance and Counseling as well as medical and dental care are offered. (St. Stanislaus is in Shawnee Co.)

3. What are the planning implications based on the information from the Data Verification material for criteria # 13, 14, and 15 under Serving Those in Need as a cluster?

a.  Too many school and sporting events affect attendance at church events.

b.  Area parishes have active programs in support of Social Projects and the less fortunate.

c.  Our Parishes need more training in the area of Pro-Life Advocacy.

Preferred Future

1. What are some ideas we might explore together to enhance our efforts dealing with serving the needs of others issues related to our cluster?

a. Looking forward to enhanced affiliation with Catholic Charities.

b. We need parishes to be better informed in Prolife Advocacy and other Catholic Social Areas.

c. Better communication and combined information to reach out to fallen away Catholics.

2. What are some hoped for results?

a. Increase attendance at all church related activities.

b. Better education on Social Issues.

c. Involving more of the parish family in parish outreach programs.