Bob Jensen

The parish will be transitioning to a new software for greater effectiveness in managing our parish census, keeping up to date with parishioners, improving communication, and consolidating the various programs we are currently using into one system. Every parish in the archdiocese will be transitioning to this new system. You will not notice anything new until the spring. However, the parish staff begins training on the new system. This extensive preparation will involve two sessions a week plus homework for the staff beginning now and lasting through the spring.
This is a major commitment of time and energy for a staff already busy about many things. They may be a bit slower in returning a call or e-mail. They could even be a little frazzled as they strive to get everything accomplished with less time as they take on this new task of learning a completely new system. I am including myself in this description!
Please be patient and understanding with us if we are a bit slower or have a dazed look in our eyes. A word of encouragement is always helpful. Moreover, that phrase, “Is there anything I can do to help?” would surely be welcomed.

In fostering the life of the parish, the pastor relies on the advice and expertise of parishioners serving on consultative leadership bodies.

~ Fr. Bill

 Parish Governance

“It is the role of the Christian faithful to carry out the mission of the Church in the world. Therefore, all parishioners share the responsibility for that mission with the pastor or other appointed leader.”1

In fostering the life of the parish, the pastor relies on the advice and expertise of parishioners serving on consultative leadership bodies.

Councils are those leadership groups mandated by a higher authority outside of the parish. The archdiocese mandates that every parish have a Pastoral Council. The Vatican mandates that every parish have a Finance Council.

Commissions are determined by the parish in light of the parish’s identity and priorities. Our parish has the following Commissions: Faith Formation, Life Justice and Peace, Stewardship and Evangelization, and Facilities and Grounds (we are discussing the possibility of a new Liturgy Commission).

The work of Commissions are further subdivided into Committees or Ministries that have a smaller scope of focus and a more hands on service. There are too many committees in our parish to list here. You can find many of them on our parish website, sjtbcc.org/go-ministries/

This October, we are gathering all who currently serve on a council or commission. This in-person gathering of parish leaders is meant to strengthen our sense of connection as a parish community, review what has and is yet to be accomplished from our previous five-year pastoral plan, and lay the foundation for our pastoral priorities for the next five years in light of our parish synod experience. Using a model of servant leadership, those called to leadership seek to build a faith community, exemplifying diversity in unity and to be a link to the larger Church.