About OLS Catholic Church Total Parish Pastoral Plan
Dear Friends in Christ, I am pleased to present the total Parish Pastoral Plan for Our Lady of Sorrows Parish. A little over a year ago, I invited a group of parishioners and representatives from the Parish Staff to form a Pastoral Planning Committee. Their task was to review the current status of the Parish, to study related data and to develop a vision for the next three years. To complete this comprehensive study approximately 200 parishioners formed Focus Groups to further analyze and discuss the issues and concerns raised by the Pastoral Planning Committee. After months of praying, listening, learning, debating and discerning, a plan has been created and a path prepared for the future spiritual, personal and communal growth of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish. In simple terms, think of this Pastoral Plan as a roadmap for the parish. As we begin this new phase of our journey of faith, some of the places we will be going are familiar, others will be new. And even familiar places can look different as the landscape changes. And the landscape is changing. Our parish isn't what it was even five or ten years ago. We are large and have become more diverse ethnically and economically. I believe this plan is a result of the praying community of our parish family. The affects of prayer are tangible, especially in a community that remains faithful to their baptismal promises. The power of prayer gives us direction in all aspects of life. I also believe that we, the people of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, value our Catholic Christian identity and acknowledge the promptings and guidance of the Holy Spirit in accordance with our mission statement to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. MISSION STATEMENT Our Lady of Sorrows is a Catholic community of Christians who have come together under the guidance of the Holy Spirit to give witness to Jesus Christ. Our Mission is to celebrate the Eucharist, to proclaim the Good News, to encourage Stewardship as a way of life, and to grow in Faith, Justice, and Service to others. Each parishioner is a stakeholder in our faith community that is striving to be transparent in all things, material and spiritual. I trust you will see your own dreams and hopes and commit yourself to doing all you can to help realize this vision. Together we can make our parish even better than it already is - a strong, prayerful, loving and welcoming community of faith. Peace to all, Rev. Mark S. Brauer
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January 2008