Core Team Update #11

JANUARY 28, 2016

Dear Core Team Members:

Each week these updates are a reminder of the importance of disseminating information and making sure that your parish is well-informed of the “Faith in Our Future” initiative.

As your parish moves forward with its self-evaluation try to continually remember the following two points:

1. The need to share all the information that was provided to you on the “Data Verification Form”. This information is an essential part of the parish’s self-study and the need to be transparent as we move forward.
2. Try to address some of the difficult situations facing the diocese and your parish as we move into the future. While our temptation may be to maintain the status quo it is important that we address the hard issues that will arise – e.g. – re-evangelizing those on the fringes of parish life or those who have fallen away, outreach ministries that can be shared with the parish in our cohort, sharing staff and facilities.

If you have not already done so, please encourage all your parishioners to view the six-minute video message from Bishop O’Connell introducing “Faith in Our Future” athttp://www.dioceseoftrenton.org/faithinourfuture/.  Also encourage parishioners to look at all of the resource materials for” Faith in Our Future” that are on the web site. This includes the Planning Guide in English and Spanish and the print resource “Building Our Future Together. “

Other reminders:

1. Please make a note of the next steps for Core Teams:

a.) Plan meetings for every other week through March 10^th as needed.

b.) Continue evaluating the 4 areas of parish life in ways that involve the whole parish (e.g. surveys, task forces, work groups, town hall meetings, etc.).

c.) Implement your communications strategy to keep your fellow parishioners involved.

d.) Contact your Reid Group consultant with your questions and concerns or to ask for a parish facilitator.

2. Point C above, “Implement your communications strategy to keep your fellow parishioners involved.” This is particularly important.  As you continue your regular meetings as a core team, plan for regular communications with parishioners through bulletin announcements, announcements at Mass, messages on your website and more.

3. If you have substantial changes or corrections to your parish data verification form, please submit these in writing to Terry Ginther ([email protected] , 609-403-7143) by January 31^st.

4. The proposed listing of cohort parishes was distributed for your review the week of January 25^th.  If you have questions or concerns, contact Monsignor Troiano by Feb. 5^th.
5. Cohort training sessions will be held March 15-16, 2016 at the following sites:

MERCER COUNTY COHORT TRAINING – TUESDAY EVENING

MARCH 15, 2016          7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Saint David the King Parish Center, West Windsor, NJ

MONMOUTH COUNTY COHORT TRAINING – TUESDAY EVENING

MARCH 15, 2016          7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Saint Mary’s Parish Center, Colts Neck, NJ

OCEAN COUNTY COHORT TRAINING – TUESDAY EVENING

MARCH 15, 2016          7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

St. Luke’s Parish Center, Toms River, NJ

BURLINGTON COUNTY COHORT TRAINING – WEDNESSAY EVENING

MARCH 16, 2016          7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Saint Isaac Jogues Parish Center, Evesham, NJ

MONMOUTH COUNTY COHORT TRAINING – WEDNESDAY EVENING

MARCH 16, 2016          7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Saint Mary’s Parish Center, Colts Neck, NJ

IMPORTANT NOTE:  All Burlington, Mercer and Ocean County Parishes Core Team Members will attend the session designated for their county.  Due to the number of parishes in Monmouth County we have scheduled two training sessions.  The Monmouth County Parish Core Teams will be assigned to a designated meeting.

 

Here are a few frequently asked questions about Faith in Our Future:

Our team has significant scheduling conflicts on both a March 15 and 16.  Will there be an alternate date or dates offered for teams or at least individuals unable to participate in the cohort training sessions on March 15 or 16?

We plan to videotape one of the training sessions for the use of core team members who are unable to attend one of the live trainings.  In addition, we would encourage you to get an update from fellow core team members and/or consult with your Reid Group consultant on specific questions.

Please let us know what other questions you have and we will answer them in future updates.

Thank you once again for contributing your time and energy to Faith in Our Future.

 

FAITH IN OUR FUTURE STAFF & COUNTY CONSULTANTS

Diocesan Office Staff

Msgr. Leonard Troiano, [email protected], 1-609-403-7159

Sherrie Sporek, [email protected], 1-609-403-7193

FAX: 1-609-406-7413

MAILING ADDRESS:   Faith in Our Future,

Diocese of Trenton

701 Lawrenceville Road w Trenton, NJ 08648

The Reid Group Consultants

Burlington & Ocean Counties Consultant

Tom Reid, [email protected], 1-206-947-2990

Monmouth County Consultant

John Reid, [email protected], 1-206-947-1055

Mercer County & Bi-Lingual Consultant

Karen Castellon, [email protected], 1-908-240-9941