Links

 

 

Mass Schedule

Monday: 7:30am, 9:00am
Tuesday: 7:30am, 9:00am
Wednesday: 7:30am, 9:00am
Thursday: 9:00am
Friday: 9:00am
Saturday: 5:30pm
Sunday: 8:00am, 10:30am, 6:00pm
search tips   advanced search
site search by freefind

Changes in the Mass
Important Mass Changes
Read More

Saint of the Day

Our Pastoral Plan

Goals and Objectives

Table of Contents:
St. Barbara Church, Harrison City, PA

Mission Statement:

We the Catholic family of St. Barbara in Penn Township, have grown from a small mission in a rural mining community, to a large suburban parish. Each member is a gifted child of God with unique talents and needs.

Our mission is to proclaim Christ to all people.

We are committed to continuing our spiritual formation, living our Christian values, building community and responding to membership in our parish family and to celebrate the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.

Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we will pursue this Mission faithfully as we continue on our lifelong journey.

Be an Active Member of our Family:

St. Barbara Parish has over 2,600 families under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who together, carry out the Lord’s work. Each a child of God, bringing forth unique and special talents. working together toward common goals, united in spirit and in body, and in a direction rooted in the values of the parish family…

The following describes St. Barbara’s Parish Pastoral Plan. Your pastoral council developed the 2008 Pastoral Plan, based on input from the parish survey. Derived from many parish meetings in support of our parish Mission Statement, it presents our Goals and Objectives for the next three to five years. This approach follows the NEW WINE, NEW WINESKINS model of ministry for Parish Pastoral Councils as adopted by the Diocese of Greensburg.

Following, is a brief description of each of our five central goals, along with the objectives supporting that goal. The next step is to implement the new plan.

Together, we can accomplish what none could hope to achieve alone.

Please take a few moments to review the plan.

Goal 1: Promote Stewardship of time, talent, and treasure as a priority of life:

Most parishioners lead a very busy life. Children that need chauffeuring here and there; traveling for business reasons; immediate and extended family responsibilities; community activities that make Penn Township a better place to live; these all contribute to a very hectic style of living.

God calls us to contribute a portion of our time to Him. How can we help to raise our level of time, talent, and treasure to God as a priority in our lives? God asks for a gift of ourselves that will contribute to our spiritual growth and parish well being rather than something that will be a catch-all for the time left over.

"…When much has been given a man, much more will be required of him. More will be asked of a man to whom more has been entrusted" (Luke 12:48)

Objectives which support Goal 1.
  1. Conduct Time, Talent, and Treasure appeal, Fall 2008.
    - Liaison: Keith Biskup (724) 863-5448, .
  2. Highlight new and existing service opportunities and provide specific and actionable ways for people to support, beginning March 2009.
    - Liaison: Cara Biskup (724) 863-5448, .

Goal 2: Increase active parish participation by five percent per year:

This goal addresses one of the most important of our parish efforts, that of Evangelization. ONLY 35% of our registered parish members are active practicing parishioners. We need to boldly invite and actively encourage our part-time parishioners to become regular participating members of our parish family.

This goal is one of the most difficult and one of the most rewarding. How happy is the Good Shepherd at the return of one of His lost sheep? And how good would you feel being a part of the return of one of our brethren?

"But we had to celebrate and rejoice! This brother of yours was dead, and has come back to life. He was lost, and is found" (Luke 15:32)

Objectives which support Goal 2.
  1. Foster a renewed understanding of the Faith among Catholics:
    Actions:
    1. Initiate a Parish-wide “back to basics” education of the Faith, including a “weekly topic” to be incorporated in homilies and by all parish organizations, by September 2008.
    2. Provide a daily Catholic Faith topic for adult volunteers at Vacation Bible School during the 2009 program.
    3. Sponsor a Parish Festival booth providing some Faith education, utilizing the theme “Catholicism for Dummies” during the July 2009 Festival.
    4. Initiate a women’s Catholic Faith group to parallel Catholic Men’s Fellowship that focuses on spirituality and education, by July 2009.
    - Liaison: Steve Pernick (724) 325-1058, .
  2. Highlight the evangelizing dimension of the Sunday Eucharist, the power of God’s word in worship, and our recognition of Christ’s presence in the sacraments.
    Actions:
    1. Provide book reviews in “Share the Spirit” beginning in October 2008.
    2. Offer two programs about the Eucharist, emphasizing the importance of Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist, by June 2009.
    3. Offer a Parish Mission which emphasizes Christ as the center of our lives, February 2009.
    - Liaison: Steve Pernick (724) 325-1058, .
  3. Foster a sense of the domestic Church within households in which families, individuals, and groups reside.
    Actions:
    1. Identify leadership for making family oriented resources available through existing ministries by December, 2008.
    2. Provide Family oriented material at each Fellowship (Donut) Sunday, beginning in January 2009.
    - Liaison: Curt Petrosky (724) 744-1643, .

Goal 3: Strengthen existing and create new spiritual Formation programs for all parishioners:

Our existing formation programs are excellent. But like all successful endeavors, we must constantly renew ourselves by applying creative energy in the form of new programs and ideas. This goal provides an opportunity for all parishioners to be involved in the Formation process. Personal Reflection and Self-assessment are an important part of achieving this goal.

"…on the way he asked his disciples this question: "Who do people say that I am?" They replied, "Some, John the Baptizer, others, Elijah, still others, one of the prophets." "And you," he went on to ask, "who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, " You are the Messiah!"" (Mark 8:27-29)

Objectives which support Goal 3.
  1. Conduct a two-year sacramental program to prepare parents for full initiation of their children into the Catholic Church, by Fall 2009.
    Liaison: Jack Coma (724) 744-4160, .
  2. Maintain the parish website as an ongoing teaching tool for faith and life.
    Liaison: Bob Weir (724) 744-1751, .

Goal 4: Build a more united parish family by providing opportunities for identity and fellowship:

A parish family needs to address the spiritual aspects of its members. A STRONG parish family needs to address the social aspects as well. What can we do to give our parishioners more opportunities to gather in fun and fellowship? How can we celebrate as a parish family? What should these activities look like? Where should they be held?

The social needs is found in our young people, in our chronologically superior parishioners, and in all those in between. Can we provide a social setting to appeal to this broad range of parishioners?

Those parishioners contributing to the objectives of this goal will have the opportunity to shape the social events for years to come. Trying new ideas to see what will work could be in the norm for this team.

“Love your fellow Christian always. Do not neglect to show hospitality, for by that means some have entertained angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13: 1-2)

Objectives which support Goal 4.
  1. Support and promote the youth athletics program at the Bishop Bosco Center.
    Liaison: Denise Yackovich (724) 744-0959, .
  2. Promote and support the parish Social Committee and social events (e.g., Oktoberfest, Corn Roast, Family Picnic).
    Liaison: Joe Cepec (724) 744-3239, .

Goal 5: Provide Services to those in need while working to change the social conditions that create such needs:

Technology has ushered us into an age of instantaneous communications and information exchange. Cell phones, 24 hour-a-day-TV-news services, FAX, e-mail, and the Internet are wonderful technological marvels. However, the irony is that often we lapse into "information overload" when there just isn't enough time to do everything we would like. The effort to keep up makes us extraordinarily busy and, if we are not careful, leads us to an inward focus. Our responsibility to our fellow man goes beyond our immediate family, our parish, and our diocese. The Body of Christ is indeed universal and we have an obligation to connect physically and spiritually with others.

"…as often as you did it for one of my least brothers, you did it for me" (Matt. 25:40).

Objectives which support Goal 5.
  1. Provide quarterly seminars on change of life issues (i.e., bereavement, separation, and divorce.), leveraging resources from Catholic Charities, beginning 2nd quarter 2009.
    Liaison: Don Homerding (724) 863-3061, .

Weekly Prayer for St. Barbara Parish Goals:

Lord God, we seek Your strength and guidance as we strive to do Your will through our parish Goals.

We are committed to continuing our spiritual formation, living our Christian values, building community and responding to membership in our parish family and celebrating Your real presence in the Eucharist.

Empower us, through the Holy Spirit, to …

Goal 1 Promote Stewardship of time, talent, and treasures as a priority of our lives. Help us to recognize and appreciate Your generous gifts to us, and to share them with others in ways that are pleasing to You.
Goal 2 Gather in all members of our parish family, to continually and actively worship You. Help us to remove any obstacles which prevent any of our brothers and sisters from joining together in our parish community.
Goal 3 Increase our thirst for knowledge of You. Help us to strengthen existing and create new spiritual formation programs for all parishioners, so that we may all mature in our faith.
Goal 4 Build a stronger parish family by providing opportunities for fellowship and family gatherings. Help us to imitate You by showing unconditional love, acceptance, and hospitality to all Your people.
Goal 5 Recognize You in the poor, lonely, and suffering of the world. Help us to provide services to those in need while working to change the social conditions that create such needs.