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Our Pastoral Plan
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Our Vision
Transforming lives through faith inspired relationships.Our Mission
Proclaim the Good News, embolden all believers, and inspire a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ so, our parish will love and serve others generously.Values
- Welcoming - To create an environment where all are invited to join the community and share in the Christian life.
- We will share our love of God with all people we encounter.
- We will exhibit respect for the God-given dignity of all in our midst.
- We will greet each other with joy as if greeting Jesus Christ.
- Justice - As a return for all that God has given, we give God and neighbor the good that is due them.
- We will see all as equals, as God sees us.
- We will seek ways to amend injustices related to our parish.
- We will be stewards of our time, talents, and treasure.
- We will live out the Works of Mercy.
- Faithful - Entrusting oneself to God and all that He has revealed.
- We will be prayerful.
- We will engage in parish life.
- We will demonstrate integrity as a Christian.
- We will desire to strive for Heaven.
Priorities and Outcomes
- Parish Priority #1: Family Engagement
a. Definition: The Scriptures teach “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22, 6). Family engagement at St. Cecilia means that we will listen to the hopes and challenges of families with young children. Our staff and ministry leaders will build trust through meaningful relationships and create opportunities for them to become invested in the parish's prayer, service, and community experiences.
b. Rationale: St. John Paul II wrote that, “The future of the world and of the Church passes through the family.” If our parish wants to have a positive impact in people’s lives it will happen through the families to whom we proclaim the Good News, embolden us as believers, and inspire us to a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. 66.7% of families in our neighborhood are not engaged in any Church and 11% of those that are engaged are likely to become unengaged within the next 10 years.c. Goals:
i. By November 2024, the number of families with young children worshipping at weekly Mass will increase from 105 families a week to 111 families.
ii. The parish will host 2 to 3 “family events” for community by Summer 2024.
2. Parish Priority #2: Spiritual Growth
a. Definition: St. Paul tells Christians: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12, 2) Spiritual Growth is the process of developing an identity in Christ through a life of prayer and virtue that moves a person toward holiness and away from sin.
b. Rationale: Our parish values being faithful (entrusting oneself to God and all that He has revealed). The results of the Disciple Maker Index and our Focus Groups reveal a great desire to grow spiritually and know Jesus Christ in a deeply personal and intentional way: 33% of the responses in the DMI want spiritual growth and 26% of the responses in the DMI did not identify Jesus as a friend.
c. Goals:
i. Increase the number of parishioners who strongly agree that St. Cecilia Parish is forming them as a disciple of Jesus Christ from 20% to 30% by May of 2026 (our next DMI).3. Parish Priority #3: Service and Outreach
ii. Increase the number of parishioners who celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation, at least quarterly, from 27% to 35% by May of 2026.
a. Definition: St. James wrote that “faith without works is dead” (James 2, 26). As a parish committed to “love and serve others generously”, St. Cecilia Church will identify the emotional and physical needs of our brothers and sisters and provide training and opportunities for parishioners to satisfy those needs in Fox Chase and the surrounding communities.
b. Rationale: The results of the Disciple Maker Index, our Focus Groups and the research on what non-Church goers are looking for in a Church reveal a great desire to serve the needs of others. In addition, people desire service to others as a sign of the integrity of a faith community: 39% of people who took the DMI only serve 4 times a year. The DMI survey responses shared that 70% of people are looking for opportunities to serve and our “Net Promoters Score” shows there is a lack of opportunities for parishioners to serve the needs in the larger community.
c. Goals:
i. Develop a coordinated service program with 30-50 opportunities by Christmas 2024.
ii. 75-100 parishioners will sign a “commitment to service” card by Ash Wednesday 2025. - Welcoming - To create an environment where all are invited to join the community and share in the Christian life.