Work began on creating an Excel spreadsheet to compile the survey data. Father Kottar requested the data be totaled by age group, by congregation (Hispanic and Other), and combined. After several renditions, the spreadsheet was deemed usable.
The data input was somewhat tedious and was targeted for completion by the upcoming Pastoral Council Meeting scheduled for February 6.
Sharon Burkhardt, President of the Pastoral Council, approached each small group in the parish to inquire if all had an opportunity to participate in the survey or if copies of the survey were needed. Many longtime parishioners were also approached. This effort was to ensure input by a great percentage of the most active people in the parish.
Through the period the survey was administered, completed surveys were gathered to maintain privacy and security in the process.
At each weekend Mass, Father Kottar announced the survey would be available after Mass as a means for parishioners to provide input into the 3 Year Plan.
The surveys were distributed as people left Mass. Some individuals remained in the narthex to complete the survey immediately and turn them in to the ushers. Everyone who took the survey with them were asked to return them the following weekend.
The bulletin dated December 10 contained an announcement about the survey. The article included the plan to distribute the survey after Mass, instructions about obtaining the survey from the office and online. The last day to participate in the survey was December 21st.
An important part of the Three-Year Pastoral Plan is a survey for registered parishioners age 16 and older. If you have not already completed the brief survey it will be available at Masses the weekend of December 9-10. If you will be out of town the survey will be available to fill out at the parish office the week of Monday-Thursday, December 18-21, during normal office hours. You may also click the Parish Survey link below, print the survey, and return it to the church or parish office before December 21.
After Father Kottar reviewed the survey, his comments/feedback was integrated into the document. His input was primarily trimming down lengthy questions and eliminating some questions where he determined parishioners did not have a basis to not respond, i.e., “Is the church kitchen sufficiently large for holding parish-wide social events?”
The survey was completed reformatted. Copies were to be made for distribution after weekend Masses the weekends of December 9-10 and December 16-17. The plan was to hand out the surveys to all parishioners in each family age 16 and up. Also, a basket was to be available for dropping off the completed surveys.
Several Pastoral Council members were asked to review the first draft of the survey. Feedback was timely and ideas were incorporated into the document. Terry Seen, Secretary of the Pastoral Council suggested some formatting ideas to make the document simpler to complete.
An important part of the Pastoral Plan is gathering an accurate census of parishioners.
If you have not registered in the parish please take a few moments to fill out the basic registration.
You can also use this form to update an existing registration.
The Executive Committee of the Pastoral Council met to set the agenda for the Pastoral Council meeting planned for November 6, 2017. The progress of the survey development was an agenda item and Father Kottar asked for input from the Executive Committee about the survey; the format, the length, the topics. Laura Ziegler, Vice President of the Pastoral Council was adamant that the parishioners, in fact no one would be interested in the survey beyond the first page or at most 10 questions. Terry Seen was in complete agreement, reiterating that one page was the most the survey should include.
The Pastoral Council would be informed of the survey administration plan at the November 6th meeting also.
A link to the pastoral plan blog was added to the parish website to communicate the progress of the plan. Initially the blog was set up on Tumblr but it was not easily accessed by parishioners. The blog was then moved to WordPress where it now resides. The blog is available on the parish website (via a link to WordPress) where parishioners can easily access the information and sign up for email notifications each time the blog is updated.
“From the Pastor” Parish Bulletin Article 10/29/2017
Pastoral Plan—Always Forward
The theme of the three-year parish Pastoral Plan is “Always Forward.” “Always forward” was the motto of Saint Junípero Serra. Junípero was born Miguel Serra on the Spanish island of Mallorca in 1717. At the age of 17 he entered the Franciscan order he took the name Junípero after Brother Junípero–one of one of earliest followers of St. Francis. (The name Junipero refers to a little juniper tree.)
Junípero spent most of his time in the classroom as a student and a professor. But at the age of 35 he made the dramatic decision say goodbye to his family and island home to become a missionary in New Spain. After a long journey across the ocean he arrived at Veracruz, in New Spain (now Mexico). He walked the 250 miles to Mexico City instead of riding a mule. On the way he was bit by an insect that caused a wound which made it difficult to walk for the rest of his life. For the next 18 years he worked with the indigenous people of the Serra Gorda in central Mexico and later in Baja California. His compassion and love for the native peoples was universally recognized.
Around this time, there was a fear that the Russians would invade what was then known as Alta California from their base in Alaska. The Spanish King Charles III ordered an expedition to this remote land to claim it for Spain. The military governor persuaded Junípero and a small group of Franciscan friars to join him on the 900-mile-long journey to establish missions in various places. The first mission founded by Junípero was San Diego in 1769. Other missions followed in quick succession: Monterey/Carmel (1770); San Antonio and San Gabriel (1771); San Luís Obispo (1772); San Francisco and San Juan Capistrano (1776); Santa Clara (1777); San Buenaventura (1782). Twelve more were founded after Serra’s death.
Junípero fought for the rights of the Indigenous people. On one occasion he asked the military commander to extend mercy to an Indian that had murdered one of the friars. His work with the Indians of California culminated in the famous government “Regulation” that guaranteed protection for the Indians and the missions. This regulation was the first significant “Bill of Rights” for Native Americans.
Junípero’s missionary life was a long battle with cold and hunger, with unsympathetic military commanders and even with danger of death. Through it all, his unquenchable zeal was fed by prayer each night, often from midnight till dawn. He baptized over 6,000 people and confirmed 5,000. The length of his travels was the equivalent to circling the earth. He brought the Native Americans not only the gift of faith but also a decent standard of living. He won their love, as witnessed especially by their grief at his death. He is buried at Mission San Carlo Borromeo, Carmel. Pope Francis canonized him in Washington, D.C., on September 23, 2015. His statue represents the State of California in the Hall of Statuary on Capitol Hill in Washington.
“Always forward” was Serra’s motto. The love of Jesus should motivate our parish family to move “always forward” to spread His light into our families and community. God bless you this week as you “go forward” in Christ.
—Fr. Kottar
Always Forward 