Results of Community Forum

10-17-2021Weekly ReflectionFr. Charlie Goraieb

Dear Friends,

On Wednesday, October 6th over 60 people gathered for our Community Forum. The purpose was to elicit from a broad spectrum of parishioners their views on what they liked about OLMC and what they thought our parish needs in order to strengthen our mission.

Everyone who spoke expressed their love and commitment to OLMC, which was very moving and affirming for all present. As for what our parish needs, some of the items mentioned, in no particular order, include:

  • Outreach to pre-teens, teens and young adults
  • Greater emphasis on the Liturgy, with all of its components (preaching, music, art and environment)
  • Better Hospitality to new-comers at Mass and other events
  • More community building and fellowship
  • 24-hour Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
  • Outreach to our young families
  • Opportunities for a transformative encounter with Jesus Christ
  • How to foster true Discipleship to Jesus Christ
  • Equipping everyone to share their faith more confidently with others
  • Reaching out to those in our neighborhood and to parishioners who have not yet returned to Mass
  • More times for the Sacrament of Confession
  • Greater emphasis on Our Blessed Mother (since she is our parish Patroness)
  • Integration of the single men and women
  • Continue the good relationship between the parish and the school
  • A Parish directory to help us know other parishioners better

My thanks to all those who were in attendance or who submitted their thoughts in writing beforehand. The list above is not comprehensive, but the event was recorded to ensure that we would not overlook anyone’s input. This list is insightful, accurate and daunting. But it is also clear that not everything be tackled at once. The next step, then, is to create a pastoral plan that will establish a common vision which will help us to prioritize these objectives. We hope to have that complete in the next 2-3 months. Please pray that this process would be guided by the Holy Spirit.

Nextr week I will be joining the Bishop and many of the priests of our Diocese for our annual retreat. Please keep us all in your prayers.

May Our Lord bless each one of you,

Fr Charlie Goraieb

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