our lady of the lak OLL Plan... · Web viewOur Lady of the Lake (OLL) enjoys a vibrant ministry and a congregation that continues to grow in numbers and generosity but perhaps most

OUR LADY OF THE LAKEONE OLL PLAN

Our Lady of the LakeONE OLL Plan

TABLE OF CONTENTSEXECUTIVE SUMMARY:...........................................................................................................................................ii

SITUATION:..............................................................................................................................................................ii

PROCESS:..................................................................................................................................................................ii

FINDINGS:...............................................................................................................................................................iii

ACTION PLANNING:.............................................................................................................................................iii

SUMMARY:.............................................................................................................................................................iii

INTRODUCTION:.........................................................................................................................................................1

SCRIPTURAL REFLECTIONS....................................................................................................................................1

OLL MISSION STATEMENTS....................................................................................................................................1

OLL MISSION STATEMENT...................................................................................................................................1

OLL SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT..................................................................................................................2

OLL VALUES................................................................................................................................................................2

OLL VISION STATEMENT.........................................................................................................................................2

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.........................................................................................................................................3

GOAL I.......................................................................................................................................................................3

SCRIPTURAL REFLECTION...............................................................................................................................3

OBJECTIVES.........................................................................................................................................................3

GOAL II......................................................................................................................................................................3


OBJECTIVES.........................................................................................................................................................3

GOAL III....................................................................................................................................................................4


OBJECTIVES.........................................................................................................................................................6

GOAL IV....................................................................................................................................................................5


OBJECTIVES.........................................................................................................................................................5

GOAL V......................................................................................................................................................................5


OBJECTIVES.........................................................................................................................................................5

GOAL VI....................................................................................................................................................................6


OBJECTIVES.........................................................................................................................................................4

CONCLUSION...............................................................................................................................................................7

i


FUTURING STATEMENT:..........................................................................................................................................8

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

SITUATION:

Our Lady of the Lake (OLL) enjoys a vibrant ministry and a congregation that continues

to grow in numbers and generosity but perhaps most importantly, in depth. Our school continues

to grow and nurture the hearts, minds and spirits of our children. Over the last two years, faced

with the challenges of the larger institutional Catholic Church as well as our own changing

demographics, our Pastor Fr. Tim Clark, supported by the Executive Council, recognized the

need to develop a forward looking strategic plan that addressed the challenges faced in

occupying buildings that are more than 70-years-old along with the needs of the school, our ONE

OLL family and the community and world at large. We owe a great deal to the men and women

who came before us; those who had the vision and desire to grow this community and to finance

its church and school. We are in our 90th year for the parish and 70th year for our Catholic

school. What will we do so that the heart and legacy of OLL is passed on to the next generation

and those after it? How can we take the candle that was lit by those who came before us and

pass this on to future generations? It takes money to be sure, yet besides that it takes a

commitment to come together and participate as members of the Body of Christ who together are

ONE OLL, ONE SPIRIT and ONE LIGHT in the world.

PROCESS:

In the spirit of building ONE OLL and creating a dynamic Master Plan that honors the

history of OLL and the deep faith of this community, Fr. Tim and the Executive Council hired

the consulting firm The Reid Group and appointed a Futuring Team comprised of members of

the parish and school. The team together with John Reid engaged you, the parishioners and

school parents, and asked you what you liked about OLL and what you did not like, what you

needed, what was missing but also what was valued. These and many other questions were put

to you through online surveys, small house gatherings as well as at larger community gatherings

and we listened.

ii


FINDINGS:

Through these efforts the Futuring Team sought to understand what was valued in OLL,

what were the shared visions, what goals were imagined and what our mission was as church and

school with a Catholic identity. What they learned underpins our ONE OLL PLAN and is at the

heart of our Mission, Vision, Goals and Objectives.

ACTION PLANNING:

The ONE OLL plan contains six goals that reflect what we must do in the long-term to

live out our vision. Each goal has a number of objectives that describe what we must do in the

short-term to support these goals. These actions were identified by our community as priorities in

the numerous surveys, home visits and at the ONE OLL Summit. The objectives will be

budgeted for and implemented over the next five years with continued input from the ONE OLL

community.

SUMMARY:

It is the aim of the Executive Council that this ONE OLL PLAN provide the requested

guidance to OLL leadership as well as a sense of direction to the Parish regarding the nature of

this ministry over the next 3-5 years. The Executive Council encourages parishioners and non-

parishioners to spend time reading the plan and discussing it among families, small groups and

among the body at large. Above all, we should commit the elements of the plan to careful prayer

and consideration.

“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches

over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.” Psalm 127:1

iii


INTRODUCTION:

Welcome, welcome, welcome…In the words of the late Fr. Thomas Keating’s

“Welcoming Prayer” we greet each of you who have taken the time to read this plan and

prayerfully consider how you might participate in building ONE OLL for future generations.

We encourage you to take your time to read through each part of this plan, remembering that this

is your plan that represents the voices of this community. Pause and pray on things that speak

to you, take notes and ask questions, participate in an Action Committee gathering and learn how

you might be part of the future foundation that will be the new rock on which stands ONE OLL.

SCRIPTURAL REFLECTIONS

Scripture quotes are found for each of the goal statements. These are offered to help you

pray with and for this process and to have a faith context for the plan and goal areas. One

suggestion is to cut and paste copies of Goal and Scripture statements that call to you, placing

them on your fridge and giving space for what calls to you to find its way into your heart and

inspire you to act and participate.

OLL MISSION STATEMENTS

Why does Our Lady of the Lake exist? What is our identity and purpose? What makes

the parish and school unique or distinctive?

OLL MISSION STATEMENT

Our Lady of the Lake is a welcoming and inclusive Catholic community.

Nourished by our faith and sacraments, we strive to live Christ’s Gospel by

caring for all God’s creation with compassion, mercy and justice.

OLL SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT

Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School is a welcoming and inclusive community

committed to a tradition of excellence by nurturing hearts, inspiring minds and

1


igniting spirits.

OLL VALUES

Community

We gather, pray and learn together.

Discipleship

We believe we are made in the image of God and are committed to teaching

and living the Gospel message of love.

Inclusion

We boldly welcome, support and respect all people.

Compassion

We engage in and promote service, justice and mercy.

Presence

We strive to be present to one another, embrace change and foster growth

within and beyond our community.

Gratitude

We are good stewards, giving of ourselves and our resources.

Spirituality

We seek to be with God in all we do.

OLL VISION STATEMENT

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

These statements answer the question, "What will Our Lady of the Lake need to do in the

long-term (goals) and short-term (objectives) to live out our vision?”

2

OLL is a vibrant Catholic community that serves God, our neighbors and

humanity by personifying the hands and feet of God. We are an example of

living the Gospels’ values, Catholic education, and engaging everyone in

lifelong learning and justice and service.


GOAL I

OUR LADY OF THE LAKE WILL WORSHIP AND FOSTER SPIRITUAL GROWTH AS A VIBRANT, CHRIST-CENTERED, EUCHARISTIC COMMUNITY

SCRIPTURAL REFLECTION

Jesus said: “I myself am the bread of life. No one who comes to me shall ever be hungry, no one

who believes in me shall ever thirst.” (John 6:15)

OBJECTIVES

Growth and participation in Liturgical life.

Provide education and formation for all ages in our Catholic faith.

Make scripture study more available through opportunities for reading, prayer and reflection.

Explore the meaning of formation in the bulletin, school newsletter, church announcements

and alternatives for greater engagement.

Continue strengthening and expanding our music ministry.

Provide formation opportunities for lectors and Eucharistic Ministers.

GOAL II

OUR LADY OF THE LAKE WILL EXPAND HEARTS, MINDS AND SPIRITS BY SUSTAINING A STRONG CATHOLIC SCHOOL


Jesus said to them, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them. It is just such as these

that the kingdom of God belongs. I assure you that whoever does not accept the reign of God

like a little child shall not take part in it.” (Mark 10:14-15)

OBJECTIVES

Continue to ensure a strong Catholic identity throughout the school.

Provide for excellence in the education and formation of all children to meet the needs of all

learners.

Promote and strengthen a school culture that builds relationships across the OLL community.

Follow through on the recommendations and aspirations of the Accreditation Plan.

3


GOAL III

OUR LADY OF THE LAKE WILL BE A GOOD STEWARD OF RESOURCES, ESPECIALLY FINANCIAL RESOURCES, AND OPERATE WITH HIGH LEVELS

OF TRANSPARENCY AND INTEGRITY


Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of

God’s grace in its various forms. (1 Peter 4:10)

OBJECTIVES

Ensure financial sustainability through operational rigor and accounting best practices.

Provide a clear, concise and transparent accounting of parish and school funds, resources and

uses.

Each parishioner will contribute their financial resources as they are able to achieve the

vision for ONE OLL.

Implement, as feasible, the major recommendations of the Facility Assessment Reports.

Engage in revamped and coordinated fundraising activities to achieve specific goals as well

as a balanced budget.

4


GOAL IV

OUR LADY OF THE LAKE WILL ENGAGE IN IMPACTFUL COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND SOCIAL JUSTICE


But be doers of the word, and not hearers only. (James 1:22)

OBJECTIVES

Engage with the Northeast Seattle community pastoral leaders to identify community needs.

Strengthen the Social Justice Committee so it can coordinate all activity – e.g. St. Vincent de

Paul, St. Francis House, Shelter, Sister Parish, Justice & Peace Committee.

Convene small action groups focused on an aspect of social justice – i.e. housing, hunger,

immigration, mental health, etc.

Educate the OLL community on Catholic Social Teaching and the Gospels’ values.

Engage in shared outreach/service opportunities across the school and parish.

GOAL V

OUR LADY OF THE LAKE WILL SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT ENGAGE AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION BY YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS


Jesus, for his part, progressed steadily in wisdom, age and grace before God and people. (Luke

2:52)

OBJECTIVES

Coordinate youth programming with neighboring parishes for middle and high school

students from both Catholic and public schools.

Celebrate a youth Mass monthly at surrounding parishes with youth led music, lectors,

Eucharistic Ministers, altar servers, ushers, etc.

Benchmark our youth programs with other parishes, churches and organizations (Catholic

and Christian) to identify best practices.

Coordinate young adult programming with neighboring parishes.

5


GOAL VI

OUR LADY OF THE LAKE WILL FOSTER AN OPEN, WELCOMING COMMUNITY SPIRIT AMONG ALL MEMBERS AND FAMILIES


For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)

OBJECTIVES

Expand the welcoming committee and include information on activities and opportunities

when welcoming new members and families.

Strengthen the relationship between the parish and school.

Offer a mentoring or ambassador program with new families to support engagement and

participation.

Continue to host consistent and relevant social events.

Create intergenerational activities and groups to foster new friendships.

Recruit volunteers of all ages; engage them in meaningful ministries and recognize their

contributions to the community.

6


CONCLUSION

The moment that Fr. Tim Clark launched our ONE OLL planning process on Pentecost

Sunday, invoking the Holy Spirit to help guide this community through this process, the presence

of the Spirit came in the words of Jesus to Nicodemus, “…like a wind” and was felt and heard by

everyone. Focused by the Futuring Team, all members of the parish and school have been

guiding us and providing vision and insights that were the necessary elements for our Catholic

community to grow and evolve into the future. God is working through all of us to spread love

into our community and the world outside. ONE OLL is God’s way of bringing God’s light into

the world through each of us - each of us are ONE OLL and through us God loves the world.

We are excited to begin a new chapter as ONE community. Opportunity awaits each of

us to become involved, to be part of the Body of Christ and to laugh, cry and grow into love of

God and each other. We are the people of the church and school. With God, this is our parish,

our school, our community, our ONE Vision for ONE OLL.

7

ONE OLL

Spiritual Growth

Education

Community

Outreach

Youth and Young Adults

Financial Stability

Figure 1: ONE OLL


FUTURING STATEMENT:

We are ONE OLL – one community seeking oneness in God and oneness as a people.

We are committed to living our faith day by day and supporting Our Lady of the Lake as one

family. ONE OLL calls us to unity not uniformity and to the realization that we are all on a

faith journey together with all our differences.

We are truly an open, inclusive family encompassing all generations and walks of life.

We love all our neighbors. We celebrate our differences and share in our commonalities as we

are all made in the image of God. Our Masses are full, overflowing with praise, reverence and

gratitude.

Our school is grounded in our strong Catholic identity that permeates all aspects of our

school. We build a worldview that inspires our children to be global citizens.

Our energetic and dynamic youth and young adults enhance the vibrancy of our

community. They participate with zeal and enthusiasm in our services and programs that are

designed for their spiritual growth and social development.

We have a large, vibrant volunteer community supporting a wide variety of service

programs, rooted in Catholic Social Teaching, within the parish, school and community. Our

parish and school are financially secure. Therefore, we are able to offer more services to

parishioners and school families, such as more faith development, social functions and tuition

assistance for the school. We have strong leadership, providing lay and ordained perspectives,

to guide our future with energy.

We embrace each individual, wherever they are in their spiritual journey. We pray

together and nurture one another to grow deeper in our faith and trust in God. We reach outside

ourselves to be a force of change, caring for the Earth, and advocating for the marginalized

while inspiring others.

###

8

Documents

our lady of the lak OLL Plan... · Web viewOur Lady of the Lake (OLL) enjoys a vibrant ministry and a congregation that continues to grow in numbers and generosity but perhaps most