3/12/23 About the DMI Survey - Please read

3/12/23

About the  DMI Survey - Please read

Dear Parishioners,

Last week Bishop Zubik conveyed to all parishes in the Diocese the importance of participating in the Disciple Maker Index (DMI) Survey. The DMI is intended to provide a snap shot of our parish’s strengths and opportunities for growth related to evangelization and missionary discipleship. The survey is still open; if you have not completed it, please do so before the Friday, March 31st closing. If you already have, thank you and please encourage others to complete it.

In late spring/early summer of this year we will review the DMI Survey results, which will help us to lay the groundwork for a ‘pastoral plan’. This parish pastoral plan, which will focus on three strategic priorities, will assist us in shifting from ‘maintenance-driven’ to ‘mission-driven’ action.

For parishes to help people develop a relationship with the Lord, priorities for pastoral planning should focus on how the parish will equip disciples (parishioners) to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others. This will require clear-eyed and honest evaluation of current parish endeavors as well as efforts to more closely align all activity with the practices of mission and ministry.

Over the course of the next three to four years, every parish in the diocese will be involved with pastoral planning. With the assistance of the Catholic Leadership Institute (CLI), all parishes will participate in one of three pastoral planning ‘tracks’:

NEXT GENERATION PARISH (NGP) - Through the efforts of CLI, this three- to four-year experience will provide the pastor and his community with the chance to assess the parish’s greatest opportunities and strengths, develop a plan to move into the future with hope, and cultivate a deeper missionary spirit throughout the community. They will comprehensively assess parish health, culture, and effectiveness to create a parish plan with priorities and goals as well as train and support priests, staff and parishioners in leadership and evangelization.
Twenty-two parishes in the Diocese have elected to participate in the Next Generation Parish track.

VIRTUAL TRACK - Through ‘virtual’ tutorials from CLI, parishes in this track will be assisted with creating a pastoral plan with priorities and goals. In this track, parishes will be responsible for creating their own implementation strategies with some added and online assistance from CLI.  Mary, Queen of Saints Parish will participate following the ‘Virtual Track’.

SELF-DIRECTED PLANNING - Parishes who have already completed pastoral planning will be responsible for submitting to Bishop Zubik their pastoral plans. Templates will be distributed for parishes to use for submission. Those who do not have a pastoral plan in place and who do not elect the ‘Virtual Track’ are also responsible for creating their own pastoral plans and implementation strategies through the use of templates that are available through the Diocese of Pittsburgh Parish Services. Self- directed parishes will be asked to submit pastoral plans in the Fall of 2024.

As we are in the early stage of this initiative, let us ask God to guide and inspire us, strengthen and enlighten us; to open our eyes, ears, minds, voices, and hearts. Your participation, now and in the coming days, is appreciated and needed.


In the Sacred Heart of Jesus & the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
Fr. Canice
Pastor of Mary, Queen of Saints Parish

 

For additional information, visit our parish's DMI Survey page.