Living Stones

Building on a Legacy of Service

Holy Spirit Parish in Asbury Park held a groundbreaking ceremony for the St. Peter Claver Outreach Center yesterday.  The site at the corner of Springwood and Ridge Avenues, which once held the St. Peter Claver Church, has been vacant for some time.  The land has been repurposed in order to continue the legacy of service among the Black community exemplified by St. Peter Claver Church and its namesake.  While the building will house an array of activities, the Society of St. Vincent DePaul will use the Center on a daily basis to coordinate assistance for those in need.   The former members of St. Peter Claver Parish were formally integrated into Holy Spirit Parish in July 2012.   They will join together with all the Catholic churches in Asbury Park to support this new endeavor.

Making a list, and checking it twice by Ken Perry

It's Christmastime!  The time when parishes all across the Diocese of Trenton will welcome a much larger number of people than on a normal given Sunday.

Parishes, including my own, have been preparing to host these additional visitors for some time - from those traveling from far away to those visitors (Catholics and others) who may not be with us on a regular basis. 

How has your parish made preparations outside of adding additional Masses (in and of itself no small feat)?  The guide below is an awesome resource for those parishes looking to really make a difference this Christmas, at other big celebrations (see Ash Wed., Easter, weddings, funerals, etc.) and for that matter every Sunday. We have an awesome responsibility, and opportunity, to reach out to those visitors with the love of Christ! 

This handy guide is not only a great way to begin to provide an awesome welcome to visitors, but a helpful guide so we can begin to track how we do hospitality over time.  This in turn enables us to identify areas where we are providing excellent hospitality and those areas where we need to improve.  Have an awesome way you are reaching out to visitors to your parish?  Let us know!

Download the Reaching and Keeping Visitors Checklists

Getting social? by Ken Perry

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the importance of social media as a communications tool was highlighted as Facebook was used as a major tool for local information gathering, community organizing and fundraising.  St. Francis Parish on Long Beach Island was one example.  Since Long Beach Island was evacuated and residents were not allowed to return for some time after the storm, the pastor gathered the community together using FB to communicate with parishioners as they began to assess the damage and begin recovery efforts in the area.  Members of St. Rose, Belmar, another example among many, organized a hugely successful parish clean-up day in the wake of the storm using social media. 

If social media can be so effective in crisis situations, what about our day to day lives in our Catholic communities?

A recently published report by CARA (Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate) noted that, although nearly half of Americans use Facebook at least a few times a week, few incorporate technology into their practice of worship or to practice their faith.  Does this mean that we should put our energy elsewhere?  Or does it point to something else?

The same report by CARA reports that only 13 percent of Catholics report their parish has an active Facebook page.  Why would Catholics look to social media to help support their faith if 87% of parishes don't have anything helpful there in the first place?  

The communication tools we have at our disposal in our modern era are unparalleled in human history.  We are called by Christ to spread the Gospel. So what are we waiting for?  Is your parish actively using social media?  Tell us about it!

 

 

Where do you rate? by Ken Perry

The Emerging Models of Pastoral Leadership project just commissioned the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University to conduct a series of surveys in parishes nationwide. These were designed to examine important changes in parish life—including a study to better understand who is serving America’s parishes, what brought them there, and what their needs are in the 21st century.

Here's a slice of that survey.  You can view the full survey here.

I thought it was interesting that 'Welcoming new parishioners' was toward the top, while 'Outreach to inactive Catholics' was so near the bottom.  It's not an easy thing to reach out to inactive Catholics, but I think there is tremendous opportunity and s need for growth in that area - particularly with less than 20% of Catholics going to Mass regularly.

So, given the chance, where would you rate your parish?  What do you do well?  Where do you see opportunities and a need for growth?  What strides have you made already -- and how is God calling you to fill that gap?

The Stranger Effect by Ken Perry

I  came across this great 3 minute video from Igniter Media called Strangers (check it out here at www.ignitermedia.com/mini-movies/2201/Strangers)-- and it illustrates the impact that individuals have over people they will never meet.  This happens every day -- and for good or bad we have an influence that echoes in the lives of others.

What can we do as parish communities to echo the Gospel in our wider communities?   Is it getting involved in community actives that benefit those outside our churches?  Crafting a mission statement so the direction of the parish is clear?  Stepping out in faith and doing something nice for a neighbor who wouldn't give us the time of day?  Making a real effort to be wise stewards of parish resources?   Welcoming in families, widows and orphans in an intentional way? 

It's not you, it's me by Ken Perry

I came across this from Seth Godin's blog today -- it gets at the heart of what anyone in church ministry should keep in mind.

It might be that your audience isn't smart enough, caring enough, attentive enough, with-it enough or generous enough to understand and appreciate you.

Or it might be that you're not good enough (yet).

If you're in the habit of assuming one of these, try out the other one for a while.

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2012/07/it-could-be-one-of-two-things.html

To me it put's the focus back to where it belongs.  There's far too much finger pointing these days.  Set's words put's the focus on me, and what I can do to be a better servant of the Most High God and his Church.  How can I be a more faithful follower of Jesus Christ?   What can I do differently?  What can I be better at?  

 

Giving away your space by Ken Perry

 I came across this excellent post from marketer/author Andy Sernovitz.  It's about companies (see churches) using their extra space for marketing purposes by allowing groups to using the space.  It's a great way for companies to be helpful  and reach out to groups in their communities --and sell some extra stuff in the process.

It got me thinking, what if we applied this to our parish facilities?   What if our stance to the community at large was one of openness and hospitality?  Wouldn't that be a great way to show love for our neighbor and build relationships at the same time? 

This especially applies to those groups which serve others in our community.  I know there are a number of churches allowing groups to use their facilities already (e.g. boy scouts, 12-step groups, etc.) --but what would it look like if we invited people to book time (for free). Even if your parish is short on space (as some are), what about offering your grounds?  Your parking lot?

I don't pretend that there's not an obvious cost.  There are certain liability and damage issues that need to be addressed.  In some cases a certificate of insurance would be needed by the participating group.  I would argue that the cost of inaction is far greater.

What would the effect on how our parish community sees your parish?  What kind of bridges might it build?  What effect would it have on members of our own parish?

 

Half of Over 65s Online by Ken Perry

A recent Pew research study indicates that as of April 2012, 53% of American adults age 65 and older use the internet or email.  This is the first time that over half of seniors are online.  Although still the lowest group percentage-wise, this represents another reminder of how parishes need to increase efforts to evangelize online - especially give how the 65+ population has been growing rapidly in our diocese. 

It also represents a real opportunity for parish communities to strategize how they can reach out to seniors not only sacramentally but also to connect seniors to the life of the parish during the week!  Some of the tools available include a dynamic parish website, social media (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, etc), email prayer chains, homilies online, video conference for workshops/prayer groups and even apps.  What ways are you currently reaching out in your parish?

Asian Nation by Ken Perry

I revisited an interesting website,  Asian-Nation.org, which offers some important insights into demographic and religious trends for the Asian-American community here in the U.S.   It highlights some great surveys from American Religious Identifcation Survey and Pew Research.  Since 14.9 million (5 percent of the total U.S. pop.) people are Asian (or Asian in combination with one or more other races) and 1 million are Pacific Islanders, they have a significant presence within the Diocese of Trenton (over 100,000+)-- and thus, there is a great opportunities for evangelization, collaboration and cooperation to and with these communities.  

I've also included the Profile of New Jersey's Asian Americans (2005-2007) from the Asian American Federation, which includes demographic data broken down by county.

Download Asian Americans njbrief2009.pdf

Wondering what your parish demographics may be?  Contact Ken Perry at the Diocese of Trenton Department of Pastoral Planning at kperry@dioceseoftrenton.org and we can help you get set up with MissionInsite - at no cost to you and the set up is easy.  And the benefits of knowing more about your people are truly great.

Why They Left by Ken Perry

America Magazine recently highlighted a study commissioned by Bishop David O'Connell asking Catholics why they stopped going to church (see the article here -Why They Left). 

The responses included not feeling welcomed, starved spiritually, to feeling undervalued by the church.  Others point to issues of doctrine and church practice.   All of the respondents remind us of the stark reality of declining church attendance, with fewer than 20% of registered Catholics attending Mass.  But there is hope and promise here, as their tone was generally positive. 

We have before our parish communities a great opportunity, if we are up to the challenge.  In light of these responses, Byron and Zech call for a "creative liturgical, pastoral, doctrinal and practical response".  Will we choose to remain in dialog with these Catholics in our parish boundaries even if the issue is a doctrinal one in order to remain in relationship?

So then, what will our response be?  In what ways is God calling us as Catholics, and Catholic communities, to reach out to those inactive Catholics in our own backyard?  What has been working so far and is a strength we can build on?  Where is their opportunity for growth to build up the kingdom of God in your community?