Good Shepherd Parish
The new council began, February 2023. The Parish Planning Council comprised of clergy, staff and active parishioners (2-3 year term) serves Good Shepherd Parish by assisting the Pastor in his leadership role of planning, organizing, initiating, coordinating and reviewing the mission and activities within the parish. The group will meet quarterly, early afternoon at the parish center. Our members are: Fr. Paul, Fr. Edivar, Beth Mello, Sue Pagliccia, Steve Angelilli, Michael Bettencourt, Walter Burke, Donna Gazaille and Sergio Racigh.
Thank you to our previous council members who served a 3-year-term ending December 2014.
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The Diocese of Fall River has now offered for Fall 2021, “Forward Together: A Fall Planning Initiative” https://www.fallriverfaithformation.org/forward-together and a planning guide to help parishes to evangelize https://2779afa7-ed12-4a6b-bffc-8835138183aa.filesusr.com/ugd/a7ebb0_394029ed0e5b44ac9c802f220f0b479b.pdf
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Begun in 2017, the new Diocesan-wide parish planning “Rebuilding in Faith and Hope” focused on three major goals: revitalizing our parishes; renewing the ministries of the Diocese; and strengthening support for clergy.
This strategic planning proposal addressed the process that each parish might adopt prior to any decision about its future. Those decisions would be made with the advice and counsel of the individual parish revitalization teams, working in close and facilitated collaboration with other parishes. This strategic planning was designed to engage clergy and laity in the decision-making process, so that they own the outcome – that they have invested themselves appropriately and meaningfully, and are able to make an informed and inspired judgment about the future of their parish.
Successful transition and change must be well managed, and this strategic planning proposal was an opportunity for forging a new vision, and creating a new plan, for the life-changing work of our parishes.
A strategic planning effort had started here and with a pilot group of 10-12 parishes. A three-phased plan had been developed. First–A listening session was held on Island with Fr. Nagle and Marilyn Blanchette back in January, 2018. Phase Two focused on six priority areas: pastoral leadership; “The Sunday Experience;” Life-long Faith Formation and Evangelization; Community Outreach; Campus Care and Finances. Concurrently, Phase Three was funding the plan and with a newly formed finance committee.
