Strategic Plan
Overview of St. Mary Strategic Plan
September 1, 2006 – August 31, 2011
I give you a new commandment: Love one another. Such as my love has been for you, so must your love be for each other. This is how all will know you are my disciples: your love for one another. The command I give you is this, that you love one another. (John 13:34-35. 15:31)
St. Mary Church has developed a long-range strategic plan to address four principal areas of our ministry – Worship, Christian Formation, Parish Life Ministries and Outreach to the Poor. This holistic, comprehensive, five-year plan will ensure that these ministries will continue to flourish in the future. To build on the excellence we have established over many years of hard work, we are committed to future financial stability through tithing.
Past:
- 1865 – German speaking lay people petition the Bishop to establish St. Mary Parish
- 1866-1867 – Parish established and church built
- January 1, 1868 – First Mass offered in the new church
- Rich tradition of prayerful worship, Christian formation, caring for the poor and good
stewardship
Present:
- Vibrant parish community of 1,000 believers
- A people striving to be better Christians and to serve those less fortunate
- Prudent managers of the historic facilities given to us by our ancestors
- A diverse community of men and women from the Tri-State area
Future: – Goals as we approach the 150th anniversary of St. Mary Church in 2017:
- Gothic church built in 1867 is in good repair
- Outreach to the poor is provided
- Christian formation is provided
- Catholic schooling is encouraged
- Finances are stable
- Victorian Parish House (1881), Rager Hall (1890) and Parish Ministry Center (1871) are
properly preserved