Jesus Christ calls us to constantly renew His Church. Renew My Church is the Archdiocese of Chicago's response to His call and our invitation for renewal.

We Need Your Input
Below is a summary of where we are today, but much more will be shared in our next parish meeting on  Monday, April 9 at 7 pm in the Gym - please come to learn more and share your feedback  and input.

Process Overview
Renewal requires envisioning, planning, and new means to bring Jesus Christ to others. There are nearly  100 groupings of parishes and schools across the Archdiocese. Each grouping will engage in a process to  address necessary questions of structure, how to work together across communities within each grouping,  and to establish a strong foundation for vitality through focused evangelization and faith formation efforts.  Supporting our parishes with the best structures enables us to breathe renewed life into our efforts to make  disciples, build communities, and inspire witness.

Initial Scenario
To initiate discussion, the Archdiocese has offered our grouping an initial scenario that shows a model of  how our parishes and schools could be configured. This initial scenario, outlined below, is a conversation  starter only. The teams from all parishes in our grouping are working together to determine if any additional  scenarios need to be evaluated. These will be shared at our next Parish Town Hall meeting on Monday,  April 9 at 7 pm in the Gym . No decisions have been made . These scenarios reflect our grouping's local  realities using these criteria:

Criteria for Supporting Vitality and Ensuring Viability
Ministerial and spiritual needs of the parish: To ensure quality resources for worship, pastoral care,  religious education, and evangelization, parishes ordinarily will have a justly-paid, professionally-trained staff  team. On average, a parish will need a minimum operating revenue of $500,000 (excluding rental income)  to support staffing and other operating expenses. Operating revenue of $750,000 or more (excluding
rental income) is strongly preferred to invest in important ministry roles.
Parishioner count and Mass attendance: Based on the projection of pastors available across the
Archdiocese, parishes ordinarily need a minimum of 800 parishioners attending Mass each weekend to  be assigned a full-time resident pastor , with consideration given to particular local and cultural  circumstances; a minimum of 1,200 parishioners attending weekend Mass for long-term vitality .
Balanced workloads for priests: It is critical that our pastors are supported with the resources and teams  to support sacramental life, pastoral care, and parish administration.
Parish financial stability and facilities: Parish must have financial stability and adequate, accessible and
safe facilities with capacity for growth and ongoing repair/maintenance.
School vitality and financial stability: A key measure is the potential to enroll a minimum of 240  students in PK-8 , considering area demographics and parish student population; as well as ensuring  quality education, strong student social development, and sustainable operations.

Initial Scenario to begin the conversation:
The archdiocese has offered this initial scenario. The intent is to spark a conversation about how to most effectively  minister to the entire community and how to provide an underlying structure to support that ministry. The grouping teams  are discerning possible alternatives that could as effectively or more effectively support ministry in the grouping. 

As you read and consider the information below, ask:
 How could a different structure support a foundation for vitality in the long-term future with the gifts and resources
in our grouping?
 What are our particular local needs that need to be considered? Geographic considerations? Ministry to particular  language needs and cultures?

The initial scenario considerations refer to a united canonical parish: a model in which two or more current parishes  become one parish - with one pastor, budget, staff, Finance Council, etc. - but that can have multiple active church
worship sites.

-- -- -- Initial Scenario Proposed for Our Grouping-- -- -- --

A unique characteristic of our grouping is that two of the parishes are owned by their religious communities. The
Redemptorists both staff and own the property of St. Michael Parish, and the Vincentians both staff and own the property  of St. Vincent de Paul Parish. Based on this structure, both St. Michael and St. Vincent de Paul would continue in their  current structures as single-site parishes staffed by a full-time resident pastor from their respective religious communities,  unless they choose to create something different.

Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph officially united as one parish with two worship sites in 2016. These initial
considerations propose that the parish would continue in its current canonical status as a multi-site parish with a full-time  resident pastor. Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph School would continue with its current structure.

St. Josaphat and St. Teresa of Avila would unite as one canonical parish with two active church worship sites.  A united parish located at two sites could provide an underlying structure to use the strengths and talents of the  lay leadership of both communities in a focused manner under one pastor and pastoral team. St. Josaphat School  would serve as the parish school .

While reviewing the canonical structure posed above, the entire grouping would enhance its existing collaborative work by  identifying opportunities to invest more deeply in ministry by sharing some staff positions and setting a unified vision and  plan for programming.

As part of the grouping's collaborative work, the grouping is encouraged to explore opportunities to establish a shared  physical presence and operation for evangelization near the properties being developed in the area. This presence could  take many forms. The goal would be to establish a space to build relationships and trust with the Catholic Church before  people may be ready to come back to a church and participate in Mass.

Your input is needed
Again, these initial scenario considerations are conversation starters only. No decisions have been made.
We are asked to provide feedback on the initial scenarios from the Archdiocese and propose alternative
scenarios and configuration models.

Please come to our next parish meeting on Monday, April 9 at 7 pm in the Gym to learn more
and share your feedback and input.
 
Important Upcoming Dates!

Sunday/Monday, March 18th/19th - Parish Mission, 7 pm - 9 pm

Friday, March 29th - Good Friday

Sunday, April 1st - Easter Sunday

Monday, April 9th - Renew My Church Town Hall #2, 7 pm

Saturday, April 14th - Book Discussion: Barking to the Choir, 9 - 11 am

 
Dynamic Catholic
Best Lent Ever
Don't Just Give Up Chocolate For Lent. Join Us for Your "Best Lent Ever"

Almoners gift cards available
Almoners gift cards are now available after Mass on Sundays during Lent. Please take a few to distribute to those in need that you encounter.

Sign up here to help distribute cards after Mass.
Men's Spirituality Group Meeting
The St. Josaphat Men's Spirituality group will meet next on Saturday March 17th, 2018, at 6:30am in the Rectory.
DINE AROUND
at Knife and Tine
Next Dine Around: Knife and Tine from 11:00-2:00pm on Sunday, March 18th, 1417 W. Fullerton. 20% of proceeds will go back to SJS! Call 773-697-8311
Fr. Greg Boyle Book Discussion
Father Greg Boyle -- Book Discussion and Invitation to Hear Him Speak
Join us on Saturday, April 14 from 9-11 am in the Rectory to discuss Boyle's latest book Barking To The Choir

SJS Applications
St. Josaphat School is now accepting applications for the 2018-2019 school year.
Stations of the Cross
The Stations of the Cross trace the steps of Jesus to Calvary. This Lenten devotion will be prayed on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m, alternating each week between our Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph:

Wednesday, March 21st - St. Joseph Church
Wednesday, March 28th - IC Church

St. Vincent dePaul - stations in the church every Friday at 7pm, and at 3pm on Good Friday.

SJS Moe-Hawk Money Gift Cards Available
Purchase a gift card and a 2-10% rebate will go back to SJS school. Forms are due every Friday morning at 9:00 a.m. and you will receive your gift card(s) the following week. Questions/suggestions: Gina Lynch gmm1us@yahoo.com
Parish Development Council
Know Fundraising or Communications? Join the Parish Development Council! Contact the Office.
Men's Club March Madness Party
St. Josaphat Men's Club is hosting a March Madness Casino Party on Friday March 16, please consult the bulletin for details.
Thursday Mass 04/19
Cancelled
The 6:30 pm Mass on Thursday, April 19 will be cancelled because of Confirmation Mass at 7:00 pm. All are welcome to attend the Confirmation Mass.