Parish Plan
July 2006-2007

 Liturgy

Acknowledging our baptismal rights and responsibilities, inspired by the rich traditions of the Church and enlivened by the Holy Spirit, we strive to:

1. To help all members of our Parish Family ground their lives in the sacraments, liturgies, and Gospel of Jesus Christ.

2. Provide opportunities to enrich the prayer and spiritual lives of all members of our Parish Family.

3. Invite and encourage all parishioners to share their talents and interests by becoming involved in our liturgical ministries.

4. Ensure that all liturgical ministers receive appropriate liturgical, theological, and spiritual formation.

5. Enhance liturgical environment through collaboration with the Altar Guild.

6. Continue to educate the assembly that they are the principal and fundamental musical body.

7. Affirm the works of all the Cathedral Choirs as an essential part of our worship tradition.

8. Continue to foster an ecumenical spirit through participation in common worship with other downtown churches.

 

Faith Formation

Recognizing the presence and importance of God in our daily life, we will:

1. Continue to provide a quality program of instruction that is faith based and connected to the daily life of our children and youth.

2. Continue to involve parents in the faith formation of their children by providing take home materials and workshops.

3. Partner with families in Sacramental preparation.

4. Provide a variety of opportunities for Adult Faith Formation.

5. Continue to support the RCIA leadership team and the current RCIA process.

 

Cathedral School

A Catholic school education is one way of passing on our faith traditions to our young people. Thus, we will:

1. Enrich the prayer life of the children through varied prayer experiences such as weekly school liturgies, prayer services and seasonal prayer experiences.

2. Inspire our children to practice the Corporal Works of Mercy through organized service projects for the poor and needy.

3. Encourage members of our Parish Family to consider Catholic education for their children by an Open House during Catholic Schools Week, by publicizing the activities of the school, and by cooperating with parish committees in planning religious education activities.

4. Continue assisting the administration and our lay staff in their education ministry.

5. Demonstrate our support of Catholic education by providing a financial investment to Cathedral School.

6. Increase awareness of opportunities to contribute to scholarship funds.

7. Invite the Rector and the Vice Rectors to participate in Faith Formation programs at Cathedral School.

 

Social Ministries

Christ calls us to works of social justice and charity, in accordance with the Gospel message and Catholic Social Teaching. Social Ministries tries to respond to this call through ministries of awareness, education and action and plans to:

1. Focus and depend on prayer as a specific component of all of our ministries and to continue to provide a regular time and place for members of our Parish Family to gather twice each month for Centering Prayer.

2. Continue the Ministries in Compassion and Hope (MICAH) outreach to the homeless through relationships with Passage Home and Wake Interfaith Hospitality Network, as well as by providing Moore Square Meals, by welcoming those in need through the Open Door Ministry and by forming Katrina style Support Circles to assist local homeless individuals and families.

3. Serve the hungry and the elderly with volunteers and financial support in relationship with Catholic Parish Outreach, Center for Volunteer Caregiving, and the Helen Wright Center.

4. Continue spiritual ministry to prisoners and participation in community mentoring programs for prisoners and newly released prisoners through Prison Ministry.

5. Build relationships between members of the Cathedral Parish Family and members of other community congregations and organizations (via Raleigh Organizing for Action and Results) and use those relationships to work together advocating for change on common concerns.

6. Encourage advocacy for social justice by increasing our involvement in Legislative Advocacy/Education on issues in the light of the Gospel and Catholic Social Teaching.

7. Offer education and formation through the JustFaith Seminar and through other Adult Education seminars focused on the peace and justice themes of the Gospel.

8. Explore ways to assist refugees and reach out to our brothers and sisters in Latin America through parish based Global Outreach ministries.

9. Promote Fair Trade as a justice-based economic system.

10. Continue to use Share Sunday, the first weekend of each month, as an opportunity for parishioners to grow in awareness of, and contribute to, outreach programs such as Catholic Parish Outreach, Passage Home and AIDS Ministry.

11. Assist our Sister Catholic Parish in San Ramon, Nicaragua through direct help and exchange of visits.

12. Provide volunteer support for migrant worker meals at St. Bernadette's Church.