St. Columba Parish Council Five-Year Plan for 2000-2005

Administration Committee

Support special projects and Council Committees as needed or requested by the Committees or Pastor.

Assist in the recruitment for Parish Council members.

Continue to have dinner/dance fundraising for the parish once or twice a year sponsored by the Spirit of the Living God Prayer Group

Christian Education Committee

Investigate establishing a Parish library to include an electronic library.

Work with the Home and School Association to present workshops, seminars, and other programs of interest to the Parish community.

Work closely with and support the RCIA and PSR as needed.

Social Concerns Committee

Collect and deliver food items to the Missionaries of Charity in SE Washington each Sunday.

Deliver food items collected during Thanksgiving Mass to Oxon Hill Food Pantry. Collect coats for distribution by Catholic Charities.

Organize annual Parish Information Fair.

Announce and participate in annual Lobby Night in Annapolis.

Participate in cultural diversity projects sponsored by various parish organizations.

Support social justice initiatives by publicizing efforts highlighted by the Archdicesan Legislative Network.

Identity, social justice projects for parish participation.

Liturgy/Spirituality Committee

Encourage Eucharistic devotion within the parish and as an example encourage parishioners to attend Day of Adoration every first Friday of the month after the 9:00 a.m. mass or the first Friday mass at 8:00 p.m. and the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for one hour sponsored by the Spirit of the Living God Prayer Group.

Promote vocation to the priesthood and religious life by sharing experiences with their calling.

Encourage the practice of regular confession and communion among members and their families by inviting priests to conduct general and private confessions at important feasts during the liturgical year.

Continue and increase the participation of the First Saturday Mass in the Filipino language (Tagalog) by both young and old parishioners.

Prepare monthly Parish Intention to be read daily and on Sunday masses.

Initiate and organize training sessions, day of recollection, etc. for the different ministries at least once a year.

Expand Baptismal Committee and programs to include more instruction for parents and godparents.

Introduce Junior Sodality to select high school and college students in the parish as a basis for future membership in the Sodality of Our Lady of Divine Grace. Establish a full-fledged Junior Sodality by the year 2003.

Start a tradition of visiting churches on Good Friday to foster friendship among the neighboring Catholic churches.

Provide materials for the different ministries.

Have greeters before and after each mass.

Recruit women ushers as well as men and have them wear uniforms for easy identification.

Host the Parish Appreciation Dinner in January preceded by a Thanksgiving Mass on a Saturday at 5:00 p.m.

Give Easter eggs (plastic) with candies and messages to children every Easter at the Father Dewan Hall sponsored by the Fil-Ministry/MCST Sisters.

Sodality of Our Lady of Divine Grace
Saint Columba Parish

Five-Year Goals

1. Continue to increase devotion to Jesus, through Mary, of individual members as well as a group through prayers, apostolic work and words befitting the Sodality's spiritual objectives. Conduct at least six (6) guided talks about Mary; group discussions of related Marian topics; a yearly Day of Recollection at the Loyola Retreat House and a weekend retreat in 2003 and 2005. Encourage the practice of pilgrimages to Marian shrines.

2. Recruit new members and encourage more active participation of current members through involvement in the Sodality meetings and other parish activities. Recruit 50 new members during the period 2000-2005.

3. Introduce Junior Sodality to select high school and college students in the parish as a basis for future membership in the Sodality of Our Lady of Divine Grace. Establish a full~edged Junior Sodality by the Year 2003.

4. Continue to support other related parish activities such as Days of Adoration, Prayer Partners, sale of religious articles, campaign for more vocations with spiritual and financial support, enrollment in the Education for Parish Services (EPS), etc.

5. Encourage the practice of regular confession and communion among members and their families. Invite priests to conduct general and private confessions at important feasts during the liturgical year.

Approved by the Parish Council on 11 May 2000


Updated: 23 August 2002

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