SIX (6) GENERALS AREAS of CONCERNS that NEED ATTENTION

1. PARISH AND RELIGIOUS EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION

• Lack of friendliness, too much control, too much involvement in non-business decision-making; too much power and authority in the hands of a few; office needs to be more efficient, and welcoming.

• Re-structuring of Parish Staff, hence the NEW PARISH STAFF ORGANIZATIONAL CHART – which considers the implementation and values of: improve TEAM performance; areas of collaboration; efficient management, supervision, and evaluation of staff; redistribution of responsibilities which call for accountability and transparency. (Click or see below St. Paul the Apostle Parish Staff Organizational Chart).

2. FINANCES

• A perceived lack of transparency; weekly collection information should be published in the bulletin; Harvest Festival Financial Report; too much second collection.

• Instead of weekly collection reporting, the Finance Council initiated to have a Monthly Income/Expenses Reporting. For Harvest Festival’s Financial Report – the parish started this year; however, it’s a general report of Income and Expense. The Finance Council is also studying on how to lessen or eradicate second collection. Hence, the Finance Council has invited a consultant from Our Sunday Visitor (OSV) to do a presentation on “Increased Offertory Program”. If only we can become more generous in our general collection and in our Diocesan Development Appeal, we might be able to eradicate second collection completely.

3. MINISTRY CENTER

• Need to disclose the financial report, especially expenses on the constructions of the Ministry Center; need information about the usage of the Ministry Center.

• The project was delayed for a while. It was resumed in 2015 with the help of the Office of Construction and Real Estate (OCRE) of the Diocese of San Bernardino. Two (2) buildings have been refurbished and have been used by the elementary Religious Education Formation Department when they moved to the Ministry Center site last year. However, the Confirmation Program is still using the Parish Facilities. There was a “Mass on the Grass” last year, which allowed the attendees to have an ocular inspection of the finished and operational building. Also, there was a video presented during one Sunday to update everyone of the progress being done at the Ministry Center. The Ministry Center is a beautiful home for the parish’s Preschool. All along, the parish has not neglected its responsibility in rendering updates of the Ministry Center. Financial Reports will come soon. And I can assure everyone that every penny contributed by our parishioners is well spent for the development of the Ministry Center.
• About the USAGE: Presently, the usage of the Ministry Center is concentrated for the Religious Formation of the children of the parish. However, the Confirmation program is still using the facilities at the Church site. The retreats of the Youth Confirmation program are being held at the Ministry Center, which are distributed during a given year. Other ministries can use the Ministry Center for meetings, but for now, there is a need of a coordinated scheduling so that conflicts with other ministries will not happen. Once all the buildings are finished and the site completed, more ministries can be accommodated.
• To see and explore the progress of the Ministry Center, we would be scheduling another “Mass on the Grass” at the Ministry Center in the near future. This is an opportunity for everyone to have an ocular view of the Ministry Center as a center of evangelization of the parish.

4. PRIESTS

• Stability of the parish dependent on the assignments of priests. Need a pastor who can manage a large parish and not abdicating roles to lay staff; a pastor who has skills in parish administration; we need priests who are good homilists; we need priests who visit the other ministries.

• Assignments are secured. Fr. Mike and Fr. Joseph have responded positively to have their assignment for three more years (July 2017 to June 2020). My assignment as pastor is still six years, but I am still the Episcopal Vicar of the San Bernardino Pastoral Region supervising 47 parishes in the San Bernardino County. In all humility, I believe that we are not negligent in delivering good homilies. My weakness is that, my presence at the parish is limited, and therefore, I seldom visit the different ministries of the parish. The Deacons of the parish have contributed immensely in the administration of the sacraments and other responsibilities where they happily assist the priests.

5. MINISTRIES

• The ministries are alive and lay people are involved, but ministries need to be organized in a mission-driven fashion. Some leaders need formation; some ministries need guidance of the priests.

• Slowly but surely, we started re-organizing ministries: re-organized the Music Ministry, Liturgy Committee (which its primary role is to plan the Liturgical Life of the parish), Eucharistic Ministry, the Altar Service Ministry. In order to create a collaborative culture of ministries, there is a need to establish a Ministry Council. (Click or see below the Pastoral Administration Flow Chart, Pastoral Direction of the Parish, and Pastoral Mission: Goals and Action Plans!)

6. HISPANIC MINISTRY

• Attention to the Hispanic community must be intentional. Although a small community, they are part of the parish. There is a need of a Spanish- speaking priest to cater to the needs of the Hispanic population of the parish.

• I am in the process of reviewing the Hispanic Ministries in view of establishing a Hispanic Coordinating Committee, and its role is to coordinate all the activities of the Hispanic Ministries. The Chairperson of the Hispanic Coordinating Committee can be a member of the Parish Pastoral Council representing the Hispanic community.