Committees
Pastoral Planning
The Pastoral Planning Committee is a committee of the Pastoral Council. In August 2008 the committee began work on a new long range pastoral plan to guide the growth and development of St. Mary’s for a three year period beginning in 2010. The committee developed a Mission Statement in conversation with the entire parish community, making use of listening sessions and other gatherings. A final version was presented to the parish in December 2008.
Our Mission Statement:
St Mary’s is a Roman Catholic parish in downtown Rochester that is welcoming to all. This faith community is nourished by the Sacraments, Scripture, music and vibrant celebrations that are grounded in the spirit of Vatican II. Energized by the call to become the Body of Christ, the people of St Mary’s encourage open inquiry, strive to be diverse and are committed to bringing healing, justice and hope to each other and the broader community.
A second step was the development of a Vision Statement. The process began in December 2008, and this time a short questionnaire was used as well as listening sessions and discussion groups to elicit input on content. The Vision statement was completed in 2009 and provided a clear focus for the creation of goals and objectives.
Our Vision Statement
To fulfilll our mission and provide an inviting, vibrant Roman Catholic community in downtown Rochester in collaboration with Blessed Sacrament and St. Boniface parishes.
To offer dynamic liturgies enriched by traditional and contemporary music with homilists who bring a rich knowledge of scripture, experience and the ability to communicate the gospel message in a 21st century world.
To provide comprehensive faith formation for all ages, encouraging discipleship, leadership and service to the community.
To offer spiritual and economic support to the poor and less fortunate through our out-reach ministries and sharing of our time, talent and treasure.
To embrace a model of pastoral leadership which includes a lay pastoral administrator and a sacramental minister, encouraging open dialogue among staff, parishioners, parish council and our three-parish group.
To partner with civic and religious leaders to identify the root causes of social problems facing the greater Rochester community and develop comprehensive strategies to address these issues.
To provide parishioners with formal and informal gatherings geared to diverse groups, which nourish our faith and deepen our commitment to one another and the parish.
The people of St. Mary’s pray, laugh, share, struggle, and learn from one another and know that the spirit of the risen Christ is among us always, calling us to a new level of discipleship and a deeper knowledge of God’s on-going revelation in our lives.
The committee continued its work by drawing up a list of goals for our three year plan based on our conversations over the past couple of years, in line with our Mission and Vision Statements. Once these goals were affirmed by the parish, the committee working with those responsible for implementation worked out a set of objectives and milestones to guide our work through 2013.
Three Year Goals
GROWTH & EVANGELIZATION: Our call to evangelization at St Mary’s is about building community internally on the model of Gospel centered living, reaching out to welcome others to our parish and extending our connections to the downtown community. It is about looking inward to bring out the full potential of who we are as well as looking outward. An “evangelization approach” colors every aspect of parish life and ministry.
PARTICIPATION: As expressed in our mission statement, “St. Mary’s is a Roman Catholic parish…that is welcoming to all. This faith community is nourished by the Sacraments, Scripture, music and vibrant celebrations that are grounded in the spirit of Vatican II. Energized by the call to become the Body of Christ, the people of St. Mary’s encourage open inquiry, strive to be diverse and are committed to bringing healing, justice and hope to each other and the broader community.” As such, we are a community committed to the development of our ministries within and outside the parish through greater involvement and participation.
LEADERSHIP: Our community is rooted in the rich traditions of our past and looks forward toward the future with hope and expectation. We are committed to service, ministry and collaboration and as such, we seek ways and practices for the ongoing improvement of the life, the organization, and the administration of our parish.
St. Mary's Church
15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607
Email: Pastoral Administrator | General inquiry
© 2009-2012, St. Mary's Church
