The UP Parish of the Holy Sacrifice (PHS) held a two-day Parish Evaluation and Planning Workshop last September 15-16, 2012 in the Delaney Hall. The workshop’s main objective was to align the parish’s pastoral plan with that of the 8-Point Priority Agenda of the Diocese of Cubao for the years 2012- 2017.
The workshop had two components: the first was an evaluation of the previous PHS Pastoral Plan for 2009-2011, formulated and executed by the former parish priest, Fr. Raymond L. Arre. The second was an extensive planning of the first year of a pastoral plan that would span 5 years under the leadership of the current parish priest, Rev Fr Henry E. Ferreras.
The former pastoral plan fully conformed with the 5-Point Priority Agenda (5-PPA) implemented by the Diocese of Cubao from 2009-2011. Since the past 5-PPA goals are currently incipient in the new 8-Point Priority Agency (8-PPA), the results of the evaluation workshop identified the strong points in terms of the best practices in the areas of manpower, resources and facilities, systems and procedures, communication, and resource management.
The objectives that were unfinished or partially accomplished were noted and marked for improvement in the succeeding pastoral plan.
In brief, the 8-Point Priority Agenda consists of:
· BASIC ECCLESIAL COMMUNITIES (BEC)
· FORMATION
· CLERGY
· STRUCTURE & POLICIES
· SOCIAL ACTION
· MEDIA
· STEWARDSHIP
· CATECHETICAL
From the evaluation results of the previous agenda, the secretariat derived 11 objectives to be discussed and fine-tuned in the planning workshop. The first eight objectives indicated a sharp consistency with the diocese’s 8-PPA, while the last three captured the needs and priorities that are unique to the PHS:
· To maintain, repair, upgrade and improve parish facilities
· To strengthen and monitor linkages with the different organizations and sectors of the University (administration, faculty, students, barangay, and public officers)
· To enrich the servant leaders’ fellowship program
Based on partial data given by the Secretariat, the following paragraphs provide some insights on how the various ministries, organizations, and areas link their respective plans with the 8-PPA. (Note: The order of presentation follows the sequence according to the Diocesan 8-PPA).
Goal 1: Strengthen and Enliven the Parish through the Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC)
The BEC group plans to strengthen the BEC organization by formulating an organizational chart that links the Parish-level BECs with the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) down to the area levels. It also plans to continue the conduct of BEC orientation seminars, and regular monthly activities in the areas with intensified participation of ugnayans in area masses, area council meetings, and rosaryo sa kapitbahayan.
The Family and Life Ministry shall undertake Basic Catechism for Family, formulate a basic catechetical module for use in homes, and conduct catechetical formation on family and life.
Goal 2: Sustain and enhance the relevant, on-going pastoral management program, focusing on skills and servant leaders and formation of lay leaders.
Family and life ministry will conduct a series of seminars on such subjects as person hood, human sexuality, responsible parenthood, and art of communication.
The Workshop Ministry will contribute to the formation of servant leaders among the ranks of LCGs to serve at area masses in collaboration with BEC.
Goal 3: Clarify, align, and update organizational structures and policies for effective monitoring and evaluation of the 5-year pastoral agenda.
A unique feature of the new parish pastoral plan is an initiative of the PPC Executive Committee to present, ratify an updated version of the organizational structure of the PPC.
This plan includes designing a regular monthly and quarterly monitoring system that builds up into an annual summative monitoring and evaluation of the pastoral plan.
Goal 4: Provide social service and development projects that respond to issues in solidarity with the poor
The Social Services and Development Ministry (SSDM) plans to conduct medical clinics twice a year targeting 180 beneficiaries and continue sending referrals to government and private welfare agencies (medical centers and hospitals, medical associations, orphanages and funeral parlors) for 200 beneficiaries. It also plans to assist victims of crises and calamities (fire, typhoon, flood), and to hold Christmas gift-giving to 400 deserving families in the parish. It will also continue implementing its HAPAG-ASA Feeding Program to 100 eligible children from Area 17 and Arboretum.
Goal 5: Intensify mobilization of servant leader and parishioner resources guided by the spirituality of stewardship
The BEC group will respond by training BEC servant leaders to become shepherds of BEC zones, kawans and cells by continuing the Seminar on Spirituality of Stewardship (SSS).
The Worship Ministry will organize spiritual formation seminars among its members, while the Public Affairs Ministry (PAM) will intensify basic orientation for lay leaders through seminars that highlight the importance of social apostolate.
Apologies are forwarded to the Formation Ministry, Parish Youth Ministry, Campus Ministry, and Catechetical/Vocation Ministry for non-coverage of their plans. All plans, however, remain tentative until finalized and approved by the Parish Priest at the monthly meeting of the PPC on 21 October, 2012.
The Parish Evaluation and Planning Workshop was headed by the parish priest, Rev Fr Henry E. Ferreras and co-facilitated by the communication group, particularly Kristine Turado and Teresa Torres.
-Dr. Nestor N. Pilar
