SMDS Pastoral Council firms up action plans for 2010

SMDS Pastoral Council firms up action plans for 2010

Over the weekend of January 9-10, 2010, the heads and members of the Parish Ministries and the Tri-council, composed of the Planning, Implementing and Finance Councils, gathered to discuss and assess the Parish performance for 2009 and plan for 2010.

Fr. Manny Sarez set the tone by giving the opening prayer and objectives of the 1 ½ days workshop.  Mr. Johnny Filart, the head of the Parish Implementing Council gave a summary of the accomplishments of the Parish for the first half of 2009 while Mr. Kiko Josef, the head of the Parish Finance Council, presented the annual expenses across ministries.

The different ministries proceeded with the identification and presentation of their assessment of their areas of strength and areas for improvement.  Based on these assessments, plans were mapped out for 2010.

One of the highlights of the parish action plans across ministries for 2010 is the alignment of  efforts towards the strengthening of basic ecclesial communities (BEC) in Pansol 1 and 2, Kaingin, Alta Vista, La Vista and Loyola Grand Villas.  The Youth Ministry, for example, will actively establish BEC Youth initially zooming in on Pansol and Kaingin.  The Family and Life Ministry and the Catechetical Ministry will jointly conduct more catechetical lessons that are focused on family strengthening with the BEC families as the target partners.  The Social Service Ministry will continue to provide feeding and livelihood programs to targeted families of the BECs in Pansol and Kaingin.  The Formation Ministry shall launch its stewardship program with the BECs as one of the entry points for deepening understanding and appreciation of the core concepts, principles and approaches in the sustained implementation of stewardship for the Church.  The Finance Council shall strengthen  the institutionalization of funding mechanisms for programs such as the BEC.  The Planning Council shall help install the database of the SMDS BECs.

The Pastoral Planning session ended with an offering of one’s tapuy, a traditional Ifugao practice of sharing one’s best wine poured in a common earthen jar.  Each participant in the planning cum evaluation session gave their own pledge to remain committed and engaged in the actualization of their plans for the rest of their term in 2010.