P.L.A.N. (Parish Life And New Beginnings)
St. Margaret Mary's Strategic Planning for the Future:
The Parish P.L.A.N. Steering Committee has been working since Summer 2007 to develop a plan for the future which will act as our parish's blueprint, guiding decisions concerning parish facilities and their use as well as in the implementation of parish programs.

Valuable information has been gathered from parishioners over the past months through surveys, interviews, and group discussions. This information is being used to further define our parish's vision and identity as a faith community.

The information gathering phase of the planning process took place in October 2007 through a series of one-on-one interviews and small group discussions with parishioners who graciously volunteered their time, thoughts and ideas towards this effort. Feedback from the interviews and group discussions was organized and presented by outside facilitator Jim Brown to the P.L.A.N. Steering Committee and parishioner facilitators at a workshop held on November 17. During the workshop, the feedback was used to help the group identify several areas that they felt warranted further study and development as part of the parish's futures planning.

The P.L.A.N. Steering Committee created five main categories for planning. Sub-committees consisting of 5-8 people were formed to study and outline planning for each. A general meeting was held on February 9 to discuss the objectives and any criteria to be followed. The categories are: Parish Life & Ownership, Future Financial Planning, Public Relations, Social Opportunities, and Spiritual Growth and Outreach.

Each group presented its ideas and goals to the P.L.A.N. Steering Committee. With the guidance of Jim Brown, suggestions were made towards further fine tuning and shaping of goals and action steps. A first draft of the final Parish Future Plan was reviewed by the P.L.A.N. Steering Committee at the April meeting with additional changes recommended. A revised draft will be reviewed at the May meeting. It is expected that the final plan will be ready to present to the parish before Summer 2008.

Area II Planning (Committee members include pastors and three representatives each from St. Margaret Mary, Little Flower, Assumption, St. Ann parishes) As Pastoral Region Planning proceeds, this group currently meets every six months to present progress reports.

Pastoral Region Planning (St. Margaret Mary Parish partnering with Assumption Parish to plan for future with fewer priests)