By Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News

“Moving Your Parish From Maintenance to Mission” was the inspiration and challenge presented at a Saskatoon Rural Deanery workshop held Dec. 2, 2023 at the Catholic Pastoral Centre in Saskatoon.

Led by diocesan Director of Ministry Services Marilyn Jackson, the Saturday workshop provided an overview of the Church’s call to evangelization and practical steps for moving forward to some 40 participants from parishes surrounding Saskatoon.

Topics included the Church’s identity, parish assessment, good leadership, and creating a mission and vision statement.

“Follow-up sessions may take place in three to four months,” says Jackson. “ Parishes were given a sample check list so that when they got back to their parishes, they would have some practical steps to get them started.”

The workshop is one more step in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon’s focus on evangelization as outlined in the recently-updated diocesan Pastoral Plan to “Proclaim Christ and God’s Kingdom Today,” which includes “Moving from Maintenance to Mission” among diocesan priorities.

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