‘Looking Ahead Together’
Our Lady and St Therese’s Parish Strategic Plan 2026 -2030
In October 2023 we commenced the parish strategic planning process. We called this initiative ‘Looking Ahead Together’, and it involved the development of Our Lady and St Therese’s Parish Strategic Plan 2026 -2030. The objective of the plan is to inform and guide the future development of our parish, over the next 3-5 years.
Why did we do this?
To ensure our parish continues to grow and thrive, it is becoming increasingly important that we develop a clear vision for the future. This plan will reflect, and support, the spiritual, community and material needs of our parish, while meeting the specific requirements and wishes of the various groups within Our Lady of the Nativity and St Therese’s communities, including our school communities.
How did we do it and who was involved?
We conducted a number of ‘focus group’ meetings, across both Our Lady’s and St Therese’s church communities, speaking to some 50+ parishioners. This was to ensure that our Strategic Plan considered the different needs and priorities that exist across our entire parish community.
In the ‘focus group’ meetings we asked people 3 questions:
- What works well in the parish today?
- Are there things you think we could do better?
- Looking at the next 2-3 years, are there any specific ‘opportunities’ that you can see to improve the parish?
As a result, we captured a range of responses which we distilled down to 270+ items for consideration. We analysed this information and identified 9 ‘key themes’, and captured a range of ‘desired outcomes’, that form the basis of our strategic plan. The ‘key Themes’ are summarized below:
- Greater communication and transparency on plans, projects and finances.
- Programs to encourage families back into the church.
- Review and extend our ‘outreach programs’ to meet the changing needs of the parish and surrounding community.
- Recognise and celebrate the cultural diversity in our parish.
- Recognise and address the ‘accessibility’ needs of the aged, disabled, and impaired within our parish community.
- Grow parish community through more social events and interaction.
- Promote greater connection with the parish schools.
- Develop services and activities that are more engaging to younger people.
- Provide spiritual development programs linked to key liturgical seasons or relevant topic areas.
The Strategic Plan reflects ‘Action Plans’ around each of these Themes, based on the outcomes you told us were important to you.
About the Resulting Plan!
The ‘proposed actions’ that we have associated with each Theme should be seen as a direction and starting point, rather than an absolute or an end point. This means that while we will initiate activity in a particular area, the final direction /outcome will depend on how we go, and what we find in the journey. The important point is that we make a start!
We don’t suggest that this plan is absolutely ‘correct’, but we do believe that it highlights the areas in our parish that we need to think about going forward, and when we need to act. In that respect we do consider it ‘correct’ and relevant!
Below are links to two pdf documents:
This first document Click here: is the complete plan, which includes the feedback / responses from the Focus Group sessions. This document is 71 pages.
The second document Click here: is the condensed version, which only includes the Key Themes, Action Plans and Timeline. This document is 32 pages.
What happens now?
Please make some time to have a look at the Plan and what is proposed.
The success or otherwise of this Plan, like any other, will depend on the response and support of our parish community. While it presents many new avenues for involvement, from all areas of the community, the challenge will be to find eager and energetic hands to take up the challenge.
In the meantime, if you have any questions please speak to a member of the Parish Leadership Team, or pass your question through the Parish Office and we will get back to you.
Again, thank you to all those who have participated in the process, your contribution is valued and will shape the future of our parish.
Thank you for your time, and we look forward to your continued support of this important initiative.
Our Lady and St Therese Parish Leadership Team