In October 2023, we commenced our parish strategic planning process — an initiative we called Looking Ahead Together. It involved the development of the Our Lady and St Therese’s Parish Strategic Plan 2026–2030, to inform and guide the future 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 reflects and supports 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 with more than 50 parishioners, to ensure our Strategic Plan considered the different needs and priorities across our entire parish community. In these meetings we asked three 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 you can see to improve the parish?

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. Tap each theme below to see it in full.

The nine key themes

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 associated with each theme should be seen as a direction and starting point, rather than an absolute or an end point. While we will initiate activity in a particular area, the final direction and outcome will depend on how we go, and what we find in the journey. The important point is that we make a start.

Read the plan

Below are links to two PDF documents:

What happens now?

Please make some time to have a look at the plan and what is proposed. The success 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.