Our Lady of the Assumption Parish

Claremont, California

Group Environmental Opportunities and Threats

(Plus signs [+] indicate relative weight given to statement in group process.]

Environmental Opportunities:

1. New downtown Claremont.

2. Communal spirit of hospitality (to all cultures and class representations.)

3. OLA is a diverse community. It could become a model for “growing” a rich, multicultural community: where diversity is valued rather than feared. +++++++++

4. Convent — could be refurbished and used as an educational center, small receptions, visiting priests, counseling area etc.

5. We have many wonderful organizations in our parish. It would be great to have an information booklet available to parishioners and newcomers, updated every few years as needed. +++

6. OLA has a significant core of parishioners who are committed to creating a strong, involved and supportive community. +++++++

7. Just as our colleges do, the pastor should seek out some major donors in Claremont and vicinity, and get a few major gifts to help OLA with a building program. +++

8. Start a building fund now, for future architectural planning and construction to be implemented in the next ten years. +++++++

9. At this time we are blessed with an exceptional pastor and with a sufficient number of priests of varied backgrounds. They insure that the liturgies and ministries of the parish continue to be available to all. ++

10. Through the obvious success of the offertory plan, we remain financially viable and hopefully will be able to create a reserve fund sufficient enough to improve, renovate or replace many of the existing structures. ++++++

11. Increasing prosperity in the “northern foothills” region of the Inland Valley will provide consistent and growing financial base and stability. ++

12. Diversity and economic disparity will provide increasing opportunities for ministry, evangelization and service.

13. Lack of Catholic schools in many neighboring parishes will continue to provide reasons for active Catholic families outside territorial parish to make OLA their “parish of choice.”

14. Increasing hunger for spirituality and search for faith will provide increasingly fertile field for appropriate evangelization. (They will not of their own accord be searching in “traditional” places; we will have to go out to them.) ++++

15. Room to expand and/or reorganize buildings and their use.

16. Improved interaction with the Claremont colleges, over time, could probably benefit the parish and the colleges.

17. Now that we are more financially sound we can focus on providing new ministries and services that will encourage greater participation on the part of our parishioners. +++

18. We are blessed with ethnic diversity in our parish and have an opportunity to grow by working and sharing with each other. Inclusion not exclusion is the order of the day. We have a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate to ourselves and especially our children the advantages of learning about and accepting all cultures. +++++

19. Many worthwhile programs and ministries to meet parish/parishioner needs. Need to build on these programs by adding a volunteer coordinator to oversee programs. +++++++

20. A strong economy presents the best opportunities to build a strong fund raising base.

21. By having the priests living off campus we now have some space to expand and build in the northern half of OLA property.

22. As priests become ever fewer, there will be a greater need for deacons, trained and dedicated lay ministers (especially husband-wife teams), women, seniors, young adults and all members of the parish with special talents, experience etc. ++++++++

23. Our people. We have many deeply spiritual, enthusiastic, well educated, talented and generous people in our parish community. ++

24. The OLA congregation is a faith-filled community dedicated to fulfilling its baptismal charisms.

25. There are many parishioners at OLA who have many talents to share with their community and who willingly do so.

26. The parish offertory program has potential to grow and increase the financial stability of the parish.

27. Shortage of priests provides opportunities for lay leadership and ministry.

Environmental Threats:

1. Need larger worship space. ‘++++++

2. Buildings in disrepair.

3. Shortage of land/space while at the same time increased population — overcrowding.

4. Aging buildings and equipment — inadequate facilities. ++++

5. Lack of a parish council made up of diverse members that reflect make-up of parish to share decision making responsibilities with clergy. ++

6. Quality of preaching at Sunday worship that does not encourage members to address real issues of our day. The pastor’s involvement in dialogue groups and his encouragement for members to become involved is wonderful! But all too frequently the theological content does not challenge or inspire the faithful in this area.

7. The absence of a parish/school educational center or library with all of the various organizations and ministries that serve over 3,000 families, this is a great need. The only library we really have right now is the school library and it is an embarrassment. Bible study groups, RCIA, liturgical groups, teachers, religious education of all ages and school children ~ a place to sit and research Catholic and Christian subjects. +++++

8. The buildings are in need of repair and there is not sufficient space for all of the parish programs. +++++

9. A major concern of all of us is what the future holds as to the availability of priests, and what effect that will have on the parish community. ++++++

10. Is the present church structure big enough for our parish if the number of Masses has to be reduced?

11. Volunteer burnout. +++++

12. Shortage of priests will grow more acute.

13. Archdiocese does not have consistent, integrated, really good parish lay ministry training program.

14. Economic boom won’t last forever. Young, newly prosperous, in-debt families who make up much of the backbone and vitality of the parish may be hit hard. ++

15. Aging congregation, not enough young families and not enough to encourage these to come and/or stay.

16. Lack of priests and religious who are “home grown.”

17. The ethnic diversity of the parish. We need to pay special attention to this and work very had to unit the cultures as much as possible. +++++++++++

18. Many of our parishioners live outside our boundary. They are important to our financial well being. We must continue to provide ministries and services that hold them to our parish. If we fail to hold them we could lose important revenue necessary to the long term growth of our parish.

19. Age of the facilities and/or perhaps many need to reallocate use of space to meet changing needs. +++

20. Decreasing population of priests. How does the church best utilize its priests, and how can lay persons augment the shortage? +++

21. Physical plant, facilities, property usage. Unwillingness of principal to allow a fuller disclosure of polled concerns for schools.

22. I don’t see enough ~w volunteers — 80/20 rule — people get burned out — who will replace them? +++

23. Lack of space, facilities, meeting rooms, storage. ++

24. We simply do not have adequate and appropriate space for worship, meetings, training, fellowship, youth activities, offices, storage, etc. All the needs and activities of a strong parish. ++++

25. Both the pastor and the lay leaders of the parish need education and experience in developing and exercising empowered lay leadership and collaboration.

26. Space is identified as a problem by many organizations, and the condition of the buildings is deteriorating. Rectory and convent are poorly used spaces.

27. There is no systematic adult education program. ++++

28. The largest threat at OLA is that of the poorly planned plant. The church and offices are not adequate to the needs of the parishioners or staff.

29. The administrative budget may be out of balance. It seems that a hard look may need to be taken at the distribution of dollars.

30. Shortage of priests.

31. Shortage of lay leadership with adequate formation in church work.

32. Possible change in OLA’s Pastor. At the end of Fr. Tom’s second term in about 6 years it is possible that we would have a pastor that does not continue with the progress needed.

Summary of Environmental Opportunities and Threats

Environmental Opportunities:

• Diversity within the parish. (numbers 3 and 18)
• The multiple ministries offered by the parish. (numbers 5 and 19)
• The large number of committed parishioners who are willing to share their talents and experience. (numbers 2, 5, 6, 9, 19, 22, 25 and 27)
• The financial viability of the parish and improving finances. (numbers 7, 8, 10, 17, 20 and 26)
• The building fund opportunities. (numbers 7 and 8)

Environmental Threats:

• The aging buildings, deteriorating buildings and poor space utilization. (numbers 4, 8, 19 and 24)
• Worship space too smalllalso no room for meetings or storage. (numbers 1, 8, 19, 21, 23 and 24)
• The absence of a school library or education center to serve the parish and the school. (number 7)
• Isolation within the ethnic communities. (number 17)
• Volunteer burnout. (numbers 11 and 22)
• Lack or shortage of priests. (numbers 9 and 20)
• No systematic education or formation programs. (number 27)