Here are a few recommendations to help optimize your Unified Liturgical Schedule:
- One priest is permitted to say 3 Masses per weekend
- The schedule must be respectful of safe travel time between parishes
- The schedule must also provide ample time for interaction with parishioners after the Mass
Here are a few recommendations to help optimize your Unified Sacramental Schedule:
- Are sacraments offered appropriately (frequency, duration) for the size of family?
- Has the Family considered any innovative ways that would help parishioners have greater access to the Sacraments?
- Offering a variety of Reconciliation times to match work schedules
- Providing spiritual talks that educate and encourage people to make greater use of the Sacraments (i.e. Life in the Eucharist – see Forming Disciples Pillar)The FoP should take advantage wherever possible to aggregate annual Sacramental events (i.e. Having one Confirmation, First Reconciliation, First Communion)
- We highly recommend giving your parishioners at least 4-6 weeks notice before implementing your new Unified Liturgical Schedule. Placing the notice using a wide variety of media, such as bulletins, website, social media, weekly announcements, and signage, should be implemented because it takes at least 5 times/impressions for the parishioner to recognize a message.
- Has the Family considered any innovative ways that would help parishioners have greater access to the Sacraments?
- After collaborative FoP discussions, what is your finalized Unified Liturgical Schedule?
- After collaborative FoP discussions, what is your finalized Unified Sacramental Schedule?
- What are all of the ways that you will communicate the new Unified Liturgical Schedule within your entire Family of Parishes?
- Process – Correlating to the Administrative Pillar, it might be wise to begin the discussion of the following:
- Who will intake the Sacramental inquiry information for the Family of Parishes? (I.e. weddings, funerals, reconciliation appointment requests, etc.)
- Who will disseminate this information within your Family of Parishes?
- Has the Family selected your Liturgy/Worship Committee members for the Family? (Y/N)
- Is there a director of worship on your liturgy committee?
- Is there a music minister on your liturgy committee?
- What are the goals and responsibilities of your Liturgy / Worship Committee?