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You represent the Body of Christ in the fullest
possible way. You have committed yourself to being God’s helping hands
in our faith family.
Thank you!
The time, talent and treasure you share with your fellow parishioners
will bring rewards, both practical and without measure.
This page contains suggestions from successful Ministry Leaders to help
you & your volunteers feel connected to being part of something bigger
than yourselves. As a Ministry Leader you provide an opportunity for
others to fully express and experience the joy of serving in the Body of
Christ.
WISE Leadership
Welcome
Invite
Shepherd
Equip
Welcome
Everything at
Immaculate Conception parish should be done with an eye toward
welcoming. Parishioners both familiar and new should know they are
important and valued members of our faith community. A ministry that is
welcoming is seen as vibrant, team oriented and faith filled. What are
the perceptions of your Ministry by other parishioners? Do they even
know about your ministry? Spend some time reflecting on what it means to
feel welcomed and how that can enhance the perception of the Ministry
under your leadership. Once you are ready to welcome, it is time to
invite!
Invite
Remember how excited you were as a child to get an invitation in the
mail? We can build that same sense of excitement in our Ministries
today! When a parishioner sees your name on caller ID do they race to
the phone or pretend they’re not home? The Stewardship Program gives our
parish a general invitation to get involved but we need you to make that
invitation a personal one. There are many ways to make personal
connections with parishioners and Invite them to learn more about your
Ministry. Maybe you could write a story about the service of your
ministry for the IC Good News? How about a booth at a Ministry Fair? A
blurb in the Bulletin could help or even networking at a baseball game
or Coffee Sunday would work. Once an invitation has been extended and a
volunteer has committed to your Ministry, it is time to lead!
Shepherd
A good leader understands that good will created at the beginning of a
volunteer’s journey can disappear if the leader is perceived as absent
or unavailable. Your volunteers need to experience a continuing
relationship with you and each other.
The Catholic favorite; the Pot Luck breakfast, lunch or dinner is a
great way to do this. It is nice to see friends you met at the beginning
of their service, but it is also important to check in with volunteers
personally as time goes on. Do they still feel good about the work they
are doing? Volunteers are our “experts”. Ask them if we can be doing
better for a clearer view of how things are going. To create a ministry
where volunteers feel they are “part of something bigger” people need to
feel connected to the entire parish. A phone call, email or note can go
a long way in providing leadership that is responsive and encouraging.
Equip
Many of us have experienced the sense of dread that accompanies poor
training. “Get in there and figure it out” is the motto for failed
Ministry programs everywhere. At IC, opportunities for volunteers are
many & varied. Some require less training, but there is no Ministry that
requires no training. Does your ministry have a training program? You
may find there is little material for available. If this is the case you
will need to do some work to develop useful training materials. The
Stewardship Committee may be able to assist you in developing an new
materials that will work for your Ministry at IC.
A WISE Ministry Leader will also provide their volunteers with an
opportunity for Orientation. Meeting as a group in Dwyer Hall for coffee
and donuts (a Catholic volunteer staple!) can build fellowship. During
an orientation your volunteers can meet you and connect with each other.
Successful ministries have volunteers who feel a sense of belonging and
fellowship. If you have built a personal relationship with your
volunteers they will feel more comfortable coming to you with questions
or problems. They will also feel less comfortable saying no to you or
your Ministry when you really need them! You have successfully invited
your volunteers and have established relationships within your team. A
good leader knows that his or her flock will always need tending.
A truly WISE Ministry Leader knows that any work in the Body of Christ
should always begin and end in prayerful reflection. Praying for and
with your team & seeking out the guidance of the Holy Spirit ensures
that you will find yourself on the path to a fulfilling, empowering and
gratifying ministry experience.
Good leaders create a sense of Welcome about their ministry. They Invite
fellow parishioners to join their Ministry in exciting and personal
ways.
Good leaders Shepherd their flock so that people know they are important
and no one strays from the team. They make sure that all the volunteers
are properly Equipped to do the work God has set before them.
Thank You for your service & commitment to your Ministry!
You have listened to that still small voice and you have responded, “I
am here Lord”.
Immaculate Conception Parish is a better place to worship because you
are a part of it!
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