Our Pastoral Plan
JOURNEYING FORWARD IN HOPEGuided by the Holy Spirit and the voices of our parish family, we are journeying forward together — with a clear mission, a bold vision, and a plan to make it real.
Our Synodal Journey
Journeying Forward in Hope
Inspired by Pope Francis’s call for the Church to be more synodal — journeying together, listening to all voices, and sharing responsibility for the life of our parish — Saint Katharine Drexel embarked on a new faith adventure.
We invited every member of the parish to take part in three large group sessions that marked the stages of our journey:
- Where Have We Come From? — Reflecting on our foundations, our creativity, and the spirit of family and fellowship that has defined SKD from the beginning
- Where Are We Now? — Honestly examining our strengths and the areas where we felt called to grow
- Where Are We Going? — Dreaming together about the future of our parish and discerning our priorities as a community of faith
From the information gathered at these large assemblies and the small groups that grew out of them, we formulated the Pastoral Plan that guides our parish today.
Our Mission
What We Are Called to Be
Since our earliest days, our mission statement has formed everything we do as a parish — providing the lens through which we approach every decision, every ministry, and every welcome.
“Saint Katharine Drexel Parish pledges to be a Eucharist-centered, welcoming community, forming loving disciples, giving selflessly in realization of the kingdom of God.”
Eucharist-Centered
Welcoming Community
Forming Loving Disciples
Giving Selflessly
Our Pastoral Plan
A Three-Year Roadmap for Our Parish
What follows is the fruit of our synodal journey — a living document shaped by the voices of our parish family and guided by the Holy Spirit. This is not a staff plan or a leadership plan. It belongs to all of us.
Year One
Eucharist Centered
- Write a pastoral letter about the Journeying Forward in Hope experience and share a pastoral plan outline with the parish
- Hold a Eucharistic Adoration Summit to promote Eucharistic Adoration and explore additional devotional prayer opportunities
- Add an additional Sunday evening Mass at 6:00 PM
- Normalize daily Mass times on Monday and Tuesday
- Establish a Greeter Ministry
- Provide monthly hospitality at all weekend Masses
- Hire an Assistant Choir Director
- Continue emphasizing Children’s Ministries at Mass and recruit enthusiastic volunteers
- Give greater exposure to and promote our OCIA process for those wishing to receive the Sacraments of Initiation in the Catholic Church
Welcoming Community
- Establish neighborhood SKD networks to welcome new parishioners and engage existing members both at Church and in their local communities
- Expand our bereavement ministry to provide support through meals, funeral receptions, ongoing spiritual support, and regular communication
- Form a ministry to assist caregivers by offering spiritual support and respite through volunteers willing to spend time with ill, disabled, or homebound family members
- Revamp our Prospective Member Orientation Session to make it more engaging, informative, and welcoming
- Grow our Inclusion Ministry by developing small groups that welcome and celebrate the diverse cultures of our parishioners, following the example of the African Faith Community (AFC), so all feel included, valued, and celebrated
- Identify ministry volunteers through name tags
- Ensure the parish website remains up-to-date and user-friendly
- Add a railing to the sanctuary steps
Forming Loving Disciples
- Establish formation opportunities for ministry leaders to support them, prevent burnout, and encourage new volunteers
- Support young families by connecting them and identifying ways to meet the unique spiritual needs of parents and children
- Implement a new Faith Formation model based on intergenerational small groups working together to grow in faith (GIFT – Growing In Faith Together)
Giving Selflessly
- Establish a culture where every parishioner understands that serving in ministry is part of stewardship and helps identify and use their God-given gifts
- Reimagine ministry fairs and other ways of presenting volunteer opportunities to engage parishioners in service
- Actively involve more youth and young adults in parish ministry and provide leadership opportunities in all areas of parish life
- Establish an annual Stewardship Sunday to celebrate our parish and invite all parishioners to prayerfully and intentionally plan their financial support of SKD
Year Two
Eucharist Centered
- Establish regular Praise and Worship Adoration evenings
- Implement the outcomes of the Eucharistic Adoration Summit, including streamlining Adoration times to be accessible to the most people
- Evaluate the Sunday 6:00 PM Mass after Pentecost and the First Saturday 8:00 AM Mass
- Hold at least two large yearly gatherings for each Liturgical Ministry for training, formation, fellowship, and recruiting
- Build a new welcome center desk with information screens and digital signs to support growth
- Continue striving to make Children’s Ministry exceptional
- Explore creative uses of technology at Mass to enhance the weekend experience
Welcoming Community
- Establish annual SKD block parties for neighborhoods with parishioners to pray and fellowship together
- Ensure parishioners who join a ministry are contacted and warmly invited to participate
- Empower and grow the Inclusion Ministry to ensure diverse populations feel welcomed, included, and celebrated
Forming Loving Disciples
- Work to ensure no parishioner is overstretched by leading multiple ministries
- Re-energize Bensalem faith-sharing groups and FIRE groups to encourage participation in small group communities
- Organize an annual New Year’s Eve Interfaith Service
- Establish a consistent yearly schedule of parish missions and retreats
- Produce professional online videos to teach Church doctrine and catechesis
- Continue improving Youth Groups and include youth and young adults in all aspects of parish life
- Utilize preaching in themed series whenever possible
Giving Selflessly
- Streamline the process for parishioners to sign up and become active volunteers
- Expand electronic giving options for offertory, events, and programs
- Develop leadership layers throughout the parish so parishioners take ownership of ministries and lead in fulfilling the parish mission
- Offer regular workshops on financial health and budgeting for parishioners
- Collect accurate data on parish ministries to evaluate trends and outcomes
- Celebrate parish service to the local community and beyond to raise awareness and involvement
- Make financial stewardship an integral part of parish culture and language
Year Three & Beyond
Eucharist Centered
- Evaluate Eucharistic Adoration attendance and begin discussing the potential for an Adoration chapel
- Expand Eucharist centered activities around Mass, including devotions, Bible studies, Faith Formation events, and other parish gatherings
- Empower parishioners to take leadership and ownership of ministries
- Dedicate space for a growing and excellent Children’s Ministry
- Upgrade and improve Church technology to its highest potential
Welcoming Community
- Establish mentor families to provide personal connections for new parishioners
- Introduce recruitment and retention roles in every ministry
- Create an Immigration Center offering support, resources, and legal assistance
- Build an SKD Pastoral Center and Parish Hall
Forming Loving Disciples
- Establish term limits for ministry leaders to encourage growth and new leadership
- Develop a formal discipleship pathway through prayer, small groups, adult faith formation, and service
- Implement leadership layers to ensure effective communication between ministries, staff, Pastoral Council, and committees
- Foster a culture where every parishioner understands they are called to be a loving disciple of Jesus Christ through prayer, service, and giving
Giving Selflessly
- Pay off mortgage and other parish debts
- Build an SKD Pastoral Center and Parish Hall
Tracking Our Progress
How Are We Doing?
Accountability is part of what makes a pastoral plan real. We are committed to transparently sharing our progress with the parish family who helped shape this plan.
Our Pastoral Council is actively working to implement and track progress across all areas of the plan. A dedicated subcommittee is responsible for communicating updates to parishioners through the bulletin, our newsletter, and right here on this page.
Coming Soon
Progress Dashboard
Our progress reporting system is currently being developed. Check back soon for regular updates on how we are living out our pastoral plan together.
Faith Boldly Lived
Saint Katharine Drexel will be a diverse community of seekers where faith is boldly lived, joy is contagious, all experience authentic belonging and are empowered to grow as disciples, rooted in the Eucharist and service.
Our Vision
Faith Boldly Lived
Alongside our synodal journey, our parish staff engaged in their own process of discernment — asking what it means to truly live our mission in the years ahead. Out of that process came our vision statement, which now guides everything we do.
“Saint Katharine Drexel will be a diverse community of seekers where faith is boldly lived, joy is contagious, all experience authentic belonging and are empowered to grow as disciples, rooted in the Eucharist and service.”
This vision is not yet fully realized — it is a declaration of where we are headed together. More context and reflection on what this vision means for our parish community is coming soon.
Get Involved
Join the Journey
The pastoral plan belongs to all of us — and so does the work of living it out. Whether you want to serve in a ministry, join a small group, or simply learn more, there is a place for you in this story.
Pastoral Council
Questions or Feedback?
Our Pastoral Council welcomes input from all parishioners. If you have questions about the pastoral plan or want to share your thoughts, we’d love to hear from you.