6 ways to kill a ministry

1. The leader spends too much time telling everyone else what to do instead of asking for input from other volunteers.
   Volunteers want to discuss the most effective ways to minister, not be told what to do and how to do it without having the freedom to express their own ideas.  Allow them to be creative and use their God-given gifts to serve as Christ's hands and feet.
   
   
2. The ministry focuses on solving an immediate problem, rather than coming up with a solution to implement a long-term change.
   Always steer the ministry to help come up with a way to implement long-term results.  How will this ministry survive and evolve once you're out of the picture?
   
   
3. One or two volunteers sign up to do everything, leaving nothing for others or others not being asked to help in a specific way.
   When there are no tasks to be assigned because a small group of people is doing everything and other volunteers aren't getting asked to do anything, volunteers will become bored and move on and out of the ministry.  This could be prevented by trying to evenly divide the tasks so everyone has an investment in the ministry and is responsible for something.
   
   
4. Volunteers minister in their own time without regularly meeting as a group face-to-face.
   It's important to spend time on fellowship within ministry.  If volunteers don't know each other, they won't see the impact and gifts everyone is using to make a difference for the same cause to which they have a call.  Fellowship not only creates and deepens friendship but it allows each other the opportunity for affirmation and problem-solving, motivating each other to persevere.
   
   
5. One volunteer tells another what he or she must do.
   Form leaders with specific areas of accountability, and then train those leaders.  Make sure everyone in the ministry knows to whom they can go if they need help or have questions.  This also takes the pressure off of one person being in charge of everything, sometimes resulting in ineffectiveness.
   
   
6. Volunteers are critical of each other in how they minister.
   Work hard on establishing a loving and encouraging environment.  Again, fellowship will help to support this.
   

Pope calls faithful to remember following Christ is their top priority

ZENIT - Pontiff: Be More Radical in Following Christ

In response to yesterday's Gospel, Pope Benedict XVI reminded the faithful what it means to follow Christ. To leave everything behind, to cut off all distractions to build the Kingdom. What distractions are keeping you from being an active member of the Body of Christ?

Culture of Life Committee infuses community with respect for life

Since the parish's Culture of Life Committee was formed a little over a year ago, it has firmly established a pro-life presence in the parish community, addressing life from conception until natural death.  Through education, prayer and service, the committee has quite the list of accomplishments already!

Education:

• Sponsored a three-part class on "End of Life Issues," during October 2009's Respect Life Month.
• Dr. Cari Henry, parishioner, runs bulletin articles on Pope John Paul II's Evangelium Vitae.  She's also working on chastity classes for teenagers, to be presented in fall 2010.  Cari has been interviewed on Relevant Radio regarding Catholic chastity and Natural Family Planning teachings.

Prayer:

• Developed a prayer for the committee.
• Coordinated Adoration on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in December 2009.
• Participates in the Diocese of Austin's Office of Pro-Life Activities and Chaste Living's Prayer Chain.
• Participated in the 40 Days for Life campaign.
• Prays regularly for Death Row inmates.

Public Policy:

• Worked closely with the diocesan Public Policy Committee by sending out legislative alerts and information that support life issues.
• Kevin Kerner, parishioner, facilitated the Diocese Petition Drive at our parish, against abortions funded from Travis Country property taxes.
• Attended the Travis County Healthcare District meetings to object to Travis County funding for abortions.

Gabriel Project:

• Visited the downtown Gabriel Project Life Center to better understand their ministry.  The committee has since adopted the life center as one of its own ministries.  
• Visited four pregnancy centers in Austin to understand how they operate, are supported, etc.  
• Met with a representative from the Texas Pregnancy Care Network to better understand how this government funding is used at the life center.  After learning there is no spiritual counseling made available at the life center, the Culture of Life Committee raised concern about not being able to pray with clients at the center and is awaiting a response from the diocese.

Congratulations to the Culture of Life Committee for an amazing first year of ministry at St. John Neumann Church!

Different ways to recruit volunteers

I've come to learn that many folks think advertising in the bulletin is the only way to get volunteers.  In reality, it's only one of many ways to invite people to serve!  Marketing practices advise making announcements in three to seven different ways for people to even begin to notice.

The truth is that everyone doesn't come to Mass at SJN every weekend.  They're out of town, went to a different parish or ran out of time, so if the only way you're advertising your event or asking for volunteers is through the bulletin, there's a large chunk of people who might not hear of your news until after the fact, and what help is that?

Here are some examples of the different ways you can get the word out in our parish about ministry opportunities:

• Work with me, the director of communications, young adults and ministries, to let me know what your specific needs are.  I meet every day with parishioners who regularly ask about different opportunities.  I also maintain lists of specific ways in which people have volunteered to help from time to time -- i.e.  Need someone who enjoys gardening?  I've got folks!  Need someone who likes working with arts and crafts?  I've got folks!  Let me know so I can help you.  
• Sponsor breakfasts after the morning Masses during the school year. At the breakfasts, be sure to have your ministry well represented with members and any other handout materials to give to the many parishioners who come to get a bite. Talk to them and share your passion for your ministry. Contact me to get on the breakfast schedule. 
• Find out when other ministries meet and how to publicize your activities with them. Ask to speak at their meetings and see how your ministries can help each other.
• Run something in the parish eNewsletter.  This e-mail goes out weekly to almost every parishioner and is more apt to be read than in the bulletin.  It goes straight to people's inboxes!  Requested announcements should be e-mailed to me by 2 p.m. on Thursdays.
• Request something to be put on the parish Web site.  The Web site reaches our visitors, members and anyone passing by our virtual home and there's plenty of space to be used!  Let me know what you'd like, and I'd be happy to work with you.
• Put a flyer on the bulletin board in the parish office.  Submit items for approval to me.
• Run something in the bulletin.  Yes, this is still always an option.  Deadlines are 10 days before you'd like the announcement to run.  Send your requested blurb to bulletin@sjnaustin.org. 

What other creative ways have you found in looking for help?

20 benefits of volunteering

This is my list of 20 benefits of volunteering. Most of it I've felt myself; others have been felt by numerous other volunteers.

1. Helps you with interpersonal skills.
2. Helps you to understand others better.
3. Helps you to learn how to motivate others.
4. You learn how to deal with difficult situations.
5. Develop better communication skills.
6. Increases your knowledge about the issues related to your volunteerism.
7. Acquire job-related skills.
8. Improve job opportunities.
9. Become a part of community.
10. Feel a sense of achievement.
11. Find new interests and hobbies.
12. Gain new life experiences.
13. Meet a diverse range of people.
14. Shows people what you are passionate about.
15. Increased life expectancy.
16. Improve others' lives.
17. Increased confidence.
18. Boosts self-esteem.
19. Gives you a sense of mastery over your life.
20. Enhanced sense of identity.

Share your views on volunteerism

If you are 40 years of age or older, the Catholic Network of Volunteer Service wants to hear from you.  CNVS is a national membership organization of Christian volunteer and mission programs that fosters and promotes full-time national and international service opportunities.  Participate in a brief online survey, and you can help volunteers like yourself find more opportunities that match their interests.  Parishes across the country are participating.  CNVS will treat the parish with the most survey participants to a day or complimentary coffee and refreshments following Sunday Masses.  Take the survey today at www.cnvs.org/survey.

Interested in helping our parishioners find work?

Photo courtesy of Stock.XCHNG

SJN would like to get together some people who would like to help start a ministry for our parishioners who are job seekers!  This ministry would provide job-seeking parishioners encouragement, information, networking, spiritual guidance and job search skills training in a Christian setting.  Please contact me if you would be interested in helping us get this ministry started!

Thank you to Fr. Mark Hamlet's reception volunteers

A big thank you goes out to the many volunteers who helped out at Fr. Mark Hamlet's reception on May 30! They came through on short notice and made sure the event went beautifully.

• Dee McKenzie
• Nancy Biehler
• Hilary Olson
• Jon Olson
• Mary Ann Condon
• Maria Cuevas
• Alan Graham
• Tricia Graham
• Chris Hamilton
• Dorinda Hickey
• Nikki James-Werkman
• Lance Kappel
• Kathleen Luedke
• Julie Martin
• Mike May
• Brent Palin
• DeeAnn Paul
• Carol Ramberg
• Barbie Schaefer
• Fran Sonstein
• Carol Staha
• Jamie Trahan

If you're interested in helping out at parish events (setup, greeting, kitchen, cleanup, food, etc.), let us know!  We have several events throughout the year that could use your service.