Why Your Mission Statement Isn’t Enough | Ep. 11
What would someone hear if they asked why your parish exists? Khalil Hattar, Fr. Sammie Maletta and Kris Ziegelhofer discuss making a parish vision something people can remember and live. Drawing on the fifth principle of Be Disciples, Make Disciples, Fr. Sammie recalls moving beyond a long mission statement and a calendar full of activities. The question became whether people were actually growing closer to Christ.
They follow that question into staff formation, shared responsibility and the difficult work of finding the right fit on a team. Khalil stresses that a claimed prompting of the Holy Spirit still needs discernment and conversation with trusted people. There are also small signs of a vision taking root: a child repeating the parish mission at Christmas Eve Mass, parish partners remembering one another’s prayer intentions, and a culture of praying together that developed gradually. These accounts keep the discussion close to the everyday work of parish leadership.
In this episode
- Making a parish mission clear enough to remember and share
- Staff formation and shared responsibility in ministry
- Discerning a direction through conversation with trusted people
- A child repeating the parish mission at Christmas Eve Mass
- Prayer partners and a culture that develops gradually
About the guests
Fr. Sammie Maletta
Fr. Sammie Maletta is pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in St. John, Indiana. His ministry centers on parish renewal, collaborative leadership and the sacramental life of the Church. He works with staff and parish partners to help people encounter Jesus.
Kris Ziegelhofer
Kris Ziegelhofer works in human resources and parish partner engagement at St. John the Evangelist Parish. Her responsibilities include recruiting, hiring, and payroll for the parish and school, along with serving on the parish’s leadership team.
Watch Why Your Mission Statement Isn’t Enough | Ep. 11 on YouTube (external site)
