The Parish Care, Outreach & Mission Committee aims to create, recruit, train, and support a lay-led outreach committee to coordinate outreach and service opportunities in the parish. This committee also looks to connect various existing projects to parish staff, mission, and parishioners.
Summer 2023 - The Parish Care, Outreach & Mission Report
Parish Care, Outreach, and Mission - A Year Later
Parish Care, Outreach, and Mission Committee (PCOM) have been actively learning about and supporting the 13 groups/committees in this area of the parish. Each committee leader was contacted by a PCOM member as part of the assessment of what care and outreach are currently offered and what the groups need. The committees completed a ministry profile to encapsulate their focus, leadership, and membership. PCOM hosted two sessions to foster communication and collaboration among our outreach efforts.
The Service Weekend and Ministry Fair in February gave parishioners of all ages hands-on service opportunity to make Car Kits of personal care items to distribute to those encountered on the streets with housing insecurity. The event also provided an opportunity for groups and committees to educate on their purpose and encourage new membership.
SMM Parishioner Charlie Petro is currently working as the chair for this Committee. Here is his Q&A:
Where are you from? What brought you to Omaha? What brought you to SMM?
“I was born in Pittsburgh but raised in Florida, though I haven’t lived there in many years. My wife is from Peru where I did lay mission work after college. We came to Omaha 3 years ago after being lay missionaries in Tanzania (Africa). We specifically came to Omaha because I found a job working for the Archdiocesan mission project in Guatemala.”
What drew you into your committee? Why?
“Whether working professionally in the Church or not, I’ve always found joy in taking part in the Church’s outreach. I felt called to bring the love of Christ to others - it excited me to be able to help SMM fulfill that part of Christ’s mission in our parish and community.”
How many S.M.A.R.T. Goals does your committee have? What are you most excited about in your committee?
“We have 10 S.M.A.R.T. Goals. What most excites the committee - and me - is being able to support and grow the good work that is being done by so many existing outreach ministries, as well as expanding them so that more parishioners can become involved in their mission.”
Where does the Parish Care, Outreach & Mission committee stand in the overall master plan process? What are the next steps in the process?
“Our first steps have been to get to know the work being done by so many parishioners at St. Margaret Mary, and finding ways to connect them to each other and the greater mission of the parish. That’s really the step that we’re at right now. It’s an analysis and needs assessment about what these ministries need to continue to provide their service.”