Parish Pastoral Plan

New Year’s Pastoral Message from

Fr. Richard & the PPC Chairman

Dear Parishioners,


Happy New Year! As we begin our 2023 journey together, I remain as Administrator until June at which

time the bishop will name a pastor successor. I believe the Holy Spirit is guiding this process as we continue

to discern what is best for the parish. Whatever is decided, St. Michael will return to a two-priest parish

effective July and I will continue to be assigned here and serve this vibrant community in the pastoral

process of drawing us closer to God on our journey together to heaven.

Together with Greg Neumann, Parish Pastoral Council Chairman, I would like to address the following

topics as we begin 2023:


A Year in Review

A great deal of work began last year to re-energize the parish. We had our first full year worshipping in our beautifully renovated church, chapel and facilities. We completed a successful Synod and will continue to be a ‘listening parish.’ We issued our first State of the Parish Report as a first step in providing greater transparency. We worked diligently to establish new and renewed ministries (ex. music, faith formation, bereavement),

parish events and reformed our Parish Pastoral Council. THANK YOU for all your good work and participation. We need everyone’s hearts, heads and hands to be engaged to continue to grow in community and faith.


2023 Strategic Plan

We are excited to announce the recently completed work on our Parish Pastoral Plan. This is our new pastoral strategic plan going forward and all we do as a parish community will be discerned in the light of these

three pastoral priorities: 1. Liturgy & Worship 2. Family Life and 3. Parishioner Data & Decision Support.


Finance Council & Audited Financials

We are pleased to announce Paul Huston is named new Finance Council Chairman bringing us 30+ years

of accounting and finance expertise. We are grateful to Jack Schmeltzer for his dedicated years of service

as the former chairman and respect his decision to step down as chair but remain on the Council. Our

financial statements will be published shortly following the Diocesan audit that is required when a parish has a change in pastors.


We are blessed with the continued generosity of our parish and are particularly grateful for your stewardship in the Christmas offertory. Your gifts are important and sustain our work as a parish.

On behalf of Greg and myself, we look forward to continuing the important work needed, with the help of the laity, to preserve unity and charity for the good of the parish and the work of St. Michael.

Yours in Christ,


Fr. Richard Murphy, Administrator


Greg Neumann, Parish Pastoral Council Chairman