ST. MADELINE CATHOLIC CHURCH

Strategic Plan 2026–2029

Archbishop Nelson’s Vision for the Church of Philadelphia

Archbishop Nelson, in his Trust and Hope initiative, recognizes a shift in culture at large which directly impacts the Church’s life and way of being. Unlike our ancestors who enjoyed Christendom, wherein the culture supported the practice of the faith, we live in times like those of the Apostles, where material and personnel resources are scarce and Christianity is the minority worldview. In response to our times, the Church must hear again the call of her Lord to “go and make disciples of all nations.” Over the next 20 years, Archbishop Nelson aims to create a missionary culture in every parish and Catholic institution filled with Catholics who walk closely with Jesus Christ and become outward facing to the wider community, inviting all to this same joy. For more information on his vision, please visit https://trustandhope.org/.

Summary of Observations

After spending the year experiencing life at St. Madelines, attending its various events and ministries, participating in her liturgies, partnering with the staff, engaging Pastoral and Finance Councils, meeting with heads of ministries, soliciting feedback from groups hosted in the rectory, and interacting with active and inactive parishioners, the following themes surfaced:

• Lifelong parishioners maintain a strong respect and attachment to the history and legacy of St. Madeline Parish

• Many dedicated volunteers make possible the beautiful liturgies, social events, camps, and ministries.

• Diminishing participation among parishioners, especially younger generations, worries many parishioners

• Most Mass-going parishioners and financial contributors are senior citizens, which creates concerns among parishioners about the parish’s long-term future

• Extensive deferred maintenance has led to substantial facility needs

• Financial constraints keep the parish understaffed and spread both staff and volunteers thin

• Longstanding parish organizations struggle under waning membership and desire greater presence of clergy to support them

• Although parishioners understand that change is necessary for a sustainable future, fear of change is real and pervasive among parishioners

• Parishioners feel uncertain how to move forward as a parish and under-equipped to participate in the missionary impulse of the Church

• Parishioners desire greater clarity in communication about changes in the Archdiocese and the future of St. Madeline’s parish.

These observations are consistent with most parishes in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (and various dioceses in the United States). St. Madelines does not face these challenges alone. What follows aims to respond to these concerns on the parish level in keeping with the archbishop’s larger vision for the diocese.

Parish Purpose

St. Madelines gives local expression to the larger Church of Philadelphia and therefore participates in the vision of our shepherd, Archbishop Nelson. As such, our efforts aim to help the faithful encounter Jesus Christ through the liturgy, sacraments, faith formation, and fellowship, so that each of us may continue growing in our identity as fully initiated disciples. Building upon this identity of discipleship, St. Madelines works to prepare her members to respond to Christ’s call to evangelize our community for the salvation of souls.

Parish Priorities

These priorities reflect four key sources of input: Our Lord’s call to make disciples, the archbishop’s vision for a missionary culture, workshops for priests hosted by the archdiocese, and the feedback parishioners have shared with myself and my pastoral team. This includes various parish councils, meeting with various heads of parish ministries and organizations, hosting gatherings of parishioners from diverse backgrounds to solicit feedback, one-on-one meetings with parishioners, and staff itself which has the historical background and ground-level knowledge of the strengths, needs, and concerns of St. Madeline Parish.

Priority 1: Mission

Rational: Roughly 11% of our registered members attend Mass regularly, leaving 89% spiritually disconnected. Reaching those on the margins of the faith requires a cultural shift where we become an outward facing parish, eager and prepared to invite others into communion with the Lord. The following goals aim to equip current members for mission and reach inactive parishioners and non-Catholics in new ways consistent with current cultural and generational practices.

• Missionary Disciples: Launching Evangelic Catholic’s Reach More program, we will equip 30 parishioners by 2029 to be missionary disciples capable of encountering others, giving testimony, and helping someone build a relationship with Jesus

• Hallow: By partnering with Hallow, we will have 250 subscribers by 2029 with the aim to build habits of prayer among our members, find new ways to spiritually support each other, and create on-ramps for inactive parishioners to reignite their faith

• Parish Magazine: We will send a magazine to every household (approx. 3500 total) in our parish boundaries to reach inactive parishioners and non-Catholics, aimed at stirring up the faith and inviting them to our parish family

• PREP: We will establish Family Catechesis as the normative model for PREP, equipping parents and placing them at the center of the spiritual formation of their children with the aim to raise the number of PREP children attending weekly Mass by 25% and engage parishioners who have drifted away

• Christian Initiation: Create a team-based model by December, 2028 capable of onboarding inquirers to the Catholic faith year-round and engaging participants in a relationship-forward approach that not only catechizes but creates a sense of belonging

• Parish-wide formation: Host a workshop titled Parish in an Apostolic Age to address the culture shift occurring in the Church, quell fears about change, and unify parishioners under a common vision.

• Youth: Develop 1-3 more ministries aimed at encountering persons 18 and under with the faith

Priority 2: Stewardship

Rational: St. Madelines is a thriving parish with a rich history and a promising future. Current financial constraints leave many facility needs unmet and needed administrative support understaffed, which strains the parish team and limits its effectiveness. God blesses each of us with different gifts—spiritual, practical, and financial— the following goals help parishioners discover and fulfill their essential role in this mission.

• Block Collection: In 2026, a generous donor offered to match our gifts for this year’s Block Collection up to $100,000! That means, every donation you give will be matched and our impact doubled.

• Skilled Work: St. Madelines is filled with people talented in trade work. Over the next year, we would like to build a roster of talented men and women willing and capable of supporting their parish with volunteer work in key areas: electrical, plumbing, concrete, carpentry, HVAC, painting, and general contracting

• Increased Offertory: To ensure a long-term sustainable future, we will run an increased offertory campaign in 2027, encouraging members to make long term financial commitments to the parish

• Planned Giving: Through 2029, we will develop a communication strategy to respectfully increase awareness of the importance of remembering St. Madelines parish in memorial gifts when loved ones pass away

• Grants: St. Madelines will collaborate with a grant-writing professional to help locate and discern potential grant opportunities where our needs and the foundation’s goals align.

• Fundraisers: A newly established Events Committee will host 2-3 events annually aimed at raising funds for the parish and offset expenses.

Priority 3: Fellowship

Rational: Practicing Catholics everywhere often come to Mass and depart quickly, which can create a sense of anonymity within the community. Embedded in each of us, however, is a desire for belonging, which God answers by the gift of each other. The following goals aim to enrich the social life of St. Madelines parish, rethink what that looks like and ultimately draw more people to our parish.

• Family Activities: By 2029, we will have monthly opportunities for young families to engage their children after Mass in a fun and interactive way

• Event Calendar: By 2027, an Events Committee will gather to strategically plan 4 or more opportunities per year for parishioners to come together, engage one another, and cultivate friendships

• Youth Ministry: By 2029, will develop opportunities for our young people to participate in Catholic friendship among their peers wherein their network of virtuous friends grows and they find encouragement in their faith

Final Thoughts:

In drafting this vision, I am aware this plan cannot happen without you. By God’s design, our parish mission depends on all of us, equipped as we are by the Holy Spirit with different talents, interests, and resources. Please reread this plan carefully, asking the Lord Jesus to show you His mission for you in the mission of our parish. This vision needs your help. Contact us:

• If you have trade skills and are willing to help assist us with assessments, diagnosis, and repair

• If you have spiritual charisms and are willing to coordinate a prayer team that makes spiritual commitments and sacrifices for the mission

• If you have financial means to help support these initiatives, like the magazine, Hallow, or Reach More for example

• If you would like to become part of the missionary movement we’re creating and journey through Reach More

• If you have ideas pertaining to this vision or areas you think are missing

I recognize this list is not exhaustive, rather, it is a strategic effort to respond to this Apostolic Age. Listening to your feedback, following the larger conversations happening in the Church, and after much prayer and consultation, I am confident this plan paves a path forward for us and prudently exercises stewardship of the resources we currently possess. This means change, which some find unsettling. Just as the world is changing, the Church also must change her strategies to more effectively respond to the needs of our times. Not everyone will want to participate directly in this mission, and that is okay. Your encouragement and prayers have helped make St. Madelines what she is for the last 120 years.

Thank you for everything you do to make St. Madelines great. Countless thanks to the many people who helped inform and shape this vision. As your pastor, I am excited to take this adventure with you. By striving together to realize the archbishop’s vision of creating a missionary culture in Ridley Park, I am confident that God will bless our works and the Holy Spirit will start a fire in our community. This vision expressed here is only a beginning!

If you have any questions or concerns, of if you would like to be a part of this vision, please reach out to me or my team.

In Christ,

Fr. Seán Loomis