How to get families to go to weekly Mass

I am new to the Diocesan School Board, but one question I keep hearing is, “How do we get families to attend mass?”  This is a common theme for our schools and our parishes. Prior to joining the school board, I admit, I didn’t realize this was a problem. I am starting to see a pattern and thought it was something we could talk about.

Every family is busy. Every family has activities on Saturday morning, and Sunday is their only morning to sleep in. Any family with active children has the same response. Well, last time I checked we had various mass times. I can’t tell you what will work for your families, but let me share with you what works with mine.

My oldest son, Jack, is an altar server. My husband, Eric is a Eucharistic minister. Both of these roles require us to go to mass. I am not saying that everyone should volunteer for these positions, but this was a choice my family has made. My son wanted to be an altar server. My husband was looking for a way to be more active in our parish and honestly this was the least time commitment. 

We tend to like the Saturday night mass for a few reasons.

1.   Saturday night mass is a shorter mass. I don’t know why, but it is. I know this isn’t supposed to matter, I am there for God. I am giving him a small portion of my time for all he does for me.  However, when you have small children those extra 10 minutes can be a lifesaver.

2. After the Saturday mass they sometimes have wine. Go on Sunday morning and all you see is coffee and donuts, go Saturday night, you are served wine and cheese. This works as an appetizer, a nice way to start the evening.

3.     We like to go out to dinner after mass. We are all dressed up and looking pretty good, so we take advantage and take our kids out to dinner. Anywhere but McDonalds will do.

Now these reasons might not work for your families, but what does work?  I heard of parishes where if students wear their uniforms to Mass, they receive a free dress coupon. Sometimes just getting the children to ask their parents to take them is a big step. If they ask over and over again, the parents just might take them. At our children's school, a teacher assigned “going to mass” as homework.  Not sure if this will always work, but it did make my son think that going to Mass was required. 

What works at your school or parish?  How are you getting families to weekly mass?

Are you going to the Night of Hope?

The Annual Night of Hope is October 26^th.  Are you going?  Does your school have a table?  I am going.  I have only been once, 2 years ago as a guest of a friend.  We had a lovely time, although I didn’t know too many people with the exception of my Parish Priest, Principals, and the friend who invited me.  This year I am hoping to know more people and maybe even meet some of you!

I know some people look at these nights as work.  I enjoy these nights way too much.  I love dressing up and going out all fancy with my husband.  We don’t always have occasions to get all-fancy, so I take advantage of it. 

I also love learning about other schools and students and how our schools are preparing these young people.  I am amazed at how brilliant our students are.

This year the committee has been hard at work planning the big event.  There are some surprises that they are not sharing, so I cannot wait to see them on the big night. 

This night showcases our schools and their achievements.  We are fortunate to have so many wonderful Catholic Schools in our Diocese.  This night lets us see how every school is a little bit different, but yet we all have the same common goal. 

Don’t forget to “like” the Night of Hope on Facebook.

Are you planning on going to the Night of Hope?  Maybe we can meet!

Welcome Back

Welcome back to school and welcome back to our blog…

As you may have noticed our blog has been a little MIA the past few months.  We are hoping to change that this year. 

The Diocesan School Board has some exciting things this year and we want to share them with you.  We also want you to share with us!  We want to hear how your schools are doing, what is working and what isn’t.  Help us, Help you!

Coming up we will be hosting our In-Service at St. Mary’s High School.  Here are all the details you need to know:

Saturday September 28^th 7:30 am – 12:30pm

We will have a great keynote speaker, Christel Mosby, Senior Vice President of Marketing, from Grand Canyon University.

Also coming up on the calendar is our annual Night of Hope, October 26^th.  We hope to see all of your schools there.  We have some surprises for the night so you don’t want to miss out!

In case you missed it… check out this article about our very own MaryBeth Mueller in the Phoenix Business Journal! (you need to have a subscription to see the whole article)…http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/print-edition/2013/08/23/private-schools-push-big-changes-at.html

We want to hear from you…How have the first few weeks of school been?  Any big improvements at your school?  Brag about them here!

Planning to Visit Your Legislator? A Few Dos and Don'ts

With Catholic Schools Week upon us, many of us are planning to take part in the rally at the Capitol in support of the Arizona Tuition Tax Credit and have visits lined up with our legislators. If it's your first time, here's a quick list of Dos and Don'ts as you prepare for your meeting (courtesy of the USCCB):

DO

• make sure you have an appointment. Arrive on time, or, better yet, a little early.
• identify clearly the subject matter or subjects in which you are interested.
• state why you're concerned about the issue. Your own personal experience is excellent evidence.
• restrict yourself to one or at most two topics.
• put your thoughts into your own words. This is especially important if you're responding to something you've read.
• try to establish a relationship with your own legislators. You have more influence as an actual constituent.
• communicate while legislation is in committee and subcommittees, as well as when it's on the floor.

DON'T

• be starstruck. While it's important to show respect for our sustem of government and for the office itself, remember: these people are your neighbors.
• ever, ever threaten. Don't even hint "I'll never vote for you unless you do what I want." Present the best arguments in your favor and ask for consideration. A legislator understands electoral consequences.
• pretend to wield vast political influence. Communicate with your legislator as a constituent, not as a self-appointed spokesperson for your school, neighborhood, community, or profession.
• use incediary rhetoric, innuendos, or cliches. Jargon just makes your communication sound mass produced even when it isn't.
• become a pen pal or perpetual infomercial. It's easy to ignore the constant background noise.

Getting Ready for Your Open House

It's almost Catholic Schools Week, when your school might be preparing for its annual Open House. Here's a quick checklist of things you can do to get your campus and your community ready.

• Take a look at your campus with the eyes of a visitor.  If you were coming on campus for the first time, what would your first impression be? Make sure everything's clean, clutter is picked up, and things are generally presentable for company. If the recent freeze killed the plants on campus, plant some more. Everyone should get involved in the clean-up efforts--students, staff, teachers, parents.
• Prepare your welcome packet. Information about your school should be compiled and put together in a nice packet and every family who visits your campus should leave with one. Some materials to include:
• Your school's mission statement
• Letter/photo from the pastor and principal
• Step-by-step application process
• An application (if available)
• A school snapshot (stats like test scores, enrollment, tuition and fees, etc.)
• Information on programs available--academic, extracurricular, etc.
• Clear statements of parent/student expectations
• Train your student ambassadors. Make sure you have the best and brightest lined up and make sure they're prepared! Ask them questions you know they'll be getting, like "Why do you like going to school here?" and gauge their answers. Prepare a cheat sheet to make sure they have the correct information, like where graduates go to high school and what textbooks are used in the classroom. Emphasize that if they don't know an answer, there are plenty of teachers and staff available who do know, so they shouldn't wing it. Remember, not all students should be ambassadors--it's okay to tell someone no and find them another job that day. And remember: Students should be in their uniforms and wearing name tags.
• Mobilize your Parent-Teacher Organization! Get those cookie bakers and greeters out there to put out light refreshments, make small talk, and provide information. Nothing sells a product better than a satisfied customer. Arm them with fact sheets, too, so they can answer questions knowledgeably.
• Have an organized check-in system in place. You want to know who stops by, so make sure someone's at the entrance to welcome visitors. Have a sign-in sheet asking for basic information--name, address, email--so you can follow-up and thank them for coming. Provide them with name tags.
• If possible, offer a small take-away with your school's name and logo on it. Pencils, folders, bookmarks, prayer cards--anything that they can take with them to remind them of your school is a bonus. Make sure your school's address, phone, and website is on there if possible.
• Enjoy the day! This of this as an opportunity to show off while making new friends all at the very same time. Open Houses are a way to reinforce to your community what a great place your school is, so enjoy the attention and have fun!

Diocesan School Board Meeting, September 12, 2012

The Diocesan School Board met on September 12. The first item on the agenda was a presentation on high school budgets and enrollment from Anthony Rabago, the diocesan controller. He reported that there are no areas of concern this year, and that enrollment is steady and in some cases has increased.

Committee Reports

• AZCPAN: Working on the Catholic Education Arizona rally held at the capitol after the Catholic Schools Week Mass in January. Also sponsoring a leadership program for high school students, encouraging them to become involved in legislative issues that affect our schools.
• Catholic Identity: Will provide a holy card with a prayer for the Year of Faith to every student in our schools. They are also developing a packet and welcome letter for all the schools outlining the events and purpose behind the Year of Faith.
• Marketing: Working on a survey of competing schools, a possible receptionist in-service, and the blog.
• Night of Hope: Invitations are at the printer, hoping to send out 2,000. Will audition high school students for the role of MC. Working on underwriting.
• Nomination In-Service: In-Service coming up Saturday, September 22. Everyone on the DSB should contact their local school board contact and encourage them to attend. The committee is working on developing a manual for local school boards, starting with a questionnaire to the boards asking them what their needs are. Looking at inviting two school boards (high school and elementary) to attend the DSB meetings.
• Year of Faith: Came up with a calendar of events for the year ahead.

Catholic Schools Office

• Sr. Melita, assistant superintendent, reported that over 1,000 elementary school students are participating in the fall sports of softball and flag football. The CYAA received a $2,500 grant to help pay officials. Committees are meeting to revise the math, language arts, and science programs in order to bring them in line with the common core curriculum.
• MaryBeth Mueller, superintendent, reported that ITBS testing will be the topic for Educator Day on October 8. Seven elementary schools and two high schools are beginning their accreditation processes. On September 14, the annual Leadership Day for elementary student councils was held at Bourgade High School. The norms allowing schools to call themselves private, independent Catholic schools were reviewed.
• MaryBeth gave a presentation on National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Elementary and Secondary Schools. The information contained in the presentation (and more!) can be found here.

Diocesan School Board Meeting, August 22, 2012

In an attempt to keep you up to date on what the Diocesan School Board is up to, we will be publishing abbreviated minutes from our meetings here so you can see what sorts of discussions are taking place every month.

Our first meeting of the year was held on August 22. It began with a Mass celebrated by Fr. Kieran Kleczewski in the Diocesan Pastoral Center's Chapel that included a brief commissioning ceremony for the new Board members. The Board then moved into its meeting room and began the formal part of the meeting with introductions.

The DSB committee heads then shared their goals for the year:

• AZCPAN: Pursuing affordable Catholic education, religious freedom in education, getting high school students more involved with Catholics in the Public Square, keep people informed about current legislative issues that impact education, and organize the Catholic Education Arizona rally that's held after the Catholic Schools Week Mass every year.
• Catholic Identity: Keep the Board focused on Christ, be a mentor to our local school boards, educate about and help celebrate the upcoming Year of Faith.
• Finance: Review the high school financial statements every month, participate in budget meetings held at the high schools, and offer financial advice to Catholic schools in the Diocese.
• Marketing: Come up with a web-based marketing handbook for Catholic schools and do an in-depth analysis of the marketing, tuition structures, curriculum and instruction approaches of the private, public, and charter schools in the Valley.
• Night of Hope: The event is November 3. Guardians of Hope this year are Sr. Mary Norbert Long and Catholic Cemeteries, with a spotlight on Katzin Music's tenth anniversary of working with our schools. Working on underwriting for the event.
• Nomination In-Service: Held the New Members Orientation session, will run the September 22 Board In-Service for all local school boards, working to facilitate the flow of information between the local school boards and the DSB, come up with a manual for local school boards, and encourage DSB members to act as mentors/advisors to the local school board.
• Executive Committee: Sets the agendas for the monthly meetings, discusses issues as needed
• Ad hoc committee established to update and understand CYAA policies and procedures

September 22 In-Service: Information about the in-service can be found here. The keynote speaker is Dr. Rachel Moreno, a professional specialist at the University of Notre Dame's Institute for Educational Initiatives, who will be speaking about National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Schools. The day begins at 7:30 a.m. with Mass and ends at 12:30 p.m. Several breakout sessions will be held. All of this takes place at St. Mary's High School, 2525 N. Third Street, Phoenix.

Catholic Schools Office Report:

• Cissy Frakes, assistant superintendent, reported that the school year begins with four new principals, two new preschool directors, and 70 new teachers. The CSO is beginning a new teacher evaluation and growth plan process that goes into effect this year.
• Sr. Melita, assistant superintendent, reported that the CYAA sponsored a meeting for all athletic directors, where the AIA recommendations for keeping students safe in the heat were reviewed.
• MaryBeth Mueller, superintendent, reported that Fr. Robert Bolding was installed as president of St. Mary's High School and the campus was blessed by Bishop Olmsted. 
• Construction projects: Xavier's Founder's Hall is to be dedicated, Bourgade is renovating their performing arts center, Notre Dame Prep is working on their athletic field. 
• On September 20, the Arizona Council for Private Education will give out their Educator of the Year awards and a diocesan school has been nominated for each one.

Next meeting: September 12 at 4 p.m. at the Diocesan Pastoral Center

Every school in the diocese struggles with the question of how to increase their parish and community’s participation in the tax credit program. Back in March, Fr. Tom Eckert, pastor at St. John Vianney, spoke at the Pastor Appreciation Luncheon and shared his best practices for increasing tax credit support in his parish. Perhaps some of these ideas can be adapted as you look for ways to increase participation in the tax credit program for your school.

·         He uses both a rifle and a shotgun approach—he “sprays and prays,” sharing the needs of the parish and school to everyone and hoping they hear it; and he also targets his message to appropriate prospects.

·         The parish has both a fall and a spring campaign, one that ends on December 31 and another that ends on Tax Day, April 15.

·         He offers a special blessing one weekend at each Mass for every donor where they stand, are acknowledged, and then he blesses them.

·         He hosts an appreciation breakfast exclusively for tax credit contributors. (Never underestimate the power of a thank you!)

·         He briefs every person who heads up a ministry in his parish about the program, because he wants them to know what’s happening and to be aware of how increasing the participation in the program benefits the school and the whole parish.

·         He visits the fireman at the local Fire Station, salutes them for their work, shares with them what the parish is doing, and then explains how the tax credit helps low-income families in the community, inviting them to consider participating.

·         The parish puts monthly inserts and flyers in the bulletin, along with actual donation forms for CEA.

·         Promotes local CPA advertisers in the bulletin as a way to help everyone get educated on the tax benefits of the tax credit.

We have to keep getting the word out about the benefits of the tax credit! The key is to get your community educated. Remember, you can always get information and more tips on spreading the word from the nice folks at Catholic Education Arizona.