So Now What?

So finally our team is on its way back to Texas; everyone is committed to working with/for each other. So now what?  I had been calling different parishes trying to set up a meeting to pitch our idea to them. I’ve committed resources to hiring 3 part-time salaried employees and as of yet don’t have enough ministries to keep them all busy.
Finally I get a call back from a pastor; we set up a meeting with him and the D.R.E. of the parish.  I’m able to meet and talk with both of them describing the vision and mission of CCFM and explaining how we can be a benefit to their parish and in particular to their youth. They ask great questions and the conversation goes well. I walk away jumping for joy that our first parish should sign up with us within the week. I think to myself, great one step down, time to work on more ministries to fill the remaining gap.
Not so fast… after not hearing from them for a few days I get a hold of the pastor and find out that they’ve decided not to add anything to their plate this year, they have a lot of other stuff going on. I’m deflated, but still determined to keep calling around.
I’m able to meet with another pastor and D.R.E. and again the meeting goes well and we all walk away excited. If this one goes through we won’t be looking for any other ministries as this parish has a mission church and the pastor would like to include them in our ministries. After meeting with both pastoral and finance councils for both the parish and the mission all is a go for CCFM’s first full year in ministry.
It is a good thing that first parish didn’t sign on yet, because between the three parishes (St. Joseph, Bryan, St. Mary’s, Caldwell, and Holy Rosary, Frenstat ) we are set to serve over 150 youth per week in 8 ministries!