CSS looking into the core
Catholic Social Services
February 2014
Dave Mullin
Late in 2013 Catholic Social Services manager Lesley Hooper and I were privileged to meet Marika Kontellis and Gary Jacobson of Sakumi Consulting, Sydney.
Consultants in the not-for-profit sector, Marika and Gary were in Wellington to experience other contexts and responses in which social services organisations operate. We discussed many issues concerning the vision and purpose of an organisation.
They told us that decision-making frameworks must align with articulated vision and purpose. Such a framework relates to what we do and how we do it, flowing from the organisation’s vision and objectives.
Although this seems self-evident every organisa
tion, every individual needs to ensure that what it does and how are aligned with its vision. Pope Francis outlined the idea of alignment this way:
‘What is needed is the ability to cultivate an inner space which can give a Christian meaning to commitment and activity.’ (Evangelii Gaudium, 2013) We are encouraged to undertake an inner as well as an outer journey.
To be forward-looking we must be focused on meaning. This means that we participate with communities and with people. In fact the participation is as important as the planning.
‘The world asks that we focus less on how we can coerce something to make it conform to our designs and more on how we can engage with one another, how we can enter into the experience and then notice what comes forth. It asks that we participate more than plan.’ (Margaret Wheatley and Myron Kellner–Rogers, A Simpler Way, 1996)
Our vision is that all people live in communities characterised by charity. Catholic Social Services looks forward to continuing, through our professional social work and counselling services, to respond to those in need.
We look forward to working with parishes and others to provide Catholic social services in all its forms. We anticipate further developing relationships with those organisations and funders with whom we have worked for many years.
We look forward to exploring within ourselves, with those we work with and with our partner organisations new and varied ways of being with and for others, especially the poor.
As we enter 2014, we look forward to participating with you on the journey.