Preparing a Personal Plan of Life Fr. Dennis Donovan, SDB

PRAYER TO ST. JOHN BOSCO St. John Bosco, friend of the young, teacher in the ways of God, your dedication to empowering the needy inspires us still. Help us, your Salesian Cooperators, to work for a better world, where the young are given the chance to flourish, where the poor’s dream for justice can come true, and where God’s compassion is shown to be real. Intercede for us as we meet this day. Help us to become signs and bearers of God’s love for the young. Amen.

Goal! Why have a personal plan of life? The Project of Apostolic Life calls the Salesian Cooperator to an inter-personal relationship with the SDBs and FMAs, but especially with fellow Cooperators at the local, regional and world level. This requires planning and personal commitment.

I WANT YOU TO HAVE A Personal plan of life

What is a Personal Plan of Life? A tool to help one to grow in the spiritual life A gauge to measure the progress of one’s spiritual journey Something to share with a spiritual director Update the plan or write a new one during significant dates in your life, such as days of retreat, when acquiring a new job, when losing a job, during retirement, relocation, sudden illness, etc.

What do I do with it? Update the plan or write a new one during significant dates in your life. days of retreat when acquiring a new job when losing a job when acquiring another new job during retirement when moving, sudden illness, death of a loved one

Elements of a personal plan Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance Find a scripture quote that fits you Develop a personal mission statement Develop 3 to 5 resolutions Develop ways to measure the outcome of your efforts

Just who do you think you are?! Elements of a personal plan 1. Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance Pray daily Make a day of recollection Find a spiritual director

Elements of a personal plan 2. Find a scripture quote or passage Personal Plan of Life Elements of a personal plan 2. Find a scripture quote or passage Could be a personal favorite verse. Something that inspires, motivates you

Elements of a personal plan 3. Develop a personal mission statement. Personal Plan of Life Elements of a personal plan 3. Develop a personal mission statement. How do you plan to answer God’s call? Keep it short. Include the scripture quote, or maybe the quote is your mission statement.

Elements of a personal plan Personal Plan of Life Elements of a personal plan 4. Develop three to five resolutions, using these criteria Turn to Don Bosco, be like him Develop a deeper relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist. Develop a strong devotion to Mary. Become closer to your brother/sister Cooperators Where is God sending you; perhaps to a new frontier

Elements of a personal plan Personal Plan of Life Elements of a personal plan 5. Develop ways to measure the outcome of your efforts When making the resolutions, be specific as to time, date, place Record the resolutions on a paper Carry them in your purse or wallet, tape them to a mirror,… Make a note on your calendar to review it Discuss it with your spiritual director Share it with your fellow Cooperators at local meetings Update the resolutions from time to time, perhaps monthly, on retreat

Personal Plan of Life – SAMPLE RESOLUTIONS 1) Return to Don Bosco: (choose only one) I will read at least 15 minutes a day from the Biographical Memoirs I will watch the movie about Don Bosco’s life with my family I will say the prayer of St. John Bosco every morning or evening, at mealtime I will read at least one article from the PVA every morning   2) I will develop a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. I will attend the Adoration of Blessed Sacrament every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. After every Mass, I will remain in the church and say the Anima Christi 3) I will develop a stronger devotion to Mary. I will pray at least a decade of the rosary every day, after dinner I will go out of my way to make a visit to a new church once a month, to pray the Rosary

Personal Plan of Life – SAMPLE RESOLUTIONS 4) I will become closer to my brother/sister Cooperators and other Salesians through fraternal gatherings. I will invite the Cooperators in my area for a barbeque in my yard on the first week of October I will volunteer to call those Cooperators who miss our meetings, soon after the meeting   5) I will seek out a new frontier of some kind which will help me to grow in the Salesian way of life. I will ask my pastor to recommend a spiritual director that I can meet with every 3 months. I will go to confession every 1st Saturday of the month. I will ask the Salesian Sisters if there is some way I can volunteer at the school. I will make ask the youth center if I can teach the kids to make rosaries.

Personal Plan of Life It is better to have only a few resolutions that are manageable than to make very many which we are sure to break. -St. Francis de Sales

Results! Is it clear now? The Project of Apostolic Life calls the Salesian Cooperator to an inter-personal relationship not only with the SDBs and FMAs, but especially with fellow Cooperators at the local, regional and world level.

Rector Major says… I have a dream… … a family of happy Salesians … people of faith filled with God … people filled with a passion for the young, the poorest … real evangelizers and educators to the faith … always missionary