Bishop Zubik has identified 13 from the 20 original names submitted in the first step of the naming process towards a new Parish Name. In reviewing these names, parishioners might find it helpful to know the process through which these names were chosen.

• A committee of volunteers from the Parish Advisory Council began with a list of more than 140 suggested names.
• Names that were offered without a rationale were eliminated from consideration, as per diocesan guidelines.
• Names that were identical to, or close to, the names of new parishes in the diocese were eliminated as per diocesan guidelines.
• From the rationales given for many of the suggested names, parishioners indicated a preference for retaining a Marian title or naming the new parish for a woman saint, since both of our parishes are now named for women saints. The c0mmittee gave strong consideration to these preferences.
• In evaluating each suggested name, the committee was also guided by discussions of a vision for the new parish. We used that vision to ask the following questions:

• Does the name reflect what the parish aspires to be or the work the parish wants to do?
• Would this person or saint inspire us to follow Jesus?
• Does the life of the saint under consideration model

• A closeness or intimacy with God or Christ?
• A practice of sharing the good news of Jesus with others?
• A recognition of the importance of Christian community in helping oneself and others grow in maturity as a follower of Jesus?
• The giving of self in service to others?
• A heroic life of intentional discipleship?

• In choosing twenty (20) names to send to Bishop Zubik, the committee resolved to select names that would fit into one of the three categories below:
• titles for Jesus or Mary,
• the names of inspiring, heroic saints whose lives demonstrated the elements of our parish vision, and
• names of prophets, apostles, and evangelists.

Since the names and stories of some of the saints on our final list may to be unfamiliar, we have provided a short biography for each of these saints.  For names that are familiar to many, we have only provided the rationales for the names that were submitted to Bishop Zubik.