Parishes should reflect, incorporate planning valuesThe Diocesan Planning Committee has outlined a list of values that individual parishes and regional planning groups should reflect upon and incorporate into their deliberations, said Marlene Mulford, diocesan chancellor and director of pastoral planning. They are:
For more information about the 2010 Pastoral Planning Process, visit the diocesan Web site at www.dio.org. |
“During Phase I, parishes will be asked to share information about the current situation and to gather thoughts, ideas and possibilities for inter-parish collaboration and cooperation,” Mulford said.
Informational packets have been sent to pastors and parish life coordinators, and parish leaders can choose from a number of options for the consultation process, Mulford said. By March 15, each parish will forward a report to the Diocesan Planning Committee that includes initial recommendations for the future of the parish and collaboration with neighboring parishes.
Pastoral planning has become a priority for the diocese, in large part because of the diminishing number of priests available for ministry, Mulford said.
“Statistics and projections for parishes have been tracked for over 20 years,” she said. “Part of the urgency for a new plan is that the number of priests available for parish ministry is lower than previous projections.”
Currently, 75 active diocesan priests serve in the diocese’s 131 parishes. Six of those are beyond the priests’ retirement age of 70. Twelve priests from the Franciscan and Oblate orders also serve in parishes, Mulford said, but there are no guarantees in the coming years that religious orders will be able continue staffing at those levels.
In addition to decreasing numbers of priests at the altar, the planning process must take into account the diminishing number of Catholics in the pews.
“The annual October Counts show that since 1996, Mass attendance in our parishes has fallen 26.4 percent,” she said. “The reality of these facts is serious and requires careful and considerate pastoral planning.”
In upcoming phases in the process, the Diocesan Planning Committee will review parish suggestions and prepare preliminary regional plans. These will be considered by regional planning committees composed of a priest convener and a lay facilitator, as well as pastors/parish life coordinators plus two lay representatives from each parish.
By early 2011, final plans will be reviewed by the Diocesan Planning Committee and then presented to the Presbyteral Council for consideration. By spring 2011, the final plan will be formally accepted by the new bishop, if one has been appointed.
Members of the Diocesan Planning Commission are: Msgr. Carl Kemme, diocesan administrator; Father Tom Donovan, pastor of Ss. Mary and Joseph Parish in Carlinville; Deacon Allison Laabs of Christ the King Parish, Springfield; and Vicki Compton, director of the diocesan Office for the Missions.
For more information about the planning process contact Mulford in the diocesan Office of the Chancellor at (217) 698-8500 or e-mail her at .
During the month of February, parishes in the Springfield diocese are scheduled to begin Phase I in the 2010 Pastoral Planning Process, according to diocesan chancellor and director of pastoral planning Marlene Mulford.
“During Phase I, parishes will be asked to share information about the current situation and to gather thoughts, ideas and possibilities for inter-parish collaboration and cooperation,” Mulford said.
Informational packets have been sent to pastors and parish life coordinators, and parish leaders can choose from a number of options for the consultation process, Mulford said. By March 15, each parish will forward a report to the Diocesan Planning Committee that includes initial recommendations for the future of the parish and collaboration with neighboring parishes.
Pastoral planning has become a priority for the diocese, in large part because of the diminishing number of priests available for ministry, Mulford said.
“Statistics and projections for parishes have been tracked for over 20 years,” she said. “Part of the urgency for a new plan is that the number of priests available for parish ministry is lower than previous projections.”
Currently, 75 active diocesan priests serve in the diocese’s 131 parishes. Six of those are beyond the priests’ retirement age of 70. Twelve priests from the Franciscan and Oblate orders also serve in parishes, Mulford said, but there are no guarantees in the coming years that religious orders will be able continue staffing at those levels.
In addition to decreasing numbers of priests at the altar, the planning process must take into account the diminishing number of Catholics in the pews.
“The annual October Counts show that since 1996, Mass attendance in our parishes has fallen 26.4 percent,” she said. “The reality of these facts is serious and requires careful and considerate pastoral planning.”
In upcoming phases in the process, the Diocesan Planning Committee will review parish suggestions and prepare preliminary regional plans. These will be considered by regional planning committees composed of a priest convener and a lay facilitator, as well as pastors/parish life coordinators plus two lay representatives from each parish.
By early 2011, final plans will be reviewed by the Diocesan Planning Committee and then presented to the Presbyteral Council for consideration. By spring 2011, the final plan will be formally accepted by the new bishop, if one has been appointed.
Members of the Diocesan Planning Commission are: Msgr. Carl Kemme, diocesan administrator; Father Tom Donovan, pastor of Ss. Mary and Joseph Parish in Carlinville; Deacon Allison Laabs of Christ the King Parish, Springfield; and Vicki Compton, director of the diocesan Office for the Missions.
For more information about the planning process contact Mulford in the diocesan Office of the Chancellor at (217) 698-8500 or e-mail her at .