CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF RICHMOND Vicariate Inter-Parish Leadership Meeting Fall, 2007.
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Transcript of CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF RICHMOND Vicariate Inter-Parish Leadership Meeting Fall, 2007.
“I believe the Holy Spirit is leading us to move from a focus on
individual parishes and church buildings and to build a new model of church focused on inter-parish collaboration to strengthen and renew the lived expression of
Church.”
Most Rev. Francis X. DiLorenzoBishop of Richmond
Our Challenge
Nationally and Locally # of Catholics are increasing# of priests/religious are decliningAge of current priests/religious
will accelerate this decline
Our Challenge – demographic changes 1995-2005
United States
# Priests: -13%
# Parishes: -2%
# Catholics: +13%
parishes sharing priests: 44%
Diocese of Richmond# Priests: -25% (-53)
# Parishes: +4% (+6)
# Catholics: +34% (+55,932)
parishes sharing priests: 49%
Our Challenge
Catholic Diocese of Richmond We estimate a net decrease of
18-22 priests from 2007 to 2012Current practice of reactive
solutions during priest assignment process is not optimal
Purpose of Strategic Plan
To proactively and comprehensively address the challenge of moving from a one-pastor-one-parish expectation, to a new model of church focused on broad inter-parish collaboration, with parish participation in the planning process.
Product 5 year plan describing new models of inter-
parish collaboration to implement between 2008-2013 Changes in parish staffing to accommodate
priest reductions Changes in parish structure to support
staffing changes (cluster models) Other changes to help us better serve
through inter-parish collaboration (shared ministries)
Upon completion, work will begin to prepare staff /parishioners before the changes occur
Planning Values Highlights
Honest, realistic AND led by the Holy Spirit
Maximize parishioner understanding and involvement
Decrease in priests will be supported by an increase in paid professional ministers
Planning Values Highlights
Priests celebrate no more than 3 Sunday/vigil masses; extreme necessity allows 4 but no more than 3/day
Sunday Eucharist can be on another day with Bishop approval
Sunday Celebration in the Absence of Priest can be used in cases of extreme need
Process and timeline
Pre-Planning (March – Aug 2007)Develop Planning Guidelines and
Resources; collect dataDetermine Local Planning AreasForm Local Planning Committees
(pastor/2 reps per parish and campus ministers)
Raise awareness of challenge and process
Process and timeline
Phase 1 – Gather Ideas and Generate Options (Sept–Dec 2007) Gather parish leadership ideas on
inter-parish collaboration Planning Commission reviews ideas
and drafts optionsIdeas/options sent to Local Planning
Committees
Process and timeline
Phase 2 – Develop Draft Local Plans (Jan – May 2008)Local Planning Committees draft Local
Plans Meet with parishes and with parish
leadership for feedback Local Planning Committees revise plans
based on feedbackSubmit draft plans to Commission
Process and timeline
Phase 3 – Review and Approve Local Plans (June – August 2008)Planning Commission reviews and
recommends changes if necessaryIf Local Planning Committee cannot
agree to plan, Commission will develop plan with Local Planning Committee input
Process and timeline
Phase 3 - continuedBishop approves Local PlansCommunicate/distribute Local
PlansDevelop Implementation Strategy
Diocesan Pastoral Planning CommissionDesign process; collect data; group parishes into
Local Planning Areas
Mar-Aug 2007 ~ Pre-Planning: Prepare to Plan
ParishesBrainstorm ideas on staffing and inter parish collaboration
Diocesan Pastoral Planning Commission Considers ideas; develop options for each Local Planning Area
Local Planning Committees (Pastor/Pastoral Coordinator + 2 reps per parish, Campus Ministers) Consider ideas/options and
draft Local Plans
ParishesReview and comment on the draft Local Plans
Local Planning CommitteesConsider comments; revise draft Local Plans
Sept-Dec 2007 ~ Phase 1: Gather Ideas and Generate Options
Jan-May 2008 ~ Phase 2: Develop Drafts of Local Plans
Diocesan Pastoral Planning Commission Reviews draft Local Plans; makes recommendations to
Bishop for approval
Diocesan Pastoral Planning Commission and Local Planning Committees
Prepare parishes for new models of inter-parish collaboration
Jun-Nov 2008 ~ Phase 3: Review and Approve Local Plans
Jan 2009 ~ Begin Local Plan Implementation