To have a Synod means ‘to walk together.’

A Synod is a Diocesan Planning Event

The art of Diocesan Planning is Pastoral and Strategic

Foundations

Cor ad Cor LoquiturThe Mission of the People of God

• Mary of Oswego• A Gathering in Utica

• Begin with the end in mind

The Communion of Saints

Novum Modum Videndi

The Lilly Endowment, Inc. of IndianapolisThe Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Initiative:

Lessons Learned

Lesson 1

Remember the core mission and

its ‘touchstone’ values[In Business Speak – Be attentive to your Brand]

Learning 2

Be attentive to small communities

Our Parishes are a community of communities

Learning 3

Rediscover Sabbath

We are human beings, not human doings.

A National View –

We are not in hospice modeWe are in growth mode

We need a new way of seeing

Diocesan Planning is: –Centrally Enabled–Locally Guided

All Pastoral Planning is

Multi-Dimensional

Pastoral Planning is dynamicSubsidiarity and Creativity are blessings for the process

An Example

Three Levels of Parish Pastoral Planning

(Yes, there may be more)

1. Hospitality2. Planning for ‘Historic’ Catholics3. Embracing the Emerging Catholic Community4. Evangelizing the Un-Churched and the new

“Christian”5. Keep open to, aware of, and welcoming toward the “new” parishioners of differing backgrounds.

Pope Francis to the Bishops Conference of South America

Pope Francis & The Gospel of Joy

Re-imaging Pastoral Collaboration• We are not a 501 (C) 3 or an NGO • We are the pilgrim people of God

and we are on a mission. • We need a new way of seeing

We are called together to build a consensus about how to be ChurchSynod means to walk together. That is, to become a:

Visionarium

• Envision the future and Engage it

According to the Scripture, “We have a future to hope in.”

The collaboratives:Parish Pastoral CouncilParish Finance CouncilParish Ministry Council (possibly)Pastor and his pastoral team

The Diocese has a similar structure

Synod and Diocesan Pastoral CouncilDiocesan Finance CouncilThe Bishop and his pastoral staffThe Presbyteral Council and the

College of Consultors

• Listen for the real questions and authentic needs• Sift for the real issues• Take the wider vision• Synod, Journey together.

As Pope Francis says, we may be a field hospital, but we are not a hospice.

Our role is to be the servants and mid-wives for birthing the new creation.

So,

Trust in God’s Abundance

Dream Big! Anything less is not worthy of you.

Begin with the End in Mind