CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF RICHMOND

Vicariate Inter-Parish Leadership Meeting

Fall, 2007

“to live is to change and to live well is to change often”

Cardinal Newman

“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

Organizational Chart

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

Closing

Web-site: http://www.richmonddiocese.org/planning.htm

Pray for our diocese as parish leaders gather to discuss and discover new areas for sharing gifts and resources among parishes … for peace and unity which is a sign of God’s presence among us.