Diocese of Davenport
Local Area Parish
Planning Process
Who are the Planning Commission?
Fourteen People: Bishop Amos; seven lay people from the Deaneries; three Priests; one Deacon; two members of the Diocesan staff
Three members of the Commission served on the Living the Faith Task Force in 2005
Bishop Amos commissioned this team in January, 2009
Purpose of Planning Process
To provide a structure and process for growing Eucharistic communities in the Diocese of Davenport as we plan for the projected decline in the number of priests.
Objectives of the Planning Process
To plan from the “grass roots” of the Diocese.
To collaborate between parishes and communicate best practices with each other.
To recognize long term plans already in place in many of the parishes and learn from their processes and wisdom.
Diocese of Davenport Vision
The Catholic Diocese of Davenport will reflect the Reign of God by growing in faith, hope and charity.
Diocese of Davenport Mission
As a Eucharistic community, we live out Jesus’ call to go and make disciples of all nations and to love God and neighbor.
Planning Guidelines
Build on the Living the Faith plan as accepted in 2005.
“Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest” can only be used in an emergency.
Every parish in one way or another is to have a pastor assigned to it for pastoral care.
Parish priests will celebrate no more than three Masses per weekend.
We want our priests alive and well!
Planning Guidelines (cont.)
Hire professional ministers to provide ministry accordingly.
Proposals for recruitment, formation, affirmation and support for future priests and others.
All proposals will be faithful to the teachings and practices of the Church.
Plan Summary and Time Line
Phase I – Parishes make initial report to Bishop
Phase II – Planning Commission compiles Parish planning and recommendations
Phase III – Local Planning Committees establish preliminary plans
Sept. 15 – Nov. 25, 2010
Dec. 1 – 31, 2010
Jan. – May 31, 2011
Summary and Time Line cont.
Phase IV – Diocesan Parishes hold Parish meetings
Phase V – Planning Commission reviews local area planning recommendations
Phase VI – Diocesan Consultative Councils reviews plans
June 1 – Aug. 31, 2011
Sept. 1 – 15, 2011
Sept. 15 – Oct. 1, 2011
Summary and Time Line cont.
Phase VII – Bishop Acknowledges Plan
Ongoing –• Planning Commission
reviews plans continuously
• Assists in implementation
• Completes ongoing evaluation
• Works with Priest Personnel Board
Advent 2011
We have a lot going on!!!
How do we do all of this???
Phase I Plan provides: Options for raising parishioner awareness Expectations on how many meetings to hold, who
should be involved Suggested outlines for meetings Selection process for local area planning committee
parish representative Inter-Parish Collaboration Questions Area Need Considerations Planning and Recommendation Report
Next Step
Summary on Page 6 of Local Area Planning Process Packet
Meeting 1 and Meeting 2 to be completed by November 24, 2010
Process and forms in packet
Support to the Parishes
Planning Commission members are available to assist parishes in this planning process.
Contact Us: Fr. Jim Vrba –
[email protected] Ruth Skeens –
[email protected] Diocesan web site:
www.davenportdiocese.org