Dear Parishioners, +JMJ
In one of his “Leading the Flock” letters a few months ago, Bishop Thomas revealed that the Diocese had contracted with the Spitzer Center to begin a strategic plan for the Diocese. Now, several months later, the Diocese has published its Strategic Plan for 2019-2022. In this bulletin, there are two graphics that will lead you through all the details.
The Strategic Plan Committee first articulated the Vision: “To become a more faith-filled, united and vibrant Diocese of Toledo through fostering Holy disciples, Holy Families and Holy Vocations.”
Next came the Mission Statement, which speaks of our call from Jesus Christ, celebrating the sacraments, serving those in need, revealing the mercy of the Father’s face, striving with the Holy Spirit and the intercession of Our Lady of the Rosary, being faithful to the Church, and being joyful witnesses of God’s love.
Carrying out the mission, we want to stick with Core Values: keeping Christ at the center, deepening communion, inviting and reaching out, open and effective communication, excellence and accountability.
Finally, the visioning team discerned six Strategic Pillar Goals: supporting the health of parishes and clergy, invigorating evangelization and formation, enhancing leadership, strengthening Catholic education, growing Catholic charitable outreach and advocacy, and finally developing financial resources. To achieve the strategic pillar goals, Strategic Actions were formulated for each pillar. These are the most concrete “to do” items, which should accomplish the goals. Each pillar goal is assigned to a member of the Bishop’s senior pastoral cabinet to create a more detailed three-year plan.
The Bishop presented the strategic vision to the Presbyteral Council, and he said he hoped that parishes would adopt this somehow at their own level. With this in mind, the Pastoral Leadership Team of our parish read through an even more detailed version of what you have here in this bulletin, so that we become familiar with it, and eventually do some brainstorming about how some of these pillar goals and actions could apply at the parish level. We noted that some of what is included in the plan has already been happening in our parish. As the diocesan plan moves forward, when we see some potential for improvement for any dynamic of our parish, we will try to adopt elements of the plan.
Please study the graphics in this bulletin, so that you can understand the Strategic Plan of the Bishop. Please support it especially by your prayers. If you have any ideas that you think could help on the parish level, or even on the diocesan level, I would love to hear them. Maybe your idea could even be given to the Strategic Planning Committee of the Diocese!
Have a blessed week!
In cordibus Iesu et Mariae,
Father Poggemeyer
