A few days ago, I was invited to serve as the Convener for Region 12 of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan. 

My role will be to assist the parishes in our region (St. Mary’s cluster—New Berlin; Holy Cross-Auburn; St. Joseph, Chatham; and, Sacred Heart cluster—Virden, with parish input to a Diocesan pastoral plan to move us into the year 2013 and beyond.  We are only one region of a large Diocese of 130 parishes spread over 28 counties in the mid-section of Illinois.

The goal of pastoral planning is to create, sustain and/or increase the vitality of parishes and faith communities in the Diocese of Springfield.  A realistic appraisal of what vital parishes and faith communities will be like in the future must accord with those aspects of the future that we can realistically expect.  There will be changing demographic and economic conditions.  It is reasonable to expect that the number of diocesan priests available for assignment will decrease. 

It is necessary for us to renew our understanding of parish, faith community, the role of priests, deacons, ecclesial ministers, sacraments and of parish life.

Pastoral planning is a journey of faith and in faith.