Pastoral plan distributed

The Pastoral Planning Services division has announced that the diocesan pastoral planning document “Come to the Light” will be distributed next week.
A brochure format of the document was mailed earlier this week to all registered parishioners of the Diocese of Helena. The shortened form features the major themes of “Come to the Light.”
Additionally, the complete planning document will be available on the diocesan Web site – www.diocesehelena.org – by June 15.
Priests, men religious, women religious, deacons, seminarians, consultative groups, Region XII bishops, diocesan schools and other diocesan entities will receive the full version of the document by mail.
“This is a very exciting time for the diocese, and the publishing of the planning document, ‘Come to the Light,’ is the beginning, setting the course for the next five years. I have profound gratitude for all who participated in the process. The rich gathering of ideas, hopes and dreams that we heard are reflected in this document,” said Sister McGinnis, SCL, diocesan pastoral planning director.
The five-year plan was developed through an extensive process of listening sessions held at individual parishes and eight regional listening sessions conducted throughout the diocese.
The document has implications for diocesan planning, as well as for directional planning for parishes, Sister McGinnis noted. “The priorities have a wide array of possible implementation strategies and those are being shaped by the Presbyteral Council with ad hoc committees for each of the nine theme areas from the document,” she said.
“It is a working document and multiple action plans will need to be developed on both the diocesan and local levels to bring to life the concepts that are articulated in it.”

Published in The Montana Catholic, Vol. 23, No. 6, June 15, 2007.