Planning Tomorrows Parishes
Click here and you can print this survey, fill it out and return it in the collection basket. Or you can fill it out online, save
it, then email it to hlgallegos@dow.com.
Dear Brothers and Sisters of St. John parish,
Bishop Joseph Cistone has begun a new initiative called Planning Tomorrow’s Parishes.
The main focus of this project is to have parishes plan for the future in concert with other parishes. The Bishop’s
over-all goal is to enhance the vibrancy of parish life in the Diocese of Saginaw so that parishes will be signs of faith,
hope and love to all God’s people. Due to demographic shifts, the diminished number of priests, and the financial situation
of many parishes, a process was needed to lessen stress and remove obstacles so all parishes could be strong. Given the availability
and leadership of the current priests and of well educated deacons, sisters and lay people, the Bishop, after considerable
thought and prayer, decided now is the time to discover new ways to reorganize parishes in line with God’s call to be
good stewards of our human and financial resources while better serving current and future parishioners.
In the Planning Tomorrow’s Parishes process
all parishes in the diocese will be involved in working with neighboring parishes to assess their strengths, name their concerns,
and explore how they can work together to better serve the People of God. They will be asked to suggest a future model of
parish life from five that are used in many places throughout the United States. The models include: linkage (sharing a pastor
or pastoral administrator); partnership (2 or more parishes work closely together at times sharing staff and programs or in-services,
etc); merger (2 or more parishes join together to form a new parish); pastoral administrator (a lay person, vowed religious
or deacon is appointed by the Bishop to provide day to day leadership of a parish); an In Solidum Team (a team of priests
serves three or more parishes. The priests are supported by deacons, sisters and lay ministers in serving the parishes).
A Diocesan Planning Commission appointed by Bishop Cistone made up of priests, deacons, sisters and lay people
will review the suggestions and evaluative material presented from the cohorts of parishes, make a preliminary recommendation
with a rationale back to the cohort and ask for a response with a rationale. After studying the responses across the diocese
and considering demographic data and parish data, the Diocesan Planning Commission will make final recommendations to Bishop
Cistone. He in turn will consult with the Presbyteral Council and other consultative bodies before making a decision for each
cohort. Once the decisions are made each cohort of parishes will begin implementation by July 2013.
The St. John Parish core team comprised of Fr. Ricky Varner, Pat VanSumeren, Kim
Prime, Dr. Don Campbell and Heather Gallegos, is currently working through the formal parish assessment. To
complete their work they are requesting your input. Please take a few moments to complete the enclosed
parish survey, you can also find a copy of the survey on the St. John parish website (www.essexvillestjohn.com). Please return your completed survey in the collection
basket during mass, bring it to the parish center or mail it to: St. John the Evangelist Parish, 614 Pine
St., Essexville, MI 48732. We look forward to hearing from you.
On behalf of the St. John parish core team,
Fr. Ricky Varner, Pastoral Administrator Phone: (989) 894-2701
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