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A PASTORAL PLAN FOR EVANGELIZATION

for the DIOCESE OF YOUNGSTOWN

“Trusting in Christ: A Call to Discipleship”

May 2015

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DIOCESE OF YOUNGSTOWN

OFFICE OF THE BISHOP

May 24, 2015

Feast of Pentecost

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I am pleased to present to you the new pastoral plan for the Diocese of Youngstown, Trusting in Christ: A Call to Discipleship. This plan is the result of months of consultation with clergy and laity representing all ages throughout the diocese.

Each one of us who believes in Christ is called to be his disciple. Before returning to his Father in heaven, Jesus gave his disciples a mission: “God out into the whole world and proclaim the Good News to all creation” (Mark 16: 16). The original disciples have passed on that mission to us. Now, trusting in Christ, we must answer that call and be new and authentic disciples.

Within the Pastoral Plan you will find seven themes: Christian Service; Evangelization; Family Life; Worship and Prayer; Discipleship - Faith Formation and Catechesis; Finances; and Administration. These are the themes that emerged from the Diocesan Assembly and various priests and lay councils. I believe that they capture the areas which are important to all of us as we responsibly plan for our future.

Please read and pray about this Pastoral Plan. Also, please find your place in the Plan, the place where you can use your talents to be a disciple and advance the mission of the Lord.

To all those who participated in the process of developing this Plan, I offer you my most sincere thanks.

May the Spirit of God, who filled the disciples at Pentecost, grant us the courage to put this plan into effect and be Christ’s witnesses in the world.

Faithfully yours in Christ,

 Most Reverend George V. Murry, SJ Bishop of Youngstown

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INTRODUCTION

Based on the diocesan survey taken during the month of September 2014 and the General Assembly held in November 2014, the Diocesan Chancery Staff, the Presbyteral Council, the Diocesan Pastoral Council and other representative bodies, the following goals, objectives and actions are proposed for the Diocese of Youngstown. In addition to goals and objectives, each area of parish/church life is given a number of proposed actions. Parishes and diocese will be asked to review, and prioritize actions according to immanent needs. Attention to each action would ultimately be expected, but in a reasonable time and manner. Once promulgated, the Bishop will assign diocesan actions to a specific study group headed by a designated person. Pastors will assign parish actions to a specific study group headed by a designated person. Each study group is to be given a date by which a report of progress must be made. While not specifically mentioned in each area of parish/church life, it is expected that the diocese and parishes would improve, create, or shift personnel and finances to support any actions taken. Once promulgated, this plan will serve to help guide our diocese in the days before us. Each parish and diocesan office will be asked to review the actions recommended to improve parish/church life and discern how they can draw from these recommendations in an effort to grow the church and deepen the faith life of all. Change will be necessary, including parish and diocesan financial support, as well as a personnel concentration, and energies. It is important to note that these areas of church life are often seen differently by lay groups compared to the presbyterate. Our objective was to represent each while calling each to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the other. The document also reflects ideas presented in the following publications: “Rediscovering Catholicism” (Matthew Kelly), “Rebuilt” (Michael White and Tom Corcoran), “Forming Intentional Disciples” (Sherry A. Weddell), and “Episcopal Ongoing Formation and Support (Catholic Leadership Institute). Also appreciated is the guidance provided by Dr. Ronald Chordas and the University Outreach/Urban Studies Department of Youngstown State University.

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GUIDING PRINCIPLES

1. The on-going reconfiguration of the diocese is a creative response to the fewer number of priests, the demographic/population shift and the needs of Catholics today.

2. Full sacramental ministry, pastoral care and Christian formation will be available to all

Catholic people within 15 miles or 25 minutes from their home.

3. Competent pastoral ministers (i.e. priests, deacons, religious, commissioned and certified persons) will provide sacramental ministry, pastoral care and Christian formation.

4. All parishes and institutions of the diocese will continue to manifest a special concern for the

needs of the poor and marginalized.

5. All parishes will continue to reach out to the alienated, the inactive and un-churched.

6. Every parish must have a functioning parish council and finance council. Every parish must be financially stable and solvent. The parish council and finance council will participate in a formal and regular assessment of the communal, spiritual, sacramental and formational programs using an evaluative tool provided by the diocese.

7. The reconfiguration of the diocese will respect the age, numbers, talents, abilities and

limitation of the priest.

8. The reconfiguration of the diocese will be congruent with civil and canon law.

CRITERIA FOR PARISHES

1. Parishes, separate or in collaboration with others, will show evidence of quality ministries of the Word, Worship and Service/Work.

2. Parishes, separate or in collaboration with others, will show credible evidence of financial

stability.

3. Parishes, separate or in collaboration with others, will show, with the assistance of the Office of Canonical Services, that their structures are congruent with civil and canon law.

4. Parish plans for the future will show evidence of responding to the reality of fewer priests,

demographic/population shifts and the needs of Catholics today.

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CHRISTIAN SERVICE

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me. Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers and

sisters of mine, you did for me. (Matthew 25: 35-40) GOAL: EACH PARISH WILL ASSIST PARISHIONERS IN DEVELOPING A DEEPER

UNDERSTANDING OF THE GOSPEL AS IT APPLIES TO THOSE MOST IN NEED. OBJECTIVE: Demonstrate evidence of active ministry addressing the needs of the parish

and broader community. PARISH ACTIONS:

1. Promote Christian Service as central to our way of life and love through the giving of time, talent and treasure as understood in stewardship.

2. Emphasize that service flows to or from worship and a deep understanding of Catholic Teaching. It is the primary work of the church.

3. Establish or strengthen collaboration both locally and regionally with other Catholic and non-Catholic institutions of service.

4. Increase outreach to hospitals and extended care facilities by laity and priests.

DIOCESAN ACTIONS: COLLABORATIVE ACTIONS:

1. Encourage applying for grants in deaneries and with other community entities on a local and regional basis to address community needs through meaningful service projects.

2. Examine the root causes of poverty and homelessness using this knowledge to effectively provide service rendered in the parish community.

3. Affirm and share with other parishes the good work being done in the Diocese and among parishes. Advertise and promote service opportunities.

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EVANGELIZATION

But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can people preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!” But not everyone has heeded the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what was heard from us?”

Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.

(Romans 10: 14-17)

GOAL: THROUGH EVANGELIZATION, PROCLAIMING THE GOOD NEWS, THE PARISH COMMUNITY WILL CREATE A SPIRIT OF DISCIPLESHIP, ATTRACTING NEW DISCIPLES, ENGAGING CURRENT PARISHIONERS AND REACHING OUT TO LESS ACTIVE PARISHIONERS.

OBJECTIVE: Encourage the parishioners to view evangelization as a necessary part of life for

every Christian, assisting the church in witnessing to the Gospel of Jesus Christ keeping in mind the exhortation of “The Joy of the Gospel:” be “Attentive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit who helps us together to read the signs of the times.” #14

PARISH ACTIONS:

1. Develop innovative activities to incorporate youth and young adults in more leadership positions.

2. Parish Pastoral Councils will guide parishioners to support and develop new leaders and welcome new parishioners while encouraging and affirming a spirit of evangelization within the parish.

3. Create more joyful congregations. (Smile, engage, speak with, and show interest in each other).

DIOCESAN ACTIONS: 1. Reorganize diocesan offices, personnel and spending in response to current church trends or

new realities in church ministries re-emphasizing their service to diocesan parishes and parish staffs.

2. Parishes will participate in Diocesan evangelization workshops to build awareness of what evangelization is and how it is a part of parishioners’ lives.

COLLABORATIVE ACTIONS:

1. Encourage members to pray, and serve drawing on their personal relationship with Jesus Christ and doing so in a joyful and enthusiastic manner. 2. Create a Coordinator for Hispanic and African American Catholic ministries.

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FAMILY LIFE

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, love is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, and it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails. If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing; if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing. …At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known. So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (I Cor. 13: 4-13)

GOAL: RECOGNIZING THE COMPLEXITY AND DIVERSITY OF FAMILIES, PROVIDE

OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS OF GOD’S FAMILY TO DEVELOP AND GROW SPIRITUALLY IN THE FAITH.

OBJECTIVE: Through parish and diocesan efforts, provide support services or pastoral

guidance for all God’s family, modeled after “The Joy of the Gospel.” (#47) “The Church is called to be the house of the Father, with doors always wide open. One concrete sign of such openness is that our church doors should always be open, so that if someone, moved by the Spirit, comes there looking for God, he or she will not find a closed door.”

PARISH ACTIONS:

1. Provide pastoral care and support for the divorced and those remarried outside the church, as well as accompanying those who have begun the annulment process.

2. Create family friendly support and activities that are inviting, welcoming, and dynamic. (eg. For those affected by divorce, abortion, sexual orientation, special needs, aging, abuse, those with addiction, and especially those dealing with disabilities, etc.)

3. Appropriately challenge families regarding the balance of time, money, and energy devoted to social and/or religious commitments.

DIOCESAN ACTIONS:

1. Change the title, “Pro-Life, Marriage and Family Ministry” to “Respect Life”, but create a new family life department.

COLLABORATIVE ACTIONS:

1. Improve and make the annulment process free and easier to understand. 2. Come to a better understanding of “Today’s Family,” educating and helping young families

with common, every day troubles, providing opportunities for them and the community to gather socially.

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WORSHIP AND PRAYER

My heart is steadfast, God my heart is steadfast. Let me sing and chant praise. Awake, lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn, I will praise you among the peoples, Lord; I will chant your praise among the nations for your mercy is greater than the heavens; your faithfulness, to the skies. (Psalm 108: 2-5)

GOAL: LITURGIES WILL BE UNIFYING, REVERENT AND ENVIRONMENTALLY

ATTRACTIVE, CHARACTERIZED BY CARE AND ENTHUSIASM, WITH FULL, CONSCIOUS, ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF THE FAITHFUL AS THE SOURCE AND SUMMIT OF CHRISTIAN LIFE.

OBJECTIVE: Parishes will provide quality worship and prayer. PARISH ACTIONS:

1. Affirm those currently serving in liturgical ministries and seek out new parishioners for training and commissioning as lay liturgical ministers, especially inviting youth and young adults.

2. Help the faithful to respect and the importance of alternative forms of prayer such as Taize Prayer, Centering Prayer or Journey Prayer, as well as traditional devotions – all of which enrich the Church prayer tradition.

3. Educate that Eucharist and all Sacraments are communal (personal), but not private. Education of adults seems most critical in this regard.

DIOCESAN ACTIONS 1. Provide ongoing professional development formation of the clergy to enhance homilies and

quality of worship, providing tools for evaluating and improving the experience of liturgy. COLLABORATIVE ACTIONS

1. Evaluate the celebration of the liturgy and sacraments in parishes to assure that music, environment, hospitality, and all liturgical ministries form quality worship.

2. Study and when necessary develop complementary mass schedules in local regions throughout the diocese.

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DISCIPLESHIP-FAITH FORMATION/CATECHESIS

Brothers and sisters, I could not talk to you as spiritual people, but as fleshly people, as infants in Christ. I fed you milk, not solid food, because you were unable to take it. Indeed, you are still not able, even now, for you are still of the flesh…According to the grace of God given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But each one must be careful how they build upon it, for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is

there, namely, Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 3: 2ff)

GOAL: RECOGNIZING AND AFFIRMING THE STRONG TRADITION AND VALUE OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION AS CENTRAL TO THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH, THE DIOCESE AND PARISHES WILL CONTINUE TO SEEK WAYS TO PROVIDE QUALITY LIFE-LONG FORMATION IN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS, RELIGIOUS EDUCATION, YOUTH MINISTRY AND ADULT FORMATION OPPORTUNITIES.

OBJECTIVE: The Diocese, Parishes and schools will improve (design) and promote Catholic

faith formation for the whole person (especially adults)to create a strong Community of Believers based upon adult discipleship, understanding and responding to God’s call and a commitment to scripture, the sacraments and church teaching.

PARISH ACTIONS:

1. Appropriately challenge society regarding Gospel values, especially in regards to the primacy of Sunday.

2. Strengthen the teaching that parents are the primary teachers of children in the ways of the faith. Parish religious education complements their efforts.

DIOCESAN ACTIONS: COLLABORATIVE ACTIONS:

1. Actively promote discipleship as a personal relationship with Jesus Christ for all Catholics. Education of adults seems most critical in this regard. 2. In keeping with the Bishop’s Pastoral letter on Catholic schools, clergy and laity must be

unambiguous in the support of our Catholic Schools. 3. Affirm, strengthen, support, and appropriately finance religious education programs on a

parish level for those attending non-Catholic schools, those in youth ministry and adult formation.

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FINANCES

Tell those who are rich in this present world not to be contemptuous of others, and not to rest the weight of their confidence on the transitory power of wealth but on the living God, who generously gives us everything for our enjoyment. Tell them to do good, to be rich in kindly actions, to be ready to give to others and to sympathize with those in distress. Their security should be invested in the life to come, so that they may be sure of holding a share in the life

which is real and permanent. (I Timothy 6: 17-19) GOAL: PROMOTE A SHARED VISION OF STEWARDSHIP AND ACCOUNTABILITY

REGARDING HOW PARISHES MANAGE THEIR RESOURCES. OBJECTIVE: In light of good stewardship, parishes will demonstrate credible evidence of financial

stability and sustainability demonstrating integrity and management oversight. PARISH ACTIONS:

1. Use financial professionals found in most parishes and lay leadership to better promote and continue the education of parishioners regarding parish and diocesan collections and financial conditions.

2. Explore the model of financial governance being implemented for Catholic high schools in relation to generating additional resources for Catholic schools.

DIOCESAN ACTIONS:

1. Provide and enforce Diocesan guidelines for parish spending. The diocese shall assist parishes with financial appeals and fund raising when requested.

2. Create documents that promote a greater level of disclosure, transparency and understanding of parish and diocesan budgeting and spending.

3. Prepare all priests, especially new pastors, to be more informed regarding financial responsibility, accountability and business education.

4. The Bishop will address with the deans diocesan oversight regarding the upkeep of buildings, spending and overspending.

5. Improve the diocesan-wide policy and procedures relating to parish audits.

COLLABORATIVE ACTIONS: 1. Review current structures and encourage greater accountability among diocesan departments and parish staffing. 2. Creatively expand funding of ministries not currently supported and increase funding for religious education programs for parish children and youth and young adults in public schools.

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ADMINISTRATION

Let every person be subordinate to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been established by God…Do you wish to have no fear of authority? Then do what is good and you will receive approval from it, for authority is a servant of God for your good…Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. (Romans 13: 1, 3, 8)

GOAL: RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF THE PRIEST IN PARISH LIFE AND

RESPONDING TO THE DECLINING NUMBER OF PRIESTS, ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF PARISH LEADERSHIP AND TEAM STAFFING WILL BE DEVELOPED AS NECESSARY IN ACCORD WITH CANON LAW 517.

OBJECTIVE: The diocese will work with the parishes to identify plans and create creative

models of parish administration to promote deacon, religious and lay leadership in collaboration with the clergy to prepare for the next generation of parish leadership.

PARISH ACTIONS:

1. Educate and prepare parishioners for an alternative form of parish leadership. DIOCESAN ACTIONS:

1. Provide ongoing education for parishioners regarding alternative forms of parish leadership and team staffing.

2. Develop job descriptions for parish leadership along with their financial implications.

COLLABORATIVE ACTIONS: 1. Promote a culture in our diocese, parishes, and families wherein vocations especially to the priesthood and religious life are encouraged and supported. 2. Establish a reasonable and effective reconfiguration that will alter the use and number of church buildings in keeping with the Diocesan Reconfiguration Plan. 3. Develop effective tools for public relations for all parishes, schools, and institutions of the

diocese. 4. The diocese will work with parishes to develop pastoral practices and directives for groups of parishes in sharing personnel and resources.