Area parishes embark on pastoral planning process

Cooperation, coordination and collaboration among parishes are some of the expected outcomes of the pastoral plan recently released by the Diocese of Trenton. Titled "Led by the Spirit," the plan would impact the 111 parishes in the counties of Monmouth, Ocean, Burlington and Mercer.

More than 175 members of parishes, who were mostly from Monmouth County but included several members from Ocean County as well, participated in a diocesansponsored information session and workshop that offered an overview of the pastoral plan. The event was held at St. John Vianney High School, Holmdel, on Sept. 10.

"A new pattern of working with one another and a relationship with one another that lessens parochialism and separatism is the vision," said Terry A. Ginther, director of the diocesan Office of Pastoral Planning, who chaired the meeting. "Parishes should not be competing with one another, but work together to take up the challenge that is pastoral planning."

According to information supplied by the diocesan Office of Communications and Public Relations, Monmouth County has 44 parishes with 100,821 registered families. Ocean County has 25 parishes with 85,563 registered families.

Ginther said "Led by the Spirit" (so named for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in all phases of the pastoral planning) is the culmination of two years of listening, gathering information, consultation and dialogue with priests, religious and the lay faithful. Methods included focus groups and interactive surveys on the diocesan website, www.dioceseoftrenton.org.

"Pastoral planning is not new and is going on all the time," she said. "The planning may be different to accommodate the uniqueness of each parish. It is an ongoing process of the church as it responds to the signs of the times, such as building schools, churches, hospitals and orphanages when they are needed."

A 12-page handout about the pastoral plan was distributed in all parishes the weekend of Aug. 15 and 16 and identifies some internal and external signs of the times facing today's Catholics in the diocese.

Internal signs specific to Catholics include: an increase in the overall number of registered Catholics; regular attendance at Mass steadily diminishing; geographic population shifts that have forced restructuring (mergers, closures or expansion of institutions); a decline in the number of priests and religious; the recent influx of Catholic immigrants; and the "graying" of the Catholic community (members over 65).

Some of the external signs of the times listed include the growing gap between rich and poor; higher life expectancy; the changing culture of marriage; new technology; the element of individualism; and the general mistrust of institutions.

Ginther said seven pastoral priorities have emerged to concentrate the energy and resources of every member of the diocese,

from parishioners to church organizations

and offices, to help adapt to the signs of the times. They are: Sunday Mass; living as disciples; growing in faith; leadership; charity and justice; youth and young adults; and ethnic diversity. The information and workshop session offered an opportunity to explore one of the priorities.

The Sunday Mass workshop was facilitated by the Rev. Sam Sirianni, diocesan director of the Office of Worship and pastor of St. Robert Bellarmine Parish in Freehold Township.

"The workshops offer no goals or objectives, but do offer a process to learn skills in planning," said Father Sirianni, a native of Long Branch. "All religious denominations have the same issues in planning."

The issue explored was how to increase full, conscious and active participation in Sunday Mass.

"About 30 percent of Catholics in the diocese participate in weekly Sunday Mass," he said. "The average increases if you add [Christmas, Easter, etc.] and those who attend once or twice a month."

Ginther, who facilitated a general workshop for clergy, said that on the parish level, the pastor is responsible for the pastoral plan.

"The pastor has the responsibility to initiate, implement and complete the plan," she said. "He doesn't have to do it alone, and has the talents of the parish, other parishes and any diocesan office to help him."

By June 30, 2010, each parish, Ginther said, must submit to the Most Rev. John M. Smith, bishop of the Diocese of Trenton, a pastoral plan of action that addresses goals and objectives for the seven diocesan priorities.

"Goals and objectives for each of the seven priorities are listed in the diocesan pastoral plan," she said. "They are a guide for each parish to use and adapt as needed."

Ginther said the diocesan website will soon have a message board for parishes to exchange ideas, and the full text of "Led by the Spirit" may be found there.

Any interested parishioners from any county may attend the remaining information sessions, which will present the same agenda at each site, Ginther said. There is no fee, but registration is required by contacting the Office of Pastoral Planning at least one week prior to the session. The next sessions are: Holy Cross High School, Delran, 7-9 p.m. Sept.22 ; Monsignor Donovan High School, Toms River, 7-9 p.m. Sept .29; and Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Oct. 3.

For further information, call the Office of Pastoral Planning at 609-406-7400, ext. 5613, or e-mail cmacre@dioceseoftrenton. org.