Diocese of Davenport Local Area Parish Planning Process

Who are the Planning Commission? Fourteen People: Bishop Amos; seven lay people from the Deaneries; three Priests; one Deacon; two members of the Diocesan staff Three members of the Commission served on the Living the Faith Task Force in 2005 Bishop Amos commissioned this team in January, 2009

Purpose of Planning Process To provide a structure and process for growing Eucharistic communities in the Diocese of Davenport as we plan for the projected decline in the number of priests.

Objectives of the Planning Process To plan from the “grass roots” of the Diocese. To collaborate between parishes and communicate best practices with each other. To recognize long term plans already in place in many of the parishes and learn from their processes and wisdom.

Diocese of Davenport Vision The Catholic Diocese of Davenport will reflect the Reign of God by growing in faith, hope and charity.

Diocese of Davenport Mission As a Eucharistic community, we live out Jesus’ call to go and make disciples of all nations and to love God and neighbor.

Planning Guidelines Build on the Living the Faith plan as accepted in “Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest” can only be used in an emergency. Every parish in one way or another is to have a pastor assigned to it for pastoral care. Parish priests will celebrate no more than three Masses per weekend.

We want our priests alive and well!

Planning Guidelines (cont.) Hire professional ministers to provide ministry accordingly. Proposals for recruitment, formation, affirmation and support for future priests and others. All proposals will be faithful to the teachings and practices of the Church.

Plan Summary and Time Line Phase I – Parishes make initial report to Bishop Phase II – Planning Commission compiles Parish planning and recommendations Phase III – Local Planning Committees establish preliminary plans Sept. 15 – Nov. 25, 2010 Dec. 1 – 31, 2010 Jan. – May 31, 2011

Summary and Time Line cont. Phase IV – Diocesan Parishes hold Parish meetings Phase V – Planning Commission reviews local area planning recommendations Phase VI – Diocesan Consultative Councils reviews plans June 1 – Aug. 31, 2011 Sept. 1 – 15, 2011 Sept. 15 – Oct. 1, 2011

Summary and Time Line cont. Phase VII – Bishop Acknowledges Plan Ongoing – Planning Commission reviews plans continuously Assists in implementation Completes ongoing evaluation Works with Priest Personnel Board Advent 2011

We have a lot going on!!!

How do we do all of this??? Phase I Plan provides: Options for raising parishioner awareness Expectations on how many meetings to hold, who should be involved Suggested outlines for meetings Selection process for local area planning committee parish representative Inter-Parish Collaboration Questions Area Need Considerations Planning and Recommendation Report

Next Step Summary on Page 6 of Local Area Planning Process Packet Meeting 1 and Meeting 2 to be completed by November 24, 2010 Process and forms in packet

Support to the Parishes Planning Commission members are available to assist parishes in this planning process. Contact Us: Fr. Jim Vrba – Ruth Skeens – Diocesan web site: