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Currently,
Step #4 is underway; namely, Conversation
about the recommendation at the
Cluster level. This step will be
completed by October 1, 2008, when
Step #5 will take place. It is: Response to the Diocesan Planning Commission about a particular
Model with a rationale by the
Cluster Team.
I
write at this pivotal time in our Pastoral
Planning process to consider
with you three points.
First,
the aim of Called
to Holiness and Mission. Simply
put, the purpose of the Pastoral
Planning is to lay the
groundwork for the spiritual and
pastoral renewal of the Diocese of
Scranton. This requires looking at
every one of our structures to see
if they are the right ones for our
times to carry out effectively the
Church’s mission of
evangelization, which is the
proclamation of the Gospel and the
ministry of reconciliation.
Second,
the faith needed to respond to Called
to Holiness and Mission. As a
people of faith, we must look at our
present experience of pastoral
planning in the light of the paschal
mystery of the death and
resurrection of Our Lord. “Amen,
Amen, I say to you, unless a grain
of wheat falls to the ground and
dies, it remains just a grain of
wheat; but if it dies, it produces
much fruit” (John
12:24). During this year of
Saint Paul
, we should use his instruction to
appreciate how much we need to
understand the paschal mystery as we
live our lives. Let us reflect
prayerfully on Paul’s words to the
Romans: “Are you not aware that we
who were baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into his death?
Through baptism into his death we
were buried with him, so that, just
as Christ was raised from the dead
by the glory of the Father, we too
might live a new life. If we have
been united with him through
likeness to his death, so shall we
be united with him in the
resurrection” (Romans
6:3-5).
Change,
especially when it involves loss,
can cause much stress and profound
pain. This is precisely the
“dying” Our Lord is referring to
in speaking about the grain of wheat
falling to the ground and dying.
Saint Paul
is talking about the same dying in
addressing the Romans. Believing the
word of God as expressed by Jesus
and
Saint Paul
will keep before our minds that in
Christ our dying leads to life.
Truly, I do appreciate the hurt we
experience when one familiar,
beloved parish church is replaced by
another. Let us, however, put our
faith to work. It will empower us
during these times of change and
loss to keep our focus on growth,
strength and new life.
Third,
the fulfillment of Called
to Holiness and Mission is
impossible without prayer. For this
reason I have already directed that
the Prayer for the Diocese of
Scranton be offered at every Mass of
Obligation and as often as possible
at other times. In addition I am
asking all our Pastors to conduct
two days of prayer prior to crucial
moments which will be occurring in
this Pastoral
Planning process.
The
first is to take place on Sunday,
October 19, 2008. This day precedes
the Retreat during which the
Diocesan Planning Commission will
formulate its responses to all
Cluster Teams. The second day will
be the Feast of the Epiphany,
January 4, 2009. The prayers offered
on this day will be for me as I
begin the consultations and
reflections I must make prior to
calling for the implementation of
this stage of Called
to Holiness and Mission.
May
the prayerful intentions on both
these days include all the Faithful
of our Diocese that they may be
disposed with loving hearts to
embrace enthusiastically the
outstanding labors of their priests
and fellow parishioners in the
magnificent effort of parochial and
diocesan renewal.
With kind personal regards and every good
wish, I am,
Sincerely
yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Joseph F. Martino, D.D.,
Hist. E.D.
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