Final Pastoral Planning Recommendations
Presented to Bishop Martino  

Bishop will announce final decisions by end of January
 

The conversations about the future configuration of parishes have been taking place since January. After self-evaluations were completed by each parish, the Parish Core and Cluster Teams submitted their suggestions to the Diocesan Planning Commission, which thoroughly studied them and then formulated preliminary recommendations. The Parish Core and Cluster Teams were then asked to review the preliminary recommendations, share and discuss them with their parish communities, and then provide a response back to the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission has studied these responses and made final recommendations.

The conversation phase, which took approximately eight months and offered ample opportunities for discussion at the parish level, has thus concluded. The public also had access to the preliminary recommendations through the Diocesan website and local media reports.

The Final Recommendations are addressed to Bishop Martino for his review and discernment. He also must consult with appropriate advisory groups in accord with Canon Law.

All faithful in the Diocese are encouraged to continue to pray as often as possible for the success of Called to Holiness and Mission. A Day of Prayer will be held in all parishes on the Feast of the Epiphany, Jan. 4, 2009.

Bishop Martino will communicate to all the Core Teams and people in the Diocese of Scranton by the end of January regarding his decisions. That will lead to the final phase of the process – implementation of those decisions – to begin in July.