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Bishop Martino's Letter on New Pastoral
Planning Project
December 8, 2007
Dear Friends,
In my July 22, 2004 Pastoral Letter, I
shared these hopes and concerns: “I also
ask you to pray as we begin to plan for the
spiritual and pastoral renewal of our
Diocese. This will be an arduous but
necessary endeavor as we progress further
into the new century and new millennium.” In
that Pastoral Letter, I also raised an
important question: “The spiritual and
pastoral renewal of the Diocese of Scranton
will mean that we need to look at every one
of our structures, i.e., our parishes,
schools, institutions, buildings and
programs. Are these entities the right ones
for the 21st century? Are these
entities currently prepared to announce the
Good News of Jesus Christ as Jesus intends
them to do?”
On Monday, December 3, I spoke to our
priests and deacons about a comprehensive
diocesan project. Its name is “Called to
Holiness and Mission: Pastoral Planning in
the Diocese of Scranton”. I ask you to read
my Pastoral Letter that will outline in
greater detail this initiative and its goals
in the December 13 issue of our diocesan
newspaper, The Catholic Light. Further
information will be made available in the
weeks ahead through CTV: Catholic
Television, our diocesan website, The
Catholic Light, and through information
supplied to pastors for placement in parish
bulletins.
This diocesan pastoral planning process
requires a serious commitment to prayer and
involves broad consultation. The process
will involve a Diocesan Planning Commission
composed of clergy, religious and lay
representatives; Parish Core Teams
consisting of the pastor and four parish
leaders; Cluster Core Teams comprised of the
Parish Core Teams in a given geographic
area; the already established Pastoral and
Finance Councils for each parish; parish
staff and the parishioners. The Presbyteral
Council and other diocesan advisory groups
will also participate.
These groups will evaluate key factors
including demographics of the parishes and
the Diocese as a whole, the number of
priests available for active service, and
the status of parish ministries and
programs. Every parish in the Diocese will
be involved in this process. It will be the
responsibility of the Parish Core Team to
insure that the necessary work is done in
each parish and that communication and
consultation involve all members of the
parish, the Parish Pastoral Council and
Parish Finance Council.
It is my express wish that the Prayer for
the Diocese of Scranton, available in all of
our churches or from the Diocesan Worship
Office, be used by the celebrant alone as he
concludes the General Intercessions at Mass
on every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation.
I also recommend to all the faithful of the
Diocese that this prayer be used whenever
there is a gathering of parish councils and
societies, and I recommend it for personal
prayer throughout the coming months.
May God’s choicest blessing be yours during
this holy Advent Season, I am,
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most
Reverend Joseph F. Martino, D.D., Hist. E.D.
Bishop of Scranton
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