Feb. 13, 2022 – Archdiocesan of Dubuque: Pastoral Planning, Synodality and Surveys.
The Archdiocese of Dubuque has begun an initiative of in-depth intentional pastoral planning. This involves looking at lots of data, including shifting demographics (where are populations growing, where are populations shrinking), number of parishioners, number of parishes, and number of priests. With that also comes the question of how do we measure parish “vitality,” that is, what makes a parish vibrant, alive, and actively serving the Mission of Christ. As Archbishop Jackels talks about, a Catholic Parish Church is not meant to be merely a “Chapel of Convenience,” a building where it is convenient for me to go for Sunday (if I want), but Parishes are meant to be living communities of faith, who have community, serve the poor, form disciples, and invites others into a life of active discipleship with Christ. How to measure that is another question, that the Archdiocese is still exploring.
Related to this endeavor is a process known as “Synodality.” I talked about “Synodality” back in my column in the Oct. 23-24, 2021 bulletin. (If you missed it or want to read it again, our past bulletins are available on our website franklinhardincatholic.org under the “Bulletins” tab.)
Essentially “Synodality,” is a process of the Pope and Bishops reflecting on how to better and listen to and consult with all the faithful of the Church. Essentially, just being more intentional about something we as a Church have already been trying to do!
Thus this Pastoral Planning of the Archdiocese is not merely a “top-down” thing, but the Archbishop really trying to make well informed, prayerful and well-discerned decisions that involve prayerful discernment with you all, “the people in the pews,” and the voice and perspective you have to offer.
Thus, you are asked to please fill out the Archdiocesan Survey which can be filled out online (information in the bulletin), or there are also physical copies available in the back of the Church. (You also may have received a letter from the Archdiocese about said survey.)
Please also remember to pray. I encourage you to pray before during and after filling out the survey, to be intentional about inviting the Holy Spirit into your work as you respond to the survey. And continue to intentionally pray for the Church of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, for God’s guidance for all those involved in the decision-making, and most especially for God’s guidance of our shepherd, Archbishop Michael Jackels.
Pray because this process is not merely to decide “which parishes to close or merge,” but really trying to live as Church: a community of Christ, prayerfully discerning together the movements of the Holy Spirit and where the Holy Spirit is leading us. And we do this discernment together, with the Apostolic Charism of the Archbishop (and by extension priests), together with the “sensus fidelium” (the “sense of the faithful”) that we may live ever more fully as the Mystical Body of Christ and live His mission of proclaiming the Gospel, caring for the poor, sharing in Christ’s work of Redemption and Salvation, and living as One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church!
Peace,
-Fr. Kevin
