Consultations on the Diocesan Plan for Parishes 2002-2007 to begin

Beginning in January, Bishop Nienstedt and representatives from the Committee on Parishes will begin a round of consultations with Pastoral Leaders on the working draft of the Plan for Parishes 2002 - 2007.

The draft was prepared by the Committee on Parishes, the Diocesan planning group comprised of representatives from the various consultative and leadership groups in the Diocese. The membership includes the Bishop and delegates from the Diocesan Pastoral Council, Priest’s Council, Priest Personnel Board, Sister’s Council, Pastoral Administrators, Building Committee, and the Diocesan staff. The draft was sent to parishes in December for review and discussion. A joint Parish Pastoral Council and Finance Council meeting will be conducted in each parish to identify the responses to the draft. These responses will then be shared by the pastoral leaders at regional consultations.

The consultations will be held in the six (6) geographical regions into which the Diocese is organized. The purpose of the meetings is to further refine the Plan, based on the region’s recommendations, and to identify the area parish or parishes in each region.

Schedule for 2003 regional consultations with Pastoral Leaders

Region 1 - January 21, 3-5:00 p.m., Holy Trinity Cathedral, New Ulm.

Region 2 - January 23, 9:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m., St. John, Morton.

Region 3 - February 6, 1-3:00 p.m., Holy Redeemer, Marshall

Region 4 - February 6, 5 - 7:00 p.m., St. John, Appleton

Region 5 - January 23, 1 - 3:00 p.m., St. Andrew, Fairfax

Region 6 - February 4, noon - 2:30 p.m., St. Pius X, Glencoe

The Committee on Parishes will study the recommendations from these regional meetings and further refine the draft of the Plan for Parishes. Another round of consultations will then be scheduled in the spring which will include representatives from Parish Pastoral Councils and Finance Councils.