Planning consultant to assist diocesan parishes

Tom P. Keaveny, of St. Cloud, will be working with parishes in each of the Diocese’s six regions which have expressed a willingness to implement an area parish or parishes model. These parishes came forth at regional consultations where pastoral leaders met with Bishop Nienstedt to discuss their responses to the sixth draft of the Plan for Parishes. Keaveny will work with these "pilot" parishes through July, while the Committee on Parishes continues to revise the draft of the Plan in consultation with parishes.

Mr. Keaveny is familiar with the Diocese of New Ulm. He grew up on a century farm near Morton and attended Catholic grade school in Redwood Falls. He was the Director of Renville County Human Services and lived in Bird Island and Olivia. In the late 80’s, he became the Director of Community Services - Catholic Charities, Diocese of St. Cloud. After nine years, he was appointed as the Director of Planning for the Diocese and helped develop their "Strategic Pastoral Plan - to 2010 and Beyond." Tom and his wife, Janet, are the parents of four living children and are members of St. Mary’s Cathedral Parish, St. Cloud.

In addition to consulting with regional parishes, Keaveny will assist the diocesan Committee on Parishes to refine the process of creating an area parish or parishes. This will include the development of resources and materials for use with the parishes and the training of diocesan personnel to serve as consultants.