Mission Prayer for the Diocese of f St. . Cloud Leader: Gracious, - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Mission Prayer for the Diocese of f St. . Cloud

Leader: Gracious, loving God, help us to be like Christ your Son, who loved the world and died for our salvation. All: Inspire us by His example in fulfilling His mission, as we strive to be faithful to the mission that is ours. Guide us as we commit our lives anew to the call that is ours as your people at this time and in this place, in our diocese. (Pause) All: We, the people of God of the Diocese of St. Cloud, in union with the universal Catholic Church, believe in and proclaim the presence of Jesus Christ in our world. Our mission is to be His heart of mercy, voice of hope, and hands of justice.

Leader: In living out our mission, we will: Reader 1: Dedicate our lives to building up the kingdom of God, committing ourselves to lifelong formation in our faith through study, prayer, and active participation in the liturgy; Reader 2: Devote ourselves to the development of strong family life, drawing on the values of the generations that have gone before us; Reader 3: Recognize the dignity of each person, seeking justice for all at every stage of life; Reader 4: Cherish our rural tradition, respecting the beauty and sacredness of the earth;

Reader 5: Share the Good News, witnessing the love of Christ through

• ur words and actions;

Reader 6: Embrace the spirit of Vatican II, accepting the challenge to renew our own lives and the life of the Church; Reader 7: Celebrate the Eucharist as the source and summit of our faith, praying, as Christ did, that all may be one. Leader: Let us trust in God’s merciful, redeeming love as we pray: All: Our Father , who art in heaven….

Leader: May the God of endurance and encouragement, grant us to think in harmony with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus, that with one accord, we may with one voice glorify the God and Father of

• ur Lord Jesus Christ.

May Christ who redeemed us and continues to nourish and heal us through the Eucharist, and one anther, strengthen us to be faithful to

• ur mission.

All: We pray this in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Praise & Thanksgiving to you! We have marvelous staff, volunteers, , teachers, , and parishioners. Thank you to all ll who sacri rifice to make our parishes pla laces of f encounter wit ith Jesus Christ. Special thank you to our r staff and parish council members. . (S (Stand for applause)

In Our Years Together, we have:

• Done facility improvements at both parishes
• St. K’s – new church, completed the kitchen, added gutters & downspouts
• St. M’s – new roof on church & rectory, new lighting,

(Also cleaned up/repaired after water damage – BOTH parishes!) (Repaired tornado damage to St. K’s cemetery and the Rectory and PC)

• Hosted the Diocesan Canonization of St. Kateri, Confirmations, the Blessing
• f the Beatitude Garden, Spring Mission Deanery Meeting, Rural Life

Celebration

• Added the Bereavement Ministry and Homebound Ministry Programs
• Changed to “Family” Faith Formation vs. CCD

Offered various prayer opportunities, including Sunday Masses, Morning Communion Services, Marian Devotions, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Stations of the Cross, the Rosary (World Mission Rosary too), Prayer Service for Peace, Prayer Service to Discern before Elections, Parish Reconciliation Services, , Paris ish Mis issions wit ith Fr. . Dic ick k McGuir ire and Fr. . Ron Hoye …

Par artic icip ipated in in Co Communit ity y Outreach via The Ogilvie Food Shelf, Mora Food Pantry, The Refuge, Kick Cancer to the Curb, A Place for You, Soup for the Soul, Operation Community Connect, Vasaloppet activities including the Art Show, St. Clare’s and Eastwood, Box City, Feed My Starving Children, One More Time. Par artic icip ipated in regular Bible Study Groups, our small Faith Groups in Advent and Lent, and special videos on the changes in liturgy.

Went t on Miss issio ion Tri rips to Mexico and Kenya, Catholic Heart Workcamp in Chicago and Detroit Lakes. Se Sewed for r the school in Red Lake, MN and the children in Kenya. Work rked together on Pari rish Activit ivitie ies: Funeral lunches, Spring Salad Luncheons, Fall Festivals, Pork Dinner, Craft and Bake Sale, Holiday Fair, Fish Fries, and numerous Breakfasts!

Just a short summary… but we are most grateful!

The Changing Future in in the Dio iocese of St. . Clo loud

Where do we go from here?

Catholic Church in the State of Minnesota

• There are 6 Dioceses: Crookston, Duluth, St. Cloud, the Arch Diocese
• f Minneapolis and St. Paul, New Ulm and Winona.

How large is the Diocese of St. Cloud?

*16 counties *12, 500 square miles *From Breckenridge and Browns Valley in the west to Mora and Braham in the east. *From Menahga and Butler in the north to Elk River in the southeast. *133,000 registered Catholics in 131 parishes

The Diocese is divided into deaneries.

• Alexandria/ Morris Deanery
• Cold Spring Deanery
• Fergus Falls Deanery
• Foley/Princeton Deanery
• Little Falls Deanery
• Melrose Deanery
• St. Cloud Deanery

Each Deanery is composed of a number of parishes within a geographic area.

• For example: we are in the Foley/Princeton Deanery which includes

Mary of the Visitation in Becker/Big Lake

• St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Isanti
• Sts. Peter & Paul in Braham
• St. Mary in Milaca

Christ the King in Cambridge

• St. Patrick in Minden Township
• St. Marcus in Clear Lake
• St. Mary in Mora
• St. Lawrence in Duelm
• St. Kathryn’s in Ogilvie
• St. John in Foley

Christ our Light in

• St. Louis Bertrand in Foreston

Princeton/Zimmerman

Currently in our Diocese:

• Only 7 Stand Alone Parishes - Alexandria, Elk River, Fergus Falls, Long

Prairie, Morris , Christ Newman Center, and Sauk Rapids.

• 2 Merged Parishes – Becker/Big Lake (Mary of the Visitation) and

Princeton/Zimmerman (Christ our Light)

• All others are twinned/paired (two parishes working together) or

clustered ( with 3, 4, or 5 parishes working together)

Why do we need a plan for the future?

• We are looking at just 57 priests under the age of 70 serving in only 4

years; that’s IF no one else dies or becomes incapacitated for any reason.

• Shifting areas of population – from western counties to growth in the

southeast (Sherburne) county.

• Fewer people attending church regularly.
• Growing Hispanic populations in certain areas of the Diocese.

What has been done in this planning process thus far?

• Priest Task Force looked at Canon Law for possibilities.
• Three priest gatherings were held this summer in 3 locations, with active and retired priests

invited. Discussed: What is right sizing of a parish? How do we measure the vibrancy of a parish? Can 131 parishes continue in the future?

• Diocesan Ministry Day (9-25-17) Laity and clergy were asked for input.

Discussed: What does it mean to have quality parish life? What resources does a parish need to have that quality of life? How can we sustain 131 parishes with a projected 57 priests under the age of 70 as we look to the future? How do we maintain a Catholic Presence in the 16 counties, 12, 500 square miles

• f the Diocese of St. Cloud?
• Clergy Conference in Alexandria – report given on material gathered

Deanery Meetings held with Parish Leaders

Here too the questions were asked:

• What does it mean to have ‘quality’ parish life?
• What resources does a parish need to have quality of life?
• How can we maintain 131 parishes with a projected 57 priests under

the age of 70 as we look to the future?

• How do we maintain a Catholic presence in the 16 counties, 12,500

square miles of the Diocese of St. Cloud?

Then all that information was shared with the Presbyterial Council. What’s that? A group made up of a representative priest from each deanery, plus a representative from the various religious orders serving in our diocese – and of course the Bishop. And again information was shared with the Diocesan Curia. What’s that? All the diocesan offices – Offices of Finance, Worship, Communication, Catholic Education Ministries, Vocations, Marriage and Family Life, the Marriage Tribunal, Development Office, the St. Cloud Visitor, etc. – and of course the Bishop.

Now it is our turn for input!!!

• Looking to the future it is important to remember our call as

responsible active Catholics. “The vision of the Diocese of Saint Cloud is to have communities that are vibrant centers of parish life, providing Sunday liturgy, faith formation and spiritual development, active lay involvement, strong pastoral leadership and financial stability.” “The responsibility of every baptized person, at every age, is to deepen their understanding of God’s desire in fulfilling the mission of Jesus Christ. One of the primary tasks of a faith community is to see that this mission is kept vibrant through the ongoing assessment of the key elements of parish life.”

JESUS CHRIST HAS A MISSION:

To save and sanctif ify every ry soul in in our territ itory. Save every soul from their sin, destruction & death. Sanctify every soul to its fullest potential of glory.

The Catholic Church is not a building; it is the People of God.

We We ca can r n reno nova vate e buil ildi ding ngs s and nd p pro rogram rams, s, but if we if we do no do not re reno nova vate e the soul soul, all ll is is los lost.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “MAKE DISCIPLES”?

Disciples know their faith. Disciples are devoted to Christ. Disciples are inspiring to be around because of their love for Jesus. Disciples are hungry for learning about Jesus. Disciples are regularly practicing Catholics who are prepared to go out and find other souls to bring to Jesus.

USCCB: “Go and Make Disciples” Marks Of f A Vibrant Parish

• Enthusiastic
• Converted
• Full participants in worship
• Convicted:
• Jesus is Savior
• Church is Sacrament
• Compelling Witnesses
• Live attractive holy life

*Explicit Confessors of their

Catholic faith and Relationship with Jesus Christ.

*Servants in all they do. *Love permeates all they do. *Change the society around them. *Marginalized, lost, and hopeless can testify about Catholics and how they have helped them.

Pope Francis said: “Evangelizing is the Church's mission. It is not the mission of only a few, but it is mine, yours, and ours!” The Apostle Paul exclaimed, “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel.” Pope Paul VI stressed that “Evangelizing is…the grace and vocation proper to the Church, her deepest identity. She exists in order to evangelize.” How well are WE evangelizing?

Look at our Mass Attendance Records:

• St. Mary’s

July 1999 July 2003 July, 2016 July, 2017 52% 45% 39% 36%

• St. Kathryn’s

July 1999 July 2003 July, 2016 July, 2017 52% 54% 42% 35%

Baptisms

• St. Kathryn’s
• St. Mary’s
• 1950’s: 2-13 (top year 1956)

1950’s: 19-37 (top year 1958)

• 1960’s: 5-17 (top year 1962)

1960’s: 18-36 (top year 1962)

• 1970’s: 1-7 (top years ‘73 and ‘78)

1970’s: 25-48 (top year1979)

• 1980’s: 4-13 (top year 1988)

1980’s: 26-52 (top year 1983)

• 1990’s: 1-12 (top year 1991)

1990’s: 19-38 (top year 1990)

• 2000-2010: 1-10 (top year 2006)

2000-2010: 15-39 (top years 2003 and 2005)

• 2011-2017: 1-6 (top year 2017)

2011-2017: 8-27 (top year 2013)

* AND – not all baptisms are current members of our parishes. (Grandchildren)

Marriages

• St. Kathryn’s
• St. Mary’s

1950’s: 1-6 (top-1956) 1950’s: 2-10 (top-1958) 1960’s: 1-7 (top-1964) 1960’s: 2-11 (top-1966) 1970’s: 0-2 1970’s: 5-20 (top-1973) 1980’s: 0-2 1980’s: 9-16 (1980, 81, 89) 1990’s: 0-1 1990’s: 5-13 (top-1994) 2000-2010: 0-6 (top-2005) 2000-2010: 2-25 (top-2003) 2011-2017: 0-1 2011-2017: 0-3

Deaths

• St. Kathryn’s
• St. Mary’s________________________

1950’s: 0-6

(most in 1959)

1950’s: 1-11 (most in 1958) 1960’s: 0-4

(most in 1962)

1960’s: 3-11 (most in 1961) 1970’s: 0-3

(most in 1977)

1970’s: 6-14 (most in 1976) 1980’s: 0-5

(most in 1989)

1980’s: 7-17 (most in 1982) 1990’s: 0-4

(most in ‘92-’94)

1990’s: 11-19 (most in 1997) 2000-10: 0-7 (most in 2001) 2000-10: 5-22 (most in 2004) 2011-17: 0-6 (most in 2017) 2011-17: 11-17 (most in 2016)

Are you satisfied or dissatisfied?

• Only an average of 35% “practicing” Catholics
• Most of our Children do not go to Mass every week, some never
• Mass and Sacramental attendance has declined for all ages
• Most Catholics display a “private faith” mentality.
• Most Catholics have a minimalistic devotion to worship and parish

life.

• Who will be left two generations from now?

In In Planning, g, Think of f the Seven Generations Model

Three generations that came before us. Our generation Three generations that will follow us

What Will We Leave?

• Think about your parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents.

3 generations who laid the foundation of faith for us.

• Now we have our current parishioners – you and me.
• Think about the 3 generations to come.

What will we leave our children, grandchildren, and great- grandchildren?

The key elements for a parish, according to Canon Law are: Community – Each of us are called to share and utilize our gifts on behalf of the entire community Evangelization – All the ways in which a parish proclaims the Good News of Jesus Christ. Leadership – We recognize that we are all servant leaders, not just the staff. Service – Our response to Christ's call for works of charity, social action, and justice. Stewardship – A way of life in which we acknowledge that all we have comes from God and that we

have a responsibility to return a portion of our time, and talent and treasure to God in gratitude.

Word (formation of faith) – Ongoing process of forming members of the parish community at

all ages!

Worship (prayer life) – Includes Sunday Eucharist, personal and community prayer, sacraments

celebrated with joy and active participation on a regular basis.

Honest evaluation of f our parish vibrancy (s (strengths and weaknesses)

Strengths – Community Outreach

• Ecumenical Involvement
• Welcoming Atmosphere
• Financial Stability

Honest evaluation of f our pari rish vib ibrancy (s (strengths and weaknesses)

Weaknesses (or areas where we need to grow)

• Evangelization
• Faith Formation (young people and adults)
• Stewardship (more people involved in parish activities)

Themes to consider:

• Our role as part of community, deanery, diocese and global Church
• Mission vs. Maintenance
• Mass Attendance Records
• Sacramental records.
• Honest evaluation of our parish vibrancy (strengths and weaknesses)
• Appropriate Allocation of Resources /Places for Working Together
• Geographic Locations in our Deanery

DIS ISCUSS: Our role as part of community, deanery, diocese and global Church…

DIS ISCUSS:

Mission vs. Maintenance What does it mean? Where are we in maintenance mode? Where are we in mission, the mission of Christ?

Maintenance vs. . Mission

OUR MISSION ~ ~

• We have to have the same

goal as Jesus

• Requires lofty goals
• If we want to have a future

in our area we have to “make disciples.”

Appropriate All llocation of f Resources /Pla laces for Work rking Together

How can we use our resources to improve our weaker areas? Where do we not have the necessary resources for our mission? Where can we find those needed resources?

Geographic Location

Looking at the map of the Diocese of St. Cloud:

• 1. To whom are we neighbors?
• 2. How are we impacted by school districts, shopping centers, etc.?
• 3. As Catholics we are a minority population in our county. How does

that impact our future?

• 4. Possibilities to explore?

What if Our Deanery…

• Had 1 less priest….
• Had 2 less priests…
• Had 3 less priests…

What would be our answer or answers?

Options to consider for the future:

• 1. Cluster (more than one parish served by one priest): If so, with

whom?

• 2. Merger (2 or more parishes merge into one new parish): If so, what

would that entail? The benefits gained?

• 3. Mission (small worship sites served pastorally by nearby pastors):
• 4. Chapel (place of prayer and worship that is considered an extension
• f a larger church)
• 5. Oratory (a private place of worship for a group or community which

could be opened to the public at the discretion of the group’s superior.

• 6. Closure (close or suppress parish)

So the question for us:

What recommendation are we willing to make for

• ur future as part of the Diocese of St. Cloud?