Have you heard about “All Things New”, but don’t understand what it means for you?
All Things New: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future, is the pastoral planning process for the Diocese of Saint Cloud. While the name may sound new the planning has been ongoing for many years.
Beginning in 2015, a task force was formed to look at options for our parishes as the number of priests available was in decline. Data has since been collected, compiled and shared for plan development to aid understanding of the needs of the diocese.
29 ACCs (Area Catholic Communities) were formed in the diocese in 2019, as a measure to initiate collaboration and sharing among parish communities. We became COR, a community of the parishes of St. Charles, St. Olaf, and Our Lady of the Runestone.
In the current phase of this long-term plan, we will work together within our ACC, following the parameters provided by the diocese, to create a local plan for a vibrant future that results in an energized and engaged faith community that is in alignment with the goals of the pastoral plan. Our plan will be submitted to the diocese for approval by the end of the year with implementation to follow.
Who is All Things New?
A Committee of 3 members from each of the 3 parishes of the ACC and Father Jose.
Members of the committee:
St. Charles: Michael Backman, Lisa Engquist, Chris Vlaminck
St. Olaf: Matt Allen, Nancy Jennen, Kim Porter
Our Lady of the Runestone: Ben Dostal, Anthony Green, Jeff Schneider
Why All Things New?
Our world is changing around us rapidly, data collected since 2010 from across the Diocese shows a decrease in the number of Catholic parishioners, as well as, lower mass attendance, and fewer sacraments performed (weddings, baptisms, confirmations, etc.) Our church buildings are often at less than half the capacity. Data shows maintaining staff is difficult and gifts from the offering plate in many parishes are consistently less than the operational expenses incurred. The number of clergymen is still in decline, causing burn out and fatigue, as on average, a priest will serve the needs of 2.4 parishes.
What Can I do to help the planning process and All Things New?
Visit www.stcdio.org and click on the All Things New tab on the webpage for additional details of the planning process. Subscribe to the All Things New newsletter. See website for sign-up and previous editions. Talk with committee members. Ask questions, offer insights and feedback. Pray for the committee, ACC, parishes, and the Diocese of Saint Cloud. Review additional materials provided today: All Things New: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future Prayer, Brochure, and Letter from Bishop Neary.
Watch for continuous communication from your All Things New ACC Planning Committee as we make further progress in our plan in the coming months.
Prayer for All Things New
Ever-present God,
just as you accompanied our biblical ancestors,
so, too, you accompanied our ancestors
who came to Central Minnesota generations ago
to begin a new life and set down
their roots of faith in our churches.
Be with us now as we, the people of the Diocese of St. Cloud,
embark on a new, uncharted journey,
heeding your call for renewal and transformation.
Send forth your gifts of
courage, compassion, trust and collaboration.
Help us discern the best ways
we can fulfill your call to missionary discipleship
with vibrant communities and effective ministries.
Open our hearts to the stirrings of the Holy Spirit
and give us the grace we need for this journey
as you make all things new.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,
with the intercession of Mary, our Mother,
and St. Cloud, our patron.
AMEN.
In May each household of our ACC received a letter with insight into the All Things New: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future pastoral planning process. Since then communications have been included in the bulletin and committee members have continued to meet for discussion and planning purposes.
As your COR All Things New committee works to create a plan for our future, we wanted to share the guiding principles and design parameters that will be steering our conversations and decisions in the coming months.
Below are excerpts from the All Things New Guidebook provided to all committee members in the St. Cloud Diocese for use by each ACC in the planning process.
Guiding Principle
The guiding principles will serve as foundational values that anchor decision-making, promote unity and keep the community focused on its mission.
Missionary Discipleship
As baptized Catholics, we are all called to the evangelizing mission of the Church. Rooted in this mission, together we are guided by a desire to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ in the world by living and sharing a life of faith.
Sacramental Life
The sacraments are outward signs of grace that God gives to people to help them live a life close to Jesus. We are guided by an invitation to encourage the full, conscious and active participation of the faithful in sacramental life and prayer of the Church.
Engaging the Laity
God has given each person a unique set of gifts and charisms to live out their individual vocation. Through revitalized prayer and formation opportunities, encounters with family, friends, co-workers and neighbors, we can welcome new faces into the fold. We are guided by our strengths to stimulate renewal in the Church.
Listening as a Way of Being Church
The Holy Spirit calls us to pray, listen and discern together what God is asking of us today. By listening to each other, we are guided by learning to best respond to the spiritual needs of all people in our diocese.
Prudent Stewardship
All our resources – human, structural, financial – are gifts from God. With a deep sense of gratitude, we are guided by the use of resources to achieve our shared mission in a healthy and responsible way.
Design Parameters
Design parameters provide a clear framework for decision-making, ensuring the Church’s mission is carried out effectively and sustainably.
Accessibility to Sunday Mass (includes Saturday evening vigil)
• 80% of the faithful must have access to a Sunday Mass within a 20-minute drive
• No rotation of Mass schedules between churches.
Budgeted Ministries
• One administrative office per ACC if under 3000 households.
o ACC Business Administrator (paid).
• Liturgical Ministries.
• Formation Ministries: Children – Youth – Adult.
o Catholic schools included.
• Hispanic ministries with 10% of the total census population.
• Pastoral Care.
• Social Outreach
Pastors/Priests
• Limit of three Sunday Masses per weekend/priest not including weddings/funerals.
o Mass schedule must be able to be accommodated by assigned priests to ACC.
• Pastors will spend at least 50% of their time in pastoral ministry.
• Desire to live in community within ACC will be considered.
Buildings
• Overall facility usage must average 50% occupancy or higher for all weekend liturgies in the ACC.
• Buildings must be physically accessible, hospitable and safe.
o Restrooms in church building.
o Church building is either one level or has access to an existing elevator.
• ACC plan must specify how empty buildings will be repurposed or relegated for secular but not unbecoming use ideally within five years.
Governance
• Reduce the number of parish corporations.
• Potential Worship Sites – Primary Church, Partner Church.
Finances
• Each finance council will approve an attainable and reasonable annual balanced budget.
• Parish investment in Catholic school may not exceed 40% of plate/envelope within five years.
• Routine building operations may not exceed 25% of plate/envelope.
Both the guiding principles and design parameters are described in further detail in the resources available on the diocese website. Visit
www.stcdio.org/all-things-new to review the guidebook and other resource materials. If assistance is needed accessing any of the materials provided on the website; please contact a member of the committee.