What is Faith in Our Future? Faith in Our Future is a initiative by the Bishop O’Connell and the Diocese of Trenton to improve the Spiritual lives and experiences of the parishes and the faithful To do this, the Diocese needs input from all of us in order to have the best information to make changes.

Goals for Faith in Our Future 1.Strengthen and enliven the parishes of the Diocese as well as Diocesan-sponsored organizations and ministries. 2.Explore new models of leadership in parishes and ministries in institutional settings (schools, colleges, hospitals, nursing homes, prisons, etc.) in order to address the challenges presented by the anticipated retirement of a large number of clergy and religious over the next ten years. 3.Improve our stewardship of personnel, finances, and facilities and other parish and Diocesan resources. 4.Establish collaborative relationships among the parishes and ministries of the 5.Provide for pastoral ministry to Hispanic Catholics, the fastest growing segment of our Diocesan population, within our parishes and organizations. 3

Roles Core Team – Every parish will have a core team of 4 people responsible for gathering input and needs from you the parishioners and other parish groups and administrators You – Our source of information on what you like, don’t like and need to enrich your spiritual lives. Cohort – This is a small group of parishes, most likely within a geographic radius who might be best to share and collaborate activities and services.

St Joseph’s Core Team Fr. Cioffi Dora Ciaglia Nick DiFranco Ray Kerr Kim Mundrane-Tuohy

Cohort Parishes St. Clement St. Joseph Jesus The Lord Holy Family

Suggestions and Recommendations Core Team develops suggestions and recommendations for the parish that will be shared with Core Teams of Cohort parishes. Cohort Core Teams study the various parish self- evaluations, complete a cohort evaluation, decide upon a cohort suggestion and rationale, review the preliminary recommendation from the Diocesan Planning Commission, and make a cohort response and rationale.

Self Evaluation Methods Determine the strengths, weaknesses and needs of the parish in comparison against key indicators through parishioner surveys Pastoral Leadership Council, Finance Committee, and Ministry conversations

Parish Self Evaluation Criteria Sacramental Life Evangelization, Catechesis and Catholic Schools Communal Life Stewardship and Leadership 9 Criteria with numerous indicators of achievement

Proposed Timeline STEP # BY WHOM?DELIVERED TO WHOM? BY WHEN? 1ConversationsParish Core Teams with their Parishioners, Cohort Core Teams January thru March Suggestions of a particular model (Linked, Partnership, Merged, Pastoral Administrator, In Solidum/ Team, Personal Parishes) or models with a rationale Cohort Core TeamDiocesan Planning Commission June 1, Preliminary Recommendations with a rationale Diocesan Planning Commission Cohort Core TeamsJune 30, Conversations about the recommendation Cohort Core Teams July thru September ResponseCohort Core TeamsDiocesan Planning Commission September 30, Final Recommendations Diocesan Planning Commission Bishop O’Connell October 31, DecisionsBishop O’ConnellEveryoneAdvent Implementation - begins with Training Cohort Core Teams January