To have a Synod means ‘to walk together.’ A Synod is a Diocesan Planning Event

The art of Diocesan Planning is Pastoral and Strategic

Foundations Cor ad Cor Loquitur The Mission of the People of God Mary of Oswego A Gathering in Utica Begin with the end in mind

The Communion of Saints

Novum Modum Videndi The Lilly Endowment, Inc. of Indianapolis The Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Initiative: Lessons Learned

Lesson 1 Remember the core mission and its ‘touchstone’ values [In Business Speak – Be attentive to your Brand]

Learning 2 Be attentive to small communities Our Parishes are a community of communities

Learning 3 Rediscover Sabbath We are human beings, not human doings.

A National View – We are not in hospice mode We are in growth mode We need a new way of seeing

Diocesan Planning is: – Centrally Enabled – Locally Guided

All Pastoral Planning is Multi-Dimensional

Pastoral Planning is dynamic Subsidiarity and Creativity are blessings for the process

An Example Three Levels of Parish Pastoral Planning (Yes, there may be more)

1.Hospitality 2.Planning for ‘Historic’ Catholics 3.Embracing the Emerging Catholic Community 4.Evangelizing the Un-Churched and the new “Christian” 5. Keep open to, aware of, and welcoming toward the “new” parishioners of differing backgrounds.

Pope Francis to the Bishops Conference of South America

Pope Francis & The Gospel of Joy

Re-imaging Pastoral Collaboration We are not a 501 (C) 3 or an NGO We are the pilgrim people of God and we are on a mission. We need a new way of seeing

We are called together to build a consensus about how to be Church Synod means to walk together. That is, to become a: Visionarium

En vision the future and Engage it According to the Scripture, “We have a future to hope in.”

The collaboratives:  Parish Pastoral Council  Parish Finance Council  Parish Ministry Council (possibly)  Pastor and his pastoral team

The Diocese has a similar structure Synod and Diocesan Pastoral Council Diocesan Finance Council The Bishop and his pastoral staff The Presbyteral Council and the College of Consultors

Listen for the real questions and authentic needs Sift for the real issues Take the wider vision Synod, Journey together.

As Pope Francis says, we may be a field hospital, but we are not a hospice. Our role is to be the servants and mid-wives for birthing the new creation.

So, Trust in God’s Abundance Dream Big! Anything less is not worthy of you.

Begin with the End in Mind