Update Report January 27, 2010 Pastoral Planning Project
Willimantic Deanery, Cluster Three

The Pastoral Planning Project was initiated in December of 2009. We have had two meetings, one in December and again this January. The plan is to meet as a group over the next 5 months with the goal of presenting our suggestions for diocesan restructuring to Bishop Cote in May.

The Willimantic Deanery consists of 10 parishes and two mission churches. The 10 parishes have been further divided into 3 clusters. Holy Family has been grouped with St. Columba, St. Francis of Assisi and St. Andrew to form a working cluster. The representatives from Holy Family are: Fr. Michael, Mary Marcial, Jeanie Kmetz, Karl Missal and David Graft.

The goals of the Pastoral Planning Project are:
" Assess the realities of the diocese as best we can.
" Provide for best use of the diocesan resources now, next year and in the years to come.
" Ensure that everyone in the diocese has the opportunity for a vibrant and life-giving parish life.
" Elicit feedback from the Holy Family parish community.
" Provide feedback to the Holy Family parish community.

The Willimantic Deanery's 10 churches and two missions are served by 13 priests, four of whom are over the suggested retirement age of 75 and three serve the diocese in other capacities in addition to their parish duties. The diocese has one priest candidate who is to be ordained this spring. The deanery has about 40 Masses each weekend with average attendance of 120.

We think you can begin to appreciate the problem. Limited resources (our priests) not being used efficiently which means that is some instances; there is a failure to provide for a vibrant and life-giving parish life.

In our first two cluster meetings, we have been trying to understand each parish in the cluster and to see if there are ways to help each other. So far we have been able to determine some of the parishes are strong in a particular ministry and could help others to benefit from their expertise.
We also need your help. We need your prayers for success in the process and we need your input and ideas to insure we cover all possibilities and contingencies for now and the future.

For deanery level information on the planning process please logon to the deanery website. www.willimanticdeanery.com. We will be providing updates and status reports as information is developed and becomes available. Finally we will be having a parish meeting to answer your questions and get your feedback.

If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me.

blessings,
Fr. Michael