Pastoral Planning involves clergy, religious, and lay leaders at the diocesan and parish levels in a process that is rooted in prayer and focused on the mission of the Church. Its purpose is to grow in our ability to serve that mission into the future.
Mission Statement of the Diocese of Trenton
We, the people of the Catholic Church of Trenton, are called to proclaim and advance the Kingdom of God in the New Jersey Counties of Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean.
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Where are we going? How will we get there?
These are exactly the questions a pastoral planning process is designed to answer. We will have to think about what the Church is and why it exists. The process demands that we be honest about the need to stretch and grow. We must be willing to identify needs, consider the times in which we live, and become more attentive to the direction in which the Spirit is leading us. If we are faithful, the pastoral planning process will help us set meaningful goals and chart a course of action to achieve them.
[click here for process outline...]
A shared vision for the future.
Led By the Spirit of God, we are building a shared vision of the Church we are called to be. Only with this shared vision can we name where it is we want to go, and make the choices needed to get there. We know this vision of the future includes vibrant parishes, collaborative leadership, and shared responsibility for the mission of Christ. The rest of the vision we will discover together in the months and years ahead. Read some related statements:
[Vision of a Vibrant Parish]
[Related quotes from Bishop John M. Smith]
