Core Team Update #3

November 25, 2015

Dear Core Team Members:

Again, thanks to all of you who attended one of the training sessions last week. We were pleased with the attendance and the enthusiasm for Faith in Our Future. Here are some reminders as we move ahead:

1. For Core Team members who were not able to attend one of the earlier training sessions, we have scheduled an additional session for you on December 9th from 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. The training session will be held at St. Mary Parish, Colts Neck at the intersections of Route 34 and Phalanx Road.

2. If you were unable to complete your “Preferred Cohort Form at the training session last week, please return it to Sherrie Sporek by November 30th.

3. As you begin you planning and discussions, here are some of the diocesan realities that were shared at the Wednesday evening training for your consideration:

a.  About 1 in 5 Catholics attend Mass on an average weekend

b.  52 parishes have more funerals than baptisms

c.  The diocese is about 15% Hispanic and this population is growing

d.  There is one priest for every 1300 families

e.  65 priests are retiring in the next 10 years

f.  39% of parishes operate at a deficit

g.  Parishes owe the Diocese $60 million for loans and unpaid bills

4. Please make a note of the next steps for Core Teams:

a. Meet as a Core Team in December or early January, review sections I & II in the Planning Guide to clarify your role and responsibility as a Core Team.

b. Plan meetings at least for every other week through early March.

c.  Decide on a communications strategy to keep your fellow parishioners involved.

d.  Begin to evaluate the 4 areas of parish life in ways that involve the whole parish (e.g. surveys, task forces, work groups, town hall meetings, etc.)

e.  Contact your Reid Group consultant with your questions and concerns.

5. The training sessions for the Cohort Teams are scheduled for March 15-16, 2016, sites to be announced.

6. We will be sending out these updates approximately every week to keep you informed on the progress of our planning efforts. If there are issues you would like to see addressed in an update or questions you need answered, please send them to one of the consultants or to Msgr. Troiano.

Thank you for agreeing to give your time and energy to Faith in Our Future.

FAITH IN OUR FUTURE STAFF & COUNTY CONSULTANTS

Diocesan Office Staff

Msgr. Leonard Troiano, [email protected], 1-609-403-7159

Sherrie Sporek, [email protected], 1-609-403-7193

FAX: 1-609-406-7413

MAILING ADDRESS:  Faith in Our Future, Diocese of Trenton

701 Lawrenceville Road,  Trenton, NJ 08648

The Reid Group Consultants

Burlington & Ocean Counties Consultant Tom Reid, [email protected], 1-206-947-2990

Monmouth County Consultant John Reid, [email protected], 1-206-947-1055

Mercer County & Bi-Lingual Consultant Karen Castellon, [email protected], 1-908-240-9941