Core Team Update #28

Lord Jesus Christ, Word of the Father, we turn to you. Watch over our plans. Enliven our service to the Church. Sustain our labors. 

Guide our steps in the search of the best ways to proclaim your Gospel. Our poverty is great. We do not place trust in ourselves but only in you. 

Encourage us, reassure us, give us your blessing. You who with the Holy Spirit live and reign in us and in your Church forever and ever.  Amen.

+ Prayer of Blessed Pope Paul VI

Dear Core Team Members:

We are now beginning Steps 4 and 5 of the Faith in Our Future planning process.  Over the next three months, cohort core teams should meet to discuss the Preliminary Recommendations the Diocesan Planning Commission has made about their cohort and formulate a response (click here for suggested agendas).

Customized response forms for each cohort will be distributed to cohort chairs and secretaries next week.

You can watch an excellent video report by the Monitor staff about the Planning Commission’s recent retreat here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jhPCgYDqbQ&feature=youtu.be

and print coverage of the retreat here:

http://www.trentonmonitor.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=36&ArticleID=13113&TM=42697.61

Profiles of the Commission members can be found in the April Monthly Update on the Faith in Our Future page of the website, www.dioceseoftrenton.org.

Some reminders:

1. Please keep in mind that the Preliminary Recommendations are, in fact, preliminary. The Diocesan Planning Commission will meet on retreat in October to carefully consider the cohort responses and send its Final Recommendations directly to Bishop O’Connell.  The Bishop will make the final decisions after consulting with the appropriate bodies.
2. It is very important that you continue to update your fellow parishioners on a regular basis about the work of your cohort. You will find sample bulletin announcements in your Planning Guide on p. 50.
3. If there are any changes to the roster of your parish core team, please share the changes (additions and deletions) with Sherrie Sporek at [email protected]
4. Facilitators have been assigned to assist each of the 25 cohorts. These skilled and experienced men and women are available as needed to facilitate cohort core team meetings, parish town hall meetings, etc. at no cost to the parishes.  Parish facilitators are contacting their appropriate cohort chairs this week to determine if and when they can be helpful.

Please let us know what questions you have about your work and the whole Faith in Our Future planning process and we will answer them in future updates. 

 

FAQ—Frequently Asked Questions about Faith in Our Future

Should parishes begin to adjust Mass schedules now in response to the preliminary recommendations from the Diocesan Planning Commission?

No, the Diocesan Planning Commission issued preliminary recommendations to all 25 cohorts for further discussion, dialogue and response.  Nothing is final and so action is not yet advised.  Bishop O‘Connell will review the final recommendations from the Commission and consult with the Presbyteral Council, Episcopal Council and others before making a final decision.

When can we expect Bishop O’Connell to announce his decisions regarding Faith in Our Future and when will implementation of these decisions begin?

Bishop O’Connell expects to announce his final decisions late in 2016 or early in 2017.  The decisions will be followed by a period of deliberate preparation before Implementation begins in July 2017.

Thank you for contributing your time and energy to this important project.

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

Cleo Molina, [email protected], 1-206-383-2536