Core Team Update #9

JANUARY 14, 2016

Dear Core Team Members:

We want to remind you that you can find a six-minute video message from Bishop O’Connellintroducing Faith in Our Future at http://www.dioceseoftrenton.org/faithinourfuture/ — please encourage all your parishioners to view it.  You can also encourage parishioners to look at all of the resource material for Faith in Our Future that is on the web site. This includes the Planning Guide in English and Spanish and the print resource “Building Our Future Together. “

Other reminders:

1. Please make a note of the next steps for Core Teams:
   • Plan meetings for every other week through early March.
   • Continue evaluating the 4 areas of parish life in ways that involve the whole parish (e.g. surveys, task forces, work groups, town hall meetings, etc.).
   • Implement your communications strategy to keep your fellow parishioners involved.
   • Contact your Reid Group consultant with your questions and concerns.
2. Point C above, “Implement your communications strategy to keep your fellow parishioners involved,” is particularly important. As you continue your regular meetings as a core team, plan for regular communications with parishioners through bulletin announcements, announcements at Masses, messages on your website and more.
3. If you have substantial changes or corrections to your parish data verification form, please submit these in writing to Terry Ginther (tginth@dioceseoftrenton.org , 609-403-7143) by the end of January 2016.
4. The 1^st draft of cohort parishes will be distributed for your review later this month. If you have not completed your preferred cohort form, please return it to Sherrie Sporek
5. The training sessions for the Cohort Teams are scheduled for March 15-16, 2016.  The sites for these sessions will be determined in the next month or so.

Below we have listed a few frequently asked questions.

• WHAT about those parishes who have already participated in parish studies initiated by the Diocese of Trenton in the last 10 years?

Faith in Our Future asks all the parishes of the Diocese of Trenton to participate in a planning process at the same time.  The recommendations made to the Bishop at the conclusion of this process will impact every parish.  Parishes that have been part of a study in the past should be aware that the people and the environment, the resources of the Diocese, and the circumstances of the parish have continued to change in the ensuing years.  It is, essentially, a new time.  Faith in Our Future represents an opportunity to evaluate parish life and outreach as it is currently experienced, to converse with cohort partners, and to be a part of shaping the future for ministry in the Diocese of Trenton.

• WHAT is the relationship of Faith in Our Future to Faith to Move Mountains?

Both projects begin with faith because faith is at the heart of what it means to be a follower of Jesus.  As a Diocese, we are eager to build upon the past. Faith in Our Future will help us to envision strong parish communities and diocesan ministries that will be effective into the future.  People providing financial support through Faith to Move Mountains are making an investment in the future, providing needed resources to pursue our shared priorities.  Together, the Faith in Our Future planning process and the Faith to Move Mountains endowment campaign will result in actions that respond to the challenges of our day and move the Diocese of Trenton confidently forward into the future.  These projects complement each other.  The people can be reassured that both projects embrace the optimal use of all resources in the Diocese by being intentional and prudent in planning and investing.

• WHEN a diocese has completed this process, what does it look like?

The most successful dioceses that have gone through this process have much good news to report — more vital parishes, ministries strengthened by collaboration, thriving newly-merged parishes, more involved lay leaders, better allocation of financial and human resources, greater availability of diocesan ministries to all parishes, and more.

Please let us know what other questions you have and we will answer them in future updates.  Thank you once again for contributing your time and energy to Faith in Our Future.

FAITH IN OUR FUTURE STAFF & COUNTY CONSULTANTS

Diocesan Office Staff

Msgr. Leonard Troiano ltroiano@dioceseoftrenton.org Phone: 609-403-7159

Sherrie Sporek sspore@dioceseoftrenton.org Phone: 609-403-7193

Fax: 609-406-7413

The Reid Group Consultants

Burlington & Ocean Counties Consultant

Tom Reid TReid@TheReidGroup.biz Phone: 206-947-2990

Monmouth County Consultant

John Reid JReid@TheReidGroup.biz Phone: 206-947-1055

Mercer County & Bi-Lingual Consultant

Karen Castellon KCastellon@TheReidGroup.biz Phone: 908-240-9941