Cluster Pastoral Planning
Once parish pastoral planning is underway within our Diocese, the existing Clusters will begin to examine the situation of the local region and the parishes within that region. Cluster will be asked to make recommendations for the future of Church life in the region. These recommendations will focus on two areas: parish administration and pastoral priorities.
Clusters will be asked to make recommendations and consider recommendations of the Bishop for the future administration of parishes in the local area. This conversation will include local pastoral leadership as well as members of each parish pastoral council within the cluster. The result of these conversations will be changes in the administration of parishes in the future, but also a more concerted effort to support the needs of local parish communities through greater collaboration.
Following this initial conversation on administration, parishes within a cluster will be invited to share their individual plans and ask themselves, “What could we do better together that we could not do separately?” Pastoral staff members and Parish Pastoral Council members will be asked to share their pastoral plans and create shared cluster goals that will foster collaboration among parishes to shape evermore vibrant faith communities.