Priests Council reviewed models, now sent to Archbishop Rozanski for prayerful discernment
The Archdiocese of St. Louis has released a third set of draft models as part of the All Things New strategic pastoral planning process.
The models, published online April 28, still include one for each of the 15 territorial planning areas. Planning area maps and the third round of draft models can be found at allthingsnew.archstl.org.
Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski met with the Council of Priests in late April to review the recommended models, which were presented by the All Things New planning committee.
The Council of Priests includes members who are elected from each deanery of the archdiocese, as well as some who have been appointed or named ex officio members. Canon law requires the archbishop to consult the council before he makes any decision to alter a parish.
The recommended models presented to the Priests Council include some parishes that are proposed to remain unchanged and other parishes that are proposed to share the same pastor. Most of the parish configurations in the third round of recommended models remain unchanged from the second set of draft models made public in February. Several changes have been made involving multi-parish configurations, with some parishes shifting into a different planning area. Pastors of affected parishes have been notified of the changes.
The changes over time reflect the feedback that has been taken into account since the beginning of the All Things New planning process, said Father Chris Martin, vicar for strategic planning.
“We are grateful for all the parishioners and parish ministries who have provided feedback, gathered, reviewed, and synthesized data, volunteered in many ways, and most importantly who continue to pray for the success of All Things New,” Father Martin said.
Since the beginning of the All Things New process on Jan 25, 2022, the archdiocese has heard from more than 70,000 people through the Disciple Maker Index survey; hosted nearly 350 listening sessions at 178 parishes; surveyed 18,000 parish school parents, administrators, teachers, staff and more; compiled sacramental, financial and demographic statistics for every parish and school; met with community, civic and business organizations; held focus groups; and had conversations at the deanery and parish levels.
All of this is geared toward the archbishop making a well-informed, discerned decision for the spiritual well-being of the archdiocese, looking at the feedback of the people and the needs of the archdiocese, said Father Martin.
Father Kevin Schroeder, pastor of Incarnate Word Parish in Chesterfield and chairman of the Priests Council, said the scope of All Things New has opened the door for many different possibilities for the future of the archdiocese.
“As priest and pastor, I am looking forward to where God is calling us to now as an archdiocese, and having a vision and a plan, even if it is challenging,” he said. “I have been encouraged how much feedback has been gathered, and how many adjustments have been made throughout the process.”
The draft models next go to Archbishop Rozanski, who will spend the next month in prayerful discernment. The archbishop is expected to make a final announcement on Pentecost weekend, May 28.
See the third round of draft model maps and stay informed at allthingsnew.archstl.org
