Our Lady of the
February 7, 2010 Parish Bulletin Enclosure
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION
WHAT IS PASTORAL PLANNING?
The Bishop has commissioned
committees to review all parishes within the Norwich Diocese to plan for a
future that uses our diocesan resources well, and
still ensures that everyone in the diocese has the opportunity for vibrant and
life-giving parish life. It has been made
very clear that the Bishop’s goal is not to review parishes for closure, but
rather to invite recommendations from each parish on how to utilize diocesan
resources to ensure that everyone experiences a vibrant parish-life. The Putnam Deanery completed a similar review
last year, and now the Norwich Deanery and Willimantic Deanery are engaged in
pastoral planning. Our Lady of the
WHICH PARISHES MAKE UP THE
The Norwich Deanery consists of
fourteen (14) parishes and two (2) missions located within, or in close
proximity to the City of
1. The Cathedral,
2. Our Lady of the
Lakes, (Oakdale), St. John (
3. St. Mary
(Baltic),
4. St. Mary (
* Note: St.
Andrews (
HOW IS OUR LADY OF THE LAKES REPRESENTED?
Each parish has three or four representatives who have committed to this process of study and discussion for six months (December 2009 – May 2010). Our Lady of the Lakes is represented by Marshall Collins*, Nancy Dytko, Todd Frechette*, and Deacon Bill Herrmann*. The committee seeks the guidance of Father Tad regularly, and provides reports to Father Tad and the Parish Council each month. (* Parish Council Member)
WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED SINCE DECEMBER?
Committees from the Norwich
Deanery have met twice so far. In these groups, we have been introduced
to the Deanery parishes, as well as our recommended clusters. Our first
act as a committee was to agree to the parishes we have been clustered
with. Originally, Our Lady of the Lakes and
Each parish has completed a thorough evaluation form. This evaluation form included a complete review of all parish ministries, activities, finances and attendance. These evaluations will be used by cluster committees to identify ways of sharing resources to ensure that each and every parish in the diocese offers a vibrant parish life.
WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED SO FAR?
While completing the evaluation of Our Lady of the Lakes, what we learned was no surprise. The research that we have done shows that our Parish is young and growing. We have more than three hundred-eighty (380) people that are actively supporting the various organizations, ministries and groups within our Parish. That is truly impressive and a tribute to our Parish.
HOW CAN PARISHIONERS PARTICIPATE IN PASTORAL PLANNING?
The most important question
for you to consider is how can Our Lady of the Lakes work with
Begin to think of our parish as one of many within our cluster and diocesan family, rather than a stand-alone, self-supporting entity. A parish is understood to be a community of the Christian faithful. While canon law recognizes each parish as a separate juridic person under the leadership of its proper pastor, each parish is bound to all the others by the theological reality of communio, which unites the diocese, clergy and laity alike, under the leadership of the bishop.
Please share your ideas or questions with any committee member or Father Tad.
Marshall Collins: (860) 859-3338 or mrcollinssr@sbcglobal.net
Nancy Dytko: (860) 859-1118 or ndytko@aol.com
Todd Frechette: (860) 889-2888 or toddfrechette@sbcglobal.net
Deacon Bill: (860) 848-7144 or williamherrmann@sbcglobal.net
Father Tad: (860) 859-1575 or parish.office@snet.net