March 5, 2010
A letter from the editor:
It is a fact. There are 69 parishes in our diocese. There are fewer than 50 priests available for our parishes
You have no doubt read or heard that priest numbers are low, that Mass attendance is declining, that problems are many.
What I hope you want to know in the weeks and months and years ahead, is that new energy is surging through the diocese.
While the challenges are daunting, faith is strong and hope is alive among the people engaged in planning. These people are clergy and religious and lay, and they come from all parts of the diocese.
The stories in the Message in the weeks and months and years ahead will be on re-energizing our parishes.
Increasing vocations is just one of six issues identified by members of a strategic planning group.
- Provide quality, affordable, prioritized and available Catholic schooling
- Define and align roles and responsibilities for priests, deacons and laity
- Improve liturgical practices across the diocese
- Increase vocations to priesthood, diaconate and religious life
- Evangelize! Attract and retain members, including the Latino population
- Address disillusionment among youth and teens
How will our Church respond to these issues? Who will answer the call to lead? What changes may be made in our parishes? Our schools?
To everyone who reads these words, this is my promise as editor and this is the commitment of our staff:
Over the weeks and months and years ahead we will report to you the news of these daunting, yet exciting times in our local church. We will bring you the news of faith and hope among us as we struggle with realities and rejoice in the presence of the Spirit.
On behalf of our Message staff,
Paul R. Leingang
Editor, the Message
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