March 2020
Response to the Submitted Plans
Diocesan Planning Council members reflect on the submitted plans.
Each pastor should have received a response letter to your submitted plan. In that letter are affirmations of your work and recommendations to improve upon or add to your specific plan. In addition, Bishop Kettler states, "After reading all of the plans, we have a few general observations and would like to add these expectations for all Area Catholic Communities:
  • Have a joint bulletin by June 30, 2020
  • Have a Mass schedule that staggers Mass times by June 30, 2020
  • Have a joint pastoral council by June 30, 2021
  • Communicate the plan to the broader Area Catholic Community
  • Include representation on the planning council from a diverse group of people especially the Hispanic community and young adults
  • Include at least one goal that is externally focused (reaching out to inactive parishioners, collaborating with other faith traditions in your area, etc.)
  • Work together as one Area Catholic Community
  • Include realistic timelines"

Revised plans are due to the planning office by April 30. All plans will be published on the diocesan planning website by May 1, 2020.
Teams of two from our diocesan staff will visit ACC planning councils, staffs, etc. to talk more in depth about your plan and how the diocesan offices may be of assistance, as well as how a regional ministry gathering in your area might be helpful in implementing your goals.
October Leadership Day
Follow-Up
Jonah

On October 24, Doug Tooke talked to about 100 people on collaboration, delegation, and conflict management in parish life. Here is one of the videos that he used that day sharing the story of Jonah. Share your insights at your next ACC planning council meeting:
1) How are you like Jonah? 
2) Have you ever entered a team meeting with assumptions about the outcome? How can our assumption create barriers to collaboration?
3) More than likely we all work with people who think differently than we do. What ways are you like Jonah and get frustrated because of the differences?
4) Instead of need to be right, how might you do a better job of seeking to understand?
The Leadership Day scheduled for April 16 is postponed to a later date TBD.
St. Patrick's Breastplate
I arise today through
God's strength to pilot me, God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me, God's eye to see before me,
God's ear to hear me, God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me, God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me, God's host to secure me –
against snares of devils,
against temptations and vices,
against inclinations of nature,
against everyone who shall wish me
ill, afar and anear,
alone and in a crowd...
Christ, be with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ where I lie, Christ where I sit,
Christ where I arise, Christ in the heart of every person who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every person who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.
Salvation is of the Lord.
Salvation is of the Lord.
Salvation is of the Christ.
May your salvation, O Lord, be ever with us.
Brenda Kresky | Director of Pastoral Planning | 214 3rd Ave S. St. Cloud, MN 56301
320-529-4611 | bkresky@gw.stcdio.org | www.stcdio.org/planning