Vision 2016 Update
Diocese Shares Draft Plan to Strengthen Sustain Catholic Ministry in Diocese
and
Draft Plan Includes Changes for About Half of Our Parishes This month, it is with both hope and sadness that the Diocese of Winona releases the DRAFT parish cluster structure details of Vision 2016, our plan to ensure a sustainable future for our parishes, parishioners and priests and success of our Catholic community within and across our 280–mile diocese. w Our sadness stems from the reality that in order to serve our parishioners well, we must take the difficult step of moving some of our parishes toward oratory status as they merge with larger communities. w Our hope rests in our faith in God. Our hope is bolstered by a thoughtful and inclusive process that will allow us to serve our communities well for the foreseeable future. And our hope is strengthened by the commitment, respect and love we have for each other -- within and across our parish communities and diocese. w We know that our diocesan leaders, our pastors and lay leaders will support each other through this process in order to ease the grief some in our communities will experience, as well as to welcome those who will join and re-shape our parish communities. The planning and changes are necessary in order to ensure that we are adapting to two critical and compounding factors: 1. We have fewer priests (current and projected for the future) in our diocese than in the past to serve our far-reaching 114 parishes and parishioners. 2. Demographic shifts of both growth and decline in areas of our diocese require us to re-examine and adapt how we serve specific communities and the diocese. w For example, the number of individual parishes in our diocese with fewer than 70 households or 70 people attending Mass has grown from 14 in the year 2000 to 21 today. All of these have very limited sacramental activity outside of Mass. w When we look at overall population, only 6 of our 20 counties will grow in the next 30 years and 14 will remain stable or decline. Stable Mass attendance depends upon a population growth of 30% over a 10-year period simply because our population is aging and our youth and young adult membership is in decline. w In the next decade we face a shortfall of about 10 pastors, as 20 priests retire and only 10 are anticipated to be ordained. As part of the Vision 2016 process for 2015-16, each parish in the Diocese will develop a two-year to three-year Parish Pastoral Plan "My greatest hope for this process is that we become a more vibrant, active Diocesan Church; more capable to build up the faith life of people and more effectively bring them into closer relationship with Christ." (Fr. Steffes: St. Augustine and St. Edward, Austin)
over the coming year to "Despite challenges, I do hope that we create a more sustainable can utilize resources and join efforts in path forward locally and order to have stronger parishes focused diocese-wide. In addition, on Jesus and not on community identity nearly half of our parishes alone. (Fr. Kern: Good Thunder, Mapleton, can expect organizationVernon Center) al change as a result of the draft plan. These may include variations in how parishes are clustered, the residence of a pastor, or the merging of parishes (including 21 to become oratories without a Sunday or Vigil Mass). While Vision 2016 focuses closely on the next 1 to 5 years, it also includes and encourages a longer-term view of trends, needs and possibilities, and an expectation that the plan will be reviewed and adapted in an ongoing fashion to ensure that all parishes, clusters and priests are positioned to thrive in their current community -- or in a new community should change become necessary. The overall goals of Vision 2016 are to strengthen our parish and diocesan life in Christ, to be proactive and wise in our stewardship and growth as a Catholic community, and to have the capacity to serve all of our faithful. Vision 2016 is a process of moving forward together toward greater and shared vitality, clearer expectations, and deeper hope and faith. “Together we will set goals towards Vision 2016 that will help us be the light of Christ in the world,” Bishop Quinn states in his introduction of Vision 2016. “We will together define the key actions we must take at the parish level to build the Catholic Church and to attend the pastoral and sacramental needs of the faithful … We will grow in our faith and be strengthened in our Catholic identity so we can enable our parishes and schools and thus the entire Diocese of Winona to indeed become a stronger, more visible presence of Christ in southern Minnesota.” As noted in updates about Vision 2016 in previous issues of The Courier, the draft Vision 2016 plan was developed with guidance and input from parish and deanery leaders over the previous two years. Over the coming weeks and months, all of our Catholic community members will have the opportunity to offer possible improvements to the proposed plan for their community. Ultimately, Bishop Quinn will be tasked with making the serious and necessary decisions regarding the future of our parishes, clusters and deaneries based on the capacity of our priests to serve them, and the capacity of our communities to sustain the wider mission of the church for the long term. This issue of The Courier provides a summary of what’s included in Vision 2016, the process for our community members to learn more about and provide input to the draft plan, and a timeline for the steps ahead. To read the public summary of the draft plan, as well as the Vision 2016 Parish Pastoral Plan Guidebook, visit the Diocese of Winona website at www.dow.org.
Prayer for Pastoral Planning in the Diocese of Winona
Almighty God, we the people of the Diocese of Winona prayerfully look to the future. During this time of pastoral planning, we implore the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us the gifts of wisdom, courage and hope. May we exercise the virtue of prudence by opening our hearts and minds to be good stewards of the legacy of faith inherited from those who built the Church on the prairie, the hills, and in the valleys. May we exercise the virtue of justice by opening our hearts and minds to assure that the voices of people from all generations, all vocations and all areas of the Diocese are welcomed and respected.
May we exercise the virtue of fortitude by opening our hearts and minds to understand and acknowledge the spiritual and practical realities of our day and prepare for the days to come; and May we exercise the virtue of temperance by opening our hearts and minds to accept the changes in diocesan, parish and personal life that the Holy Spirit, through this planning process, is guiding us to make. Under the protection of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, our Mother, may we discern and implement what is best for the diocesan Church and all the faithful of southern Minnesota. We pray this through Christ, our Lord.
February, 2015 w The Courier
Vision 2016 Development Timeline
Vision 2016 Q&A
2012 - 14
A parish pastoral plan is a process by which a local faith community — with a deep appreciation of its past, and an understanding of its present strengths and weaknesses — seeks to respond to the spiritual and pastoral needs of the people within, and beyond, its community. This is accomplished through consultation and dialogue that leads to action. Vision 2016 provides clear descriptions of key goals for each parish in its Parish Pastoral Plan concerning ministry roles, worship, stewardship, faith formation, etc.
2016 and Beyond
• Communicating to parishioners & pastors • Deanery level orientation to DRAFT Cluster Plan of Vision 2016 • Facilitated community meetings for parishes recommended for oratory status • Facilitated Parish Pastoral Planning by parish clusters • Consultation with Bishop on possible improvement of DRAFT Parish Cluster Proposal & the 2-Year Parish Pastoral Plan
• Parish demographic analysis • Assessment of priest resources and capacity • Drafting of proposed parish, cluster and deanery options • Deanery-level feedback and refinement • Bishop Planning Team feedback and refinement • Communication to parishioners and pastors
What is a parish pastoral plan?
2015
• Facilitated Parish Pastoral Planning by parish clusters • Consultation with Bishop on possible improvement of DRAFT Parish Cluster Proposal and the 2-Year Parish Pastoral Plan • Decision making by Bishop • Implementation of Vision 2016 Plan and Parish Pastoral Plans
What defines a parish? A parish is defined as a gathering of the people, a community of the faithful; it can include one or more worship sites, properties, etc.
Mankato
Pipestone
What is a cluster? A cluster is group of individual parishes that each retain their respective corporations, assets, liabilities, worship sites and property, yet may share their staff, ministries and resources.
What is a deanery?
Murray
Woodstock
Pipestone
Lake Crystal
Currie
Slayton
Lake Wilson
Iona
Windom
Fulda
Slayton
Lake WilsonAdrian Ellsworth
Jasper
Rock
Iona Nobles
Luverne
Ellsworth
Blue Earth
Lakefield
Cottonwood Jackson Windom
Heron Lake
Lake Winnebago Crystal
Wilmont
Brewster
Lakefield
Sherburn
cont'd on next page February, 2015 w The Courier
Wells
Blue Earth
Map Key
Waseca
Parish City Parish City - Change in Cluster Parish Clusters Deaneries Waseca Counties
Mankato
What is an oratory?
The following criteria guided the recommended parish changes for this draft plan. They are based
Easton
Fairmont
A canonical merger is when two or more parishes canonically and civilly consolidate their assets, liabilities, worship sites, ministries, staff, and property (and perhaps corporations).
What were the criteria to determine recommended status changes for parishes?
Waseca
Waldorf New Richland Madison Lake
East Chain (Western Deaneries) Diocese of Winona Current Clusters
Jackson
Worthington
Waseca
Diocese of Winona (Western Deaneries) Current Clusters
What does it mean to "merge"?
An oratory is a worship site that no longer holds Sunday or Vigil Mass. The building, however, may be used for local Catholic weddings, funerals and other specified events.
Mankato MN Lake
Diocese of Winona (Western Deaneries) Faribault Current Clusters Martin Jackson Nobles
Adrian
A deanery is a regional arrangement of several neighboring parishes and clusters for support and communciations.
Westbrook
St. Claire
Good Thunder Vernon Center Mapleton
Janesville Waseca St. Claire Madelia Easton Good Thunder Wells Sherburn Fairmont Waseca St. James Faribault Vernon Center Waldorf Mapleton Blue Earth New Richland Martin East Chain Watonwan Blue Earth MN Lake Truman Winnebago Truman
Jackson
Worthington Fulda
St. Kilian
Lismore
Watonwan
Heron Lake
Pipestone Murray Currie Lismore Wilmont Brewster Rock Woodstock Pipestone Luverne
St. James
Cottonwood
St. Kilian
Jasper
Madelia
Westbrook
Madison Lake Janesville
Pipestone
Pipestone Pipestone
Pipestone Luverne Pipestone
Rock
Rock
Currie
Diocese of Winona (Western Deaneries) Recommended Clusters
Wilmont
Winnebago
Easton
Diocese of Winona (Western Deaneries) Nobles Recommended Clusters Jackson Martin
Lismore Luverne
Lake Crystal
St Madison Lake Madelia Westbrook Mankato Good Thunder Lake Wilson St. James Slayton Pipestone Vernon Center Cottonwood Janesville Lake Crystal Mapleton St. Claire Waseca Currie Murray Windom Iona Blue Earth Fulda Westbrook Madelia Watonwan Good Thunder Lake Wilson St. James Slayton Winnebago Stee Easton Lismore Wilmont Vernon Cottonwood Heron Lake Center Waldorf Mapleton Brewster New Richland Lakefield Luverne Fairmont Sherburn Nobles Blue Earth Windom Iona Blue Earth Madison Lake Lake Fulda Watonwan Minnesota Blo Martin Jackson Mankato Jackson Worthington Adrian Rock Winnebago Fariba Easton Janesville Lismore Wilmont Lake Crystal Heron Lake St. Claire Waseca Currie Murray Brewster Westbrook Madelia Lakefield Fairmont Wells Alber Sherburn Good Thunder Lake Wilson Nobles St. James Blue Earth Slayton Ste Vernon Center Cottonwood Waldorf Mapleton Jackson Martin New Richland F Jackson Worthington Adrian Windom Iona Blue Earth FaribaultMinnesota Lake Fulda Watonwan B
Murray
Brewster
Adrian
Worthington
Heron Lake
Lakefield
Jackson
Sherburn
Fairmont
Blue Earth
Faribault
Diocese of Winona (Western Deaneries) Recommended Clusters
Wells
Alb
akes Twin L
Eyota
Simpson Spring Valley
Altura
LeRoy
y Valle
Eyota
w
Johnsburg
CantonLanesboro
Rushford Mabel
Preston
Mabel
Canton
La Crescent Caledonia Hokah
Houston
Brownsville
Caledonia
Houston
re Fillmo
LeR oy
w Valley Meado Spring Grand
rg h n sb u
s
Jo
A dam
C r eek
Lyle
R o se
Lea
What is Canon Law? Albert
orn Freeb
Bloom
Litomy
Steele
airie ing Pr
Austin
r Mowe
rtville Stewa
on a 2004 survey of diocesan priests. • The minimum threshold for sustainability of a parish is an average of 91 households. • The conversion of a parish to an oratory is based on an average threshold of 70 households or worshippers at Mass; and 50 or fewer sacramental activities within a 4-year period. • Plans should not require more than three Sunday/Vigil Masses per priest (plus weddings, funerals, etc) for the sake of their health and well being, and in hopes of encouraging prolonged full-time service.
Canon law refers to the legal system and laws of the Catholic Church.
How can parishioners become involved in this process?
it MN C
Parishioners are invited to become involved in the Vision 2016 process in the following ways: • To learn more about the proposed plan, attend deanery level meetings as an appointed parish leader between February and May of 2015; or attend facilitated community meetings for parishes recommended for oratory status. Dates, times and locations of these meetings will be announced in the Courier and Church Bulletins. • Offer to assist in your parish’s pastoral planning process between June 2015 and February 2016. See your parish bulletin or contact your parish office for opportunities and details starting this coming Spring of 2015. • Pray for your parish, the people, the priests, the diocese, and the Church.
y
na Wino
n Wilso
Kellogg Conception
ta Dako
Plainview Wabasha Rollingstone Kellogg West Albany Eyota
Conception
St. Plainview Charles
Winona
Lewiston
Winona Rollingstone
La Crescent RushfordWinona
Eyota Chatfield Lewiston Houston Byron Hokah Grand Meadow Olmsted Austin Preston St. Charles Spring Valley Simpson Brownsville Winona Rose Creek Stewartville Hayfield Caledonia La Crescent Adams Fillmore Harmony Rushford Mabel Chatfield Houston Lyle LeRoy Mower Johnsburg Hokah Grand Meadow Houston Austin Preston Spring Valley Brownsville Rose Creek Caledonia Adams Fillmore Harmony Mabel Houston Lyle LeRoy Johnsburg
Mower
cont'd from previous page
Wabasha
West Albany
Simpson
Rochester
ha
g
n
Lake City
Wabasha Olmsted
Stewartville
s Waba
g Kello
e gston Rollin
Altura
to Lewis
Albert Lea
Byron
sville
Freeborn
Dodge Center Kasson
nt resce La C h Hoka
Blooming Prairie
n Brow
Albert Lea
Mazeppa Rochester
ane e D n r aste E ( a n ters o s n i u l W C f ded se o n e e c o m i D Recom
ny
Brownsville Dakota
Houston
Harmony
Lake City Wabasha
d
for Rush ton Hous
Litomysl
DodgeHayfield
Mazeppa
Harmo
n Hokah
Houston Wilson
Harmony
eiska Minn
arles
na Wino
boro
Steele Freeborn
Elba
h St. C
ield Chatf
Owatonna Blooming Prairie
ton
Freeborn
ia
Freeborn Albert Lea
s Lane
Litomysl Medford
Hous
Dodge Center Kasson
Steele
Blooming Prairie
Dodge
on Caled
New Richland
n resto
ault
Owatonna
l Mabe
Waseca
Minnesota Lake
Wells
Har
Medford
Steele
Waldorf
n
P ore Fillm mony
n Canto
t. Claire
Janesville
Presto
ld
La Crescent
Diocese of Winona (Eastern Deaneries) Current Clusters
Madison Lake
ld Hayfie
D odg
Dakota
Rushford Winona
City Lake
Lyle
Simp
B yr o n
Winona
Winona Fillmore Chatfield
a
vie Plain
g Sprin
on
Rose Creek Adams
n Owato
Winona
Lewiston Rollingstone MN Wilson City
Lanesboro Lewiston St. Charles Preston
Spring Valley
ter
s Simp
Austin
Chatfie
arles St. Ch
R oc
n K a ss o ter e Ce n
Altura Minneiska
Chatfield
y Alban n eptio West Conc
sh Waba
ted
es Roch
er
w
y LeRo
Twin Lakes
Eyota
sl Eyota
Vision 2016 Q&A
Rollingstone MN City Kellogg
Fillmore Diocese of Winona (Eastern Deaneries) Current Clusters
Albert Lea
hester
na Elba Conception
ppa Maze
Olms
rtville
Mower
rd Medfo
Lyle
Austin
ea
L Albert
rn
o Freeb
Mower
Byron
ale ichland Ellend New R a Genev
Rochester
Grand Meadow
ed Olmst son
iew
Plainv
ha Wabas
pa Mazep
Dodge
burg Johns
C o n ce
an y lb West A
ity
Fall 2015/ Winter 2016
LeRoy
reek Rose C dams A
sdale Brown
ie
ir ing Pra Bloom
l s Litomy
Steele
rd
Byron
Minneiska Wabasha
Simpson PlainviewSt. Charles Elba
Olmsted Stewartville
a Stew
Mow
Freeborn
L a ke C
Summer 2015Canton
Sp
w Meado Grand
r Mowe
rtville
Stewa
ld Hayfie
Dodge
r Cente Dodge
n Kasso
ont Clarem
ny Harmo
re Fillmo
on Simps
Byron
O
lley ring Va
ld Chatfie
rles
a St. Ch
ster Roche
d lmste
nna Owato
Rochester Wabasha
n
ld Deerfie
o Conc West
rd Medfo
d
o Kass mont Clare nter e Ce Dodg
Byron
Hayfield Stewartville Blooming Austin Prairie Rose Creek Adams Lyle Brownsdale LeRoy Johnsburg Grand Meadow
o Mead
Geneva Twin Lakes
Kasson
Dodge
Kellogg
Conception Lake City
West Plainview Albany
Olmsted Mazeppa
Hayfield
Dodge Center Brownsdale
d Gran
New Richland Ellendale Albert Lea
r Medfo
a
sdale
Litomysl
eld Hayfi
n Brow
k Cree Rose dams A burg
Geneva
s John
Steele Freeborn
Kasson
West Concord Dodge
Claremont Blooming Prairie
Wabasha
Wabasha
Dodge Center
e
Litomysl Medford
Ellendale Owatonna
Dodg
n Austi
Lyle
ries) eane ern D East ona ( lusters f Win C ese o Current New Deerfield Richland
rairie ing P Bloom
Claremont
Lake City
West Albany
Mazeppa
West Concord
Owatonna
Steele
nn Owato
Medford
Deerfield
Parish Cluster meetings to begin parish pastoral planning process.
field Deer
ysl Litom
va Gene
Lea
kes
dale hland Ellen
orn
t Alber
le Stee
Ric New
b Free
La Twin
oncord West C
n Presto
boro Lanes
a Winon
n Lewisto Eyota
Elba w
ie Plainv
sha Waba
pa Mazep
Parishes undergoing change begin planning for transition (documentation of parish history and inventory of materials).
R
Wi
Lewisto
stone Rolling
ption
ha Wabas g Kellog
s) e i r e n Dea n r e t s (Ea a n o n rs i e t W s f u o l se nt C Dioce Curre
Mabel
n Housto
Ho
n
ni Caledo
La Cr H rd Rushfo
Dakota
Wilson
a Winon
Altura
iska Minne
Spring 2015
g Kellog
lbany West A ption Conce
Wa
Deanery Level Meetings for Parish Leaders to understand Vision 2016 and the next steps for planning as it relates to the Diocese and their parishes.
Dioc
o
sto Rolling
City ne MN
Parish Planning Process 2015-16
Diocese of Winona (Eastern Deaneries) Recommended Clusters
Diocese of Winona (Eastern Deaneries) Recommended Clusters
based on
Vision 2016
draft plan
From To
114 2 51 5
Parishes Newman Ctrs Clusters Deaneries
93* 2 46 5
* This includes converting 21 parishes to oratory status.
February, 2015 w The Courier
Vision 2016
Recommended Changes by Parish *Adams, Sacred Heart Cluster redefined, see map *Adrian, St. Adrian Cluster redefined, see map *Albert Lea, St. Theodore Cluster redefined, see map Altura, St. Anthony Oratory, merges with Rollingstone *Austin, Queen of Angels Cluster redefined, see map *Austin, St. Augustine No change Austin, St. Edward No change *Blm. Prairie, St. Columbanus Cluster redefined, see map *Blue Earth, Ss. Peter & Paul No change Brewster, Sacred Heart No change Brownsdale, Our Lady of Loretto Oratory, merges with Austin, Queens Brownsville, St. Patrick Cluster redefined, see map *Byron, Christ the King No change *Caledonia, St. Mary Cluster redefined, see map Canton, Assumption Oratory, merges with Harmony *Chatfield, St. Mary Cluster redefined, see map Claremont, St. Francis de Sales Oratory, merges with Dodge Ctr. Conception, Immaculate Conception No change Currie, Immaculate Heart of Mary No change Dakota, Holy Cross Oratory, merges with LaCrescent Deerfield, Corpus Christi Oratory, merges with Medford Dodge Ctr., St. John Bapt. la Salle Cluster redefined, see map East Chain, Holy Family Oratory, merges with Fairmont Easton, Our Lady of Mount Carmel No change Elba, St. Aloysius Oratory, merges with St. Charles Ellendale, St. Aidan Oratory, merges with New Richland Ellsworth, St. Mary Oratory, merges with Adrian Eyota, Holy Redeemer Cluster redefined, see map *Fairmont, St. John Vianney Cluster redefined, see map *Fulda, St. Gabriel No change Geneva, St. Mary Oratory, merges with Blm. Prairie Good Thunder, St. Joseph No change Grand Meadow, St. Finbarr No change Harmony, Nativity of the B.V.M. Cluster redefined, see map Hayfield, Sacred Heart Cluster redefined, see map Heron Lake, Sacred Heart No change Hokah, St. Peter No change Houston, St. Mary No change Iona, St. Columba No change *Jackson, Good Shepherd No change *Janesville, St. Ann Cluster redefined, see map Jasper, St. Joseph Oratory, merges with Pipestone Johnsburg, St. John No change Kasson, Holy Family No change Kellogg, St. Agnes No change *La Crescent, Crucifixion Cluster redefined, see map *Lake City, St. Mary of the Lake No change Lake Crystal, Holy Family Cluster redefined, clusters with Ss. Peter & Paul, Mankato Lake Wilson, St. Mary No change Lakefield, St. Joseph No change Lanesboro, St. Patrick Oratory, merges with Preston LeRoy, St. Patrick No change Lewiston, St. Rose of Lima Cluster redefined, see map Lismore, St. Anthony Cluster redefined, see map Litomysl, Holy Trinity No change *Luverne, St. Catherine Cluster redefined, see map Lyle, Queen of Peace Cluster redefined, clusters with Austin, Queens Mabel, St. Olaf Cluster redefined, see map Madelia, St. Mary Cluster redefined, see map
February, 2015 w The Courier
*Madison Lake, All Saints No change *Mankato, Ss. Peter & Paul Cluster redefined, clusters with Holy Family, Lake Crystal *Mankato, St. John the Baptist No change *Mankato, St. Joseph the Worker Cluster redefined, see Lk. Crystal *Mapleton, St. Teresa No change Mazeppa, Ss. Peter & Paul No change Medford, Christ the King Cluster redefined, see Deerfield Minneiska, St. Mary Oratory, merges with Rollingstone Minnesota City, St. Paul Oratory, merges with Rollingstone Minnesota Lake, St. John the Baptist No change New Richland, All Saints Cluster redefined, see map *Owatonna, Sacred Heart No change *Owatonna, St. Joseph Cluster redefined, see Deerfield Pipestone, St. Leo Cluster redefined, see map *Plainview, St. Joachim No change Preston, St. Columban Cluster redefined, see map *Rochester, Holy Spirit No change *Rochester, Pax Christi No change *Rochester, Resurrection No change *Rochester, St. Francis of Assisi No change *Rochester, St. John the Evangelist No change *Rochester, St. Pius X No change *Rollingstone, Holy Trinity Cluster redefined, see map Rose Creek, St. Peter Cluster redefined, see map *Rushford, St. Joseph No change Sherburn, St. Luke No change Simpson, St. Bridget No change *Slayton, St. Ann No change *Spring Valley, St. Ignatius No change *St. Charles, St. Charles Bor. Cluster redefined, see map St. Clair, Immaculate Conception No change *St. James, St. James Cluster redefined, see map St. Kilian, St. Kilian Oratory, merges with Wilmont *Stewartville, St. Bernard No change Truman, St. Katherine Oratory, merges with Fairmont Twin Lakes, St. James Oratory, merges with Albert Lea Vernon Center, St. Matthew No change *Wabasha, St. Felix No change Waldorf, St. Joseph Cluster redefined, see map *Waseca, Sacred Heart No change *Wells, St. Casimir No change West Albany, St. Patrick No change West Concord, St. Vincent de Paul Oratory, merges with Dodge Ctr. Westbrook, St. Anthony No change Wilmont, O. L. of Good Counsel Cluster redefined, see map Wilson, Immaculate Conception Oratory, merges with Winona, St. Stanislaus *Windom, St. Francis Xavier No change Winnebago, St. Mary No change *Winona, Basilica of St. Stan. K. No change *Winona, Cathedral of the S. H. No change Winona, St. Casimir No change Winona, St. John Nepomucene No change *Winona, St. Mary No change Woodstock, St. Martin Oratory, merges with Pipestone *Worthington, St. Mary No change
Key: Black = No Change; Green = Cluster Redefined; Blue = Oratory Status * indicates parishes to host a resident pastor.