Terre Haute Deanery Catholics to participate in planning process
St. Patrick parishioner Julie Bowers of Terre Haute, from left, Providence Sister Constance Kramer, Terre Haute Deanery pastoral leadership representative and parish life coordinator of St. Ann Parish in Terre Haute, and St. Leonard of Port Maurice parishioner Brenda Monaghan of West Terre Haute listen to a discussion during a recent meeting of the Terre Haute Deanery planning team. (Submitted photo/Ann Ryan)
By Mary Ann Wyand
Catholics in about 3,800 households in 14 parishes and five counties in the Terre Haute Deanery will be asked to comment on the deanery’s comprehensive strategic planning process in April.
Listening sessions for the deanery pastoral planning process on April 22, 23, 26 and 27 will focus on worship, community, message and service.
Father Joseph Kern, dean of the Terre Haute Deanery, said he is “very pleased at the progress of the Terre Haute planning team and looks forward to the listening sessions during which the people will be able to give their input into the planning process.”
The dean said he is “interested in seeing how these listening sessions will bring about a better sense of community within the Terre Haute Deanery.”
Providence Sister Constance Kramer, who has served as parish life coordinator of St. Ann Parish in Terre Haute for 16 years and is the pastoral leadership representative for the planning process, said on March 11 that the team collected a variety of information about every deanery parish during the past year.
The planning process began in April 2008, and will require 18 to 24 months to complete the deanery mission statement and recommendations.
Sister Connie said members of all 14 parishes in the deanery will be asked for their ideas and opinions about the future of Church ministries in west-central Indiana when the process is introduced during Masses on March 21-22.
She said all parishioners will be encouraged to take “a close look at the Church” and offer suggestions for long-range planning as part of the collaborative effort.
“The Terre Haute Deanery planning process team is delighted in the possibilities that we see for our own deanery based upon the information that we have collected,” Sister Connie said. “We believe that any change is really a possibility curve. If you don’t perceive it, you’re not going to see it. We believe that we are beginning to be able to perceive a very dynamic, effective deanery Church in Terre Haute.”
She said pastors, parish staff members, lay people and archdiocesan leadership will collaborate on the strategic plan.
“The key word is collaboration,” Sister Connie explained. “We’ve been at it since last April. We have a representative from every parish in the deanery in the planning group. We have met at least three hours every month so far plus the collection of data with four subcommittees. The question and answer document is going to the parishes on March 21-22, and will be introduced from the pulpits.”
Prayer and discernment are important parts of the strategic planning process, she said. “[Some] parishes have been praying every Sunday since we began the deanery planning process.”
Sister Connie said the planning team “will use the listening sessions to glean their wisdom” then create a plan and consult parishioners again.
Priorities identified by the team in the first phrase of the planning process involve:
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reviewing current realities on the number of parishes and parish leadership projections then implementing a plan to address trends and meet the spiritual needs of parishes in the deanery,
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exploring how current inter-parish ministries can contribute to an enhanced strategic approach,
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considering the future presence and scope of Catholic schools in the deanery.
Archdiocesan guidelines require a Catholic school that serves kindergarten through eighth-grade students in the deanery, a parish in every county in the deanery, and final review of the deanery plan by the dean, pastors and pastoral life coordinators for recommendations to Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein about meaningful worship, life-long faith formation, community and service to people in need.
Terre Haute Catholics are asked to pray about the planning process for the Church’s future presence in the deanery, participate in sharing sessions or parish forums, stay informed about the plans, and share their thoughts with pastoral leaders and parish representatives.
T.J. Wallace, the facilitator for the deanery planning process, said Catholics from all 14 parishes are asked to participate in one listening session scheduled at the following times and locations:
