“Called to BE Church”

                                                            

“We are emerging from a long period of history in which the responsibility for the mission of the church was projected to be primarily that of the clergy and religious, with little or no lay involvement, at least in leadership roles.  The clergy and religious, in other words, have been perceived as exercising the main responsibility for the life, work, and mission of the church, and the role of the laity has consistently been relegated to pitching in or to helping out on a temporary standby basis when father, sister, or brother needed assistance in fulfilling that responsibility that was basically and essentially theirs. . .  However, with the ‘people of God’ concept so well articulated by the Second Vatican Council, we have come to appreciate more fully that if the Gospel of Jesus is to be seriously taken at all, then it must be taken seriously by all.  Thus, the council pointed out that the responsibility for the life and mission of the church is a responsibility whose dimensions are universal, applying to clergy, religious, and laity alike.  All are bound together by a variety of gifts and ministries and all are called to serve the one mission, the mission of Jesus, to be served by a multiplicity of ministries and ministers.”

Fulfilling the Vision

Bishop Howard J. Hubbard  

 

 

Fall “Conversations with Bishop Hubbard” – Bishop Howard J. Hubbard will be holding seven regional meetings this fall with the members of the thirty-nine Local Planning Groups. The details, locations and the schedule may be accessed through this link.

 

Background

On November 21, 1964, Catholic Bishops from all over the world ratified “The Dogmatic Constitution on the  Church,” one of the first documents approved at the Second Vatican Council.  They boldly proclaimed:

 “Henceforward the church, equipped with the gifts of its founder and faithfully observing his precepts of charity, humility and self-denial,  receives the mission of proclaiming and establishing among all peoples the kingdom of Christ and of God, and is, on earth, the seed and the beginning of the kingdom (Para 5).”  

They then went on to restore the first century understanding of the “Body of Christ” by proclaiming that the mission and ministry of Jesus was the responsibility of all of the baptized who in turn are commissioned to:

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age (Matthew 28:19-20).”  

The prophetic statement of Vatican Council II was made at a time when Christian Churches were being confronted by an increasingly secular world and more and more people were questioning the relevance of Jesus and his Church in their lives.  Many American Bishops throughout the country recognized that the changing paradigm required effective pastoral planning for the future to implement the provisions of the Second Vatican Council, especially the empowering of the laity to share in the mission and ministry of Jesus (See the quotation from the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church on the top of the Communications page).  

The Diocese of Albany is continuing the work of the Council with a greater sense of urgency than ever.  We are asking all Catholics in our diocese , while grounded in prayer and focused only upon our brother Jesus Christ, to rise up and accept the challenge of “Called to BE Church.”  

For more information about Vatican Council II, the works written by of our bishop and other authors, click on the Reference Materials page.


General Framework of Called to BE Church  

1.         We will be building on previous pastoral planning efforts of the Albany Diocese and other dioceses.

2.         The process will be focused on the Mission and Ministry of Jesus Christ with goal of sustaining and advancing the ministry of Jesus throughout the Albany Diocese through prudent stewardship of our resources.

3.         Called to BE Church will be centered in Prayer.

4.         Every group in the diocese is a part of the planning process. This includes 
all parishes, deaneries, and special ministries (Catholic Schools, Catholic Charities, Pastoral Health Care, Campus Ministry, Jail and Prison Ministry and Apostolate communities).

5.         Bishop will make final decisions, in fall of 2008, following recommendations from Local Planning Groups and other input received from diocesan consultative bodies e.g. Pastoral Planning Advisory Council, Presbyteral Council, et. al.

Key Elements of the Planning Process

1.         Process Design & Responsibility:  
The Pastoral Planning Office and its Advisory Council (The Pastoral Planning Advisory Council) are developing the process tailored to present realities and future needs of the Albany Diocese.  The Planning Office and Council will review recommendations from Local Planning Groups and will provide additional advice to the Bishop throughout the process.  

2.         Local Planning Groups to be Established & Facilitated:  
The present cluster system will be reshaped into Local Planning Groups  composed of leaders from parishes in geographic proximity.  Each Local Planning Group will be provided a trained facilitator who will assist the group  throughout its 18 month “planning” calendar  (January 2007-June 2008).  Resources presently being developed for use by  Local Planning Groups include  a Resource Guide (with agenda outlines);  a Prayer Resource Guide and a Communications Guide.  Special Note:  Each Local Planning Group and Deanery will be given the number of priests “available for service” in 2015 which will allow the Local Planning Groups and Deaneries to plan for priestly service.

Additional Note:  
Priest projections have been developed based on past and present statistics.   Future circumstances may alter these projections.   

3.         Givens and Assumptions:  
With any process of this size and scope there are givens and assumptions that are needed to shape and clarify the process.

4.         Ongoing Education and Communications Plan:
Built into the planning process will be an ongoing education and communications plan the goal of which is to inform the entire people of the Albany Diocese regarding the realities being faced by the church today; and to engage them in the dialogue regarding “what is the Spirit calling us to become as a people of God going forward”.  

5.         Physical Inspection of Parish Facilities:
Throughout the planning process, inspection of parish facilities will occur to determine the structural, mechanical and electrical condition of each facility.  The physical inspections will occur, primarily in “city” parishes.  
 

General Time Table  

The general Time Table will be modified as needed. 

1.         Pre-Planning Readiness Phase:

In October and November of 2006 each parish, local planning group, and deanery will be hosting general dialogue sessions pertaining to mission and ministry.  These meetings are designed to open the lines of communication between groups in the diocese and start the gradual unfolding of the pastoral processing plan.  Between September and December 2006 several other tasks will be performed, including process design, development of resources, engaging leadership, training of facilitators, and selection of the Local Planning Group members.   

2.         Planning Discussions and Recommendations Phase for Local Planning Groups and Deaneries: 

January 2007 to June 2008 (18 months) - Discussions will occur regarding “What does it mean to be church today?” and  “What do we need to do (recommendations) to insure that the mission and ministry of Jesus is a lived reality throughout the Albany Diocese?”      

3.         Review by Diocese of Recommendations from the Local Planning Groups: 

July to Sept. 2008.   

4.         Announcement of Decisions by Bishop: 

Fall of 2008.  

5.         Implementation of Plans Begin: 

January 2009 and continuing.   



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