INDIANA
The Message
By RICK JILLSON (Message Editor)
Over the past several weeks, Bishop Charles C. Thompson has touched upon the strategic planning process that is ongoing in the Diocese of Evansville in nearly every homily he has delivered. “This is a challenging time for us, but it can also be a time for opportunity,” he recently told parishioners at St. Rupert Church in Red Brush. “It presents an opportunity to ask ourselves, ‘How do we best serve our people and the Church in the 21st century? How do we learn to use our gifts, talents and resources in new ways that meet the needs of the Church and its people?’”
The answers to these questions are at the very heart of the strategic planning process, which enters a critical new phase in the weeks ahead. Beginning Monday, Sept. 17, a series of seven deanery meetings (one in each diocesan deanery) will take place over a 10-day period. Each meeting will be attended by priests, pastoral life coordinators, deacons and staff members from each parish in the deanery, along with principals of all schools within the deanery, strategic planning committee members and three non-staff members from each parish.
During these meetings, attendees will review the changes being proposed within their deanery and throughout the diocese. These changes include the merging and/or linking of some diocesan churches and schools, as well as a redefined role for some Church properties.
This proposed restructuring is a result of a number of key factors, including:
A shift in our population — as in many other communities, the Diocese of Evansville has experienced a population shift from the city to the suburbs.
Advancements in technology — modern transportation and improvements to roads make it far easier to travel from place to place than in the days when some of our churches and school buildings were constructed. In addition, computers, email and smart phones have dramatically changed the speed and ease with which schools and churches can communicate with families.
A declining number of priests — today, there are 46 active priests serving 69 parishes, and many of these men are nearing retirement age.
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