August 2019

A Message from Bishop Kettler

Q : Do you have a template for the plan we need to submit by the end of December? A: This resource will be available next month. I would like to discuss and have input for this template with our Diocesan Planning Council. We meet the first half of September.  Identifying Issues and Concerns Once you've gathered your information, the next step is to focus that information and begin to make decisions around what it takes to make disciples. This decision is based on what you identify as important issues and concerns in your area. You may need to identify which issues are important and which are urgent. Urgent issues will most likely need to be handled before you can put together a strategic plan. Click here for an activity that can help you gain consensus on the top three to five issues at hand.

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2) Naming your Area Catholic Community can help the community embrace a common identity, a togetherness in mission. Even though this is not "required" it can be helpful in identifying the group when the parishes act as a unit. Here are some things to remember when choosing a name: 1) This is not a canonical change! Only a way to identify the group as a unit. 2) The number of parishes in the ACC could change over time. 3) This group is not it's own separate corporation unless all parishes merge into one. 4) If you name or rename your ACC and that affects your email, website, etc., please contact the diocese so we can maintain accurate information on our database.

Diocesan Ministry Day - Monday, September 30 Featuring Laura Kelly Fanucci as keynote speaker Serve, Speak, Lead: Our Baptismal Call to Be Priest, Prophet, and King At our baptism, we were anointed to follow Christ as “priest, prophet, and king.” But what does this call mean for us in our ordinary lives and work? While some of us are priests, few would claim to be prophets or kings! Yet in this challenging time in our Church’s history, how does our baptismal call unite us, support us, encourage us, and send us out in the world to serve, speak, and lead? How might our shared calling hold the joy, hope, and strength we need to light our faith on fire today? ACC opportunities: We have two opportunities at DMD to discuss Area Catholic Communities. The first is a lunchtime conversation. This time will be given to answer questions people have around the ACCs. The second is the afternoon workshop featuring a panel of a priest, an ACC chairperson, and a staff member from different ACCs. They will each share their experience and hopes for their ACC so far. Other workshops include : Burnout; where the rubber meets the road, Creating Caring Faith Communities in Minnesota: Five things you can do, Living with Integrity in Culture of Extremes, None of the Above: Reaching Disengaged Young Catholics, Radical Hospitality - Are We Ready to Be Serious about Extending Christ's Welcome, among many more. For more information or to register: http://stcdio.org/dmd

Join us!

There was a farmer who grew excellent quality wheat and every season he won the award for the best grown in his county. One year a newspaper reporter interviewed the farmer, and learned that each Spring the man shared his seed with his neighbors so that they too could plant it in their fields.

“How can you afford to share your best wheat seed with your neighbors when they are entering their crops in the competition with yours?" the reporter asked. “Why that's very simple,” the farmer explained. "The wind picks up pollen from the developing wheat and carries it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior wheat, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of all the wheat, including mine. If I am to grow good wheat, I must help my neighbors grow good wheat.”

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