A Summary Report of the Diocesan Strategic Planning Steering Committee

Diocese of Greensburg

Greensburg, Pennsylvania

Presented to The Most Reverend Lawrence E. Brandt, JCD, PhD

Bishop of Greensburg

Introduction

This report has been prepared to provide a brief overview of some of the major recommendations of the Diocesan Strategic Planning Steering Committee following the completion of its work and its meetings and discussions with Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt in August and September 2006.

The planning initiative began in January 2005 with the first meeting of the Diocesan Strategic Planning Steering Committee. The overall theme of the planning process was identified as The Transmission of Faith in the Present Culture. Following an in-depth review of past diocesan studies, reports and planning work as well as current trends, the committee prepared introductory educational documents to describe diocesan realities for five key topics: Parish Staffing and Structures, Faith Formation, Catholic Schools, Sacrament of Confirmation and Evangelization.

The Committee designed regional listening sessions around these topics, and the sessions were conducted throughout the entire diocese during Lent 2006. The level of participation at the listening sessions was very impressive and is a great witness to the dedication and wisdom of our people, and the health and vitality of our diocesan Church. The listening sessions also served to fulfill a promise Bishop Brandt made when he first arrived regarding listening to the people of the diocese. In the 85 sessions (Regions 17 and 18 held their meetings jointly) that were held around the diocese, approximately 9,000 attendees shared feedback and insight. We humbly acknowledge that the Holy Spirit was at work among the faithful.

Following the Lenten meetings, the Diocesan Strategic Planning Steering Committee did a comprehensive review of all the regional listening session reports. Based upon these reports, the Committee discerned the key issues and themes that most impact the faith lives of our people and made recommendations for the strategic directions the diocese should consider in addressing those issues.

The following pages within this section of the site describe recommendations that received the support of Bishop Brandt, organized according to the listening session topics. Evangelization and faith formation have been organized into a single area because of the substantive interrelationship of these issues as discerned by the Diocesan Strategic Planning Steering Committee. Implementation work will be led by the Bishop’s Cabinet, the Presbyteral Council and laity from the Diocesan Strategic Planning Steering Committee and coordinated with other major diocesan initiatives in conjunction with the regions of our diocese.

~ Published as a special supplement in The Catholic Accent, Thursday, Jan. 18, 2007.

To obtain a hard copy of the summary report, please contact The Catholic Accent.