Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

For nearly four years The Transmission of Faith in the Present Culture has been the encompassing theme of the Strategic Planning process by which the Diocese of Greensburg has prepared itself to move steadily and with courage into the 21st century. I have chosen that same theme as the title of this Pastoral Letter to you, the faithful of the Diocese of Greensburg, since it is one of my roles as Bishop, to strive to convey effectively and completely the teachings of Jesus Christ and other elements of the Catholic faith to those entrusted to my pastoral care. My hope is that those who embrace the message and teachings of this Pastoral Letter will be better equipped to pass the treasures of our faith on to a new generation of believers with confidence and joy.

It is my responsibility as Bishop to consider the pastoral realities and the catechetical needs of our contemporary culture as I contemplate the development and implementation of Lifelong Catholic Faith Formation in this Diocese. Keeping this in mind, I invite all who read this letter to do so with trust in the Holy Spirit’s care and guidance through the Church, especially during times of uncertainty and change.

Two goals linked to the promulgation of this Pastoral Letter are to announce formally the Catechetical Master Plan for the Diocese of Greensburg and to assure the faithful that changes we may face as a result of the Catechetical Master Plan are not to be perceived as mere reactions to societal situations that have emerged in our rapidly changing times. They should be viewed rather as thoughtfully developed responses to comprehensive and strategic planning efforts that have been supplemented by thorough research and, of course, much prayer.

I announce the implementation of our Catechetical Master Plan after deliberate and at times painstaking reflection on responses to numerous consultations that have transpired in conjunction with the Strategic Planning process in the Diocese of Greensburg since 2005. These include the organization and analysis of volumes of responses to questions posed to approximately 9,000 participants of our Lenten Listening Sessions in 2006, consultations with Regional and Parish Pastoral Council members across the Diocese, conversations and meetings with our Deans and Regional Moderators, insights from Diocesan staff members and other professionals in related fields, and results submitted by Confirmation Focus Groups that were facilitated, at my direction, by the Office for Evangelization and Faith Formation in the summer of 2008.

While core teachings and elements of the Catholic faith have and always will remain constant, methods by which we hand down our faith must be adapted to current environmental and situational conditions of the society in which we live. The promulgation of this Pastoral Letter on Pentecost Sunday is then quite appropriate since on this feast we joyfully celebrate the fulfillment of the Lord’s promise of the coming of the Advocate – the Holy Spirit who continues to guide the Church and her leaders in The Transmission of Faith in the Present Culture.