A summary of the presentations made at Preston and Brettargh Holt
Lancaster Diocese
‘Fit for Mission?’ Review Exercise – A Summary
Bishop O’Donoghue in his Message for the Feast of Christ the King on 26 November 2006 informed the priests, deacons, religious and lay faithful of the Diocese of Lancaster of his intention to launch a strategic review of the Diocese’s mission in the New Year (2007).
This period of prayer, consultation and planning began on the 1st Sunday of Lent, 25 February and will last at least one whole year.
The ‘Fit for Mission’ review aims to examine three questions:- involving a commitment to personal, parish and diocesan reform and conversion - all under the power of the Holy Spirit.
- How does each one of us change to become the person God calls us to be?
- How do we change our parishes so we become the people God calls us to be?
- How do we change our diocese, including our buildings and structures, so we become the communion God calls us to be?
- In a sentence, the purpose of this Mission Review is to enable every individual, every community, and the whole diocese to become ‘fit for mission’ – strengthening our participation in and developing our commitment to the continuing mission of Christ in the Church.
To help us reflect on these questions ‘The Fit for Mission – A Guide’ has been produced. This is a pastoral study and consultation document for priests, deacons, religious, lay leaders and others. In it the Bishop, aims to draw everyone to the person of Christ and his teachings once again. In this teaching document the Bishop, who has been Bishop of the Diocese for over five years, draws the perimeters involved in Our Lord’s continuing mission through the life and ministry of the Church today. Bishop Patrick O’Donoghue would hope that the Guide would set people thinking and praying anew about the fundamental questions of faith and culture that are facing us as the Catholic Church in England & Wales in Lancashire (north of the Ribble) and all of Cumbria. He aims to confirm something of the goodness and dynamism of the mission that so many in the Diocese are already engaged and immersed in through the proclamation of Word and Sacrament in our 108 parishes, in and through our Catholic primary and secondary schools, our work with the poor and marginalised, youth ministry, with families, the sick and housebound, etc Without doubt, the Bishop, who is 40 years a priest in May, is hoping to alert people to the real and demanding challenges facing us in our society and therefore in the Church as we strive to be faithful to our baptismal promises. In the ‘Fit for Mission’ Guide, the bishop, giving the initial steer to this Diocesan-wide review, outlines the various impediments to mission today as we plan together as a diocesan family, for a very different shape of Church – with a new set of pastoral priorities to serve our fast-changing society.
This teaching document was released on the 1 st Sunday of Lent, when at the same time the Bishop’s Pastoral letter launching the Review was read in every parish. (This Pastoral Letter also appears in the front page of the Guide).
Two information Days on the Fit for Mission Review have now been held for priests, deacons, and parish council representatives at Brettargh Holt Convent, near Kendal and Our Lady & St Edward’s Social Centre, Preston on Thursday 8 & Friday 9 March.
The Bishop is at present convening a Diocesan Mission Review Team of priests, deacons, religious, and lay people drawn from across the diocese to pilot and facilitate the mission review.
- A ‘core’ group of this the Review Team has been appointed by the Bishop and meets weekly to co-ordinate the review process, and facilitate initial and repeated consultation with parishes and deanery pastoral councils.
- The Parish Evaluation Form – ( self study) has been given to every parish, who has been asked to provide information about sacramental life, mission, and sustainability in order to help the Review Team in their initial plans.
Consultation and participation by individuals through parish discussion and decision-making based on the ‘Fit for Mission’ – A Guide, together with an up-to-date and accurate Parish Evaluation Form of each parish’s work and mission is both vital and invaluable in the process of each parish, deanery and the diocese as a whole setting a strategy for sacramental life, mission and sustainability.
- The Diocesan Review Team will then go on to draw up an initial draft plan based on the Parish Evaluation Forms for the various different geographical areas of the diocese which will include two vital elements:
- A summary of the specific mission priorities and strategy of each deanery and local area (groups of deaneries). Also included would be an identification of possible local pastoral initiatives and investment of resources.
- Proposals for linking and merging of parishes, the creation of new parishes and the closure of certain church buildings – taking into account the need for a radical and timely response to the needs of the Church’s mission today .
These draft area plans will then be distributed to the deanery pastoral councils and parishes for wider consultation.
- The Diocesan Review Team will go on to consider all feedback comments, amendments and other suggestions, and make changes which are necessary to improve and develop the area plans.
- Once the Diocesan Review Team has given final agreement to the area plans, they will be presented to the Bishop who will consult with his various canonical councils.
- The Bishop will then decide upon and present the local plans (which he may revise) making up a diocese-wide plan to the diocese for implementation which will proceed in phases.
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