Lord Jesus Christ,
Word of the Father, we turn to you.
Watch over our plans.
Enliven our service to the Church.
Sustain our labors.
Guide our steps in the search
Of the best ways to proclaim your Gospel.
Our poverty is great.
We do not place trust in ourselves
But only in you.
Encourage us, reassure us,
Give us your blessing.
You who with the Holy Spirit live
And reign in us and in the Church
Forever and ever.
Amen
Prayer of the Blessed Pope Paul VI
 

Father McClane
Betsy Solan
Dan Rossi
Betty Poland
Brian McGrath

Building our FUTURE Together

Two new initiatives, both commissioned by Bishop David M. O’Connell, seek to bring about positive change, deepen faith and build a vibrant future of mission and service in the Diocese of Trenton.  In the first of these initiatives, Faith in Our Future, we will look closely at our parish of St. Gregory the Great and the surrounding community.  In the weeks to come, you will be kept informed of our progress in this effort, as well as be asked to participate. 

The second initiative, Faith to Move Mountains, will begin in the late 2016.  It is designed to help us in realizing our plans to more effectively spread the Gospel and bring people to faith in Jesus Christ. 

Faith in Our Future is a planning process that calls upon the clergy, religious and faithful of the Diocese of Trenton to reflect upon the ways that we experience, live and express our Catholic faith together as the circumstances of the past and present give way to the new and changing realities that we face as a local Church.

The Faith in Our Future initiative is a collaborative process where a core team of parishioners  (Father McClane, Betsy Solan, Dan Rossi, Betty Poland and Brian McGrath) will represent St. Gregory the Great and work with other area parishes to evaluate our current ministries, develop plans to enhance those ministries, and collaborate in order to best share and utilize resources so that we can become more fruitful and effective. 



Why?

• The percentage of Catholics in the general population is declining.
• Weekly Mass attendance and number of individuals celebrating sacraments is decreasing.
• Many parishes struggle financially.
• A large number of priests and religious in active ministry are reaching retirement age.
• The number of Latino Catholics in the total Catholic population is growing.

Given these factors, we are called to better steward our resources so that we can meet the needs of active Catholics and share our faith with those who are marginalized or who have not yet heard the Good News. Parishes are more effective if they work together in ministry areas.


Faith in our Future GOALS

• Strengthen and enliven the parishes of the Diocese as well as Diocesan-sponsored organizations & initiatives
• Explore new models of leadership in parishes and ministries in institutional settings (schools, colleges, hospitals, nursing homes, prisons, etc.) in order to address the challenges presented by the anticipated retirement of a large number of clergy and religious over the next ten years
• Improve our stewardship of personnel, finances, and facilities and other parish and Diocesan resources
• Establish collaborative relationship among the parishes and ministries of the diocese that will build upon the gospel to re/evangelize the local church, especially those who live on the fringes of the church, as well as those who do not yet know Christ
• Provide for pastoral ministry to Hispanic Catholics, the fastest growing segment of our Diocesan population, within our parishes and organization

How can you participate?
A St. Gregory the Great “Core Team” has been formed to help lead the Faith in Our Future planning process.  The Team has created a survey so that you may have an opportunity to share your ideas.  Starting the weekend of January 30^th-31^st, you will be able to find the survey here on our website.  Paper copies of the survey will be available for those without internet access. 

For an in depth review of the Faith in Our Future and the Faith to Move Mountains initiative, visit www.dioceseoftrenton.org/faithinourfuture. Be sure to check out the link to the special edition of The Monitor.


What’s next?
After our parish survey has been completed and the Core Team has had an opportunity to review the results, we will begin to work with our area “cohort” parish partners to:

• Share and reflect on findings from each parish’s self-evaluation
• Look for ways to collaborate in ministries and best utilize all of our resources
• Explore how we can work together to better serve the People of God

• Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony,
• St. Raphael-Holy Angels,
• St. Vincent de Paul, and
• St. John the Baptist.

Our discussions will lead to development of a suggested operating model to be provided to the Diocesan Planning Team at the end of May.

We will share ideas with the Diocese, they will review and reply with their recommendations, and then we will have a chance to review and respond before final recommendations are made to the Bishop and he renders his decisions.  The entire cycle from initial evaluations to implementation is expected to take 18 months.

Cohort Timeline

Visit our Faith in the Future Update page or watch the bulletin for important updates and milestones.