ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Archdiocese of St. Louis will offer another opportunity for parishioners to provide feedback as part of its ongoing pastoral planning initiative, All Things New.
Throughout October and November, the archdiocese will host over 350 listening sessions, up to two for each of its 178 parishes. All parishioners are encouraged to attend one of their parish sessions.
“Input from all our faithful is critical to helping shape the future of our local Church, a renewed Church that brings the Good News of the Gospel to our communities, a vibrant Church for today and for future generations,” said the Most Reverend Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski. “I encourage every Catholic to stay informed through the All Things New website, to attend a parish listening session, and to provide thoughtful feedback to the archdiocese.”
Each listening session will feature a presentation narrated by Archbishop Rozanski and Father Chris Martin, Vicar for Strategic Planning. The presentation will feature national, local, and individual parish demographics, data trends and other information, including draft models for future structure of the archdiocese. The presentation will be followed by guided discussion led by a trained volunteer facilitator and will offer instructions for providing additional feedback through year-end 2022.
Archdiocesan priests and Pastoral Council members attended a special listening session on August 19 to provide early feedback on preliminary draft models.
What Parishioners Need to Know for Listening Sessions
Listening session dates, times and locations, as well as an online registration form, will be made available in the coming weeks. Registration will be required to attend a listening session.
Parish and planning area data will be available for review several weeks prior to each parish’s listening session on the All Things New website. Diocesan data is already published on the site (https://allthingsnew.archstl.org/Ways-to-Engage/Statistics-and-Trends).
Preliminary models presented at the listening sessions are drafts meant to elicit input from parishioners. The pastoral planning committees will review this feedback before making final recommendations to the archbishop.
Archbishop Rozanski will announce final pastoral plans on Pentecost, May 28, 2023. Implementation of these plans will take effect beginning in fall 2023 through 2026.
Background:
All Things New is a pastoral renewal effort to better equip Catholics for our mission to evangelize, as it has always been the mission of the Church to bring people to Jesus. By renewing the Church in St. Louis, we seek to strengthen the faith of Catholics, enhance the way we minister and serve, and reach more hearts.
Archbishop Rozanski formally introduced All Things New on January 25, 2022. Since that time, input from the faithful has been collected through focus groups, email, letters, and a series of surveys.
More than 70,000 people responded to the Disciple Maker Index survey, which looked at personal beliefs and the parish experience. 18,000-plus Catholic school and parish school of religion (PSR) parents, faculty, alumni and donors completed the School Survey to assess the archdiocese school system’s strengths and needs. A Young Adult Survey is currently underway through September 12. Pastors have also been asked to submit by August 31 their parish’s top evangelization and social outreach priorities for the future, based on parishioner feedback.
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The Archdiocese of St. Louis was established in 1826 and has grown to currently serve more than 491,000 Catholics in 11 Missouri counties. As Catholics in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, we strive to fulfill our Baptismal calling by prayer and worship, teaching and sharing our faith, serving others, and fostering unity in diversity.