Members of the Strategic Task Force for Parish and School Planning urge parishioners to share their ideas and concerns regarding the archdiocesan planning process at eight upcoming regional parishioner meetings.

These meetings will be held in locations throughout the archdiocese in September and October.

“We want to get as much input as we can from as many people as we can,” said Father John Bauer, task force co-chair with Father Peter Laird. “The planning process starts with the people. We want to give them as many opportunities as we can.”

The task force is also hoping to get useful ideas during the meetings, added Father Bauer, rector of the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis. “We don’t want to take anything off the table.”

A matter of resources

The task force was appointed by Archbishop John Nienstedt to oversee the steps of the archdiocesan planning process. Its members have already begun to meet with priests, parish leaders and parish ministry staff members.

Task force members are seeking input on how best to manage pastoral, financial, personnel and structural resources for the future. The archdiocese’s 10-year projections show more Catholics but fewer priests, as well as a greater economic disparity among Catholic communities.

“We have tried to provide as many different ways for people to give us input as we can,” Father Bauer said. “We want people to know that it’s their right and responsibility to have input in the process.”

Latino Catholics are encouraged to attend the Spanish-language meeting at St. Richard in Richfield on Sept. 12. This meeting is designed to address the needs and concerns of Latino Catholics in the archdiocese, and it will run parallel to an English-language parishioner meeting, also at St. Richard.

“They are our fastest growing community within the church right now,” Father Bauer said. “As we move forward we hope to listen to their needs so we can minister to them and with them.”

At the end of the planning process in mid-2010, the task force will present its recommendations to Archbishop Nienstedt based on the feedback members receive. The final plan will shape the future use of resources within the archdiocese.

Those unable to attend a regional parishioner meeting are encouraged to share ideas, hopes and concerns by speaking with their pastor, or via a voice mail hotline, the Internet or a letter. Comments are accepted in English, Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese and French.

Make your voice heard

Following is the schedule for the regional parishioner meetings for the archdiocesan planning process. Catholics are encouraged to attend a meeting close to their own parish.

» St. Richard, Richfield, Saturday, Sept. 12, 9:30-11:30 a.m. There is a parallel Spanish session at this meeting.

» St. Peter, North St. Paul, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 7-9 p.m.

» St. Wenceslaus, New Prague, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 7-9 p.m.

» St. Pius V, Cannon Falls, Saturday, Sept. 26, 9:30-11:30 a.m.

» All Saints, Lakeville, Monday, Sept. 28, 7-9 p.m.

» Holy Spirit, St. Paul, Thursday, Oct. 1, 7-9 p.m.

» Holy Name of Jesus, Wayzata, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 7-9 p.m.

» St. Timothy, Blaine, Thursday, Oct. 8, 7-9 p.m.

Contact the Parish Services Team:

» On the Web at http://www.archspm.org/planningprocess.
» By voice mail at (651) 291-4435.
» By U.S. postal mail at: Archdiocese of St. Paul and Min ne apolis, PST — Planning Process Comments, 328 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul, MN 55102.