Priests and parish leaders from around the archdiocese are preparing for the Oct. 16-17 announcement of the Strategic Plan for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, “Promote and Proclaim a Communion of Faith, Hope and Love.”

The archdiocese recently provided suggestions for prayers, petitions, bulletin information, liturgy and music for use during the announcement weekend and in parishes’ preparation.

Archdiocesan leaders are encouraging pastors to meet with their parish staffs and leadership on Friday evening, Oct. 15, or Saturday morning, Oct. 16, to share how the plan will affect their parish.

Pastors were reminded that all parishes will be affected by the strategic plan. Even those where little structural change will occur under the plan should be aware of the emotions that people at merging or clustering parishes will be feeling that weekend.

The comprehensive plan will be made public at 4 p.m. Oct. 16 at http://www.archspm.org and https://www.thecatholicspirit.com. A printed summary of the plan will be available after the weekend Masses.

That weekend, archdiocesan staff members and representatives will be present at all Masses of parishes that will be merging into another parish under the plan.

For more information about the strategic planning, visit http://planning.archspm.org.