On Pentecost, May 27, 2023, Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski released his decisions on the future of the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
“Every person deserves to encounter the love of Jesus Christ through the Catholic Church," says Becky Whitaker, director of youth ministry at Assumption in O’Fallon, Mo. “That’s an exciting thing!” She should know. Several of the teens who have joined her parish’s youth group are now in RCIA studying to become Catholic.
We all know that the Church of today is not the same that it was 50, 100 or 150+ years ago, and yet we are still functioning in many ways out of the same mode of evangelization. We have inherited a great treasure of Catholic institutions from previous generations, but as the Catholic population and society have shifted over the past several decades, they are no longer as effective or sustainable as they once were.
We are closer now to 2050 than to 1950. We need to ask ourselves what our parishes, ministries and institutions need to look like in order to effectively share the faith in a way that is suitable and sustainable for our children and generations to come.
All Things New will evaluate the effectiveness of the Church in St. Louis in proclaiming the Gospel and will identify opportunities for improvement and renewal within all parishes, schools and curia offices and agencies.
Gospel renewal in our parishes, schools, and other ministry efforts
Enhance our evangelization efforts to those on the margins of society
Secure a vibrant future for the Church of St. Louis
All Catholics are urged to pray and offer their feedback about the future of the archdiocese, rooted in our encounter with the Lord and desire to share the Good News with others. The plan will focus on the Church's efforts to evangelize, with infrastructure considerations secondary.
Download Prayer Card: English | Español
Heavenly Father, you sent your Son Jesus as the first Evangelizer of the Good News.
Send forth the power of the Holy Spirit upon the Church of St. Louis and grant us the gift of true discernment so we may do your will in all things.
Help us be totally free to follow wherever you lead us, totally generous to be good stewards of your many gifts, and totally passionate to suffer all in order to be more closely united to you.
Commissioned by your Son and empowered by the Spirit to "Go and Make Disciples of all Nations," strengthen us by the power of your grace as we bring the Good News of Salvation into the lives of all those we touch, so that individual hearts and all of society may be converted to you and all things might be made new.
Inspired by the apostolic zeal of previous generations, as we begin the process of planning for the future, may our only desire be to do all things for the greater glory and honor of your name and for the good of your people in the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Strategic Pastoral Planning Initiative for the Archdiocese of St. Louis
The proposed timeline of All Things New is expected to include two years of prayer, discernment and planning, including collecting data and feedback on all aspects within the archdiocese.
Individual interviews with key clergy and lay leaders
Data gathering from parishes and schools
Collected feedback through surveys, focus groups and personal interviews
Theme, logo, goals and guiding principles
Presented and collected feedback from priests, deacons, lay leaders and archdiocesan ministries
Internal data collection and analysis
Initiative Announcement (January 25, 2022 - Conversion of St. Paul)
Disciple Maker Index Parishioner Survey (Lent 2022)
Potential models complete
Draft modeling begins; collect model feedback from pastors and key parish leader; draft of parish planning process is completed
Parish Listening Sessions to receive input and feedback on draft models; iterations to models
Discernment and refinement of models
Archbishop Rozanski announces the plan for the Archdiocese of St. Louis
Implementation begins
Download letter from the Archbishop: English | Español
Archdiocese of St Louis 20 Archbishop May Dr. St. Louis, MO 63119
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(314) 792-7005