Thursday, May 1, 2008

The Deanery Study



The Trenton Diocesan Study of the Central Monmouth County Deanery study continues. Look at the MONITOR for upcoming articles on the progress of the study.

In the meantime, here's what's going on.

We've completed the "Information-Gathering" phase of the study, and now we're asessing the real neads of the Church in this area. We're "dreaming" about what the Catholic Church might look like in this area, say 20 years from now. We're involved in a process of looking at the realities of the current parish configurations, and looking at the fact that we'll have 30% fewer priests available to be pastors in 10 years.

We must begin the process of training lay ecclesial ministers to take over 80% of the duties of ordained, male, celibate priests in the very near future.

Our parish, St. Anselm, is committed to sending people for adequate training in the areas of Spiritual Direction, Parish Administration, Catholic Education, and Catechetics. Thank God that our diocese offers professional-level training in these areas.

The Deanery Study, due to end in August, will present the Bishop with certain recommendations for the future of the Catholc Church in this area. Let's continue our prayers that this process will help us to grow into a more vibrant and vital Catholic Church in the Long Branch area.

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