Baptism

The first of the seven sacraments and the “door” which gives access to the other sacraments. Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist constitute the “sacraments of initiation” by which a believer receives the remission of original and personal sin, begins a new life in Christ and the Holy Spirit, and is incorporated into the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ.

Beacons of Light

A process of pastoral planning
to best arrange all the resources of the archdiocese
to proclaim the Gospel and make disciples
in this particular time and place.

Beacons of Light Guiding Principles

Six principles that have been discerned by the Beacons of Light leaders and approved by Archbishop Schnurr that will be the foundation of the pastoral plan each Family of Parishes will develop for itself. These principals are Eucharist, Church, Leadership, Stewardship, Evangelization, and Love in Action.

Bishop / Archbishop

A successor of the Apostles who has received the fullness of Christ’s priesthood. The bishop is the proper shepherd of the diocese entrusted to him under the authority of the Holy Father. An archbishop is the bishop of an archdiocese. “The diocesan bishop governs the particular Church entrusted to him with legislative, executive and judicial power, in accordance with the law.” (Code of Canon Law, c. 391 §1)

Body of Christ

The human body which the Son of God assumed through His conception in the womb of Mary and which now is glorified in heaven. This same body and blood, together with soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ are really and truly present in the sacrament of the Eucharist.

Canon Law

The laws (“canons”) which provide the norms for good order in the visible society of the Catholic Church. In addition to the laws contained in the Code of Canon Law, other laws issued by the Apostolic See and the laws particular to each diocese make up the entirety of the Church’s canon law.

Church/church

“Church,” when capitalized, refers to the Catholic Church, the faithful of the whole world united under the guidance and authority of the pope, the successor of Saint Peter. A “church” is a sacred building set aside for public worship. Each parish has at least one church. Each church has a title which cannot be changed after its consecration.

Deacon

A deacon is a man ordained for service in the Church’s ministry of charity. Deacons receive the sacrament of Holy Orders, as do priests and bishops. Deacons assist priests with various parish ministries. They are able to administer the sacrament of baptism, witness marriages and assist with both the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Deacons also often assist with parish administration, catechesis and other duties. A permanent deacon may be married or single and is not a candidate for the priesthood. A transitional deacon is a man in formation for the priesthood, for whom the diaconate is a final stage before priestly ordination.

Diocese/Archdiocese

Also known as a “particular Church” or “local Church,” a diocese is a portion of the people of God, a specific community within the Catholic Church which is defined by geographical boundaries and typically entrusted to a bishop who serves as shepherd of this portion of Christ’s flock. An archdiocese is the major diocese within a province (which is a grouping of dioceses) and is led by an archbishop.

Discernment

The process of searching for a solution or making a decision that is in accord with God’s will through prayer and reflection. Prayerful discernment frees the mind and spirit from vested interests and distractions.

Eucharist

The principal sacramental celebration of the Church, established by Jesus at the Last Supper, in which the mystery of our salvation through participation in the death and Resurrection of Christ is renewed and accomplished. The Mass renews the paschal sacrifice of Christ as the sacrifice offered by the Church. The Sunday celebration of the Eucharist is at the heart of the Church’s life. The Holy Eucharist is one of the seven sacraments of the Church and completes Christian initiation.

Evangelization

Fulfilling Christ’s instruction to share the Good News and make disciples through our words and actions. “The evangelizing efforts of the baptized are not simply focused on those who have not heard of Christ. They are also directed toward our brothers and sisters who no longer join us around the Lord’s table. Furthermore, the baptized disciple of Christ is also continually evangelized through ongoing renewal of faith and living out that same faith.” (Living as Missionary Disciples, p. 6)

Family of God

A way of understanding the Church as the communion of all the faithful, united by virtue of their baptism and organized around the distinct characteristics of prayer, Eucharist and companionship.

Family of Parishes

A grouping of parishes led by a common pastor and characterized by collaboration and shared resources. A parochial vicar (or multiple parochial vicars) or retired priest may also serve a Family of Parishes.

From Maintenance to Mission

Focusing the attention, resources, and activity of parishes and parish schools on the mission given us by Jesus Christ: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Mt. 28:19-20). This will require Families of Parishes to find ways to minimize the amount of time, energy and money currently consumed by temporal demands.

Infrastructure

The collective physical structures and property in our archdiocese – church buildings, school buildings, office buildings, rectories and real estate, including parking lots, grounds, etc.

Liturgy

In its original meaning, a “public work” or service done in the name of or on behalf of the people. Through the liturgy Christ our high Priest continues the work of our redemption through the Church’s celebration of the paschal mystery by which he accomplished our salvation. The liturgy unfolds through the official public prayer of the Church (e.g. the Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours, the celebration of the sacraments).

Lumen Gentium (“The Light of the Nations”)

One of the principle documents of the Second Vatican Council, known as the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church. Lumen Gentium has two purposes: to explain the Church’s nature as “a sign and instrument of communion with God and of unity among all men” and to clarify the Church’s universal mission as the sacramental means of human salvation.

Missionary Disciples

Individuals who follow Jesus Christ in and through His Church, striving to share the Gospel message and draw others into a more intimate relationship with Jesus.

Mystical Body of Christ

The Church is called the Mystical Body of Christ whose head is Christ and whose members are the faithful, an image of concurrent unity and diversity.

Parish

A stable community of the faithful constituted with a church or group of churches within a diocese. Its oversight and care are entrusted to a pastor as its shepherd under the authority of the diocesan bishop. “The parish is the presence of the Church in a given territory, an environment for hearing God’s word, for growth in the Christian life, for dialogue, proclamation, charitable outreach, worship and celebration.” (Evangelii Gaudium, 28)

Parish Leaders

Those members of the parish faithful who collaborate with the pastor to help inform and guide the parish to best fulfill the evangelizing mission of the Church. These leaders could include parochial vicars, deacons and members of the laity (employees or volunteers), each according to their proper roles and charisms.

Parochial Vicar

A parochial vicar is a priest assigned by his (arch)bishop to a parish or Family of Parishes to assist a pastor in the care of the faithful. The Code of Canon Law defines the office as follows: “Parochial vicars are priests who render their services in pastoral ministry as co-workers with the pastor in common counsel and endeavor with him and also under his authority.” (Code of Canon Law, c. 545 §1)

Paschal Mystery

Christ’s work of redemption accomplished principally by His Passion, death, Resurrection and glorious Ascension, whereby “dying He destroyed our death, rising He restored our life.” The paschal mystery is celebrated and made present in the liturgy of the Church, and its saving effects are communicated through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, which renews the paschal sacrifice of Christ as the sacrifice offered by the Church.

Pastor

The pastor is the proper shepherd of the parish or parishes entrusted to him under the authority of his (arch)bishop. He is an ordained priest responsible for the ministry of teaching, sanctifying, and governing, with the cooperation of other priests or deacons in the parish and the assistance of lay members of the faithful.

Pastoral Planning

A process by which a diocese, parish or Family of Parishes evaluates its current situation and resources, prayerfully discerns God’s will for the future of that community and crafts a plan to move toward that future.

Pastoral Planning Pathway

The process, based upon the Beacons of Light Guiding Principles and consistent with the Planning Parameters, that will bring together the leaders of all parishes within each Family to create a plan specific to that Family’s unique circumstances and opportunities.

Planning Parameters

The common expectations for all Families of Parishes. These will specify those items that all Families must or must not do as they come together.

Subsidiarity

A foundational principle of the Church’s social doctrine affirming that decisions should be made at the most proximate or local level to those whom they affect. “The teaching of the Church has elaborated the principle of subsidiarity, according to which ‘a community of a higher order should not interfere in the internal life of a community of a lower order, depriving the latter of its functions, but rather should support it in case of need and help to coordinate its activity with the activities of the rest of society, always with a view to the common good.’” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1883)

Synodality

A way of living the faith in a permanent manner at every level – in the parish, in the family and at the peripheries. All members of the Church, laity in addition to clergy, are to be engaged in this way of living. Synodality describes the journeying together of the People of God toward the New and Eternal Jerusalem.

Triune God

A central doctrine of the Church, stating that there are three Persons – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – in one God. Sharing the same divine substance, the three divine Persons are co-equal, co-eternal and consubstanstial. They are due co-equal glory and adoration. This doctrine is commonly expressed as that of the Most Holy Trinity.

Universal Church

The Universal Church is the community of the Christian faithful incorporated into the life of Jesus Christ through baptism and sent out to continue His mission to the whole human race. The Church is “the People that God gathers in the whole world. She exists in local communities and is made real as a liturgical, above all a Eucharistic, assembly. She draws her life from the word and the Body of Christ and so herself becomes Christ's Body.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 752)