As Families of Parishes are formed, parish staff, the pastoral council, and other leaders will create a plan through which the parishes will come together as one faith community. Each plan will be unique to the Family of Parishes, celebrating the history, culture, and strengths of each of the parishes in the Family. Principles, vision points, and parameters will guide the development of the plans for all the Families of Parishes, building on the common vision of the parish as a beacon of light.
Archbishop Schnurr has approved six principles that will be the foundation for the plans each Family of Parishes will develop.
Vision points will guide leaders to consider what living the principle to its fullest would mean for the Family and to plan toward fulfilling that vision. Parish leaders must keep the vision of the parish as a beacon of light in mind as they create the plan for their Family of Parishes.
Archbishop Schnurr has approved parameters to guide the pastoral planning process, establishing common expectations for each Family of Parishes. These parameters will address things that all Families must or must not do as they come together.
Families of Parishes must follow canon law, civil law, all universal and particular Church law, and archdiocesan policies.
Families of Parishes must develop a pastoral plan for parish vitality, submitted at least annually, reviewed by the dean, to be approved by the archbishop in conformity with the parameters of the Pastoral Planning Pathway according to the published timeline.
By September 1, 2022, every Family of Parishes must form a Planning Team, led by the pastor, to coordinate pastoral planning geared toward the unification of the Family by June 30, 2027.
The Mass is the source and summit of the whole Christian life. Accordingly, the Eucharist is the essential moment for building up and strengthening the parish community, along with the sacraments and other celebrations of the paschal mystery — the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The regular Mass schedule for a Family of Parishes may not assume more than two Masses per day per priest.
A regularly scheduled Mass for the Sunday precept must have annual average attendance of at least 50% of the church capacity.
The regular Mass schedule must provide the opportunity for priests to spiritually prepare for and be present to the community after Mass.
There must be a sufficient number of trained and formed liturgical ministers to serve as readers, servers, EMsHC, music ministers, et al. for liturgical celebrations.
Sacramental formation must be provided.
Each of us is called to actively participate as a member of a parish, the Universal Church and our local Church, led by our archbishop. Parishes continually deepen the bonds of communion with other parishes.
In pastoral planning and parish life, every Family of Parishes will adhere to the spirit and norms of the Vatican Instruction: "The pastoral conversion of the parish community in the service of the evangelizing mission of the Church." (2020).
Families collaborate with other Families within the deanery to provide coordinated pastoral ministry (e.g. hospitals, care facilities, young adult evangelization, high schools, jails, etc.)
Pastors, in collaboration with parochial vicars, deacons and lay ministers, according to their proper roles and charisms, share responsibility for pastoral leadership. The spiritual, physical and mental health and ongoing support of ordained and lay leaders is vital for Families of Parishes.
Every Family of Parishes will have a unified pastoral council, with other relevant and necessary consultative groups for specific areas of parish life.
The Finance Councils of each parish within the Family will work together to appropriately plan for and monitor the finances of the Family of Parishes.
Competent and qualified staff are necessary to serve the Family of Parishes, especially in the areas of worship, evangelization (including love in action), and administration. As is possible, staff will be unified to serve the entire Family.
Priests must have a regularly scheduled day off and must be able to take all annual vacation and retreats.
Priests, deacons, staff and other lay leaders will participate in ongoing spiritual formation and training for leadership.
Families of Parishes are communities of grateful disciples. Recognizing God’s gifts, they use their talents, skills and resources to build up the Church and live as Christ’s Body in the world.
Every Family of Parishes will form people to embrace stewardship as a way of life.
Every Family of Parishes will actively promote vocational discernment.
As centers of missionary outreach, Families of Parishes find new ways to foster discipleship among all the baptized. Schools, parishes, and indeed the domestic church itself are centers of this essential work.
Every Family of Parishes will create and implement a plan that ministers to all persons in every season of life and every stage in the process of evangelization.
Every Family of Parishes will have an Evangelization Team, overseen by the pastor and led by competent and qualified staff.
Families of Parishes will be communities of charity and justice, serving those most in need and working to change systems that oppress and marginalize.
Every Family of Parishes must offer support to their communities through the spiritual and corporal works of mercy and promote a culture of life, charity, and justice.
Every Family of Parishes will incorporate principles of Catholic Social Teaching into faith formation efforts for youth and adults.
Every Family of Parishes will promote intercultural competence and facilitate the participation of all people in the life of the Church.
The six guiding principles address areas largely related to teaching and sanctifying.
The six guiding principles address areas largely related to teaching and sanctifying. The parameters below are focused on the governance of Families of Parishes.
The parish/school financial ID # cannot be changed unless a new parish is formed or a parish formally changes its name.
Each parish must maintain their own financial and sacramental records until parish territories are merged.
Families of Parishes must be fiscally accountable.
Parishes within each Family must work together to have an agreed upon and signed shared expense agreement annually when planning the yearly fiscal budget.
Each parish/school must follow all policies within the Temporal Affairs Handbook.
Every Family of Parishes must follow relevant civil law and archdiocesan policies for information (record) retention and location.
Every Family of Parishes must work with the Pastoral Center Department of Human Resources to review staffing models.
Each school must follow the approved School Change Process when making structural changes or closure decisions.
Effective communications is necessary to share the Good News within the Family of Parishes and throughout the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
Every Family of Parishes will utilize the archdiocese-provided census database for managing parishioner contact information and sacramental records.
I am convinced that Beacons of Light, born of great hope, will enable us to form stronger parishes, centered on the Eucharist, that radiate the love of Christ and joy of the Gospel… God has abundantly blessed our first two centuries and will certainly bless the next.
