THIS LETTER IS FOLLOWED BY MORE INFORMATION FROM ARCHBISHOP ROZANSKI AND THE OFFICE OF STRATEGIC PLANNING (PLEASE CONTINUE TO SCROLL DOWN TO THE NEXT POSTING AFTER READING)
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
Please let me start by thanking you for your thoughtful consideration and honest feedback to our
various All Things New surveys, outreach and strategic planning endeavors. Your prayers and
input have been most valuable to this effort.
As I write, I'm reflecting on something the Holy Father said several years ago that remains true
and especially relevant to us in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Pope Francis said “we are not
living an era of change, but a change of era.” The All Things New pastoral planning process is
going to bring historic change to the Archdiocese of St. Louis. We know that our current model
is not sustainable. As we start to look at potential plans for parishes, ministries and schools to
ensure a vibrant presence and future for the Archdiocese, I'd like to update you as to where we
are in the process.
In this next phase, we will begin a conversation with our archdiocesan priests and parishioners to
discuss draft models, which are based on demographics, sacramental data and feedback received
from the Disciple Maker Index survey and other consultative bodies. This past Friday, we
presented the information we gathered and preliminary proposals for parishes to our priests to
gather their feedback. Then, over the next several months, we will share updated proposals in a
series of listening sessions hosted at each parish to hear your thoughts about the proposed models.
Please let me remind you that these parish models are preliminary and will be adjusted based on
your feedback. Specific information regarding schools will be released later
.
Our goal is to implement a vision for evangelization that is accessible to all and empowers every
Catholic to spread the Gospel message - today and for generations to come.
This is our primary focus as Catholics, and so I urge you all to bear this in mind as we take the
next steps. We are called to collaborate as the Catholic Church rather than compete as many
individual churches. I encourage you to engage with us during our listening sessions with an
open heart and mind, as we continue to discern where the Lord is leading us. We will continue
to update you through allthingsnew.archstl.org. May God bless you, your family and your
parish community.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Mitchell T. Rozanski
Archbishop of St. Louis