The Office of Strategic Planning
for the Archdiocese of St. Louis
"All Things New" Newsletter
February, 2022
All Things New, the strategic pastoral planning initiative officially launched January 25, 2022. This initiative will evaluate the effectiveness of the Church in St. Louis proclaiming the Gospel and identifying opportunities for improvement and renewal within all parishes, schools, archdiocesan offices and agencies and other ministry efforts.
On Ash Wednesday, March 2nd, parishioners across the Archdiocese of St. Louis will be invited to share their thoughts, reflect on their spiritual growth as well as provide parish leadership with invaluable insight regarding their parish’s strengths and opportunities through a survey, the Disciple Maker Index (DMI).
Please help by participating and encouraging your family, friends and your fellow parishioners to share their invaluable feedback in a 10-15 minute survey online. Printable versions of the survey will be available to download and paper copies can be arranged through your parish. The Disciple Maker Index is offered in eighteen languages.
Find more information about the Disciple Maker Index on the All Things New website under Ways to Engage.
Pray with us:
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.
We're all called to mission.
As we begin this Pastoral Strategic Planning process, it's important that we all recognize our call to be missionary disciples, to be actively engaged in the work of evangelization in our parishes and in our everyday lives.
Unfortunately, most Catholics don't feel equipped to evangelize - they aren’t confident in how to share the good news simply. That's why we put together this easy to use Preparing For Mission Guidebook to help you gain an understanding of your call and to help you prepare. It’s designed to be used in your parishes with leaders and volunteers, in small groups in homes, or for personal reflection as you begin to discern and respond to the mission to which God is calling you.
Unfortunately, most Catholics don't feel equipped to evangelize - they aren’t confident in how to share the good news simply. That's why we put together this easy to use Preparing For Mission Guidebook to help you gain an understanding of your call and to help you prepare. It’s designed to be used in your parishes with leaders and volunteers, in small groups in homes, or for personal reflection as you begin to discern and respond to the mission to which God is calling you.
"New" to the All Things New Website:
Preliminary Planning Area Maps
Maps of the preliminary planning areas for the Archdiocese of St. Louis have been added to the All Things New website along with a narrative video by Fr. Chris Martin. Parishes have been grouped together in these preliminary planning areas to foster initial conversations and brainstorming around what future collaboration might look like. These maps are preliminary and could change over time.
Trends in the Church of St. Louis
The Office of Pastoral Planning published charts providing statistics and trending data that the Archdiocese of St. Louis has been collecting over the past 80 years. The charts reflect significant declines in many of the major data points that require a better use of our Archdiocesan resources to change the trends. These resources include our human resources (clergy and lay leaders), financial resources, physical structures, and parish locations across the Archdiocese.
Finally, brothers, rejoice. Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.
2 Corinthians 13:11
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