Phase 2: Vision & Leadership
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Phase 2 of Into the Deep began on July 1, 2024. One of the most important steps in this phase is the start of pastorate mergers. Although the mergers are slated to begin on July 1, 2024, not all pastorates will start the process on that date. Instead, the mergers will occur in waves extending into 2025.
The timing of a pastorate’s merger depends on several factors:- Legal situations that might be unique to a pastorate (e.g., some pastorates cross multiple county lines)
- Pastorate staffing levels and areas of staff expertise
- Complexities with church buildings and property
- The plans for schools in a pastorate, especially where there are multiple schools
- Unexpected priest changes that may occur (retirement, illness, reassignments, etc.)
- The financial status of the parishes and any related apostolates in the pastorate
- Connection to the merger of neighboring pastorates (e.g., formerly merged parishes being split into different pastorates)
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LEARN MORE ABOUT PHASE 2
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At the diocesan level, offices are working with parishes and pastorates on financial procedures, church management software and integrated IT tools, and legal processes related to parish structures that are new based on the size and scope of the changes for the entire diocese.
At the pastorate level, Phase 2 includes goals and processes in the following areas:- Administration/Finance: Work with Parish Administrative Services to prepare for merger; review and implement policies found in the Diocesan Parish Administrative Manual
- Schools: Evaluate and plan for upcoming enrollment, marketing, efficiencies, facility usage, transportation, budgets an endowment structures, and tuition; consider how multiple schools can work together within a pastorate/parish
- Discipleship Formation: Work on establishing or strengthening family catechesis model; try to build/form small groups; look for adult education opportunities for the pastorate/parish
- HR: Work on safe environment certifications/updates; continue to develop and/or implement employee handbooks, job descriptions, and organizational charts; conduct employee reviews
- Hispanic Ministry: Continue to evaluate Hispanic ministry needs within pastorates/parishes; work with Diocesan Hispanic Ministry Council
- Mission: Continue to plan for hiring a Director of Evangelization if not done; continue assessment and renewal of Go Make Disciples programming
- Leadership and Activities: Continue to inventory parish events as well as assessing the events’ fit with the pastorate/parish mission
- Priestly Life and Work: Continue to focus on priest team growth and collaboration, especially with moves and new assignments
- Worship and Sacraments: Continue to evaluate Mass schedule and adjust as needed; prepare for new sacramental registers when the new parish is created; evaluate hiring of a Director of Worship/Liturgy for the pastorate/parish; form a liturgy committee as appropriate; conduct liturgical trainings
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First Parish Mergerpastorate 25 becomes Epiphany of the Lord Parish
On June 8, 2024, the parishes of Pastorate 25 were united together into Epiphany of the Lord Parish. The first of the Into the Deep parishes saw the installation of its pastor, Fr. Vince Brewer, on July 7, 2024 (see photos). Read more about this important step for our diocese in the Catholic Herald article about Epiphany of the Lord Parish.
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