Directions from the Synod: Progress
By PAUL R. LEINGANG, Message editor
What impact will the Synod have? What is anybody doing about
what was decided? Answers to those questions may take years to
answer fully -- but the wheels are already in motion in many
areas, according to Holy Names Sister Louise Bond, chancellor.
Among the first steps to be taken is to make connections be-
tween the directions established by the Synod and the diocesan
budgeting process. The budget currently in planning and under
discussion is for the fiscal year which will start Sept. 1, 1994.
Listed below are the goals, proposals, motions and policies ap-
proved by the Synod delegates and ratified by Bishop Gerald A.
Gettelfinger. Following each item is a brief report, where applica-
ble, on actions taken.
Living the Faith: Goal 1.1
Cultivate among all Catholics
a deeper understanding of the
sacraments of initiation (Bap-
tism, Confirmation, Eucharist)
and the commitment flowing
there from.
Persons who have respon-
siblities for diocesan leader-
ship will meet Dec. 6, to begin
to plan how to put the synod
goals into effect. They will
concentrate on the goals
listed in the two major areas,
"Living the Faith," and
"Focus on Lay Leadership."
Living the Faith: Goal 1.2
Foster among all Catholics
the realization that catechetical
formation incorporates the tra-
ditional elements of word, wor-
ship, community and service at
all levels.
Living the Faith: Goal 1.3.
Establish the Diocese of
Evansville as a total steward-
ship diocese.
Living the Faith: Goal 1.4
Develop processes to deepen
faith and prayer, and to en-
courage on-going conversion of
individuals within the context
of the Catholic community.
Living the Faith: Goal 1.5
Foster an awareness and un-
derstanding of the National
Conference of Catholic Bishops'
Vision: "A Family Perspective
in Church and Society" (1988)
and its 1990 planning docu-
ment.
t/ Pastors and representa-
tives of five parishes have
been meeting for about a
year, to learn more about
stewardship and how to put it
into practice. Stewardship
committees have been formed
at these parishes:St. Agnes,
St th0hy and St, Benedict,
all in Evansville; Sts. Peter
and Paul in Haubstadt, and
St. Philip in St. Philip.
Justin Clements, director of
development, who has been
meeting with the group, said
their experience should help
other parishes seeking to be-
come better stewards.
The five parishes want to
"catch fire" with a new spirit,
Clements said. They want to
fulfill the mission statement
and become ,alive in the
Spirit."
Books and documents and
bishops' letters will be made
available to members of the
diocese. Steps are being taken
to set up a discount purchase
plan for people who want to
buy a copy of "A Family Per-
spective in Church and Soci-
etf' and other documents. De-
tails will be complete in time
to announce in the Jan. 7
issue of the Message.
Living the Faith: Goal 1.6
Promote Church teaching
that parents/guardians, in re-
questing Baptism for their chil-
dren, hold the primary respon-
sibility for their children's faith
formation.
Living the Faith: Goal
1.6A
Reaffirm the importance of
Catholic Schools and religious
education programs to assist
parents in the faith formation
of their children.
Living the Faith: Goal 1.7
Accept the challenge of the
American Bishops "to give high
priority to adult formation as
the chief form of catechesis at
all levels of the Church."
Living the Faith: Goal 1.8
Promote "A Vision of Youth
Ministry" which welcomes and
fosters the active role of youth
and young adults in the life,
mission and work of the faith
community.
Living the Faith: Goal 1.9
Support Campus Ministry as
a vital ministry to all who are
involved in higher education.
Lay Leadership: Goal 2.1
The Diocese of Evansville
will call forth and empower lay
leadership to serve and pro-
mote the mission of the church.
Lay Leadership: Goal 2.2
The Diocese of Evansville
will research, develop and im-
plement a leadership develop-
ment process which trains, and
supports leaders for ministry in
church life.
Lay Leadership: Goal 2.3
The Diocese of Evansville
will continue to encourage and
seek out persons with a voca-
tion to religious and ordained
ministry.
Proposal 3.1
That there be a Diocesan
Pastoral Council in the Diocese
of Evansville, and that the'
guidelines for the Diocesan
Pastoral Council be established
by the Synod Implementation
Team prior to establishment of
the council.
Motion 4.1
That Bishop Gettelfinger ap-
point a Synod Implementation
Team immediately following
the Synod and in accord with
the above description.
Goal 5.1
Every parish in the Diocese
of Evansville is to have a
parish pastoral council appro-
priate to the parish.
v' The Office
Schools and the (
Catholic Ed
begun a planning
light of the
jectives for tl
years are being
v' Youth ministry
have stepped
a winter Youth Day:I!
The Washington
churches will host
School, Feb, 20.
Webb and Father
are leading the
team.
Antonette Harris
Vogler and Becky
will coordinate the
Youth Team Awards.
tl Campus miJ
rently have a full time
pus presence at
sity of Southern .......
University of Vincennes,.i
the University
v' Members of the
plementation Team
ceive at their Dec. 5
Diocesan Pastoral C£
Models, and a copy of
ing the Local Church:
Responsibility in
Pastoral Councils"
t,' Members of a
mentation Team
appointed. They w
Dec. 5. One of the
tasks is to establish
lines for a
Council.
\\;
e' Sixty-seven of
parishes in the
rently have a parish
according to
vided for parish
Continued
!ili
