Archdiocesan Planning Process

Click Here to view the Archbishop's Pentecost 2010 Update regarding the Archdiocesan Planning Process

Click Here to view the Key Facts about our Archdiocese which have recently been identified

Click Here to view the Archdiocesan Planning Process Timeline

On February 26, 2009, Archbishop John Nienstedt called the first meeting of a Strategic Task Force for Parish and School Planning in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. At this meeting, Archbishop Nienstedt shared with the Task Force some basic principles to guide their work:

• Full sacramental ministry must be available to every Catholic in each geographical area of the archdiocese. In other words, every Catholic will have a home parish and will know where to go for spiritual assistance.
• Qualified pastoral leaders (i.e., clergy, religious and lay) will be assigned to each of those geographical areas.
• Special concern must be given to the poor, the marginalized or the immigrant.
• Every parish will be involved, to one degree or another, in the planning process. We will not permit discussions to fall along the lines of “the haves” and “the have nots.” Every parish will be expected to evaluate its spiritual, sacramental, communal, financial and faith formation resources. Adjustments will be made with other parishes in that particular deanery based on the evaluation.
• Catholic schools cannot be left out of the plan. The situation with our schools is complex and diverse. But we want to continue our support for them to the best of our ability.
• The discussions surrounding this planning should be characterized by mutual respect, patience, honesty and an ability to listen to all points of view. The main thrust of the planning is about collaboration and cooperation, not about closing, though the latter may happen in some cases.

Click Here to visit the Archdiocesan Planning Process web page for more information and ways to give your input.