“ It is up to the bishop with the help of the priests, deacons, religious, and lay people to implement a coordinated pastoral plan which is systematic and participatory involving all members of the church and awakening in them a missionary consciousness.”
(Ecclesia in America, 36)
The work of the Office for Parish Service and Support is organized
into three major areas:
1. the ongoing management of pastoral
information
2. the development and support of planning
processes
3. research to support areas 1 and 2
In practice, the Archdiocesan Office for Parish Service and Support is
characterized by a holistic concern with the total mission of the
Church within the Archdiocese. It is the purpose of the office to
promote shared responsibility, and to implement the mobilization of
human resources for fulfillment of the mission of the Church. This
involves a faith centered approach stressing the role of prayer and
spirituality in planning, and the development of shared goals and
assumptions about the future.
Planning
is a
cyclical process. Information is gathered,
plans are made and actions taken. The results of the actions are
assessed, the information is updated, plans are revised and new actions
are taken which, in turn, are assessed. This ongoing
planning cycle is an indication of a vital healthy parish.