"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper
you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~ Jeremiah 29:11
Welcome to the Office of Pastoral Planning.
We truly believe we are guided by the Spirit and have titled the planning process: "Our Journey of Faith . . . led by the Spirit" which also follows on the theme already established by the "We Walk by Faith" process going on in individual parishes.
Going forward in a prayerful and at the same time logical way, the diocese has been divided into 19 Local Planning Areas, a map of the planning areas can be accessed by clicking here, based on geography and existing parish relationships. Each of the 19 areas has a Local Planning Committee consisting of two parish representatives and the pastor and will be led by a trained facilitator and a "local chair". The chair is a priest, deacon or religious who knows the region well.
In order to introduce the Strategic Planning process to all parishioners in the diocese, a series of meetings was held in the Western Vicariate on Saturday, September 29 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Salem; the Eastern Vicariate on Saturday, October 20 at Immaculate Conception in Hampton; and the Central Vicariate on November 3 at St. Michael in Glen Allen. The purpose of these meetings was to give an overview of the planning process to all interested parishioners and parish leadership in the diocese and allow a "brainstorming process" to gather fresh ideas which may be used in developing the strategic plan. Bishop DiLorenzo has stated this needs to be a "bottom up process" and we have learned from other dioceses across the country who have gone through a similar planning process that the best plans include local parishioner involvement and ideas.
We pray to the Holy Spirit for wisdom and guidance throughout this process. We hope you will pray for an increase in vocations and the success of the planning process. For more information, please see About Pastoral Planning.
The 19 Local Planning Areas (LPAs) start meeting separately in January of 2008 to begin their work. Click here to find an alphabetical listing of our parishes and their respective LPA. Meetings dates are determined by the facilitator and chair for each LPA.