Shaping Our Future Together
SOFT Plan Drafts:
May 10, 2023: A Shaping Our Future Together, Inter-Parish Open Meeting was held from 6:30pm-9:30pm in Folk.
- Final Coalition Plan for submission to the diocese as part of the Southeast Deanery SOFT plan (June 23, 2023)
- DRAFT of SOFT Plan (June 10, 2023)
- DRAFT of SOFT Plan (May 4, 2023)
May 10, 2023: A Shaping Our Future Together, Inter-Parish Open Meeting was held from 6:30pm-9:30pm in Folk.
Update (April 6, 2023)
Town Hall Meetings were held in Folk and Westphalia on March 31 and April 5. The committee will incorporate the results into the draft plan and hopes to host a coalition-wide town-hall meeting in the future. Our coalition consists of Westphalia, Folk, Loose Creek, Bonnots Mill, Linn, and Frankenstein.
Town Hall Meetings were held in Folk and Westphalia on March 31 and April 5. The committee will incorporate the results into the draft plan and hopes to host a coalition-wide town-hall meeting in the future. Our coalition consists of Westphalia, Folk, Loose Creek, Bonnots Mill, Linn, and Frankenstein.
Update (March 10, 2023)
Bishop McKnight has approved our deanery's proposed process. This leaves us with a very short amount of time to host town hall meetings and invite parishioners to pray and discern.
Bishop McKnight has asked parish leaders from across the diocese to plan for the future of the local Catholic Church. Our coalition (i.e. working group) consists of parishes in Frankenstein, Linn, Bonnots Mill, Loose Creek, Westphalia and Folk. Parish Council members and others from these parishes are working together to propose a plan for the future of our parishes.
Throughout Lent, town hall meetings will be held in the parishes within our coalition. The specific goal of these meetings is to identify ways in which these six parishes can work together, developing a 5-10 year plan for our future. Examples could include: shared RCIA, PSR, devotions, Mass and confession times, etc.
Bishop McKnight has approved our deanery's proposed process. This leaves us with a very short amount of time to host town hall meetings and invite parishioners to pray and discern.
Bishop McKnight has asked parish leaders from across the diocese to plan for the future of the local Catholic Church. Our coalition (i.e. working group) consists of parishes in Frankenstein, Linn, Bonnots Mill, Loose Creek, Westphalia and Folk. Parish Council members and others from these parishes are working together to propose a plan for the future of our parishes.
Throughout Lent, town hall meetings will be held in the parishes within our coalition. The specific goal of these meetings is to identify ways in which these six parishes can work together, developing a 5-10 year plan for our future. Examples could include: shared RCIA, PSR, devotions, Mass and confession times, etc.
Update (February 15, 2023)
Our deanery (Southeast Deanery) submitted its revised proposal to Bishop McKnight. When the Bishop has approved a process for our deanery, the next stage will begin, including opportunities for parishioner participation.
Our deanery (Southeast Deanery) submitted its revised proposal to Bishop McKnight. When the Bishop has approved a process for our deanery, the next stage will begin, including opportunities for parishioner participation.
Background on Shaping Our Future Together:
On October 18, 2022, Bishop McKnight announced a diocesan-wide planning initiative called Shaping Our Future Together.
The Diocese of Jefferson City consists 93 parishes and 9 mission churches within 38 counties of Missouri. The Diocese is divided into five deaneries. There are 42 active diocesan priests serving these parishes, and 18 more priests "on-loan" from other dioceses. The average age of active diocesan priests is about 60. There are over 75,000 Catholics in the Diocese of Jefferson City.
Bishop McKnight has asked each deanery to develop its own process for gathering information and input from the parishes of that deanery. Gathered information and input is then used to develop a plan for the viability and thriving of parishes within the deanery for the next 5-10 years.
St. Joseph and St. Anthony parishes are participating in Shaping Our Future Together along with other parishes of our deanery.
Timeline:
On October 18, 2022, Bishop McKnight announced a diocesan-wide planning initiative called Shaping Our Future Together.
The Diocese of Jefferson City consists 93 parishes and 9 mission churches within 38 counties of Missouri. The Diocese is divided into five deaneries. There are 42 active diocesan priests serving these parishes, and 18 more priests "on-loan" from other dioceses. The average age of active diocesan priests is about 60. There are over 75,000 Catholics in the Diocese of Jefferson City.
Bishop McKnight has asked each deanery to develop its own process for gathering information and input from the parishes of that deanery. Gathered information and input is then used to develop a plan for the viability and thriving of parishes within the deanery for the next 5-10 years.
St. Joseph and St. Anthony parishes are participating in Shaping Our Future Together along with other parishes of our deanery.
Timeline:
- Each deanery forms a committee
- By the end of November, 2022 - each deanery committee develops a proposed process
- In December, 2022 - the diocese reviews and approves the proposed processes
- January, 2023 - June, 2023 - each deanery uses its process to develop a plan
- July, 2023 - December, 2023 - each deanery's plan is reviewed and approved plans are announced
- 2024 - implementation of deanery plans