At this writing we are happy to announce that the written form of the parish review process has been completed. This was completed with the task force working diligently with each of the parish commissions to complete the questionnaire provided us by the Diocese of Lansing. The completion of this task is an express of the enthusiastic response, which is typical of St. Francis Xavier Parish in areas of faith and the life of the parish community.
Last spring the Faith Magazine featured the concern of the viability of each of the parishes in this diocese. The leadership in the Diocese of Lansing drew together the pastors and pastoral coordinators to address specifically the future for place administrative and sacramental coverage in each of the 97 parishes in their jurisdiction. A Coordinating Commission was formulated to address the resulting proposals to answer the needs in this diocese. The progress of this commission has been documented and is found on line through the diocesan website: www.dioceseoflansing.org. This commission has placed the review of viability of a parish into the hands of each individual parish. Each parish produces a written report that represents its present status.
This process has intermediate deadlines: February 8, 2007, review of report/fielding of questions by St. Francis Xavier members at a gathering with Pastoral Council members; March 15, 2007 for regional reflection; September 15,2007 for the diocese and by June 2008 to be presented to the Bishop.
Copies of our parish review will be available upon request after January 25th for you to read prior to the February 8th gathering.
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