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Plan for Renewal |
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Pope Leo XIV warned new archbishops, including Archbishop Casey, against following “the same old pastoral plans without experiencing interior renewal and a willingness to respond to new challenges," reports the Catholic News Agency. The pope urged those who were receiving the pallium, the symbol of their office as archbishops, to “find new paths and new approaches to preaching the Gospel” rooted in the “problems and difficulties” arising from their communities of faith.
As Archbishop Casey wrote to the priests of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in May, "Beacons of Light is helping us to address how we can carry on the mission and ministry of Christ Jesus in this present moment as Church." |
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As we mark the completion of Year 3 of Beacons of Light, Family Leadership Teams will prepare to submit their Annual Planning Report, which is due November 1.
This report to the archbishop will ask each Family of Parishes to look back at the previous year, to celebrate progress (“wins”), and to acknowledge where opportunities still remain for growth. It will also look forward to the coming year – what will you do and why? Who will lead? How will you measure progress?
This year's timeline:
- August 1, 2025: Reporting tool for Year 3 full Annual Planning Report is available (read-only)
- September 1, 2025: Each pastor will be emailed a link to his Family’s Annual Report
- November 1, 2025: Full APR due to CPV
- November 2025 – February 2026: Review of APRs and quantitative measures (Mass attendance, financials, sacramental participation, etc.) by Center for Parish Vitality, deans, other leadership and submitted to the archbishop
- March 1, 2026: Parish Vitality Report issued
- April 2026: Parish Vitality Report included in The Catholic Telegraph
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| 2025 ANNUAL PLANNING REPORT INFO |
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Worship is best together… together with our Lord in the Eucharist, and together with each other as the people of God. But, as we all know, many Catholics do not come to Mass on Sunday. And our parish churches aren’t always as ready as they should be to welcome everyone for worship.
That is why the archdiocese has developed Together Sunday: resources and training for inviting and welcoming disengaged Catholics back to weekly participation in the Mass and making sure our parish churches are ready to welcome them!
This year, parishes are encouraged to celebrate Together Sunday on September 14, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Check out resources to help your Family of Parishes participate! |
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| TOGETHER SUNDAY RESOURCES |
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Year 3 Family Pathway Report |
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As pastors and their leadership teams prepare to submit their Family's Annual Planning Report by November 1, now is the perfect opportunity to prepare to update parishioners through a Year 3 report for your Family. Ideally, you will share your report between now and mid-November.
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A template has been created to help you share your Family Pathway Report. The template includes a report generator, through which a print-ready PDF will be created for you, and a PDF template which you may customize with text and images. The template web page includes element and design ideas, FAQs about reports, and samples from Families that shared reports last year. |
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Beacons of Light has at its foundation six guiding principles that, when lived fully in Families of Parishes, will lead to vital, mission-focused evangelizing communities of faith.
This month, we spotlight the Love in Action principle. Whether you have been involved as a parish leader since before the implementation of Beacons of Light or are new to parish leadership, it will be beneficial to renew your familiarity with the principle, its goals and vision for the future. |
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As centers of missionary outreach, Families of Parishes find new ways to foster missionary discipleship among all the baptized. Schools, parishes, and indeed the domestic Church itself are centers of this essential work. |
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Families of Parishes will be communities of charity and justice, serving those most in need and working to change systems that oppress and marginalize. |
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"As individuals and parishioners, we must always look for ways to carry out this call. What ministries in your Family of Parishes are living out this Eucharistic call? How are you supporting them, and how can you get even more involved? What are the needs in your community, and what is your Family of Parishes doing to meet them?" |
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Essential resources are available as you plan fall meetings of key leaders in your Family of Parishes. Resources for leaders have been curated and are ready for you online. Learn more > |
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Called & Gifted Team Training will equip you and your key leaders to provide charism discernment for your parishioners so that they can know and live according to the spiritual gifts they received in their Baptism. Mary Martin and Colleen O’Dowd from the Catherine of Siena Institute will lead this two-day training. Learn more > |
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The International Catholic Stewardship Council's annual conference will be held in Chicago September 21-24. Join stewardship leaders from throughout the world to pray, learn, and share! Read More > |
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Upcoming Events |
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Golden Jubilee Masses |
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September 6 and 7 | Dayton, Cincinnati |
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Couples celebrating a jubilee wedding anniversary (25th, 50th, 55th, 60th, etc.) are invited to Mass with Archbishop Casey on September 6th (Dayton) or 7th (Cincinnati). Family members are welcome to attend as well, and a special blessing will be offered to the jubilarian couples. Learn more and register |
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Workshop for Parish Communicators |
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September 9 | St. Francis of Assisi |
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The archdiocesan Center for Parish Vitality and Office of Communications will be holding a one-day workshop for those Family staff members responsible for parish communication – including bulletin editors, website managers, social media coordinators, and email and newsletter editors. Learn more and register.
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