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Celebrating and Planning for Parish Vitality |
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Each year, pastors and Family Leadership Teams report progress and share their pastoral plans with the archbishop. This Annual Planning Report to the archbishop asks 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 also looks forward to the coming year – what will you do and why? Who will lead? How will you measure progress? Pastors and Family leaders have noted the benefit of taking stock through the Annual Planning Report, as the process prompts thoughtful reflection on the current and future state of pastoral life in the Family of Parishes.
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. |
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Timeline:
- August 1, 2025: Reporting tool for Year 3 full Annual Planning Report is available (read-only)
- September 1: Each pastor will be emailed a link to his Family’s Annual Report
- November 1: Full APR due
- 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: 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 Stewardship 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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Families of Parishes are communities of grateful disciples. Recognizing God’s gifts, they use their talents, skills and resources to build up the Church and live as Christ’s body in the world. |
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"Our walking together as disciples of Jesus in these different places, with our diverse charisms and ministries, while at the same time engaging in the exchange of gifts among the Churches, is an effective sign of the love and mercy of God in Christ breathed out in the Spirit who accompanies, sustains and directs humanity’s journey towards the Reign of God." |
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2026 Annual Resources are now available through the Office for Divine Worship and Sacraments online shop. These resources are designed to support and enrich your parish activities throughout the year.
Learn more > |
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Vatican II at 60: This year marks 60 years since closing of the Second Vatican Council -- a monumental event that continues to be an indispensable point of reference in the life of the Catholic Church. A six-part lecture series sponsored by the Xavier University Institute for Spirituality and Social Justice will reflect on the state of implementation of the council's vision. 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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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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