Last Updated on Tuesday, 25 August 2009 09:25
Pastoral Planning is a process that engages members of the faith community, invites them to take and express their baptismal responsibility to build up the Church through prayer, discernment, and actions that address the needs of the faith community and those served by it.
In January 2006 the Diocese of Camden promulgated its VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR CHURCH. To find out more about the Vision Statement, the Proclamation that was read in parishes of the diocese, and an explanation of the Vision graphic, click here.
In June 2006 Bishop Galante completed the last of 138 Speak Up sessions, a 15-month process of visiting every parish in the six southern counties of New Jersey in order to meet face to face with the people, the Church of Camden. He did this to obtain input on what the people believe the planning priorities for our Church should be so that we may—as our Vision states—grow “ever more into a dynamic community of faith, hope and love.”
Over 8,000 participants had the opportunity to respond to the question, “Looking to the future, what are the three most important areas about which the Church of South Jersey should be concerned?” (Click here to find out more about the six pastoral priorities identified through the Speak Up Sessions).
Soon after hearing from the people of the diocese at Speak Up sessions, Bishop Galante directed that all parishes of the diocese begin a process planning, entitled Gathering God's Gifts, to find ways to address challenges facing the Church in South Jersey and to advance the pastoral priorities identified through the Speak Up sessions. Following a period of extensive consultation and study, Bishop Galante announced his intention to reconfigure parishes in the six counties of the diocese in order to strengthen parish life and to improve pastoral care to the people of the diocese. For more about the planning process, click here.
In June 2009, the diocese announced the appointment of Larry Farmer as Merger Coordinator to assist parishes in the process of merger (Click here).
Office of Pastoral Planning
Diocese of Camden
631 Market Street
Camden, NJ 08102
(856) 583-2843
