Phase 2: Local Area Plan Report Form

To be completed by the Local Planning Area Facilitators.

E-mail completed report to the Office of Pastoral Planning: eneu@richmonddiocese.org by May 31, 2008. A copy of this form can be downloaded from the Diocesan website

www.richmonddiocese.org/PlanningGuidelines.pdf

1. Local Planning Area: LPA 10

2. Name of person completing this report: Chuck Wilusz/Beth Neu

Phone # and e-mail address: wilusz1@msn.com

3. Describe staffing allocation changes to accommodate the reduction or increase of active priests for your local planning area in the next 5 years. Include the names of parishes that will be clustered and the model selected (reference a model included under “Cluster Models” page 29 or describe a model that your Local Planning Committee developed).

· St. John and St. Francis – share one priest

· St. Patrick and the campus ministries – have one priest

· Blessed Sacrament and James Madison University – share two priests, with Holy Infant parish clustered with Blessed Sacrament

· Incarnation and Holy Comforter – share two priests, with Shepherd of the Hills designated as a mission of Incarnation

· St. George – becomes a mission of St. Thomas Aquinas, pending approval by the Dominican provincial

4. Describe other changes that are needed to support the staffing changes proposed.

• Shifting populations are occurring – a demographic study should be undertaken prior to land purchase by the diocese in the area

• Need more trained laity and deacons to minister to non-sacramental needs

• Bishop needs to send a letter to the Dominican provincial requesting they accept St. George as a mission of St. Thomas Aquinas

5. Describe other recommendations that will help parishes in your Local Planning Area to provide better services and ministries through inter-parish collaboration.

- A cluster coordinator position will be needed at least for the Charlottesville parishes and possibly for the Harrisonburg cluster, as well.

6. If your Local Planning Committee did not reach consensus on these recommendations, please describe how close your group is to consensus and explain the minority position and/or points of disagreement.

The representatives from Shepherd of the Hills wanted it noted in the minutes that they did not find Plan D acceptable. The representatives and pastor of Incarnation, as well as the representatives of St. Francis of Assisi, had serious reservations about the plan. Fr. Alex Credo, speaking on behalf of Holy Infant, recommended that Holy Infant be clustered with Blessed Sacrament and JMU rather than classified as a mission of Blessed Sacrament. The question was raised by Dan Kalas as to whether or not the Diocese of Richmond is looking to buy land in LPA 10. Beth Neu answered that currently the diocese is not considering such a purchase and that the directive to do so will have to come from LPA 10. Many representatives present agreed that it would be wise for the diocese to undertake a review and analysis for the future and buy property to serve the future needs.

7. Please include any other information that will assist the Diocesan Pastoral Planning Commission in evaluating your Local Plan (i.e. support by parish leadership, special challenges etc.).

- Three previous plans were discussed. The Director of Pastoral Planning has been given these notes, should the Commission need to review them.