By Darren Eultgen, Chancellor

Bishop Warfel issued The Joy of the Gospel, Diocesan Pastoral Plan two years ago with the three major priorities of the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings 1) Church life and Liturgy; 2) Evangelization and Discipleship; 3) Vocations to the priesthood. The goal is to have every parish in our diocese read and discuss the Pastoral Plan with their Pastoral Council, Finance Council, and other councils and groups within the parish working with their Pastor to formulate goals to cooperate with the Bishop’s and Diocese plan. Parishes have been working on goals for the plan and were to evaluate their goals by July 1, 2017. Parishes also submitted new or revised goals to work on throughout the 2017-2018 year. Nearly every parish in our diocese turned in goals to cooperate with the Bishop’s plan. Here are some examples and highlights from parishes and the departments at the Chancery:

Parish Life and Liturgy:

• Bishop Warfel and the Chancery will issue a revised policy on construction and renovation as it pertains to worship space and develop an initiative to increase the quality by which the Liturgy of the Word is experienced in parishes in the diocese via a teaching document, DVD and workshops.
• At St. Raphael in Glasgow, “Begin Vacation Bible School at the parish as well as planning regular Life Teen Masses as well as liturgical training for appropriate high school age parishioners.”
• At St. Thomas in Billings, “Our goal is to have a week-long Parish Mission at the parish this year with the focus on Parish Life and Liturgy.”

Evangelization and Discipleship
• The Superintendent of Catholic Schools will develop a robust catechetical education program for our religion teachers and staff in our Catholic Schools.
• At Our Lady of Lourdes in Poplar, “We will work with the new Parish Soft program to update our membership lists both active and inactive to have the best ways to have regular contact with parishioners and Catholic families in the area for parish events, religious education opportunities, and welcoming back Catholics in the area.”
• At St. Rose of Lima in Stanford and cluster churches, “Begin regular Bible Study and lectionary discussions with the goal of one-third of the parishioners participating.”

Vocations to the Priesthood
• The Office of Vocations at the Chancery will work with our four Seminarians and our Deacon Formation Candidates this year to help them discern their call and continue to help in formation and prepare them for ministry in the diocese.
• At St. Anthony in Laurel, “Make Vocations a permanent agenda item for every weekly staff meeting, Pastoral Council, and Finance Council meeting.”
• At Holy Spirit in Great Falls, “Purchased membership the www.formed.org Web site for Catechetical and Vocation materials as well as fully implement a Holy Hour of Prayer for Vocations in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel praying for the young people of the parish to prayerfully consider their vocation.

The full Pastoral Plan can be found on the diocesan Web site diocesegfb.org.

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