Florida diocese plans to sharpen focus on communication, the poor

Published: 2007-07-02

PENSACOLA, Fla. (CNS) -- Two years of collaboration with parish delegates in the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee has yielded nearly 50 goals for the diocese to meet over the next five years, starting with improving communication, establishing better training for catechists, developing a more focused social justice ministry and promoting healthy marriages. At a June 15-16 gathering, the culmination of a planning process called Sharing the Vision, 250 delegates from 40 parishes met to set the goals. Delegates took into account results from more than 20,000 in-pew parish surveys conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, based at Georgetown University in Washington. They also considered parish plans, input from 400 participants in diocesan listening sessions and via e-mail, a draft diocesan mission statement, and goals and objectives prepared by 12 task forces and the pastoral planning commission. Bishop John H. Ricard of Pensacola-Tallahassee opened the two-day session by articulating his own vision, hopes and dreams for the diocese.

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