World News
Milwaukee Archdiocese's plan for 2020 features clusters, collaboration
Published: August 16, 2012
ST. FRANCIS, Wis. (CNS) -- Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki is preparing the archdiocese for 2020, particularly as to how the spiritual needs of the Catholic community will best be served. "Parishes and Pastoral Leadership 2020," approved and issued by Archbishop Listecki Aug. 8, notes "three principal factors" that will have an impact on parishes during the next decade: From 2010 to 2020, the number of priest retirements will exceed ordinations, resulting in a projected 40 percent reduction in the number of priests serving in parish ministry; the costs of operating parishes and funding ministries are escalating rapidly and parishes can gain economies of scale by collaborating with other parishes; the one mission of the church, shared by all parishes, can be carried out more effectively by combining efforts and sharing resources. There are 203 parishes in the archdiocese. By 2020, there will be 100 parishes and clusters. "Of these, 28 are free-standing parishes and the remaining parishes will create 72 clusters," the plan states. "The 72 clusters will be formed by bringing together approximately 175 parishes and establishing collaborative staffing, structures and ministries." In an Aug. 3 interview with the Catholic Herald, the publication serving the Catholic community in southeastern Wisconsin, the archbishop said the plan "depends on us embracing our Catholicity."
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