Kate Wiskus, director of the Office of Planning for the Diocese of Madison, meets with pastors regarding strategic planning. Pictured are, from left: Fr. Thomas Marr, St. Bernard Parish, Watertown; Msgr. Raymond Kertz, St. Patrick Parish, Cottage Grove; and Msgr. Kenneth Fiedler, Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Madison. Those attending the meeting not pictured are Fr. John Hedrick, St. Mary Parish, Pardeeville, linked with St. Andrew, Buffalo, and Bill Brophy, director of the Office of Communications. (Catholic Herald photo by Julianne Nornberg)

Planning for the future:
Diocese undertakes new process

By Kate Wiskus
DIOCESAN DIRECTOR OF PLANNING

MADISON -- Under the leadership of Bishop Robert C. Morlino, the Diocese of Madison is undertaking a new and intensive planning process.

Commenting on the need for planning, Bishop Morlino stated in the June 9, 2005 issue of the Catholic Herald:

Did you know? Of the 133 parishes with weekend Masses, 62 or 49.6% had fewer than half of their pews filled. Empty pews are indicators of too many Masses being offered in an area. The actual number of Masses needed is less than what is being celebrated. The deaneries vary on the percentage of filled pews: • Lafayette with 39% • Grant with 47% • West Dane with 52% • Sauk with 53% • Marquette-Green Lake with 59% • Jefferson with 60% • Madison with 43% • Iowa with 50% • East Dane with 52% • Rock-Green with 54% • Columbia with 65% As we look at resources within the Diocese of Madison, we will consider the number of Masses needed for the population. There are 134 parishes in the Diocese of Madison. Eighty-eight parishes (66%) share a pastor. The number of priests per parish in the deaneries are (note: all but Madison are represented by a number less than one): • Columbia = .6 • Iowa = .6 • Madison = 1 • Rock-Green = .8 • East Dane = .9 • Jefferson = .7 • Marquette-Green Lake = .6 • Sauk = .6 • Grant = .5 • Lafayette = .4 • West Dane = .8 * Statistics drawn from the statistical reports filed by pastors annually with the Diocese of Madison.

"We must insure that we will use the generous resources provided us by the faithful to our best advantage. Planning for our future is a critical responsibility of the Bishop's. I must insure that the truth of our faith is passed on from generation to generation."

Demographic report

The first step in the process has been completed, a comprehensive demographic report on the Diocese of Madison by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University.

The report provides a statistically valid demographic profile for the 11 counties of the Diocese of Madison. Using information from the diocese provided by the parishes, the report further provides a candid "snapshot" of the diocese and its 134 parishes. Both are a starting point for the diocesan strategic planning process.

In-pew survey

The next major component of the planning process is the in-pew survey being prepared for parishioners. All Catholics 18 years of age or older will be asked to complete the survey in their parishes in conjunction with weekend liturgies the weekend of November 4-5, 2005.

These surveys - along with surveys completed by the priests of the diocese - will provide key information on a variety of issues concerning the future direction of the Diocese of Madison and the parishes.   Full story ...

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