Welcome to this special update on the Diocese of Lansing's Realign Resources for Mission process.
It's now 12 months since the Realign Resources for Mission committee submitted their Key Findings and Recommendations to Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing.
Over the past year that vision been going through a process of implementation. That process has now reached some concrete conclusions. Hence the desire to update you with the latest new via this e-mail in which you can:
- Read as Deb Amato of the Realign Resources for Mission Office of Implementation & Sustainability explains the development of the implementation process over the past year.
- Watch a video featuring Father Mathias Thelen. Father Mathias was the Chairman of the Realign Resources for Mission Committee. In this short video, he gives his reaction to the implementation process of the Realign Resources for Mission vision.
- Pray this coming Friday of Advent that the Realign Resources for Mission project yields great apostolic fruit among our families, our friends, our parishes, our schools and across our wider community in order to draw all souls to Jesus Christ for it is “in him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28)
December 5, 2022
Monday of the Second Week of Advent
Dear friends,
In November 2021, the Diocese of Lansing's Realign Resources for Mission Committee published its Key Findings and Recommendations.
That publication followed two years of prayer, study, and consultation by the 14-person committee as they discerned a way forward for the parishes, schools and other agencies of the Diocese of Lansing in order to help our diocese better fulfill the divine mission given to us by Jesus Christ:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you,” Matthew 28:19-20.
Over the past year it has been for Bishop Earl Boyea to assess both the principles and practicalities of the Realign Resources for Mission Committee’s recommendations with the assistance of me, as the Office of Implementation & Sustainability, which was created for this very purpose. It’s been a thorough and worthwhile 12-months. So where are things currently? Here are six key updates:
1. The principles of Realign Resources for Mission (RRM) remain unchanged and are being implemented. Two of the three key findings by the RRM committee focused on the need for strong pastoral leadership within our parishes. The vision of a healthy parish recognizes the necessity of priests who are focused upon health, holiness and collaboration so they can work collectively amongst parishes to help us all grow in personal holiness and missionary zeal. Of course, a healthy presbyterate is not the sole factor in making this happen but it is a sine qua non to revitalizing the local church in each area.
2. The practicalities of Realign Resources for Mission have been amended in some regards. Soon after the RRM recommendations were given to the bishop, we received word that the Vatican will not allow priests in solidum to be pastors of individual parishes. That’s the Latin term found in Canon Law which describes priests operating a shared pastorate over a group of parishes. Further, while the priests of the Diocese of Lansing largely welcomed the opportunity to pray and work alongside each other, they saw significant challenges with the proposed in solidum governance model. Instead, our priests prefer the intimacy that exists between a pastor and his people, between the shepherd and his flock. This was good feedback and has duly been incorporated into the implementation of Realign Resources for Mission.
3. With the in solidum model off the table, Bishop Boyea then amended the configuration of proposed parish groupings. Out went the 21 parish groupings and 3 stand-alone parishes. In came 22 parish groupings eliminating the three stand-alones. The parish groupings are still expected to seek ways to collaborate with one another on the Vision of a Healthy Parish and the priests of those groupings are still expected by Bishop Boyea to seek ways to support one another in their pastoral roles. To that end, the stand alone parishes are eliminated and those three pastors are now part of a parish grouping.
4. Recognizing the importance of collaboration and accountability, Bishop Boyea then instituted a newly revised vicariate – or deanery – structure within the Diocese of Lansing. The current six vicariates will be replaced with 10 deaneries as of July 2023. A list of the new parish groupings and deaneries can be viewed below at the foot of this memo.
5. The names of the newly appointed deans will be announced in Spring 2023. The selection process is still ongoing. Stay tuned. Each dean will be charged with the coordination of common pastoral activity; pursuing the bishop’s initiatives; emphasizing the care and wellbeing of the priests; regular visits to the parishes in the deanery; and regular reports back to the bishop on the state of the local church in each area.
6. Oh, and we are rebranding the implementation process from "Realign Resources for Mission" to "Made for Mission". We are rebranding to “Made for Mission” because we believe this more closely reflects the long-term goal of our realignment process: to reinforce the reality that each one of us is Made for Mission: the mission of Jesus Christ to form missionary disciples in our homes, parishes, neighborhoods and world.
So, there we go. Six key updates regarding the implementation of Realign Resources for Mission, sorry, Made for Mission. 12 months on, the principles remain but the practicalities are amended. The prayer and work of setting each parish ablaze with apostolic zeal continues. Come Holy Spirit!
Yours in Christ,
Deb Amato
Office of Implementation & Sustainability
Made for Mission, Diocese of Lansing
P.S. Click on the link below to view the 10 deaneries and parish groupings:
Watch: Father Mathias Thelen is the Pastor of Saint Patrick in Brighton and was also the Chairman of the Realign Resources for Mission Committee. What's his reaction to the development of the RRM vision over the past year as the Diocese of Lansing prepares to implement it through the creation of 10 new deaneries by July 2023. Watch and find out.
This Week's Special Friday Prayer Intention:
Pray that Realign Resources for Mission and, now, Made for Mission yields great apostolic fruit among our families, our friends, our parishes, our schools and across our wider community in order to draw all souls to Jesus Christ and his Holy Church. Amen.
Guidelines for Friday Prayer:
Prayer: At three o’clock each Friday afternoon pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Fasting: The present norms for fasting suggest that we eat no more than one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. It is also permissible to attempt a strict fast. A penitent’s age and health should always be taken into consideration before fasting.
Almsgiving: Giving alms is a “work of justice pleasing to God” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2462). Hence, it is commendable to donate money or goods to the poor or perform another act of charity upon a Friday.
