Strategic Pastoral Plan
- Letter from Bishop Gregory Aymond
- Mission Statement of the Diocese of Austin
- Current realities which mandate planning
- Plan components
- Priest availability and vocations
- Parish religious education, formation and evangelization
- Social concerns ministries
- Family life ministries
- Pro-life activities
- Black Catholics
- Hispanic ministry
- Catholic schools
- Stewardship
- Diocesan staff
- Facilities
- First steps
- Ongoing activities
- Gratitude
- A prayer
Strategic Pastoral Plan of the Austin Diocese
Current realities which mandate planning
The Catholic Church in Central Texas is dynamic and alive! The changes that come with this reality mandate us to use God’s gifts as good stewards. This stewardship calls us to look at our realities, envision where we want to be, and move strategically toward that vision.
Some of the major elements in our mandate to grow and develop:
- The number of members of the Catholic Church in Central Texas will double in 25 years, from approximately 400,000 today.
- Ethnic, cultural, and geographic diversity is rapidly evolving.
- The ratio of priests to lay Catholics is declining.
- The roles of lay and other ministers are developing.
Some of the themes which run through the entire planning process include:
- Mission approach
- Education regarding the roles of various groups (for example, deacons and lay ministers)
- Diversity of cultures
- Parish involvement/education
- Diocesan teamwork
- Stewardship
General tasks for the entire strategic plan include:
- Research and publicize a comprehensive profile of the diocese.
- Identify various ethnic communities, their needs, and responses to those needs.
- Utilize diocesan Internet communication tools.
- Strengthen deanery structures to support ministry.
- Provide sufficient budget and staffing to address the growth and changing needs of the diocese.
- Research and develop human resource tools.