A PASTORAL PLAN FOR THE ARCHDIOCESE OF BOSTON

Disciples in Mission is the name for the Pastoral Plan for the Archdiocese of Boston.

• On November 15, 2012, Cardinal Seán announced his decisions regarding the various recommendations on the proposal received from the Archdiocesan Pastoral Planning Commission (APPC). A video recording of this news conference can be viewed at www.DisciplesInMission.com

• Disciples in Mission is written in two parts:

• Part One is entitled “Strengthening Parishes for the Work of the New Evangelization.” It contains recommendations to strengthen the existing 288 parishes in the archdiocese and to reorient our archdiocese to the work of evangelization.

• Part Two of Disciples in Mission is entitled “Strengthening the Work of the New Evangelization in Parishes”* It contains recommendations for reenergizing pastoral leadership in parishes and the Central Ministries of the Archdiocese and for strengthening youth and adult faith formation.

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE AUGUST PROPOSAL FROM THE APPC

 • That the 288 parishes of the Archdiocese be organized into approximately 135 parish collaboratives

 • That the formation of the parish collaboratives be phased in over a period of 5 years.

 • That the parishes of each collaborative be assigned one single Pastor.

 • That there be one Pastoral Team serving each collaborative under the leadership of the Pastor.

 • That the collaborative have one Pastoral Council and (if possible) one Finance Council.

 • That the pastor, pastoral team, and councils of each parish collaborative participate in extensive theological and practical training for the New Evangelization.

 • That each collaborative develop a local pastoral plan.

 
*Strengthening The Work Of The New Evangelization In Parishes

 • That the Archdiocese make significant investment in training to aid the implementation of Disciples in Mission. This training will take place in six stages.

• That the Archdiocese continue its extensive consultation of parishes and parishioners, focusing on best practices for evangelization.

• That the Archdiocese provides significant adult faith formation opportunities during the Year of Faith.

• That the Archdiocese implements the remaining recommendations from the Committee to Study Lay Formation programs and from the Religious Education Task Force.

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