September 2008
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Will my parish close?
Final Decision: Parish Reconfiguration

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:
The long-awaited final recommendations of the Diocesan Coordinating Commission were placed on my desk this summer and are now ready to be promulgated. I take this opportunity to thank, in the name of all of us of the Diocese of Lansing, Sister Rita Wenzlick, OP, who has so ably chaired this commission all these years and has guided the process whereby the Diocese of Lansing has planned for its future. It is with great joy that I also announce that Sister Rita has agreed to chair the implementation committee which will oversee the actual realization of our planning.
Let us begin with a story. My parents live 16 miles from Cheboygan, Michigan. Their parish (six miles away and where my great-great grandparents were buried) and two other parishes in Cheboygan were closed and consolidated with St. Mary Parish in Cheboygan, the mother church, back in the early 1990s. That was a traumatic event for all, including my father. However, today the Cheboygan Catholic Community is united in one parish and is a very vibrant presence of Christ in the community and a great place to worship. By pooling the resources of all three parishes, the Cheboygan Catholic Community is now able to host the most important fundraiser and social event in Cheboygan’s annual calendar, and just built a new grade school building. None of this would have been possible if all the community resources were being expended on heating and maintaining a lot of buildings. This story points out that while the closing or clustering or merging of parishes is always a painful experience, there can be great good that comes of it, if we are willing to cooperate with and do God’s work rather than our own. Having said this, now is the appropriate point to make some comments about our new diocesan plan, which is found on our Web site.
First of all, you will notice, as you read this plan, that many of its elements will take place as needed. There could be any number of circumstances which may lead to any given part of the plan being implemented. Thus, for many of these elements of the plan there is no strict timetable. However, even for those parishes which may not see a change in the immediate future, I would urge them to begin to cooperate even now with their future partners. Collaboration with others is part of the richness of being Catholic and we should exercise and taste that richness even now.
Second, no plan is perfect. I am promulgating this plan almost exactly as it was presented to me because I have confidence in the process Bishop Mengeling initiated, and I trust the hard work of all the people who thoughtfully and prayerfully made these recommendations. In approving this plan, I am not saying it is perfect, but I believe it is the best we can do at this time.
Third, it is clear that more needs to be done regarding Catholic education. Everywhere in this plan there are calls for greater support for Catholic schools, especially in each of the vicariates, and by each of the parishes, especially those parishes which do not have schools. I do believe it is one of the priorities of our diocese and will need our consistent attention over the next years.
Fourth, you will notice a couple of changes in status of some of our parishes. Prior to the promulgation of this plan, those parishes which are being directed by our pastoral coordinators, for whose continued service all of us are very grateful, had as their canonical (legal) pastor, the moderator of the curia, Msgr. Michael Murphy. We are all grateful for his fine service in this regard and in so many other areas of diocesan life. Now, each of these parishes will have as a canonical pastor one of the pastors in closer proximity. A second change you will notice is that most of our personal parishes (those that do not have parish boundaries) are being changed to territorial parishes (with boundaries). For instance, a parish may have been founded to serve the Croatian Catholics but no longer does. Thus this change has been made. Those parishes which still serve primarily and substantially an ethnic group, especially where language is critical, will remain personal parishes.
Fifth, you will notice a number of recommendations that the regions made regarding their own goals. While these are not diocesan goals, they merit pursuit by the regions (vicariates) and thus I endorse them.
Finally, my sisters and brothers, this is a time of change. Change is always difficult, even if it is good change. We need to be patient with one another, and most of all, we need to exercise that great virtue given to each of us in our baptism, that is, love.

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Earl Boyea
Bishop of Lansing

Table of Contents:

Summary of regional closures, clusters and mergers
Southern region results
Northeast region results
Northwest region results
Eastern region results
What happens when a parish is merged or clustered?
Schools and education report

Summary of regional closures, clusters, mergers (view diocese map)
The following is a quick glance at the changes to be implemented throughout the Diocese of Lansing as recommended by the Diocesan Coordinating Commission and approved by Bishop Earl Boyea.

Parish configurations
Parish or site Closures:
• Sacred Heart, Flint
• Sacred Heart Chapel, Jackson (site only), ministry moving
• St. Agnes, Flint
• St. Leo, Flint
• St. Luke, Flint
• Transfiguration, Ypsilanti
Parish mergers:
• All Saints, St. Agnes, Sacred Heart and St. Luke with St. John Vianney, all from Flint
• St. Leo, Flint with Holy Rosary, Flint
• Blessed Sacrament, Burton with St. John Evangelist, Davison
• Transfiguration, Ypsilanti with St. John the Baptist, Ypsilanti
• St. Thomas Aquinas, East Lansing with St. John Student Parish, East Lansing
• Holy Cross with St. Mary Cathedral (not immediate)
Parish clusters:
• Christ the King with St. Matthew
• Holy Family, Ovid with St. Joseph, St. Johns
• Sts. Cornelius & Cyprian, Leslie with St. James, Mason
• St. Mary, Morrice with St. Isidore, Laingsburg
• St. Joseph, Adrian with St. Mary, Adrian
• St. Joseph, Ypsilanti with Immaculate Conception, Milan
• St. Joseph Shrine, Brooklyn with St. Rita, Clarklake
• St. Mary, Manchester with St. Mary, Chelsea
• St. Michael, Flint with St. Mary, Flint (possibility of merger)
• St. Patrick, Ann Arbor with Christ the King, Ann Arbor
• St. Peter, Blissfield with St. Alphonsus, Deerfield (possibility of merger)
From parish to chapel status:
• Blessed Sacrament, Burton
• St. Dominic, Clinton
• St. Joseph, Jackson
• St. Stanislaus Kostka, Jackson
Catholic schools:
• DuKette School, Flint, closed

Flint parishes close and merge
As you read in last month’s issue of FAITH, a number of changes already took place in the Flint region. The parishes of St. Agnes, St. Luke and Sacred Heart have closed, and a new worship community has formed at St. John Vianney Church. By merging these parishes, a stronger and more vigorous community results, able to serve the Catholic people of Flint with strength in unity.

Terminology

Chapel: There are several types of chapels, including chapels of adoration inside parish churches or sanctified areas of other buildings, such as hospitals. For the purposes of this reorganization, a chapel is a church that is dependent upon, and subordinate to, a parish.

Parish: A worshipping community, usually based on geographical boundaries, centered in a church. The parish is administered by a pastor, who may be assigned solely to that parish or to multiple parishes. Parishes may also be personal parishes, which have no territorial boundaries , but minister to specific groups.

Closed parish: A canonical declaration by the Bishop of Lansing, in consultation with the presbyteral council, that a parish ceases to exist. Parish members join one of the neighboring parishes. This can happen at a designated or later date.

Cluster: A grouping of two or more parishes served by one or more priests. The parishes retain separate identities, but collaborate in the sharing of ministers and resources.

Cluster with the intention of merging: Two or more parishes served by a single pastor and other ministers. While the clustered communities may collaborate in many aspects of ministry, they have separate administrations and sacramental life. At some future date, the parishes may merge with one or two worship sites remaining.

Merged parish: A parish joined with two or more parishes into a single new or consolidated parish. A merged parish may have two worship sites.

Pastoral coordinator (PC): Assigned by the bishop and supervised by a canonical pastor, pastoral coordinators provide pastoral ministry and administrative leadership for a parish community. A canonical pastor may have responsibility for sacramental ministry in more than one faith community.

Region: The diocese is divided into four regions (eastern, northeastern, northwestern and southern) to facilitate greater collaboration between the parishes of the region and diocesan central offices.

Sacramental responsibility: The canonical pastor has responsibility for sacramental ministry in clustered parishes. The bishop will appoint another priest to assist.

Vicariate: The subdivision of a region consisting of a group of parishes for the sake of mutual support and collaboration, pastoral planning and the sharing of resources for the benefit of the faithful within this subdivided region. Each vicariate will have a vicar who is appointed by the bishop. The vicar convenes the pastors, parish ministers and parish leadership to facilitate the purpose of the vicariate.

Parish configurations

Process overview
On Dec. 8, 2005, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Bishop Carl Mengeling appointed a Diocesan Coordinating Commission to review a large amount of information that had been collected from clergy, pastoral coordinators, deacons, lay ecclesial ministers, teachers, parish councils and diocesan staff. The commission’s mandate was to make recommendations about how the pastoral and sacramental needs of the diocese would be met over the course of the next several decades.
The commission’s responsibilities included the following:
• Develop a plan by which the 97 diocesan faith communities’ sacramental and pastoral needs would be reviewed objectively and, with maximum local input.
• Develop processes timelines and monitoring to ensure that the process addressed the pastoral, sacramental and administrative issues raised in the information-gathering phase.
• Make recommendations, based on the guiding principles, to the bishop.
• Communicate the information to the faithful.
In order to fully engage each parish and school in the process, detailed evaluation tools were completed by parishioners, staff and other constituents. Then, each region’s representatives reviewed the information and presented preliminary findings at parish assemblies. The coordinating commission reviewed all the data and developed recommendations based on the data. The commission’s preliminary recommendations were then forwarded to the bishop’s consultative bodies for review. After their input, final recommendations were given to the bishop. His report is detailed below.
What is the overall ability of the clergy within the diocese to meet the faithful’s sacramental and pastoral needs? With the expectation that the diocese will lose approximately 16 priests in the next two years due to retirement, we are also experiencing an increase in ordinations that can fill a portion of this void. However, those new priests are not enough to bridge the gap. This reorganization process will enable us to continue to meet the sacramental and pastoral needs of all the faithful.
What are the outcomes of these decisions? There were four outcomes that may affect your faith community.
1 Your parish will provide the same ministry to its community of faith – the pastoral, sacramental and leadership roles and resources within a parish will remain. This applies to the majority of parishes
2 Your parish or school may merge with another parish or school. This means that your parish will join with two or more faith or education communities to form a new or consolidated parish or school.
3 Your parish will become part of a cluster. In this configuration, each parish will maintain its individual identity, but may be grouped with one or more parishes or schools to share a priest and collaborate on ministries and other resources.
4 Your parish may close. This was a last resort. In each case of closure, the sacramental and pastoral needs of the community will be addressed by neighboring parishes. A guiding principle throughout the process is to maintain a Catholic presence, but realize that it may not be feasible. In the case of a parish closure, parish boundaries will be redrawn and neighboring parishes will be asked to welcome parishioners from a closed parish. As you will note, there are only a few instances in which parishes are slated to close.

A Coordinating Commission was appointed by Bishop Mengeling to assess the information presented during Diocesan Study Days held in the fall of 2005. Along with the statistics, demographics and projections, the commission considered the feedback from priests, pastoral coordinators, deacons, ecclesial lay ministers and diocesan central office staff who discussed the issues and offered solutions during the study days. Based on their extensive in-depth study, the commission made the necessary recommendations to satisfy the pastoral and sacramental needs of the diocese.

Appointed members include: Reverend John Byers – pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Lansing | Patrick Gribben – member of St Jude Parish, DeWitt; Diocesan Pastoral Council member | Deacon Vincent Guarnaccia – pastoral ministry at St Martha Parish, Okemos | Marinell High – DRE at St Joseph Parish, Dexter; Diocesan Pastoral Council member | Reverend David Howell – pastor of St Mary Magdalen Parish, Brighton | Reverend Charles Irvin – founding editor of FAITH Magazine | Vern Johnson – member St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, East Lansing; Diocesan Finance Council member | Reverend Timothy MacDonald – pastor of Holy Redeemer Parish, Burton | Sister Joan May, SSJ – pastoral coordinator of St Mark, Goodrich | Reverend Robert McGraw – pastor of Queen of the Miraculous Medal Parish, Jackson; Diocesan Presbyteral Council chair | Pattie Scherer – former RCIA and adult formation director at St Francis of Assisi Parish, Ann Arbor | Sister Rita Wenzlick, OP – director, Diocesan Office of Pastoral Planning | Sharon Wimple – Diocesan Pastoral Council member | Melinda Ziegler – member of St. Catherine Laboure Parish, Concord EX-OFFICIO: Msgr. Richard Groshek – vicar general and retired pastor of St. Pius X Parish, Flint | Msgr. Michael Murphy – moderator of the curia | Msgr. Steven Raica – chancellor

What is the status of the parishes in Southern Region? (view Southern Region map) The Southern Region is divided into two vicariates: Jackson and Lenawee/Hillsdale.
During the last eight years, overall Mass attendance within the parishes of Jackson County has fallen by 16.3 percent; 17 percent of priests serving the faithful are at or beyond retirement age. In the Lenawee/Hillsdale Vicariate, Mass attendance has declined by nearly 10 percent and there are currently no priests at the retirement stage.

Jackson Vicariate Parish, Vicariate and Ministry Improvement Recommendations
Within the Jackson Vicariate, the following regional and diocesan improvement measures are to be implemented:
• The priests will review weekday and weekend Mass schedules to determine that priest schedules are best utilized in the region, ensuring that parish Masses do not fall consistently below 50 percent of church seating capacity. If that does occur, then Mass schedules will be altered within the vicariate.
• Formation opportunities will be planned and made available for pastoral leaders, prison and jail ministers, nursing home ministers and young adult activities.
• Pastoral visits to hospitals, prisons, jails and care facilities will be better coordinated.
• A complete assessment of all facilities will be completed as soon as possible. This assessment will include, but not be limited to, geographic location, condition and ADA requirements.
• The program needs for Catholic Social Services, a cultural center and Siena Heights classes will be determined and space will be provided based on the above assessment.

Jackson Vicariate Parish Configurations
In Jackson, the parishes have been reduced from 10 to nine worship sites, served by eight priests plus one high school chaplain and one sacramental minister. The following are the approved parish configurations:
Worship sites:
St. Joseph Shrine, Brooklyn
St. Rita Church, Clarklake
St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, Jackson
St. John the Evangelist Church, Jackson
Queen of the Miraculous Medal Church, Jackson
Our Lady of Fatima Church, Michigan Center
St. Catherine Labouré Church, Concord
St. Joseph Chapel, Jackson
St. Stanislaus Kostka Chapel, Jackson (formerly St. Stanislaus Kostka Church)
Sacred Heart Chapel, Jackson, located at St. Stanislaus Kostka site
• St. Joseph Shrine, Brooklyn, will cluster with St. Rita Parish, Clarklake, when the Oblates are no longer able to staff St. Rita Parish. Assistance in back up sacramental ministry will be provided by Queen of the Miraculous Medal Parish, Jackson. The two parishes should discuss aligning themselves into one Vicariate.
• St. Joseph, Jackson, will become a territorial parish with the promulgation of this plan until it becomes necessary to maintain it as a chapel. Parish boundaries will be defined in the near future.
• St. John the Evangelist Parish in Jackson will be served by two priests who will have responsibility for the administration of St. Joseph Chapel in Jackson, formerly St. Joseph Parish, if and when necessary.
• St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish in Jackson will be served by one priest who will have responsibility for the administration of St. Stanislaus Kostka Chapel and one weekend liturgy in English at that chapel, as well.
• Ministry and liturgy of Sacred Heart Chapel will move to St. Stanislaus Kostka site. This move will take place at a future date. Following the move, the Sacred Heart Chapel site will close.
• St. Catherine Labouré Parish in Concord will be served by one priest with additional responsbility to be determined
• Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Michigan Center will remain an individual parish and be served by one priest.

Lenawee/Hillsdale Parish, Vicariate and Ministry Improvement Recommendations
The Lenawee/Hillsdale Vicariate will make the following improvements as set forth by the bishop:
• The vicariate will begin recruiting new leadership for migrant ministry within itself.
• Due to the future of the parishes within the vicariate, these parishes will begin planning together to effectively share resources and programs, while maintaining their own identity, physical site, pastoral councils and financial responsibilities.
• Parishes will carefully monitor attendance at weekend liturgies. If attendance at a specific Mass is consistently less than half of the seating capacity of the church, the parish will reduce the number of Masses and reconfigure the Mass times according to parish and regional needs.
• Each parish bulletin will include the Mass times of neighboring parishes to better serve the needs of the area Catholics.
• The vicariate will form a Vicariate Pastoral Council. This council will ensure that the clustering plan is implemented and oversee the entire mission of the vicariate in its response to the sacramental, pastoral and leadership needs of the communities.
• Calendars of faith formation programs will be prepared and distributed to each of the 10 parishes, allowing individuals and families to attend a parish whose faith formation schedule fits their needs.
• Catholic Charities of Lenawee is struggling, due to finances. All parishes share financial responsibility of this agency and need to accept responsibility for such.
Lenawee/Hillsdale
Vicariate Configurations
This vicariate had 10 parishes that will be reduced to nine worship sites, with six priests, one pastoral coordinator and a sacramental minister serving the faithful. The following are the new communities based on the changes made from this planning process:
Worship sites:
St. Joseph Church, Adrian
St. Mary of Good Counsel Church, Adrian
St. Alphonsus Church, Deerfield
Sacred Heart Church, Hudson
St. Mary on the Lake Church, Manitou Beach
St. Elizabeth Church, Tecumseh
St. Anthony Church, Hillsdale
St. Dominic Chapel, Clinton
St. Peter Church, Blissfield
• St. Joseph, Adrian, will cluster with St. Mary of Good Counsel, Adrian, when the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales are no longer able to staff St. Mary. Two priests serve St. Mary – one of whom will become the canonical pastor.
• St. Peter, Blissfield, will cluster with St. Alphonsus, Deerfield, when the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales are no longer able to staff St. Alphonsus. St. Alphonsus is served by one priest who will be the canonical pastor.
• Sacred Heart, Hudson, is served by one priest. He will serve as the canonical pastor of St. Mary on the Lake, Manitou Beach, which is currently served by a pastoral coordinator and sacramental minister.
• St. Elizabeth, Tecumseh, is served by one priest who will have the responsibility for the administration of St. Dominic Chapel, formerly St. Dominic Church, Clinton. The date of St. Dominic’s change in status from a church to chapel will be determined by the vicar.
• St. Anthony, Hillsdale, will remain an individual parish community served by one priest.

What are the recommendations and decisions for the Northeast Region? (view Northeast Region map) Prior to the restructuring, this region was one vicariate. It is too large, based on its number of parishioners and its geography, and may be divided into two vicariates at the discretion of the parish leadership.
In 2007, there were 24 priests, five pastoral coordinators, one high-school chaplain, and seven sacramental/weekend ministers serving 25 faith communities in Genesee County. Since 1999, the overall Mass attendance within the parishes of this vicariate fell by 22 percent.

Genesee Vicariate Parish, Vicariate and Ministry Improvement Recommendations
The Genesee region has many recommendations for parish improvement as set out by the coordinating commission and approved by the bishop. These improvements to the region’s processes include:
• Each parish is responsible for the formation of its people. This formation can be provided by clustering or merging programs with neighboring parishes and/or through collaborating and sharing staff with neighboring parishes.
• While religious education and formation are the responsibility of the local parish, a variety of models can be reviewed for determining which is best for a given parish’s configuration. Publicity, ministry coordinators, ministry schedules, recruitment of teachers and coordinators are some things that can be shared. Whatever plan is used must include home-schooled students and their parents.
• While some adult faith formation opportunities can be well developed within the local parish, parishes will work together to identify and promote prominent speakers for the entire area.
• The RCIA ministry can be sponsored locally within the parish or in parish clusters – sharing sites, staff and programs.
• Youth ministry programs need to be strengthened to increase active involvement. The youth ministers of the county will meet, as will the young adult ministers, to determine the best model of ministry for the entire county. Based on their decisions, a regional strategic plan will be developed and implemented to accomplish this need.
• Campus ministry will be located at St. Michael Parish. With the added feature of housing for students, the existing ministry needs to be expanded to serve the needs of resident students.
• The social mission of the church within this county will be coordinated by the Catholic Charities agency. The ministry will reflect a perspective that forges bonds between the cities and suburbs and across racial and economic barriers. Additionally, a strategic plan must be developed that will include, but not be limited to, addressing the following needs: drug and alcohol treatment programs; medical care and dignity for patients with AIDS; employment training for the unemployed; advocacy for decent housing; ministry to those with mental and developmental disabilities; ministry to the divorced, separated and widowed; Befriender/Stephen ministries to serve those who have suffered the loss of a loved one; ministry to those choosing alternative life styles; and jail ministry, including the appointment of a priest or chaplain. The permanent deacons within the county will receive additional formation as needed to serve in these social ministries.
• Hospital ministry will be shared by pastors and pastoral coordinators. A regional plan will be created that will reconsider the priest chaplain; create a city-wide response to hospital ministry; and schedule extraordinary ministers of holy Communion to hospitals.
• Hispanic ministry for the east and north areas of the core city will be done by St. Michael Parish.
• Marriage preparation is currently provided by the region and is effective.
• Evangelization must be provided in a coordinated and collaborative fashion, involving all parishes in the county. Parish directors and coordinators of evangelization will jointly review what is currently available and what needs to be accomplished. They will design a strategic plan with a timetable, and begin implementation as soon as possible.
• Ministry to nursing homes, adult foster care facilities and juvenile detention centers must be planned and staffed.
• The needs for ministry to single-parent families must be assessed and planned to ensure that their needs are adequately met.
Genesee Vicariate
Parish Configurations
Within Genesee County, there will be 18 priests, one high school chaplain, three pastoral coordinators and sacramental ministers serving 19 faith communities. The following parish configurations will take place:
Worship sites:
Christ the King Church, Flint
Good Shepherd Church, Montrose
Holy Rosary Church, Flint
Holy Family Church, Grand Blanc
Holy Redeemer Church, Burton
Mt. Zion Pastoral Center, Flushing
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Flint
Saints Charles and Helena Church, Clio
St. Mary Church, Flint
St. Michael Church, Flint
St. Mary Queen of Angels Church, Swartz Creek
St. John Vianney Church, Flint
St. Francis Xavier Church, Otisville
St. John the Evangelist Church, Davison
St. John the Evangelist Church, Fenton
St. Mark Church, Goodrich
St. Mary Church, Mount Morris
St. Matthew Church, Flint
St. Pius X Church, Flint
St. Robert Bellarmine Church, Flushing
Blessed Sacrament Chapel, Burton
• St. Francis, Otisville, is currently served by a pastoral coordinator and sacramental minister. St. Mary, Mount Morris and Sts. Charles and Helena, Clio, which will have one priest each and will share the back up sacramental ministry of St. Francis. Sts. Charles and Helena’s priest will be the canonical pastor of St. Francis.
• St. John, Davison, will be served by two priests and will merge with Blessed Sacrament Chapel, formerly Blessed Sacrament Parish, Burton, when necessary.
• St. Robert, Flushing, will be served by two priests, one of whom will have canonical pastoral responsibilities for Good Shepherd Parish, Montrose, and be available for its back up sacramental ministry with the promulgation of this plan.
• St. Michael, Flint, will cluster with the possibility of merging with St. Mary, Flint. The priest currently serving St. Mary Parish will be the canonical pastor of the clustered parishes.
• Christ the King Parish, Flint, will cluster with St. Matthew Parish, Flint, when and if necessary.
• Holy Family Parish, Grand Blanc, will be served by two priests, one of which will become the canonical pastor of St. Mark, Goodrich, which has a pastoral coordinator and sacramental minister. The chaplain of Powers High School will have full responsibility for sacramental ministry for St. Mark with the promulgation of this plan.
• Holy Rosary and St. Leo, both in Flint, will merge at the Holy Rosary site and be served by one priest. St. Leo Parish will close.
• St. Agnes, Sacred Heart and St. Luke have closed and merged with St. John Vianney and will be served by one priest who will also be responsible for the administration of All Saints Chapel, formerly All Saints Church – this change will take place when the pastor of All Saints retires.
• St. John, Fenton, which is served by two priests, will share back up sacramental responsibility with St. Mary, Durand, for St. Joseph, Gaines, which is currently served by a pastoral coordinator and sacramental minister.
• Mt. Zion Pastoral Center, Flushing, will continue its status as a pastoral center.
The following will remain individual parishes served by one priest:
Holy Redeemer, Burton
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Flint (personal parish)
St. Pius X, Flint
St. Mary, Swartz Creek.

Diocesan Coordination Commission mission statement
Seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit and input of the faithful, the bishop’s coordinating commission of the Diocese of Lansing will design a plan to address the sacramental, pastoral, leadership and formational challenges and opportunities of each diocesan faith community.
The commission will monitor the timely implementation of the approval plan, assuring that the process is carried out with great sensitivity for each individual faith family and its unique culture.
Guiding principles for the work of the Coordinating Commission:
1. The commission will openly communicate its efforts to the people of the diocese and strive to ensure that all of the work of the commission is characterized by mutual respect and honesty.
2. Full sacramental ministry will be available to all Catholic people in every geographic area of the diocese.
3. Competent pastoral ministers (lay, religious or ordained) will serve in every geographic area of the diocese.
4. The commission will have a special concern to meet the needs of the poor and marginalized.
5. The commission will engage all of its individual faith communities in planning for their future. Every faith community will evaluate its communal, spiritual and sacramental life, its faith formation programs and its financial stability.
6. The commission will seek to be creative in its efforts to reconfigure the diocese for an era with fewer priests and shifting population.
7. Any reconfiguration of the diocese will respect the needs of both the people and the individual minister.

What is the status of the parishes in the Northwest Region? (view Northwest Region map) Lansing region will consider dividing into two vicariates: Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties Parish, Region and Ministry Improvement Recommendations
The worship sites and ministries within these counties will make the following improvements as set forth by the bishop:
• Review weekend Mass schedules. Each parish weekend Mass will be at 50 percent or more of church capacity and each priest will celebrate a maximum of three weekend Masses.
• Plan for ministry to all adult foster care facilities in the region.
• Young adult ministry and campus ministry will become region-wide ministries.
• Religious education will be offered in each parish. If families choose to attend formation in another parish, they will not be asked to leave their parish to have their formation needs met.
• Youth ministry will be available in every parish, whether individually or in collaboration with other parishes.

• Each parish will expand on the regional efforts of Welcome Home Sunday and similar evangelization efforts and programs to welcome alienated Catholics.
• A coordinated direction to evangelize and serve the needs of the Lansing urban population will be developed and maintained.
• Parish pastoral councils, parish finance councils and commissions will hold regular meetings to share insights, approaches to ministry and learn from each other.
• Lansing and the surrounding area, under the leadership of the vicar, will come together to determine a structure to accomplish all of the above.
The following are improvements that will be made at the diocesan level to accommodate the needs of this region:
• Restorative Justice Ministry will identify all jails, prisons and juvenile centers. This office will also assess services provided and identify future needs.
• Training in collaboration will be offered to priests, deacons, lay ministers and parishioners.
• A transition plan will be developed to support employees affected by the changes. This plan will demonstrate a caring church and the spirit of the Gospel.

Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties Parish Configurations
There were 28 priests serving 21 faith communities in 2007. This region has the most priests past retirement age and the greatest number of faith communities exceeding 2,000 or more households per parish. During the last eight years, the overall Mass attendance within the parishes of Clinton, Eaton, Ingham and Shiawassee counties has fallen by 2.3%, 7.4%, 8.3% and 32.3% respectively.
Worship sites:
St. Mary Cathedral, Lansing
St. Gerard Church, Lansing
Cristo Rey Church, Lansing
St. Andrew Dung Lac Church, Lansing
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Lansing
Holy Cross Church, Lansing
St. Casmir Church, Lansing
Church of the Resurrection, Lansing
St. Therese Church, Lansing
St. Thomas Aquinas Church, East Lansing
St. John Student Parish, East Lansing
St. Mary Church, Charlotte
St. Michael Church, Grand Ledge
St. Peter Church, Eaton Rapids
St. Martha Church, Okemos
St. Mary Church, Williamston
St. Jude Church, DeWitt
St. James Church, Mason
St. Cornelius and Cyprian Church, Leslie
St. Ann Church, Bellevue (a mission parish)
• Immaculate Heart of Mary, Lansing, will have one priest when the current parochial vicar is re-assigned.
• St. Peter, Eaton Rapids and St. Mary, Charlotte, each served by one priest, will provide Sunday evening Mass during the school year at Olivet College. The pastors of these two parishes will be responsible for assessing and addressing the campus ministry needs at Olivet College, with assistance from the diocesan liaison to campus ministry. This is effective with the promulgation of this plan.
• St. Mary, Charlotte, will be served by one priest and has responsibility for the mission of St. Ann, Bellevue, formerly the quasi-parish of St. Ann, with the promulgation of this plan.
• Saints Cornelius and Cyprian, Leslie, will cluster with St. James, Mason, if and when necessary. The pastor of St. James will be the canonical pastor.
• When the Franciscan priests are no longer able to staff Holy Cross, Lansing, the parish status will be reassessed to determine if it will be maintained as a chapel. At that time, the parish may merge with St. Mary Cathedral, Lansing, which is served by two priests.
• St. Thomas Aquinas and St. John Student Parish, both in East Lansing, will develop a plan outlining a co-operative relationship, moving toward a single Catholic community, yet keeping both sites. The plan will be completed by July 1, 2009 and submitted to the bishop for approval.
All other parishes within the vicariate will remain individual parishes served by one priest (exceptions noted). These include:
• St. Gerard, Lansing (two priests)
• St. Michael, Grand Ledge
• Cristo Rey, Lansing (personal parish)
• St. Andrew Dung Lac, Lansing (personal parish)
• St. Casimir, Lansing
• St. Jude, DeWitt
• Resurrection, Lansing (hospital chaplain in residence)
• St. Mary Cathedral, Lansing (two priests)
• St. Therese, Lansing
• St. Martha, Okemos
• St. Mary, Williamston

Clinton/Shiawassee Vicariate Parish Configurations
Within this vicariate, there will be eight priests, one pastoral coordinator and one sacramental minister serving 10 faith communities. The following parish configurations will take place:
Worship sites:
St. Joseph Church, St. Johns
Holy Family Church, Ovid
St. Joseph Church, Gaines
St. Mary Church, Durand
St. Isidore Church, Laingsburg
St. Mary Church, Morrice
St. Mary Church, Westphalia
Most Holy Trinity Church, Fowler
St. Joseph Church, Owosso
St. Paul Church, Owosso
• St. Joseph, Gaines, will continue with its current administrative structure of a pastoral coordinator and sacramental minister, with oversight from a canonical pastor at St. Mary, Durand. St. John, Fenton, which will be served by two priests, will assist with sacramental ministry.
• Holy Family, Ovid, will cluster with St. Joseph, St. Johns, if and when necessary, and the faith communities will be served by two priests.
• St. Mary, Morrice, will cluster with St. Isidore, Laingsburg, if and when necessary. The pastor of St. Isidore will be the canonical pastor of this faith community, which will receive sacramental ministry assistance from St. Joseph, Owosso.
• St. Joseph will become a territorial parish served by one priest with the promulgation of the plan.
• The following will remain individual parishes and be served by one priest:
Most Holy Trinity, Fowler
St. Mary, Westphalia
St. Paul, Owosso.

What is the status for the parishes in the Eastern Region? (view Eastern Region map) The eastern region is separated into two vicariates – Livingston and Washtenaw.

Livingston Vicariate Parish, Region and Ministry Improvement Recommendations
The Livingston Vicariate has 10 priests who serve eight parishes. Within the diocese, Livingston County is the only area, based on census figures, to have double-digit population growth. Since 1999, overall Mass attendance within the parishes of this vicariate increased 5 percent. Due to projected population growth in this region, no reduction in clergy is recommended.
The following are the bishop’s vicariate improvement recommendations:
• Develop ministry plans for hospitals, juvenile detention centers, nursing homes, adult foster care facilities and migrant camps.
• Assign ministry responsibility for Maxey Boys Center and Green Oaks.
• Conduct periodic assessment of demographic shifts, October counts and seating capacity of churches. At a future date, a ninth parish will be added.
• Review weekend Mass schedules. Each parish weekend Mass will be at 50 percent or more of church capacity and each priest will celebrate a maximum of three weekend Masses.
• Deacons and pastors will meet regularly.
• Develop collaborative ministry for youth and high school religious education.
• Develop vicariate ministry to young adults.
• Plan an aggressive outreach to inactive and alienated Catholics.
• Develop a formation plan for FOCCUS sponsor couples and liturgical ministers.
• Identify support groups needed to serve parishioners and their needs within the vicariate.
The following are improvements that will be made at the diocesan level to accommodate the needs of this region:
• The Diocesan Office of Family Ministry will develop and implement a regional plan for ministry to single parents.
• The directors of the diocesan Office of Catechesis and Office of Family Ministry will hold listening sessions at vicariate meetings and conduct an assessment of vicariate needs.

Livingston Vicariate Parish Configurations
No changes were recommended in this vicariate. The following are the vicariate worship sites served by one priest except where noted:
Worship sites:
St. Mary Magdalen Church, Brighton
St. Patrick Church, Brighton (two priests)
St. Agnes Church, Fowlerville
Holy Spirit Church, Hamburg
St. John the Baptist Church, Howell (Hartland)
St. Joseph Church, Howell (two priests)
St. Augustine Church, Deerfield Township
St. Mary Church, Pinckney

Washtenaw Vicariate Parish, Region and Ministry Improvement Recommendations
Within the Washtenaw Vicariate, the following regional and diocesan improvement measures are to be implemented:
• Plans for ministry to adult foster care facilities and ministry to juvenile detention centers are to be developed.
• Parishes must have adequate staff to accomplish the mission of the parish. The staff must be certified according to the standards set forth by the Diocese of Lansing. If a parish cannot do this on its own, it is to be done in collaboration with neighboring parishes and the sharing of financial support.
• Weekend Mass schedules will be reviewed in light of seating capacity and church attendance and revised accordingly.
The following are improvements that will be made at the regional level to accommodate the needs of this region:
• St. John the Baptist and Holy Trinity Student Parish will plan for collaborative ministry in the following areas: religious education, including high school; sacramental preparation; youth ministry; young adult ministry; adult faith formation; marriage preparation; RCIA and adult confirmation.
• The following clusters are encouraged to plan for collaborative ministry:
St. Mary, Chelsea; St. Joseph, Dexter; St. Andrew, Saline; Immaculate Conception, Milan; St. Joseph, Ypsilanti; St. Mary, Manchester; St. Francis of Assisi, Ann Arbor and St. Mary Student Parish, St. Thomas, Ann Arbor; Christ the King, Ann Arbor; and St. Patrick, Ann Arbor

Washtenaw Vicariate Parish Configurations
In the Washtenaw Vicariate, there were 19 priests who served 14 parishes. With the change implemented through this process, there will be 14 priests and one high school Chaplain serving 13 faith communities. Since 1999, the overall Mass attendance within the parishes of this vicariate declined by nearly 16 percent.
Worship sites:
St. John the Baptist Church, Ypsilanti
Holy Trinity Student Parish, Ypsilanti
Immaculate Conception Church, Milan
St. Joseph Church, Ypsilanti
St. Francis Church, Ann Arbor
St. Patrick Church, Ann Arbor
Christ the King Church, Ann Arbor
St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Ann Arbor
St. Mary Church, Chelsea
St. Mary Church, Manchester
St. Andrew Church, Saline
St. Mary Student Parish, Ann Arbor
St. Joseph Church, Dexter
• Transfiguration will merge with St. John the Baptist, by July 1 2009. Transfiguration will close.
• St. John the Baptist, Ypsilanti, served by two priests, one of whom is the canonical pastor, will serve Holy Trinity Student Parish when the PIME Order is no longer able to staff Holy Trinity.
• St. Joseph, Ypsilanti will cluster with Immaculate Conception, Milan, with one priest, who will be the canonical pastor if and when necessary. He will be assisted in sacramental ministry by two priests from St. Francis of Assisi, Ann Arbor.
• St. Mary, Manchester, will cluster with St. Mary, Chelsea, if and when necessary. The pastor of St. Mary, Chelsea, will be the canonical pastor for St. Mary, Manchester. He will be assisted in sacramental ministry by the two priests from St. Andrew, Saline.
• St. Patrick, Ann Arbor, will cluster with Christ the King, Ann Arbor, when necessary. Christ the King will remain a personal parish with one priest who will be the canonical pastor. Back-up sacramental ministry will be provided by St. Thomas the Apostle, Ann Arbor, which is served by two priests.
• St. Mary Student Parish, Ann Arbor will remain a personal parish with two priests.
• St. Joseph, Dexter will remain an individual parish served by one priest.

What happens when a parish is merged or clustered?
When a parish has been clustered or merged with another community, new faith communities form. The pastor or pastoral coordinator and all parish pastoral leadership will allow time for parishioners to express feelings of fear, anger or loss; but they will also be there to help parishioners move beyond these feelings with a sense of hope for a brighter future. Restructuring of parishes in the diocese was done to further the mission of the universal church – to better use all resources to strengthen parishes, to educate all people in the Gospel, feed the poor, clothe the naked, house the homeless and heal the wounded and broken-hearted. The parishes that are built from this process will energize themselves and the faithful as places of spiritual renewal and evangelization. The prospects for growth as faith communities will depend on all of our willingness to rebuild the church by renewing our commitment to her mission.

Parish clusters models
Model 1 – Separate parishes, coordinated
• Each parish has a pastor, pastoral council, finance council and staff
• Cooperation among parishes is facilitated through a coordinating council
• Programs, staff and resources are shared and planning is done through cooperation of pastors and representatives on the coordinating council with the respective parish leadership

Model 2 – Separate parishes, one pastor and parish life coordinators
• There is one canonical pastor for all parishes in the cluster
• Each parish maintains separate lay leadership structures (i.e., pastoral council, finance council, staff)
• The canonical pastor serves primarily in one parish, while parish life coordinators lead the other parishes providing pastoral care in all areas except sacramental ministry.
• Cooperation among parishes is facilitated through a coordinating council

Model 3 – Separate parishes, one pastor
• There is one pastor who provides leadership, sacramental and pastoral care for all the parishes in the cluster
• Each parish maintains separate leadership structures through the pastoral council, finance council and staff
• A greater degree of cooperation between parishes is facilitated through the coordinating council

Model 4 – One pastor, centralized team and council
• One pastor who works with one staff, and who may work out of one location in service to all parishes in the cluster
• Individual parishes may have minimal support staff
• Area pastoral council is primary consultative body for pastor and has more influence than individual parish pastoral council and finance council
• Area pastoral council works closely with an area finance council, which has a budget and pays salaries of pastor, staff, inter-parish programs and services
Parish merger models

Model 5 – Merged parish
• All councils, committees, finances and sacramental records are merged together to create a new canonical parish
• There is a new canonical parish name. However, the name of the individual churches remain intact
• There is one pastor, staff, pastoral council and financial council that serve multiple worship sites or churches
Model 6 – Build and close
• The designated parishes are merged
• Together, the merged parishes build a new, larger church
• Existing churches are closed and properties are sold to provide funding for building a new church
• The new parish has one pastor, staff and traditional leadership structure with pastoral and finance councils
Parish closure: The sacramental and pastoral needs of your parish would be addressed by neighboring parishes. Parish boundaries would be redrawn.
– Taken from Diocese of Lansing publication “A Guide to Parish Improvements, Clusters, Mergers and Closures, 2008.”

Will the diocese institute another change in parish structures soon? More than likely, no. The deliberation of this process was intended to ensure that changes within the diocese, regions, vicariates, parishes and school structure would be minimal in the foreseeable future. From the beginning of the process, it became clear that it was critical to involve all parishes and schools. The Diocesan Coordinating Commission developed and sent out parish and school evaluations that engaged all of the diocesan constituents. The decisions in this promulgation are based on the input from those evaluations – this is truly a process from the people. The evaluations allowed the parishes and schools to review their lives and missions.
When people and organizations can develop such thought-provoking insight through discernment, debate and – finally – consensus, we are confident that the decisions based on those insights will stand the test of time.
Will there be other modifications made beyond changes to vicariates? Yes, there will be some changes at the diocesan level that will assist parishes in serving the faithful. These changes include:
• The Diocese of Lansing will hire a director for the Hispanic/Migrant Ministry Office immediately.
• Facilitators from the Office of Pastoral Planning will be available to any parish that will experience a canonical status change when appropriate.
• The office of Campus Ministry will develop and implement action plans for each region of the diocese.
• Data from parishes will be collected annually. To improve the data collection process, all parishes will use an online data input process that will be made available within the next two years.
• To safeguard parish assets, every parish will have an external audit performed regularly. The diocese will contract with a firm large enough to supply auditors for this purpose. The parish being audited will be responsible for its individual audit.
• Under necessary circumstances, priests will celebrate a maximum of three Masses on Sundays, including a Saturday evening Mass.
• The four high schools of the diocese will each retain a chaplain who will be assigned to sacramental ministry on the weekends. The chaplains will choose another day off during the week.

In March 2006, a FAITH Magazine special report on the state of Catholic schools was issued by the Diocese of Lansing to complement the diocesan pastoral plan for reviewing shifting populations and clergy shortages impacting parish structures. This section presents the decisions reached after two years of school, parish, regional and diocesan input.

What is the overall state of Catholic education in the diocese? Our Catholic schools continue to maintain high standards of excellence and continue to practice the church’s mission of educating and forming our children to be strong Catholic leaders of tomorrow. Our educational programs continue to gain national recognition for their superior content. There is a strong emphasis on learning the basics, with a focus on the development of higher-level thinking skills. The catechetical formation program is renowned and it is dedicated to the formation, as well as the education, of the whole person.
Our diocese also looks at total education – offering numerous opportunities for young and old alike to learn. These opportunities include, but are not limited to, religious education for youth, young adults, adult faith formation, lay ministry formation and college-level programs.
One of the greatest concerns is the declining enrollment in so many areas of the diocese, coupled with financial increases across the board.

What are the main challenges facing Catholic schools? The goal of our Catholic schools is to provide affordable and accessible faith-based education across the diocese. But there are major hurdles we must overcome in order to achieve that goal. They include decreasing enrollment, rising tuition costs, declining urban populations and increased costs for technology, staffing and infrastructure. Due to Michigan’s economic difficulties, some areas have greater challenges than others.

What are the major successes that Catholic schools have accomplished? Through this planning process, it has become evident that many schools have implemented successful programs to address the issues mentioned above. Catholic schools have always been known for providing outstanding Gospel-centered and leadership-focused education. The schools also are implementing creative tactics to provide students more opportunities through collaborative partnerships. For instance, some Catholic schools are partnering with their public school peers to provide non-core curriculum classes. It saves both schools precious resources; Catholic schools save dollars by not paying for extra staff salaries and the public school is able to count a portion of the students’ time during the school day, thus receiving reimbursement in the state school-funding formula.

How was the school review process implemented? In 2006, Bishop Mengeling appointed a coordinating commission to examine parish structures for the diocese that also looked at school accessibility, affordability and availability. Each parish and school was given an opportunity to provide detailed information about its structure and viability. After the evaluations were completed, a regional review panel assessed the information on a parish/school basis, as well as on a regional basis, and presented its assessments at parish assemblies. Parishioners and school families had opportunities to ask the regional panel members about the panel’s findings.
After the assemblies, the review panels’ findings were forwarded to the Diocesan Coordinating Commission – a 17-member panel appointed by Bishop Mengeling. The commission’s task was to do a thorough assessment of the regional findings and, based on them, provide recommendations regarding the most effective deployment of pastoral ministers and the use of facilities. This preliminary diocesan plan was presented to the bishop’s advisory councils (consisting of the diocesan finance council, college of consultors, presbyteral council, council of vicars and the pastoral council), which reviewed the recommendations and provided feedback. The coordinating commission’s final recommendations were sent to Bishop Boyea, our new bishop, in June 2008. He approved the final plan.

What were the main categories the commission looked at when reviewing improvement processes for schools? Ten main areas were reviewed: Catholic identity; enrollment trends and projections; financial trends, projections and criteria; enrollment; school administration; staffing; instruction; facilities; parent and community involvement; and teacher turnover.

Will there be across-the-board financial cuts? Not necessarily. It depends on the financial model that will be adopted by each region. It became clear from the beginning of the process that the regions need a centralized school system. The current model of parish-run schools may have seen its day. One parish shouldn’t be responsible for the burden and control of educating a majority of an area’s youth at its own expense.
Additionally, tuition scales will need to be reviewed with individual and family rates in order to adjust the current system that allows some within the system to “shop” for the best educational bargain. This will be a consultative process so that changes will not adversely affect families and parishes.
From the start, the beauty of this process was to have each school, region and then the diocese review the schools individually and collectively to ensure that the needs of current and future students and families will be met. This allowed for programs to be looked at individually, without across-the-board cutting, but rather with an eye toward consolidation of redundancies that can be shared in neighboring parishes.

What is the status of Catholic schools in Genesee and Shiawassee counties? (view map) Genesee County Catholic Schools (GCCS) conducted an internal study over the last two years to determine the viability of each school within its region. The study revealed the following:
Holy Family, Grand Blanc, will be viable for two classes per grade for the next five years; St. John, Fenton, is viable for the foreseeable future; St. Robert, Flushing, is viable for at least one class per grade for the next five years; St. John Vianney, Flint, is stable for the next five years; St. Pius X, Flint, is fine for five years and uncertain after that time period; St. Mary, Mt. Morris, has a financially unstable future within a blighted area; Holy Rosary, Flint, viability is questionable due to its low enrollment, finances and the state of its buildings; Holy Redeemer, Burton, is being reviewed with optimism because the school can grow in the next five years; DuKette School, Flint, has closed and the students have been invited to attend St. John Vianney School, or another parish school; St. Paul School, Owosso, is the only Catholic school in Shiawassee County. The parishes of the county must work toward the success and continuation of the school by assisting families with tuition subsidy and any other appropriate means to make Catholic schools available, accessible and affordable in this county.
Other issues that that must be addressed by GCCS to assist in the improvement of schools in the region include a freer exchange and better communication among elementary schools and Powers Catholic High School, Flint; improving the Genesee County Catholic Schools Web site and links; collecting potential enrollment numbers for children ages 1-5; and continuing to search for ways to fund the regional co-ordinator position so this plan may be implemented. This region educated more than 2,800 students last year.
Given the history of St. Mary School, Swartz Creek, and St. Pius X School, Flint, a nurturing relationship is encouraged to assist in St. Pius X School becoming an area school. This configuration could also include Holy Redeemer School.

What is the status of the Livingston region? (view map) Livingston region was home to 1,099 students during the last school year. Throughout the school assessments, the region concurred that it needed to develop a school study to ensure that student, teacher and all stakeholder needs are met. Components of the plan will include networking among principals, as well as sharing of resources and marketing efforts. The Catholic schools within the region hope to become regionalized and financed accordingly. The diocesan superintendent of schools will conduct an evaluation of Holy Spirit School, Hamburg, to determine the viability of the school. The results of this evaluation will be forwarded to the implementation commission no later than April 1, 2009. The future of the school will be determined at this time.

What is the status of schools in the Jackson region? (view map) The Jackson region’s Catholic schools educated 1,590 students in 2008. In 2004-05, this region conducted a regional school study to collect data and present recommendations from each school in order to determine the viability of the schools and plan for their future. During the time of the study, the schools were in a strong and vibrant period, and they continue to be so. The diocese affirms and encourages the Jackson Area Catholic School Consortium (JACSC) to maintain its work through the recommendations set forth in its plan:
1. Foster Catholic identity in all Jackson-area Catholic schools.
2. Establish JACSC to promote unity and support among area schools and all regional parishes by developing an education agreement.
3. Secure and enhance support from the bishop and local pastors for all Jackson-area Catholic schools.
4. Establish a regional coordinator position for the JACSC responsible to the principals and pastors for implementation of the school study recommendations.
5. Create regional strategic plans for development and marketing to ensure financial support and growth in Catholic school education, which would include a model policy of financial support from all parishes and a model policy for tuition and subsidy at all elementary schools.
6. Develop a standardized financial reporting system that will provide consistency of information throughout all educational programs in the consortium.
7. Establish model salary, benefits and professional development for employees while ensuring that JACSC meet state requirements regarding days/hours of instruction and teacher certification and qualification.
8. Analyze and develop programs for special needs, gifted and talented, and advanced students at all levels. Enhance programs in science, mathematics, performing arts, music, technology, foreign language, journalism and extracurricular activities at all levels. Expand counseling services in all K-8 schools.
9. Implement needed facility upgrades at the space used by Jackson Catholic Middle School.

What is the status of the Lenawee region? (view map) Sacred Heart School, Hudson, with 126 students in the 2007-08 school year, is the only parish school in the region. This school will remain available, accessible and affordable for those who choose to attend. In addition, efforts will be renewed to establish relationships with the parishes in the region and with St. Joseph Academy, Adrian, a school owned and operated by the Adrian Dominican Sisters, so that this school will also be available, affordable and accessible to those who choose to attend. There are no plans for school closures.
The superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Lansing will convene appropriate parties in Lenawee County to develop a cooperative effort for education in this area.

What is the status of Catholic schools in Eaton, Clinton and Ingham counties? (view map) This region has the largest number of schools in the diocese and served 3,235 students in the 2007-08 school year. Over the last five years, the region has dedicated resources toward the development of two school studies to plan for the viability of Catholic schools and ensure they are accessible, available and affordable to all families. At this time, these plans are still in the launching phase.
During its planning phase, the region determined that it requires a region-wide vision to include collaboration among schools and throughout the region to increase purchasing power; curriculum and training prowess, as well as advancements in other areas; addressing the needs of all school sites within the region; and requiring the participation of all schools and parishes in the vision.
The challenge faced by this region, and all regions, that will be developing and implementing school viability plans is to ensure that all elements of the plan are in harmony with the diocesan vision of Catholic schools.

What is the status of Washtenaw region? (view map) There were 1,230 students in Catholic schools in the Washtenaw region last year. Like other regions within the diocese, Washtenaw must move toward regionalization of schools. No schools are slated to close.

Are there other items that must be taken care of to make the Catholic school system within the diocese the best it can be? The first step in any journey is to plot a course. To further each of the region’s plans, it is important that the diocese begins with mission, vision and value statements that speak to the heart of what our schools strive to achieve. Without a road map to guide us, we cannot set a course for a Gospel-centered environment in which to educate the next generation of Catholic evangelists. Based on the information from SEIs and parish assemblies – and input from parents and the diocesan leadership – a mission, vision and value statement for our schools has been developed to direct this continuing journey. [see sidebar]
With the mission, vision and value statement in place, the diocese has made a commitment to ensure that a Catholic education should be accessible, available and affordable to all families. This will help come to fruition through a diocesan-wide endowment fund for education called for in the pastoral plan developed in 2001.
It is important to note that schools cannot stand alone. This is a time for the community to come together: neighboring parish with neighboring parish, region to region, and the entire diocese as community. It is a time for all parishes to step up and support Catholic education, especially today, the first time in modern history that Christianity is not the prevalent religion in the world.

Mission of Diocese of Lansing
Catholic Schools:
Serving Christ through providing superior Gospel-centered, affordable education that develops compassionate Christian leaders.

Vision:
He designs, we build, they grow.

Value Statement:
The Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Lansing value an educational system that strengthens the Catholic Church by fostering a collaborative learning environment throughout the diocese, schools, administrators, teachers and learners so that a Catholic education is affordable to all, ensures equitable resources to all staff, and enriches, motivates and cultivates the spiritual, academic, social and physical needs required to develop compassionate Christian leaders.

Based on all that has been learned in
VOICES and the School Evaluation Inventory planning process, the Diocesan Coordinating Commission recommends:
1 That Catholic schools become more co-operative and collaborative on a regional level and be assisted in finances accordingly;
2 That a diocesan-wide development plan for funding Catholic schools be instituted;
3 Determine regional development relationships for consideration of consolidation of existing development efforts;
4 Design a plan to deepen the awareness that every parish has an obligation to make Catholic school education available, affordable and accessible;
5 Draft new job descriptions for the pertinent department of education and catechesis personnel and seek appropriate consultation with the board to accomplish items 1-4.

Religious Education:
Recommendation: Any parish that does not offer religious education for its children and youth will offer a reasonable subsidy to each parish family attending sessions in a neighboring parish.

Home schoolers:
Recommendation: Parents are the first educators of their children. Home school children will participate in parish programming according to the wishes of the parents.