The Archdiocesan Plan 2016 – 2021 is now at the halfway mark
By Jamie O’Brien
September 10, 2015 will forever mark a pivotal moment for the Archdiocese of Perth.
It was on this night, in front of a select audience, that Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB put forward his vision and priorities, after nearly three and a half years in the role as leader of the Perth Catholic community.
It was on this night that he proclaimed, as he had done previously, that the greatest challenge we face today is to return the Church to Christ, and return Christ to the Church.
“This is of course already true in principle: the Church is the living body of Christ – we are already inseparably united with him.
“But our urgent task is to make this true not just in principle but also in practice, so that no-one, including we ourselves, can be in any doubt that we are, first and foremost, a community of disciples of Christ, committed to walking in his way, living by his truth, and drawing our life from him,” Archbishop Costelloe explained.
Archbishop Costelloe went on to explain that because we are people of hope, we must renew our efforts to proclaim the message in every way we can, making full and creative use of all the possibilities the new technologies and modern means of communication offer us.
“In all of this I have one overarching hope, one overarching dream, for our Archdiocese. It is this: that we begin to see ourselves, and conduct ourselves, as a people called to walk together in the footsteps of the Good Shepherd,” he said.
The announcement of ‘The Way Forward’ on 10 September 2015 formalised the commencement of a period of planning and organisation and a new overarching working party supported by several working groups were established, to help steer collaboration of the many thoughts and ideas that were being put forward via a wide-reaching survey.
After several months, implementation of the Archdiocesan Plan was officially launched in May 2016, and the seven key priority areas of Archbishop Costelloe were brought to life; Professional Standards, Effective Communication, Support for Clergy, Strengthening and Revitalising Parishes, Adult Faith Formation, Outreach to Those in Need, and Archdiocesan Growth and Development.
Vicars and Co-Ordinators were appointed to the areas to commence the practical implementation.
The Archbishop himself took on the task of Professional Standards, Bishop Don Sproxton took on Adult Faith and Strengthening and Revitalising Parishes, Fr Peter Whitely VG was allocated to care for Effective Communications and Growth and Development, Fr Brian McKenna for Support for Clergy, and Dr Terry Wilson for Outreach to those in Need.
Archbishop Costelloe SDB at his installation Mass in March 2012 at St Mary’s Cathedral where he first spoke about the challenge we face today is to return the Church to Christ and Christ to his Church. Photo: Ron Tan
The Co-Ordinators included Manager, Strategy and Implementation Renay Grech for Growth and Development, Manager of Communications Jamie O’Brien for Effective Communication, former Highgate Parish Priest Fr Peter Bianchini for Support for Clergy, Catholic Education Western Australia Chaplain Fr Nino Vinciguerra for Strengthening and Revitalising Parishes and Dominican Sister Margaret Scharf OP has most recently been appointed to Adult Faith Formation.
Actions have since that point been finalised in leaps and bounds, such as the launch of The Record Magazine in Effective Communication, formalised and comprehensive formation and training in Support for Clergy, review and update of the Parish Pastoral Council Constitution in Strengthening and Revitalising Parishes, the ongoing development of an Adult Faith Formation Network in Adult Faith Formation, and the social outreach network conference in Outreach to Those in Need.
Archdiocese of Perth CEO-Administration, Greg Russo says the process of putting the Plan together and associated implementation has been a powerful moment for the Archdiocese and Church in Perth.
“It was no co-incidence the Plan was launched in the Year of Mercy, as proclaimed by Pope Francis, and will finish around the same time of the 2020 Plenary Council.
“Even before the official planning commenced, it was clear that the Archdiocese and its people have understood the need to come together for the purpose as outlined in the priority areas, and develop a new understanding of what it means to be a people ‘walking in the footsteps of the Good Shepherd’,” Mr Russo said.
“And now as we reach halfway in implementing the Plan, it is clear that while much has been achieved, there is still plenty more to do. But with a clear mission and direction, we can walk confidently in facing the challenges and communicating the positives,” he said.
The Archdiocesan Plan Co-ordinating Group Chair, Danny Murphy; Executive Officer, Jane Kikeros; Archbishop Timothy Costelloe; and Archdiocese of Perth CEO-Administration, Greg Russo. Photo: Ron Tan.
Mr Russo continued saying that he has been positively impressed how staff across the Archdiocese have worked together within the context of the Archdiocesan Plan, understanding that the actions and outcomes are all intended at bringing the Church in Perth closer to Christ.
“It has been bigger than a simple strategy or pastoral plan,” Mr Russo explained.
“As followers of Christ we are compelled to follow in the word of Pope Francis, who proclaimed in Evangelii Gaudium, ‘I hope that all communities will devote the necessary effort to advancing along the path of a pastoral and missionary conversion which cannot leave things as they presently are. ‘Mere administration’ can no longer be enough.
“He continues by saying that throughout the world, let us be ‘permanently in a state of mission’,” Mr Russo concluded.
From pages 14 to 15 of Issue 15: ‘Archdiocesan Plan 2016 – 2021: Halfway mark filled with determination to commit to bring Church in Perth closer to Christ’ of The Record Magazine