My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

When I was appointed bishop of this diocese in 2010, the 2010 Parish Pastoral Plan was already in motion since its announcement at the 2009 Convocation for our priests. The planning process was approved by then-Bishop George J. Lucas before he was assigned to the Archdiocese of Omaha. Under the diocesan administration of then-Msgr. Carl A. Kemme (now Bishop of Wichita in Kansas), the process began in our parishes in January 2010. Marlene Mulford, then Chancellor and Director of Pastoral Planning for our diocese, implemented the process which involved resources at all levels of diocesan life, but most importantly in our parishes. I promulgated the final results in May 2011.

In my letter of promulgation, I said, “The final plans will not be implemented all at once. It is important to note that 100 percent of the plans may never be implemented. As stated from the beginning, the plans will be used as guidelines for the Priest Personnel Board in pastoral, parish life coordinator, and deacon assignments in the months and years to come.”

For the next 15 years, the 2010 Parish Pastoral Plan guided us well, especially with regard to the assignment of priests and the grouping of parishes working together under one pastor. Since much has changed in the composition of our presbyterate, diaconate, and parishes since the promulgation of the 2010 Parish Pastoral Plan, it became apparent in the last few years that the time had come to review and revise our Pastoral Plan in light of current demographics and pastoral needs. On March 28, 2023, I discussed this with the members of our Presbyteral Council, who unanimously recommended the appointment of a group of priests whom I appointed to serve as the Task Force for the 2025 Pastoral Plan for Parishes and Schools in our Diocese. 

The work of the Task Force took the 2010 Parish Pastoral Plan as its starting point and was guided by the Declarations and Statutes of the Fourth Diocesan Synod of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, promulgated Nov. 26, 2017, and the document, Higher Calling, Higher Standards: Renewal of the Mission of Catholic Education in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, which I promulgated on Jan. 28, 2023. 

I asked the Task Force for the 2025 Pastoral Plan for Parishes and Schools to do their work over the next two years in consultation with the Presbyteral Council and the Diocesan Pastoral Council as well as with the Vicars Forane (Deans), pastors, and parishioners before submitting their recommendations and final report to me, which they completed and submitted to me on Aug. 26, 2025. Following the favorable recommendations of the Presbyteral Council and the Diocesan Pastoral Council, I am pleased to have accepted these recommendations and have promulgated the 2025 Pastoral Plan for Parishes and Schools. An Executive Summary and the full report of the 2025 Pastoral Plan for Parishes and Schools are available here. I am grateful to the Task Force in bringing this good work to fruition.

The purpose of this new plan is to provide recommendations and guiding principles to help the diocese respond to changing pastoral realities while supporting the mission of the Church and the four priorities of our Fourth Diocesan Synod held in 2017, namely, hospitality, prayer, formation, and service. Importantly, the Task Force emphasizes that these proposals are a framework for consideration and discussion, not rigid requirements. As I noted in promulgating the 2010 Pastoral Plan, the 2025 Pastoral Plan will not be implemented all at once and 100 percent of the plans may never be implemented. Local communities will play an essential role in determining how these ideas may best be implemented.

Recommendations are proposed in three key areas: (1) refinement of the number of Masses offered, (2) refinement of parish groupings, and (3) regional collaboration in Catholic schools.

The Task Force strongly emphasized avoiding parish closures whenever possible. In some situations, a church building might remain open as a worship site or oratory while being pastorally connected to a neighboring parish.

Many parishes currently offer more Masses than attendance requires. Most proposed changes are modest, often reducing a parish’s Mass schedule from four Masses to three, or three to two. Local communities are encouraged to consult with neighboring parishes and their dean to discern how to meet the pastoral needs of the community. Masses celebrated in nearly empty churches can diminish the experience of communal worship. Fewer Masses may allow congregations to gather in larger numbers, creating a more vibrant and welcoming environment while fostering a greater sense of unity. Excessive Mass schedules can strain priests and reduce their time available for other forms of pastoral ministry.

The overall vision and the central goal of the 2025 Pastoral Plan is not structural change for its own sake, but the renewal of the Church’s mission in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. The recommendations seek to help the diocese:

• Sustain parish life without unnecessary closures.
• Support priests in healthy and effective ministry.
• Strengthen Catholic schools.
• Foster vibrant parish communities centered on worship.
• Encourage missionary discipleship in response to a changing culture.

Through thoughtful implementation and local consultation, these recommendations aim to ensure that the Church here in central Illinois remains vibrant, missionary, and faithful to its mission for generations to come.

May God give us this grace. Amen.