Into the Deep Introduction

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Let Down Your Nets

The Risen Lord Jesus is calling all of us in the Diocese of Madison to something greater. But before a miraculous catch, He first invites us to venture from where we've been fishing and set out into the deep.
- In light of the profound cultural, ecclesial, and moral shifts in our society and Church, we need to ask ourselves what our parishes need to look like, ones which are spiritually alive in Christ, fully equipped to sanctify, evangelize, and catechize, ones which burn with the fire of the Holy Spirit.”
  
  Bishop Donald J. Hying
- Jesus is asking us to launch into the deep trusting Him to lead us into a brighter future.
- The Deepest Desires of the Human Heart
  
  IntroDuction
  
  We all want a deeper experience of Jesus’ personal love and life. We all long to pray better. We all seek a Sunday celebration of the Eucharist which nourishes our hearts and minds. We all desire excellent and inspiring preaching, liturgical music, and formation opportunities for ourselves and for our young people. We all crave joyful and deeper connections with other faithful Catholics. We all long to speak about our faith with others who do not know Christ with greater confidence and joy.
- Pursuing a Common Dream
  
  A SHARED Desire
  
  As Bishop Hying has traveled throughout the diocese, he has seen firsthand that Catholics throughout share the same spiritual hungers of the heart. And while we know that God wants to meet these common spiritual hungers through His Church, our local diocesan church can only do so in parishes and schools which are equipped with excellent pastors, staff, and resources.
- Across the Diocese of Madison,
  there is a tangible longing for…
- A Deeper Relationship with the Lord Jesus
  
  Connection
  
  A deeper relationship with the Risen Lord Jesus that is nurtured by daily prayer, regular participation in the Sacraments, Sacred Scipture, voluntary sacrifices and service, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
- A Sunday Mass that is Holy and Heavenly
  
  WORSHIP
  
  An experience of Holy Mass where the Eucharist, which is the source and summit of our faith, is celebrated joyfully and with devotion, and where we sense our connection to the saints and angels in Heaven.
- Joyful Fellowship with Other Catholics
  
  Community
  
  As disciples of the Risen Lord Jesus we desire real fellowship with other committed Catholics, so as to find strength and support to live the Christian life amidst the challenges of this world.
- The Ability to Engage in Meaningful Outreach
  
  Mission
  
  As Catholics we are called to give of ourselves and our resources to serve the "least of these" and to "make disciples." But we long to know that our efforts and sacrifices will make a meaningful impact and bear spiritual fruit.
- Honestly Assessing Our Current Reality
  
  Where We CURRENTLY Are
  
  Pastoral excellence becomes difficult when a priest is working alone in multiple parishes, the number of staff are minimal and they feel overwhelmed, the number of people engaged in the life of the parish are aging and dwindling, and resources are fading or not being used as effectively as they could be. Many of the metrics of religious practice in our country are sadly moving in the wrong direction. Marriages, baptisms, confirmations, and Mass attendance have all been declining for many years now. As a result, more and more people are spiritually adrift and the harvest could be plentiful, but frequently the workers are too few and overextended.
- There are some real and significant roadblocks that we need to boldly address…
- Fewer people understand and are celebrating the Sacraments
  
  SACRAMENTS
  
  As Catholics we believe that the Sacraments are privileged encounters with the Risen Lord Jesus and that through them He confers His grace and divine life. Sadly, over the past few decades fewer and fewer people have been seeking Baptism, celebrating Confirmation and Holy Matrimony, going to Confession, and attending Holy Mass. As such, we have fewer and fewer people who are fully alive in Christ and whose hearts burn within them with a deep love for God and others.
- Our engaged parishioners are decreasing and aging
  
  YOUTH
  
  For many years now we have struggled to build strong and healthy families and to form our young people into becoming committed disciples of Jesus Christ. As such, despite being projected to be the two largest demographic cohorts in our diocese by 2026, Millennials and Zoomers/Gen Z are underrepresented and under-involved in the life of our parishes. In addition, more and more people of all ages are disaffiliating from religious practice as our culture becomes increasingly secular.
- We are spending more on buildings and less on people
  
  INVESTMENT
  
  As our buildings age they continue to have increasing maintenance needs and expenses. Because of this and decreased giving in recent years, we are spending more on our buildings (and administration) and less on ministering to those in need and adequately compensating our dedicated employees. This only serves to exacerbate our other challenges since we are investing our limited resources in underutlitized facilities instead of advancing and living our mission.
- Refusing to Settle
  
  The Path Forward
  
  Through the Into the Deep strategic planning process, we will better identify these roadblocks and others, and determine how to address them with God's help. We will do this through a process of data research and analysis, followed by consultation with laity, clergy, and religious from across the diocese. We will discern what needs to be done, and then we will boldly do it. By moving our institutions from maintenance to mission we will better serve the needs of all our people, both now and into the future.
- The Vision
  
  With courage to believe that something better is possible, let us imagine…
- Fuller Masses
  
  What if Masses everywhere were full, with engaged disciples of all ages? What if people, both young and old, could experience more fully the joy of the Holy Spirit in parishes that burned with a love of Jesus Christ really present in the Holy Eucharist? What if Christian fellowship was so vibrant that everyone felt a real sense of belonging at every Mass and in every parish community?
- Excellent Formation
  
  What if every parish was able to offer the highest quality formation to build up the next generation of missionary disciples? What if our sacramental preparation process became more to people than just a "special event" to check off a list and instead facilitated real, life-changing encounters with Jesus Christ risen from the dead? What if every confirmed person in our diocese continued to grow in his or her faith through bible studies, small groups, and evangelization initiatives?
- Renewed Hearts
  
  What if every Catholic in the Diocese of Madison eagerly desired to be an active member of his or her parish because every parish was gloriously alive and their hearts were burning within them? What if every Catholic was inspired by the apostolic zeal, courage, and generosity of previous generations and the saints to live for the greater glory of God in every area of their lives? What if all of our hearts were so shaped by Jesus' Sacred Heart that our faith becomes contagious?
- Reenergized Priests
  
  What if our priests could work together in new ways, so that none of them feel alone or overwhelmed? What if they could spend less time on buildings and administration, and more time building relationships with their people? What if they could spend more time and energy celebrating the Sacraments, providing spiritual direction, and shepherding and forming disciples?
- Do not be afraid. Do not be satisfied with mediocrity.
  Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
  
  Saint Pope John Paul II
- Stay Connected
  
  Engage
  
  We believe that the Into the Deep strategic planning process will help us to achieve this vision of a brighter future and a more vibrant local church, but this process will require the participation and engagement of every Catholic in the Diocese of Madison. We would love to have you walk with us. To stay informed about where God is leading us, please sign up for our email newsletter! And may God help all of us to courageously and generously follow Him...into the deep!
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The Vision