Into the Deep - Diocese of Madison

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Let Down Your Nets

The Risen Lord is beckoning all of us in the Diocese of Madison to something greater. But before a miraculous catch, He first calls 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
- The Lord is asking us to launch into the deep trusting Him to lead us into a brighter future.
- The Authentic Hunger of the Heart
  
  IntroDuction
  
  We all want a deeper personal experience of Jesus’ love and life. We all long to pray better. We all seek a Sunday experience of the Eucharist which nourishes our hearts and souls. We all desire excellent and inspiring preaching, liturgical music, and formation opportunities for ourselves and 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
  
  The Desire
  
  As Bishop Hying has traveled throughout the diocese, he has come to realize that Catholics everywhere share the same spiritual hungers of the heart. And while he is convinced that God wants to meet these common spiritual hungers through His Church, the Church can only fully 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, voluntary sacrifices and service, and the inspirations of the Holy Spirit.
- A Sunday Mass that is Holy and Heavenly
  
  Liturgy
  
  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.
- 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 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. Sadly, 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 widespread roadblocks that we need to address…
- Our Priests are Stretched Thin and Beyond their Limits
  
  Clergy
  
  Already we are asking priests to delay retirement. And the number of active priests in our diocese is likely to decrease by 15-25% in the next decade. Many priests are currently serving multiple parishes/sites, dealing with challenging administrative issues, and caring for aging and/or underused facilities, all of which leaves them with less time to celebrate the Sacraments, teach and evangelize, and give personal attention to parishioners who are in need.
- Many Places are Unable to Find and Retain Qualified Staff
  
  Workers
  
  Many of our parishes, schools, and other institutions were historically staffed by religious sisters, extra priests, and those who could afford to serve there for little more than a "thank you." But unfortunately today this is no longer the case, and given this many of our institutions struggle to find and retain faithful and qualified individuals to serve in our ministries.
- Our Engaged Parishioners are Aging and Decreasing
  
  Laity
  
  For many years now we have struggled to build strong and healthy families and to form our people, both young and old, into being committed disciples of Jesus Christ. As such, many of our parishes are seeing less and less people regularly attend Mass, go to Confession, volunteer, etc., and those who do so are not getting any younger.
- Refusing to Settle
  
  The Path Forward
  
  Through the Into the Deep strategic planning process, we will better identify these roadblocks and their causes, 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 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 follow Him...into the deep!
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The Vision