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Pastoral Plan Outline Catholic Diocese of Dodge City 2020-2025 --
A. John 15:12 A To Evangelize with Joy – Proclaim Christ’s love to all. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).
B. To Catechize in the Catholic Faith with Diligence – Form all as faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ. “Guide me by your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior” (Psalm 25:5).
C To Build Community with Love – Unite all in a hope-filled relationship with God and one another. “That they may all be one” (John 17:21).
D To Pray with Devotion – Worship the Father, through Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit as community and individually. “Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks” (1 Thessalonians ).
E To Serve with Compassion – Accompany all in the Lord, especially the poor. “Serve one another through love” (Galatians 5:13).
November 22, 2023, St. Cecilia
My Dear Brother Priests,
Blessings in the Lord this day before Thanksgiving Day – we have much to be grateful for.
Our Vocation Ministry workshop for the laity is Saturday, December 2, 9am-3pm, at the Cathedral – ten days away! A look at the online registrations shows that many parishes have not registered any persons to participate in the workshop. Please ask your parishioners, especially at this weekend’s Masses, that they join in this key event in the life of our diocesan Church, and in your parish Church(es). Remember, I require that each and every parish have formed an active, vibrant, joyful and prayerful vocation committee by Lent (February 14, 2024). The December 2 workshop will provide motivation and tools for your parishioners. Rhonda Grunewald of Vocation Ministry presented to our priests in our October Convocations, and she will return December 2 to present to our laity. Joining Rhonda will be Leticia Ramirez to present the Spanish-language portion of the workshop. Leticia is a wife and mom who has two sons who are priests!
“Each and every parish” means just that. A tri-parish committee is insufficient. Does parish A ask its neighboring parish B to pay for parish A’s electric bill? At great sacrifice we have Saturday evening or Sunday Mass at each and every parish. Why would an individual parish not have its own vocation committee? Vocation ministry is not just for me, or the priest Vocation team, or for all the priests -- vocation ministry is for each and every parishioner in the Catholic Diocese of Dodge City, thus for each and every parish. If the word “committee” scares people, then call this group a “Vocation Prayer Group,” or just “The Vocation group.”
Those who participate in the workshop are not the only ones who will follow-up with activities; they will learn the how/what/when/why of vocation ministry from Rhonda and Leticia, and carry this knowledge back to their parish, where many other parishioners will be involved. For example, Rhonda’s book has 67 activities in the four categories of Prayer, Awareness & Education, Youth, and Affirmation. Her book is also in Spanish, and an accompanying workbook is bilingual with copy-ready materials -- all excellent. Each priest has received a book, and each parish will receive a book and workbook (the Spanish book in addition for the bilingual parishes). Thus, you and your parishioners will not need to “re-invent the wheel.”
I ask that each parish send 2-5 parishioners (4-10 for large parishes) to the workshop. For bilingual parishes, both English-speakers and Spanish-speakers should attend. Please have them register online: which will help us with a headcount for lunch and materials. Each priest is invited to participate, as your schedule allows.
.Thank you for your dedication to promoting vocations to the priesthood, religious life, and holy matrimony. Blessings from the Lord of Vocations, Jesus Christ.
Bishop John
“But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it,
who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold” (Matthew 13:23).
Please “save the date” for the Diocesan Eucharistic Congress that will be held in 2024.
September 13-14-15, 2024, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Dodge City
Bishop John hopes that this weekend is a priority, and that other events are not scheduled on these dates.
More details to follow.