Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Families of Parishes which I am announcing today are the first concrete step in our diocesan response to the new realities of our day. They are intended to foster a spirit of communion among the parishes and Catholic Communities which are a part of each family. From this communion, a deeper sense of mission will develop.

This model of parish organization will necessarily demand that we think no longer in terms of “our community only” but of “our communities together”. It will call for the leadership of the pastor and priests, working not alone but in collaboration with a varied pastoral team and lay leaders. What is more, each member, by virtue of his or her baptism, will have a part to play in order that the family might meet the spiritual needs of its members and serve the wider community, announcing to all the Good News of God’s immense, merciful love.

The transition to our new way of being parish will be a gradual development. Not all Families of Parishes will be activated at the same time but only in stages over the next eight or more years. We will have our own “pioneers”, Families of Parishes which will be the rst to move into this new model beginning in January 2018. We will take the time we need to support these “pioneer” Families of Parishes. We will learn from their experience before other new families are established.

On the Great Feast of Pentecost, we celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church and join in prayer that he will guide and strengthen us in our mission. These are days of transition for us, days when we move from what is familiar to something new; and times like these are always unsettling. Yet, as Pope Francis has said so often when inviting the Church to move out of itself and to live out of the Gospel: “Don’t be scared, dare to have fabulous plans [...], to dream, to have great ideas, to be builders of hope.”

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Rev. Ronald P. Fabbro, C.S.B. Bishop of London

2015 - 2019 Pastoral Plan - pdf

The purpose of our Pastoral Plan, which is entitled “Embracing a Future Full of Hope,” is to identify several key priorities which will inspire us and focus the energies of the whole diocese.

The Pastoral Plan was our response to the request of the Pope John Paul II, who instructed each diocese to develop a pastoral plan, so that the Gospel would take root in the life of the Church as we began the new millennium.

I think you will find that the Pastoral Plan affirms much that is already being done in your parish. As we look ahead, the six goal statements of the Pastoral Plan establish a clear focus for our parishes. By committing ourselves to these goals, we declare that we will be accountable to one another in doing what we set out to do.

Most Rev. Ronald P. Fabbro, CSB
Bishop of London