Archbishop Dolan's Thought for the Week

November 27, 2007

Pope John Paul II used to say that “Coincidence is the word non-believers use for Providence!”

     That comes to mind as we gather steam for three important pastoral initiatives in the life of our archdiocese:  the Living Our Faith project, the Faith in Our Future Capital Campaign, and the Strategic Planning efforts.

     It is not coincidence but providence that these three efforts are now “leaving the station.” And gathering speed!

     You might recall -- I do so daily -- that a year after my arrival as your archbishop, after a lot of consultation and listening, I set six pastoral priorities for us as the Church of southeastern Wisconsin:  the reclaiming of the primacy of the spiritual, as we “seek first the kingdom of God”; service to parishes; strengthening of Catholic education; promotion of vocations (priesthood, religious life, and marriage and family); fostering of stewardship; and continued efforts in justice, charity and peacemaking.

     All three of these new initiatives are directly tied into our six pastoral goals.

     Living Our Faith is really what it’s all about, as we concentrate on meeting, knowing, and living Jesus Christ.  That’s the kingdom of God!  This is what we are all about!  All of our humble efforts boil down to this, don’t they?  Our hope is to rediscover the joy of being a Catholic, the privilege of being part of the Church, and to highlight the ways our parishes assist us to meet, know, and live Christ.

     The Faith in Our Future Capital Campaign starts in earnest in January, when 49 parishes begin the “first wave” of the effort.  Other parishes will enter at the “second wave” in October, and the rest the “third wave” in January, 2009.

     And we cannot forget the 11 brave parishes who, as our pilot parishes, have already started:  St. Francis Cabrini, West Bend; St. Matthias, Milwaukee; St. Jude the Apostle, Wauwatosa; St. William, Waukesha; St. Joseph, Big Bend; St. Anthony, Menomonee Falls; St. Rita, West Allis; St. Mark the Evangelist, Kenosha; St. Gregory the Great, Milwaukee; Shepherd of the Hills, Eden; and St. Clare, Wind Lake.

     This campaign is all about three goals:  stewardship, as the campaign teaches the virtue of returning to God the first fruits of His gifts to us; Catholic solidarity, as we unite as a Church to care for our needs and those of our children and grandchildren; and raising capital for the noble cause of Catholic education and faith formation, in our parishes, and throughout the wider Church of southeastern Wisconsin.

     And, finally, led by Father Jim Connell, we are making sure that all of our vast efforts as an archdiocese are indeed in line with our stated pastoral priorities, as we undertake careful planning to determine that the needs of our Catholic people are being met, and that our resources are properly and effectively part of our mission.  

     It really all flows from our belief that Christ is our King, as we acclaimed Sunday, and that we await and prepare for His Kingdom, as we will recall beginning this Sunday with Advent.  

     It’s all about Jesus, His Kingdom, His Church, His people;  It’s all about meeting, knowing, and living Him;  It’s all about teaching Him; it’s all about making sure our plans are, in fact, His.

     It’s all Providence . . . not coincidence!