The Catholic Messenger
In the latest Catholic Messenger Conversations podcast (Ep. 67), Bishop Dennis Walsh focuses on parish planning, preparing individuals on the journey to become members of the Catholic Church and Bishop’s personal experience of pilgrimage.
Bishop Walsh shared his perspective on the upcoming merger of the two Ottumwa parishes and how a shortage of priests may affect parish planning in the future. “We just have to lay out the reality for people that the status quo isn’t really much of an option in the future.”
The presence of lay leaders and deacons, especially in Parish Life Coordinator roles, can help parishes maintain a sense of vibrancy as the diocese considers how to position clergy personnel most efficiently. “We may not be able to cover everything as we have in the past,” the bishop said. “We need to be proactive about what the future looks like in terms of how many we can qualitatively serve rather than just making sure everything gets covered.”
Reflecting on the recent Rite of Election of Catechumens and of Calling the Candidates to Continuing Conversion, the bishop said he appreciates hearing the stories of people who are planning to enter the Church at the Easter Vigil. “It really is a great witness not just for candidates and catechumens but also for those of us who’ve been Catholic our entire life… There’s still a lot of vibrancy in the church. I like hearing the stories of why they’re entering the church and the journey that brought them here.”
Listen to Catholic Messenger Conversations podcasts at www.catholicmessenger.net/podcasting or on your favorite podcasting app!
