OVERVIEW

Bishop Morlino asked Catholics throughout the Diocese of Madison to work together in Guided by the Spirit, planning for the long term future of the Church in southwestern Wisconsin.�Now, with the conclusion of the Guided by the Spirit planning process and the issuance of the Bishop’s Directives to all of the parishes of the Diocese, it is time to trust the Holy Spirit’s guidance and move forward to implement these directives in the best possible manner.�This will again involve many in our parishes so that we may be good stewards of all the diocesan human, facility and financial resources that we have been given.

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Leaders in all parishes throughout the diocese are to work within their own cluster regarding the Bishop’s general and particular directives for them to come up with a course of action that will best ensure that the directives are fulfilled.

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Bishop Morlino has given specific points or goals that he is seeking to attain for the Diocese of Madison.�These goals are long term in nature and universal in application.�The goals of Trusting in the Spiritare the same as those in Guided by the Spirit:

1. To insure that all individuals throughout our 11 counties are graciously invited everyday, in one way or another, to meet Jesus Christ "Risen from the Dead," and be changed by Him.
2. To continue to offer the invitation of Jesus Christ the High Priest to young men so that, in sufficient numbers for the future, they will follow Him.
3. To teach with love, the truths Christ has entrusted to His Church, so that clarification and conviction would replace ambiguity and confusion, where such might exist.
4. To enhance the quality of parish life by encouraging collaboration and the sharing of resources amongst the parishes.
5. To strengthen the presence of ministry of the Church in urban, rural, and suburban areas.
6. To help all parishioners understand the reality of our desire to continue to be the sacramental Church we are and are called to be, while at the same time recognizing the diminishing number of priests currently available to serve parishes.
7. To act as good stewards of all human, financial, and facility resources that will be needed for restructuring parishes and adopting new models.
8. To ensure that quality Catholic school education is available, accessible, and affordable throughout the diocese.
9. To build a greater sense of unity within the rich ethnic, cultural, and age-diverse population present within the local Church.��