The parish is an important focus of Church because it is where Catholic families gather to witness to their faith and to build a community of believers who recognize that God acts in their parish.  Since the time when our churches and schools were established, much has changed in our localities, our diocese and in our world. 

As good stewards of God's gifts, it is vital that we follow the advice of Blessed John XXIII when he called Vatican Council II to read the "signs of the times."  In the Church of South Jersey we continue to seek ways to be ever more fully a people of God, revealing the mind and heart of Jesus and developing the structures needed to do this.  

From September-December 2006, our parishes and schools began Phase I of "Gathering God's Gifts," a process of pre-planning.  During this time, pastors established parish planning teams to review the diocesan Demographic Report (Click here), to complete a Parish Data Report, and to gather on December 9 at the Assembly that  recommended Pastoral Priority Goals and Strategies to Bishop Galante.  

On January 6, 2007, six representatives from each parish planning team gathered for an in-service day at Camden Catholic High School to launch phase II of "Gathering God's Gifts." (Click here for Catholic Star Herald article, 1/12/07).

Bishop Joseph Galante announced the "Gathering God's Gifts" initiative and the concurrent "Faith in the Future" school planning initiative at a press briefing January 18 (Click here for full text of Bishop's remarks).