June 4, 2012

By Steve Trosley

The Archdiocesan Pastoral Council spent several hours of its most recent meeting going through an orientation for the “Christ at the Center” initiative.

A team of archdiocesan directors, lead by Father Len Wenke, director of the Department of Pastoral Services, discussed the various aspects of the effort and how it will culminate in the “Summit: Revitalizing the Domestic Church,” Oct. 1-2 in Dayton. (Read more about the Summit and how to participate in the accompanying story.)

After a discussion of the foundation principles of what has become known as CAT-C, Father Wenke explained how the program corresponds with the “Year of Faith” declared by Pope Benedict XVI to begin in October.

Father Wenke, with help Colleen Gerke, director of the archdiocesan Family and Respect Life Office, Worship Office Director Karen Kane and Youth and Young Adult Ministry Office Director Sean Reynolds, discussed the various goals of the initiative, particularly bringing Catholics who have fallen away from the church back into the fold.

The initiatives include a strong emphasis on families and on young people.

Father Wenke also spoke briefly on meetings he has been facilitating with Auxiliary Bishop Joseph R. Binzer to work on development of pastoral regions. Bishop Binzer said he was inspired by the participation of parishioners in the discussions.

In those meetings, lay Catholics in predetermined regions learn how their parishes will operate as demographics change and fewer priests are available to lead individual parishes.