Thematic Framework of the 2021-2024 USCCB Strategic Plan
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Thematic Framework of the 2021-2024 USCCB Strategic Plan
Thematic Framework of the
2021–2024 USCCB
Strategic Plan
T
he Gospel of Christ and the teach- the provision of inputs by bishops on the
ings of his Church guide the work 2021-24 USCCB Strategic Priorities. These
of the United States Conference of inputs were used to draft Strategic Priorities,
Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The work of the which were provisionally approved by the
Conference is rooted in three general mission full body of bishops at the June 2019 General
goals and organized into three key areas of Meeting and then fully approved at the
responsibility: (1) to act collaboratively and November 2019 General Meeting. This was
consistently on vital issues confronting the followed by the drafting of operational plans
Church and society; (2) to foster communion by the USCCB committees, subcommittees
with the Church in other nations, within the and departments that began in July 2019
Church universal, under the leadership of its and was originally completed in January
supreme pastor, the Bishop of Rome; and (3) 2020. Operational plans were submitted
to offer appropriate assistance to each bishop with the intention of the presentation of the
in fulfilling his particular ministry in the local final version before the body of bishops for
Church. This report is a window into the their approval in November 2020 at their
2021-2024 USCCB Strategic Plan and an November plenary.
invitation to join the work of the Church at
the national level in the United States. The theme chosen for the 2021-2024 Strategic
Plan, “Created Anew by the Body and Blood
Developing a comprehensive strategic plan for of Christ: Source of Our Healing and Hope”
an organization that works on and addresses emerged as the result of listening sessions
such a wide breadth of issues is a significant with bishops, the National Advisory Council,
undertaking. The 2021-2024 USCCB Strategic and groups of priests, religious, and lay
Plan includes more than 235 objectives and people. The groups were asked to reflect on
869 individual activities, each one compre- the challenges and opportunities facing the
hensive and complex in their own right. Church in the four years ahead. The most
The work is carried out by approximately 45 commonly heard and heavily discussed issues
committees, subcommittees and departments among the groups naturally formed the over-
at the USCCB. The strategic plan invites more arching theme of the strategic plan that will
than 1,800 partners—individuals and organi- guide the USCCB for the next four years.
zations—from within the Conference and the
broader community of faith into a collabora- In March 2020, shortly after the operational
tion that serves the common good. plans were submitted for approval, the world
was abruptly faced with a major disrup-
Through active participation of the bishops, tion due to the widespread outbreak of the
USCCB staff and volunteer consultants, the novel coronavirus, which the World Health
development process for the strategic plan Organization declared a global pandemic on
takes two full years. In the case of the 2021- March 11. Within a matter of weeks, every
2024 plan, it began in November 2018 with aspect of life was impacted as daily routines
2were forcibly disrupted in order to curb The CPP working group met on April 15,
exposure to the virus and limit its spread. 2020 and developed a new “Pandemic
In the United States, local and state “stay- Recovery” strategic priority and agreed to
at-home” ordinances forced employers to allow for adjustments to the strategic plan.
deploy telework plans, schools switched to The Conference’s Executive Committee
online instruction, retail and service-oriented expressed full support, and USCCB
businesses were closed or reduced to a min- Committees reviewed their operational plans
imal scale, and sporting and cultural events in light of the new strategic priority and
were cancelled to prevent large gatherings of emphasis areas to determine if there were
people. In all too many cases, employers faced additions or revisions that were appropriate.
the difficult task of having to furlough or lay
off staff. As Committees worked on exploring the
need for revisions to their plans, the May 25
Severe limitations on gatherings impacted death of George Floyd spurred national and
houses of worship and non-profit operations. international uproar. The incident sparked
Parishes were closed. The public celebration protests nationwide against excessive use of
of Mass was suspended. The availability of police force, and the subject of racism was
the sacraments to the faithful was severely brought to the forefront with calls for deeper
limited. In dioceses across the country, the reflection and meaningful, lasting social
financial impact of church closures had an reform. This was another cataclysmic series of
immediate and detrimental impact on parish events that would call for the Church to stand
ministries, schools, and diocesan operations in solidarity with all those peacefully seeking
as offertory collections were halted and racial justice.
parishioners faced abrupt income reductions
or sudden job loss. The revisions made to the strategic plan
in June 2020, therefore, include both these
As the duration of the suspension of regu- global events that have rapidly reshaped the
lar activity was unclear, the Committee on world in which the Church must continue to
Priorities and Plans (CPP) considered how proclaim the Gospel message.
the USCCB would incorporate this new
reality into the proximate strategic plan, as The five strategic priorities identified by the
submitting and implementing a plan with bishops and each of the specific empha-
no mention of COVID-19 would neither sis areas that will guide the bulk of the
represent the will of the bishops nor fulfill Conference’s work are defined as follows:
the mission of the Conference. It was clear • Evangelization: Form a band of joyful
that an emergent priority was keeping the missionary disciples.
Church spiritually close in a time of physi-
cal distance. In late March, the CPP chair- • Life and Dignity of the Human Person:
man formed a COVID-19 Impact Working Serve the common good as a leaven in a
Group that would develop a strategic priority free society.
and accompanying emphasis areas on the
• Protect and Heal God’s Children: Restore
pandemic to allow for the amendments of
integrity, foster virtue.
operational plans.
3• Vocations: Equip all Christ’s disciples for While each of the initiatives and activities in
mission. the 2021-2024 Strategic Plan have components
that bridge multiple strategic priorities and
• Pandemic Recovery: Promote the heal- emphasis areas, the select highlights below are
ing of the personal, spiritual, and soci- meant to give a sampling of the wide-encom-
etal wounds of COVID-19 through passing work of the Conference.
the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ, the
Divine Physician.
4Five Strategic Priorities
Evangelization
Form a band of joyful missionary disciples.
Life and Dignity of the
Human Person
Serve the common good as a leaven in a free society.
Protect and Heal
God’s Children
Restore integrity, foster virtue.
Vocations
Equip all Christ’s disciples for mission.
Pandemic Recovery
Promote the healing of the personal, spiritual, and societal wounds
of COVID-19 through the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ, the
Divine Physician.
5Evangelization: Form a band of joyful
missionary disciples.
As Christians, we are called to bring the membership has shifted
Gospel message of Christ to the world though to reflect a more cul-
word and action. Every day, the Catholic turally diverse body of
Church in the United States lives out this call faith. In order to help
to evangelize at the local level in communities ministers and educators
across the country through her parish min- in their outreach to youth and young adults,
istries, education, health care, and social ser- the Committee for Cultural Diversity in the
vices. The USCCB’s initiatives, activities, and Church will continue to work with the Youth
advocacy through its committees, subcommit- and Young Adult Ministry office within the
tees and offices uphold the strategic priority of Secretariat for Laity, Marriage, Family Life
evangelization, with special emphasis on the and Youth in the production of intercultural
following areas: materials about Christus Vivit, the post-syn-
odal apostolic exhortation of Pope Francis
• Evangelize a culture in need of hope, released after the 2018 Synod of Bishops on
especially the religiously unaffiliated. young people, faith and vocational discern-
• Invite and empower youth/ ment. With this exhortation, along with (1)
young adults to become missionary the insight and information gathered as part
disciples. of the V Encuentro process with Hispanic-
Latino young people (2017-2019) and (2) the
• Foster an evangelizing focus in cat- National Dialogue collaborative initiative with
echesis and Catholic schools. youth and young adult ministries (2017-2020),
the Church has been challenged to think anew
• Communicate more effectively how the
of its work with young people as synodal,
faith transforms lives.
pastoral, popular, and missionary/vocational
• Offer our society an account for the hope through a methodology of discernment and
that is within us. accompaniment with a non-judgmental, com-
passionate, and hopeful spirit.
• Acknowledge and welcome the gifts and
talents that the Hispanic community Pastors, pastoral leaders, families, and engaged
brings to Christ’s Church. youth and young adults are called to be “pro-
tagonists” in the Church and in society—with
an impact of transforming parish and diocesan
The following highlights are a efforts to reach and accompany young people.
sampling of the Conference’s This new national framework would draw
work in these emphasis areas. together experts to work with the Committee
on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth with
a process of communication and dissemina-
Supporting a Culturally tion following up from World Youth Day 2022
Diverse Faith Body of Youth and the following 2-3 years in order to create
and Young Adults this guiding vision for our Church.
As the demographic makeup of the Church
in the United States has changed, parish
6Strengthening Missionary celebrate the blending of the Catholic faith
and Native American culture and its gifts in
Discipleship of Asian and enriching the spirituality of the first peoples
Pacific Island Catholics of the Americas. Saint Juan Diego was cho-
sen because of his closeness to Our Lady of
A national encounter for Asian and Pacific
Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas.
Island Catholics and those who minister
among them will aim to strengthen mission-
ary discipleship and unity amidst diversity National Eucharistic Congress
in the U.S. Catholic Church. This gathering The Committee for Evangelization and
will be through the collaboration with mul- Catechesis is coordinating the effort to
tiple offices within the Conference, bishops, explore, plan and execute a National
national ministry networks, Asian and Pacific Eucharistic Congress. Declining Mass atten-
Island organizations, national, diocesan and dance, the lack of understanding of the real
parish leaders, and representatives of Catholic presence of Christ in the Eucharist, and
organizations who serve Asian and Pacific increasing religious disaffiliation are major
Islanders to welcome and integrate the faithful challenges facing the Church today. The com-
of this community to live a faith-filled life in mittee has recognized that the return to the
the Catholic Church. Eucharist as the “source and summit” of who
As a follow-up to the V Encuentro process, we are and what we do as Catholics is key to
the Subcommittee on Hispanic Affairs will revitalization. Such a renewal would require
review the operational plans and activities work at every level of Church: the parish, the
of the USCCB contained in the 2021-2024 diocese, the region, and the nation—to reeval-
Strategic Plan and develop a thorough state- uate all of her activities from the celebration
ment and pastoral plan for Hispanic minis- of the Mass and the preaching of a homily to
try, so the Church in the United States may its ministries, social programs, evangeliza-
strengthen and enhance this ministry over the tion of the unaffiliated, and advocacy in the
next ten to fifteen years. A working docu- public square. The framework for developing
ment will be created first and reviewed by the programs and resources will follow the three
Subcommittee on Hispanic Affairs with the great transcendentals to provide formation in
intention of having the statement and pastoral these crucial areas: Catechesis and Apologetics
plan used during the Raices y Alas Congress in (Truth); Devotion and Worship (Beauty);
September 2021. Conversion and Mission (Goodness). By first
focusing on best practices for parish-based
National Day of Prayer to renewal around the Eucharist and then shar-
ing recommendations for diocesan and/or
Celebrate Native American regional Eucharistic conferences, these dioce-
Culture and Gifts san and regional initiatives could then lead to
The Subcommittee for Native American a national event in 2024 to inspire participants
Affairs is working on the development of a to return to their parishes and dioceses with
National Day of Prayer to be observed on the a renewed Eucharistic focus as they proclaim
Feast of Saint Juan Diego. The intention is the Gospel through the corporal and spiritual
to make Catholic Native American Ministry works of mercy.
more visible and have an opportunity to
7African National Eucharistic movement towards youth and young adults’
calling as missionary disciples, transforming
Congress their churches, their local communities, and
The African National Eucharistic Congress society at large by concrete actions.
(ANEC) is a gathering of African Catholics
in the United States every five years to cel- Assisting the Church in
ebrate their Catholic faith and strengthen Central and Eastern Europe
their response to be missionary disciples.
Following decades of communist oppression
The Committee for Cultural Diversity in the
and persecution, the National Collection
Church will collaborate with other USCCB
to Aid the Church in Central and Eastern
committees to support the next ANEC,
Europe was established to help the Church in
planned for 2021, to explore best practices
Eastern Europe rebuild their churches from
and to find ways to respond to the growing
physical infrastructures to renewed pastoral
pastoral needs of African Catholics, such as
and organizational capacity. In collabora-
(1) strengthening their faith, marriages, and
tion with the Diocesan Fiscal Management
family life, (2) nurturing their vocations to the
Conference (DFMC), Villanova Church
priesthood, religious life, and lay ministry, and
Management Program, and select local dio-
(3) supporting the parish communities that
ceses, the Subcommittee for Aid to the Church
welcome them.
in Central and Eastern Europe has been able
World Youth Day to provide a rich experience of exchange for
diocesan financial managers from nine out
More than one million youth and young of twenty-eight countries it serves through
adults from around the globe will converge on the annual national collection. The experi-
Lisbon in summer 2022 for the next interna- ences have covered management and pastoral
tional World Youth Day (WYD), convened by topics such as diocesan finances, stewardship,
the Holy Father. Leading up to this moment of Catholic universities, and special ministries
encounter, the Committee on Laity, Marriage, such as post-abortion counseling. Participants
Family Life and Youth will coordinate the are able to return to their home countries
United States’ participation. This massive inspired by the best practices demonstrated in
undertaking will include the development of the U.S. and seek creative solutions to the their
resources and tools for the pilgrim experience local challenges.
through catechetical, spiritual, and practi-
cal preparation leading up to WYD, as well
as continued evangelization and vocational
8Life and Dignity of the Human Person:
Serve the common good as a leaven in a
free society.
From conception to natural death, the Church National Catholic
teaches that the sanctity of human life must be Anti-Racism
upheld with special concern for the vulnera-
Gathering
ble: the unborn, the elderly, the sick, and those
with disabilities; the poor; migrants and refu- The Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism had
gees; and those who are marginalized or perse- the framework and plans underway for a
cuted. As a key theme of his pontificate, Pope national gathering of Catholic lay leadership
Francis continuously reminds us to minister to and clergy in [Date/Location] with the goal
those in the peripheries, and through the stra- of educating, raising awareness, and having
tegic priority of upholding the life and dignity a forum for authentic and transformational
of the human person, the bishops are placing conversion of heart and mind while building a
special emphasis on the following areas: capacity for understanding. The gathering has
a renewed sense of importance and urgency
• Work to heal the scourge of hatred based
with the killing of George Floyd that re-awak-
on race and/or religion.
ened the national conscience on the issue
• Protect and defend the dignity of migrants of racism in America. The incident sparked
and refugees, of the poor and those on protests against the excessive use of police
the peripheries. force, but it also fueled intense, renewed calls
for meaningful and lasting social reform. The
• Defend the right to life for all people espe- Church will have an important role to play to
cially the unborn, elderly, sick, dying and ensure America’s long journey toward freedom
persons with disabilities; and fight the and justice for all is finally completed. The
advance of abortion, infanticide, assisted national gathering [which has been adjusted to
suicide, euthanasia, and the death penalty. take place as a virtual event in the wake of the
pandemic] will seek to engage campus min-
• Defend and secure religious liberty and
isters and administrators, as well as catechists
freedom of association.
and teachers in Catholic K-12 schools on
• Foster reverence for God’s creation, our the Church’s history regarding race. There is
common home. an additional educational track designed for
seminarians and priests on how and when to
• Articulate a convincing anthro- preach homilies on racism.
pology of the human per-
son, male and female, as proclaimed Reconciliation and Atonement
by faith and affirmed by science
and right reason. The ethnic and demographic shift of the
Church in the United States has also meant
that in some instances, communities no lon-
The following highlights are a
ger reflect an original parish’s predominant
sampling of the Conference’s community. A reconciliation and atonement
work in these emphasis areas. initiative by the Ad Hoc Committee Against
Racism focuses on helping the Church and its
members navigate communal healing caused
9by racial disparities. There will be liturgical, providers and Asian Pacific organizations
theological, and pastoral resources for com- around the country, an effort is underway to
munities and parishes created as a part of this raise awareness, provide educational and out-
reconciliation and atonement project. reach activities, and engage the Asian commu-
nity in grassroots advocacy for the protection
50th Anniversary of the of life and dignity in their communities.
Catholic Campaign for Human
Development Pastoral Visit with Migrant
Farmworkers
Since its founding a half-century ago, the
Catholic Campaign for Human Development Each year, a pastoral visit is made to migrant
(CCHD) has strengthened social justice efforts workers in different areas of the country to
in communities and has touched and empow- see and to hear the reality faced by those
ered the lives of low-income individuals across who work in the U.S. agricultural fields and
the country. The campaign’s 50th anniversary industries. The visit allows the members of the
provides an opportunity for reflection on the Subcommittee on Pastoral Care of Migrants,
founding and the history of the campaign, its Refugees and Travelers to express the U.S.
ongoing work, achievements, and its future. bishops’ care and concern for them and artic-
The gathering was initially planned as an ulate the moral concern of the Church in the
in-person celebration from May 12-14, 2021 in United States regarding immigration to better
Chicago, but it has been changed to a virtual seek avenues toward addressing the challenges
event to gather in solidarity and look back on and difficulties confronting immigrants.
the Campaign’s founding, its history, and the Through continued engagement with the
challenges it has faced. In addition to celebrat- migrant workers—listening to their needs and
ing CCHD’s achievements, it will also be an advocating for dignified working and living
important time to look forward and shape the conditions—the Church is able to strengthen
future of the Campaign. A key component of its solidarity with immigrants and understand
the gathering will be listening to the voices of the needs of the migrant farm workers, as
people who live on the margins of our soci- well as recommend best practices and identify
ety: people from diverse communities with priorities, pastoral care and advocacy.
different lived experiences. Living out the call
of Pope Francis for the Church to minister to Parental Choice in Education
those “on the peripheries,” this gathering will
Parental choice in education allows families to
seek to connect, learn, and find new ways to
have access to state or federally funded schol-
work for social justice and promote human
arships to attend the school that best meets the
dignity in our communities.
needs of their child. As of 2020, there is only
Human Trafficking one federal education choice program (limited
to residents of Washington, DC), and there
Asians are among the vulnerable and are fifty-five programs in twenty-six states
at-risk population of migrants, refugees, (plus Puerto Rico) at the state/local level. The
displaced persons, and those who are traf- Church teaches that “parents who have the
ficked. Through a collaborative effort among primary and inalienable right and duty to
USCCB offices such as Migration and Refugee educate their children must enjoy true liberty
Services, and Justice, Peace and Human in their choice of schools” (Gravissimum edu-
Development, as well as with Catholic service cationis), but also that choice is not sufficient
10if recourses are not made available. Therefore, Relations—is developing resources and tools
the Committee on Catholic Education has for educating diocesan superintendents and
prioritized expanding parental choice at the school administrators, as well as parents and
state and federal level. This initiative will be the faithful in the pews, as well as developing
enhanced through parental outreach, building outreach efforts that support ongoing vigilance
awareness within the Catholic community, and policy advocacy to uphold and protect
advocacy and ensuring the public policy what has been called our “First Freedom.”
around these types of programs uphold
Catholic schools’ autonomy to teach and hire Walking with Moms in Need
according to their mission, protecting religious
liberties and upholding Church teachings. Pope Francis reminds us that our parishes
need to be “islands of mercy in the midst of
Educating on Christian the sea of indifference.” Pregnant and parent-
Anthropology ing moms in need are in our parishes and our
neighborhoods, and everyone in the parish
A convincing and authentic Christian anthro- community should know where to refer a
pology lies at the heart of understanding pregnant woman for lifesaving support. The
the Church’s teaching on issues surrounding 25th anniversary year of Pope John Paul II’s
sexuality, gender, and racism. It is vital that encyclical Evangelium vitae (The Gospel of
Catholic schools become more intentional Life) gives us an opportunity to assess, expand,
about it, which will necessitate ongoing and communicate resources to pregnant moms
teacher and administrator formation. The and families in need. In the ongoing effort to
Committee on Catholic Education—work- uphold the dignity of human life through both
ing with other USCCB standing commit- word and action, the Committee for Pro-Life
tees (Evangelization and Catechesis; Laity, Activities is inviting parishes, through the sup-
Marriage, Family Life and Youth; Clergy, port of their bishop, to join a nationwide effort
Consecrated Life Life and Vocations; Ad Hoc entitled: “Walking with Moms in Need: A
Committee Against Racism)—seeks to sup- Year of Service.” Initially envisioned for March
port school leaders by creating and compiling 25, 2020 to March 25, 2021, many dioceses
resources that would include webinars and have been using alternative launch dates due
workshops aimed at deepening the under- to COVID-19. The committee has developed
standing of Christian anthropology. educational, pastoral, and action-oriented
resources for parish use, such as tools to
Protecting Religious Freedom document an inventory of local resources for
pregnant mothers in need; ideas for improving
In recent times, there have been several parish responses; prayers for building a culture
attempts to curb the religious liberty of of life and a civilization of love; reflections on
Catholic institutions. For Catholic schools, the teachings of Evangelium vitae, Evangelii
whether in response to legislative actions gaudium, and Laudato si’. The hope is that
or judicial decisions, school leaders and this Year of Service will kick off a multi-year
parents need resources about the issue effort at the local, diocesan and national levels,
and tools for advocacy. The Committee on to better reach and assist pregnant women
Catholic Education—in collaboration with in need.
the Committee for Religious Liberty and the
offices for General Counsel and Government
11Protect and Heal God’s Children:
Restore integrity, foster virtue.
The Catholic Church has confronted the The following
scandal of sexual abuse. The U.S. bishops
highlights are a
have expressed their commitment to helping
survivors find healing and hope, and dioceses sampling of the
across the country have worked to put policies Conference’s work
and programs in place to protect young people in these emphasis areas.
and to create safe environments in parishes,
schools and other Church ministries. As the Abuse Prevention and Safe
issue of leadership and bishop accountability Environment Training
began to take center stage, Pope Francis con-
vened the heads of bishops’ conferences from In its ongoing efforts to end child sexual
around the world for a summit on the protec- abuse—and out of concern for the protection
tion of minors in the Church and he issued his of all of God’s children—the Secretariat of
motu propio, Vos estis lux mundi (“You Are the Cultural Diversity in the Church will be facil-
Light of the World”), which set new rules and itating a dialogue between the Office of Child
procedures to ensure that the world’s bishops and Youth Protection, diocesan safe environ-
and religious superiors would be held account- ment directors, and the leaders of particular
able for allegations made against them for Catholic ethnic and cultural groups. The
either committing abuse or mishandling abuse purpose of this dialogue is to discern cultur-
claims. As part of the ongoing commitment to ally appropriate ways to conduct child protec-
restoring the trust of the faithful and working tion and safe environment trainings and enlist
toward the goal of ending the scourge of child community leaders in abuse prevention and
sexual abuse—not only in the Church but in identification, as well as encourage reporting
the wider society—protecting and healing of abuse and promote the healing of abuse sur-
God’s children is a strategic priority for the vivors. As part of this effort, existing services
U.S. bishops, with special emphasis on the and resources will be identified, and there will
following areas: be an effort made to encourage the sharing of
these resources and know-how between the
• Create and maintain safe environments dioceses so that healing of victims and abuse
through sound policies and procedures. prevention can better reach all linguistic and
• Extend and ensure effective collabora- cultural communities.
tion with the laity.
Sharing best practices and
• Cultivate an ever‐deepening spiritual- encouraging ongoing dia-
ity of chastity and virtue.
logue on child and youth
• Nurture courageous and transpar- protection
ent reflection and leadership.
Though Vos estis lux mundi, the Holy Father
• Accompany survivors and embrace their set new rules and procedures to ensure that
witness. the world’s bishops and religious superiors
12would be held accountable for allegations
made against them for either committing
Continuing education and
abuse or mishandling abuse claims. As part of awareness for clergy
the U.S. bishops’ ongoing commitment to end Recognizing that ongoing education, aware-
the scourge of child sexual abuse, ongoing dia- ness, training, and vigilance is necessary in
logue and the sharing of lessons learned and the area of child and youth protection, the
best practices is paramount. The Committee Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and
on Protection of Children and Young People Vocations will consult and collaborate with the
will attend or host an international child Committee on the Protection of Children and
and youth protection conference. Providing Young People to provide practical resources
resources to English-speaking episcopal for the initial and ongoing formation of priests
conferences and exchanging ideas and sharing and deacons related to the protection of chil-
best practices in the area of child and youth dren and youth.
protection benefits all.
13Vocations: Equip all Christ’s disciples
for mission.
Encouraging, supporting, and educating on national organizations
the Church’s teachings and its pastoral needs with a vocations mission,
with regard to vocations is a vital part of the and youth and young
work of the bishops. Each person is called to adults to enhance their
fully live out their vocation, whether it is to ministries.
the priesthood, diaconate, or consecrated life,
or through marriage and family life, as well as Promoting and Strengthening
single life. As part of the ongoing work of the Marriage and the Family
Church to foster and embrace one’s vocation,
equipping all of Christ’s disciples for mission Each year, National Marriage Week (February
is a key priority for the bishops with special 7-14) and World Marriage Sunday (second
emphasis in the following areas: Sunday of February) provide the opportu-
nity to focus on building a culture of life and
• Foster lifelong discernment and forma- love that begins with supporting, promoting
tion to fulfill one’s God‐given vocation. and upholding marriage and the family. The
Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life
• Prepare for and sustain the living out of
and Youth (LMFLY) chooses a theme each
marriage and family life.
year and provides tools for diocesan ministry
• Create a culture that nurtures Consecrated leaders and clergy to encourage participa-
Life and Holy Orders. tion in dioceses and parishes, such as virtual
retreats for couples, preaching resources for
• Encourage the laity in their mission to clergy, and a bulletin insert in English and
evangelize society. Spanish. A social media kit is also provided to
dioceses and parishes to use with their own
The following highlights are a media channels.
sampling of the Conference’s
work in these emphasis areas.
World Meeting of Families
The World Meeting of Families (WMOF)
Fostering Vocations in the started by St. John Paul II is an international
African American Community gathering of families held every three years. To
encourage more families to participate from
The Subcommittee for African American the United States, the LMFLY staff are plan-
Affairs will be focused on increasing form- ning to pilot a comprehensive project to assist
ing clergy, lay leaders, and solid allies in the families and groups with resources for pil-
African American community for the evange- grimage planning. These resources will include
lization of African American Catholics and for prayer and reflection guides, handbooks for
promotion of vocations. Part of this initiative travel safety and other useful information, as
would be to research, examine and synthesize well as materials to assist diocesan and par-
both best practices and deterrents to promot- ish leaders in their efforts to coordinate local
ing vocations within the Black Catholic com- events around the WMOF with the hopes that
munity and to provide helpful information more families will be able to access the riches
to the bishops, seminary rectors, vocations and blessings of this international gathering.
directors, diocesan staff, Catholic educators,
14Pandemic Recovery: Promote the heal-
ing of the personal, spiritual, and soci-
etal wounds of COVID-19 through
the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ, the
Divine Physician.
The world in which the Church proclaims Equipping the
the Gospel has changed with the COVID-19 Church to minister during a
pandemic, and once the recovery process
pandemic and in a post-pan-
begins, additional changes will be needed to
adjust to a new reality. The impact of the pan-
demic world
demic touches upon every aspect of our lives. The Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life
Stay-at-home orders and limits on gatherings and Vocations (CCLV) will collaborate with
have meant that even operational aspects of organizations dedicated to ongoing clergy
the Church’s ministry need to be re-evalu- formation to incorporate into the annual
ated. With no guarantee that 2020 will see the theme—particularly at annual conferences—
end of this pandemic, thoughts turn to what the support of those in the clerical state,
Church ministry will look like in the long- focusing on the Eucharist and on recovery
term and what adjustments may be needed. after the pandemic. Additionally, CCLV will
With that in mind, one of the key priorities host a meeting with experts in the field of
for the bishops focuses on pandemic recovery ongoing formation to discuss drafting the sec-
with special emphasis in the following areas: ond edition of the Basic Plan for the Ongoing
Formation of Priests, taking into account new
• Foster the efforts of dioceses and parishes
circumstances revealed in the life of priests
to recover from the destructive power of
by the stresses of the novel coronavirus. In
COVID-19 upon the body, mind, and soul
doing so, CCLV hopes to identify new mea-
especially among the poor.
sures and assist in existing efforts to prepare
• Identify new measures and assist in clergy to minister effectively in the face of the
existing efforts to be prepared to minister next potential pandemic or existential threat.
effectively in the face of the next potential Additionally, in a unified effort to continue its
pandemic or existential threat. ministry and evangelization efforts during and
after the COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee
• Invite the faithful to share in the triumph on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs will
of the Cross over all destructive forces by continue to dialogue with different Christian
encountering the Lord Jesus in Holy Mass denominations to share best practices for
and being renewed in the healing power of ministry and evangelization. The Committee
the Body and Blood of Christ. on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth
(LMFLY) will be enhancing its marriage and
The following highlights are a family ministry efforts, as well as support-
sampling of the Conference’s ing its lay ecclesial ministers in light of the
work in these emphasis areas. circumstances and stresses caused by ongo-
ing economic, mental, emotional, and spir-
itual impacts.
15Pandemic recovery and dis- The Church’s works continue
proportionately impacted The Church’s works of social justice, evan-
communities gelization, education, and national and local
The Committee for Cultural Diversity in the institutional development must continue,
Church will facilitate consultation on par- despite a global pandemic. In order to effec-
ticular issues and participation in various tively carry out our mission as Catholics, we
collaborative projects with an emphasis on need to combine resources in order to support
(1) supporting pandemic recovery efforts, the Church and those in need. The novel coro-
especially among the communities that have navirus knows no bounds, and the COVID-19
been disproportionately impacted, as well as pandemic hit each and every community. The
(2) preparedness to minister in the face of weekly offertory was not available with the
future threats. parish closures, and parishes that did not have
electronic giving options (or parishioners who
Catholic education during a usually give electronically) found themselves
in an especially difficult position. Across the
global pandemic board, there were faithful parishioners who
The financial impact of the closure of churches lost their jobs or saw drastic income loss as a
has had an immediate and detrimental impact result of the pandemic that made it difficult to
on the parish schools, as weekly offertory continue financially contributing to their par-
collections were halted and some parishioners ish. The Committee on National Collections
faced abrupt income reductions or sudden job has been working with the dioceses to pro-
loss. The Committee on Catholic Education mote options to assist with financial recovery,
has continued its advocacy efforts through including e-giving platforms. One specific
the state Catholic conferences in support example of the way that the Committee is
of legislative and regulatory initiatives that preparing for pandemic recovery efforts is
impact Catholic schools, including school the adjustments made by the Subcommittee
choice and funding, emergency financial aid on Catholic Home Missions to include the
for families, governmental aid to assist finan- procurement of personal protective equipment
cially challenged schools, and the health and (PPE) as an acceptable use of the grants.
safety of students, teachers and staff related to
the pandemic. As plans are made to re-open
schools amidst uncertainty with the ongoing
spread of the virus, the Committee is working
on resources to prepare diocesan education
leadership on health and safety measures in
Catholic schools.
16Created Anew by the Body and Blood of Christ:
Source of Our Healing and Hope
Throughout these pages, you can uncover the Francis spoke to God for us all, “You are call-
architectural plan for the Holy Father’s beloved ing on us to seize this time of trial as a time of
field hospital in the United States. They show choosing. It is not the time of your judgment,
how the United States Conference of Catholic but of our judgement: a time to choose what
Bishops will help bind the wounds—physical matters and what passes away, a time to sepa-
and spiritual—that are so present in society rate what is necessary from what is not.”
today. Bringing the real presence of Christ to
those hungering for God’s healing mercy is our This has been the task of writing and updating
commitment to every soul in need of hope. our strategic plan during these times. We set
These pages are an invitation to Catholics, about this work guided by the wisdom of St.
Christians and people of good will to join the Luke found in chapter 14 of his Gospel.
saving work of serving our sisters and broth- Which of you wishing to construct a
ers. As Pope Francis has said, “If we act as one tower does not first sit down and calcu-
people, even in the face of other epidemics late the cost to see if there is enough for
that threaten us, we can make a real impact.” its completion? Otherwise, after laying
This strategic framework was written by more the foundation and finding himself
than 300 bishops, 1,800 collaborators, and unable to finish the work the onlook-
more than three dozen committees, subcom- ers should laugh at him and say, “This
mittees, ad hoc committees, secretariats, and one began to build but did not have the
offices of the Conference. The work reveals resources to finish.”
the Holy Spirit animating more than 230 Now, with our preparations done, let us go
objectives and nearly 900 activities—all for the forth and renew our sacred commitment to
purpose of building the Kingdom of God. bring the hope of our resurrected Lord to
During his extraordinary Urbi et Orbi message the world.
at the height of the global pandemic, Pope
The Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio,
Chairman
Committee on Priorities and Plans
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