FALL RIVER − The Fall River Diocesan Strategic and Pastoral Planning Office has launched a website dedicated to the ongoing “Rebuilding in Faith and Hope” planning initiative in the diocese with an easy to read “scorecard” to monitor progress on its many recommendations.

The new site, fallriverplanning.org, provides an explanation of the “Rebuilding in Faith and Hope” strategic planning process inaugurated in early 2019 by Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., and the list of extensive recommendations under three categories that followed at the conclusion of its first phase last fall. The “Planning Scorecard” section provides status updates of those recommendations determined to be priorities and selected for immediate action.

“We launched a planning website based on the strategic plan and recommendations presented by over 400 volunteer planners representing almost every parish in our diocese,” explained Laura Carrillo, who is director of the diocesan Strategic and Pastoral Planning Office. “They spent many months last spring and summer researching the current status as well as what best practices could look like for the future of our parishes and diocese.”

Specifically, she pointed out that the website has multiple purposes: to introduce the planning process more broadly; to provide everyone, especially the planners with an update on status of many of the recommendations made; and to offer another feedback mechanism for those with questions or comments.

As of earlier this month, the website scorecard featured the status of 16 of the 60-plus recommendations made by the planners across six areas of study. Eight of them are listed as 100 percent completed; others are categorized as either in process or in place for future work.

Additional menu options on the site provide information on the Diocesan Pastoral Council, an intercessory prayer for the diocese to Our Lady of Fall River, helpful links, and form through which persons may ask questions.

To date, the website focuses solely on the planning process at the diocesan level. Moving forward, it will be expanded to include a page highlighting planning underway at diocesan parishes.

“We anticipate adjusting and adding to the website as new milestones are reached and as new planning initiatives take shape, and we want it to encompass what’s happening at both diocesan and parish levels,” Carrillo noted.

She expressed her gratitude to members of the Diocesan Pastoral Council who helped develop and review site content as well as to test the functionality of the site itself.

The Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., D.D.
The Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., D.D.
The Bishop of Fall River