"Pastoral planning is now firmly entrenched."

How Rochester learned to be less parochial:

"Thus began a process through which faith communities -- parishes as well as campus, hospital and prison ministries -- formed regional groups comprising mostly lay volunteers. The groups have developed a series of five-year plans to pool their staff and volunteer resources, pending approval by Bishop Matthew H. Clark. In order to ensure ongoing implementation, within a few years of Pickett's arrival, the Office of Pastoral Planning added two planning-group liaisons -- Rinefierd, who began in 1999; and Casey Lopata, who began in 2000. Housel replaced Lopata after his retirement in 2004."