Strategic pastoral planning

Editor’s Note: This is the ninth in a series of ten articles by Dan Ebener on leadership in the Catholic Church. They are excerpts from his latest book, “Pastoral Leadership: How to Lead in a Catholic Parish.”

Pastoral planning is an opportunity for the parish community to discern God’s will for the parish and to plan accordingly. The paradox of God’s will is that we are granted free will – only to discover the beauty of surrendering to God’s will. It is by living the will of God that we can find true purpose and meaning in our lives.