COLLEEN O. SATHRE

What’s in a name

I get a lot of positive responses to our diocesan strategic plan, “Witness to Jesus: Diocesan Road Map for Pastoral, Program, and Facility Needs 2008-2013.” Also at times, I can tell that there are those who think that the Road Map is all well and good, but we would be doing what we are doing even without this plan. For many diocesan and parish activities, this assumption may be correct. And then again, some things are different because of our Road Map. For example, even the use of the title Road Map has made a difference.

There is a story behind the Road Map name — where it came from and how it has made a difference.

You may recall that the publication of our diocesan plan took the form of a brochure that unfolded into eight panels on one side and a beautiful map of our state showing the vicariates, parishes, and a summary of plan recommendations on the other side.

Bishop Silva coined the title “Road Map.” The story he shared is that when he opened the draft brochure, it made him think of a highway road map. This observation went hand-in-hand with a message that the bishop gently shared with those of us working on the draft of this plan. That message was that if this strategic plan was going to make a difference in our diocese, it had to have a title that people could readily identify with and remember. He knew that the sorts of titles that planners like me come up with can be long, sound bureaucratic, and are hard to remember. By inserting Road Map into the title, he gave us a distinctive short-cut reference to our diocesan plan.

So has the Road Map title made a difference? I think so. One way to show what a terrific idea the bishop had when he christened our plan the Road Map is to paraphrase a few comments from people attending various meetings during the past year.

n   A lot of vicariate action was set in motion by the Road Map.

n   Different parts of the Road Map appeal to different vicariates.

n   The Road Map is a good tool to help parishes with the capital campaign.

n   When talking about any of the Road Map goals, there is a common understanding.

n   There has been some reorganizing around areas of the Road Map.

n   Road Map is a term being used at the parishes and schools. There is a sense that we’re in this together.

n   The Road Map set forth a plan and a strategy to help parishes get there.

n   The Road Map gives a sense of ownership of diocesan activities that the parish can help with and work on.

n   A lot of young people are excited about the Road Map.

n   The Road Map brought the whole diocese alive.

Road Map implementation is approaching the end of year two. In Hawaii Catholic Herald issues over the next several months, members of the Implementation Commission will be reporting on activities that help advance the major goals of the Road Map. We do this knowing that it is the Holy Spirit that moves our parishes and diocese to action. As we approach Pentecost, the momentum generated by the Road Map encourages us to be even more open to the Holy Spirit. The Road Map calls us to: be excellent leaders; engage youth in our church; have faith founded in the teachings of Christ; care for the homeless; and have dignified facilities and use our resources wisely.

I hope you enjoy the reports that will be shared in the coming months. Thank you in advance to all of the contributors. And to all who have worked to implement our Road Map over the past year, thank you for your commitment to your parish and our diocese.