Report presents hopeful, but challenging picture of diocese’s future
By Rayanne Damiano
Editor-in-Chief
A required component of the ad limina visit is for the bishop to submit a report updating the Vatican on the state of the diocese. Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski did just that with the 2004 Quinquennial Report of the Diocese of Metuchen, a 93-page document covering every aspect of the local Church, from financial stability, to Catholic schools and the pastoral care of migrant workers.
A two-page summary report that introduces the document focuses on the myriad of changes that have taken place in the diocese since the last ad limina visit in 1998. The most significant change noted is the Catholic population growth from 483,186 to 556,682, largely attributed to the influx of immigrants.
Other significant changes include the illness, retirement and subsequent death of Bishop Vincent De Paul Breen, the appointment of Bishop John Smith of the Diocese of Trenton as apostolic administrator, and the 2002 appointment of Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski as the fourth bishop of the Church of Metuchen. Also noted was the consolidation of diocesan operations into one large facility, the restructuring of diocesan administration and the preparation for the 25th anniversary diocesan synod.
The document also provides an overview of the clergy sex abuse crisis, indicating that Bishop Bootkoski has “made the protection of children his first priority.”
In his written assessment, Bishop
Bootkoski cites as his pastoral challenges,
in order of priority: ongoing faith
formation, better education of catechists,
greater vocational awareness
of the religious life and priesthood, social
outreach to the poor and
marginalized, and social outreach to the
fallen away or non-practicing Catholics
in the diocese.
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law