the diocese's new pastoral plan. There is some communication that I would like to share that came up during the meeting.
First, the initial implementation phase of the plan, which follow several months of planning, will be June 29, 2020. One of the important changes will be that around 80% of the priests in the diocese will be transferred on that date. The diocese is also mandating that each pastorate move toward hiring an Evangelization Director who will be either part time or full time. The diocese also announced the formation of a Regional Business Center, which will aim at facilitating greater standardization of administrative procedures throughout the diocese.
Second, it is important for us to remember always that this plan aims at facilitating sharing the message of Jesus Christ. Perhaps an image might help us to understand a bit of what we are trying to accomplish here: I went to college in the Boston area, where many, many of the streets began as cow paths in the seventeenth century. As populations continued to increase and means of transport transitioned from horse to automobile, it became apparent that these roads were not adequate for the needs of the Boson area. Urban planners became necessary in order to adapt the road system to a changing situation. It became necessary to close some roads that could not be widened, to widen those that could and build expressways.
The situation of the Church in this diocese has changed radically in the past hundred years. Most of our parishes trace their foundations to before the widespread use of automobiles. In the past two generations, Christianity has gone from being the default religion of nearly everyone in the United States to be one choice among many. Practicing the Catholic faith is no longer a marker of ethnic identity. We cannot continue to use mid-twentieth centry tactics on a grid of parish boundaties drawn in the late nineteenth century and be successful proclaiming the Gospel in the twenty-first century. As with any changes, sacrifice from all will be necessary in order to adapt and thrive.