Bishop Earl Fernandes announces 8 Pastoral Planning goals

Bishop Earl Fernandes announced eight pastoral goals for the Diocese of Columbus on Tuesday. These goals are part of the Pastoral Planning 2026-31 initiative.

The goals were developed through a summer and fall 2025 survey and through prayer and discussion by an envisioning team of clergy and laity. The plan includes two goals for each of the bishop's pastoral priorities: evangelization, vocations, Catholic education and formation, and social outreach.

Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia Father Michael Hartge noted that these objectives follow the bishop's 2022 remarks regarding the need to recruit and train missionary disciples to help people build personal relationships with Jesus Christ.