A comprehensive strategy is being crafted to strengthen Catholic culture in Orange County and propel the growth of the Diocese of Orange far into the future.

The Diocese’s strategic plan, called Project Fidelium, comes as the dedication of Christ Cathedral approaches and Catholic parishes in Orange County continue to welcome new parishioners.

Most Rev. Kevin Vann, Bishop of Orange, created the initial framework for Project Fidelium in 2016, the 40th anniversary of the Diocese of Orange.

“Our Diocese began a careful period of discernment about the future of our Church and how best to ensure we are prepared to meet the current and future needs of the faithful,” Bishop Vann said. “We as a family of faith are blessed with growth, vibrancy and the gift of the Holy Spirit. However, our Church faces challenges in caring for our growing flock, meeting the needs of a diverse population, and shining the light of Christ within an ever darkening culture.”

The name Project Fidelium stems from Bishop Vann’s episcopal motto: In fide et deleccione in Christo Iesu: In the Faith and Love in Christ Jesus.

“I felt Project Fidelium an apt name for this effort – focused on faith and the faithful of our Diocese,” he added.

The initiative is a proactive and trailblazing approach empowering diocesan leadership to tackle organizational challenges and setting a clear path forward for the Catholic community in Orange County. For decades, the Diocese’s continued growth led to challenges common to large organizations with thousands of stakeholders spread across a large and diverse geographical area – a lack of a unified vision, unplanned decision making and limited interdepartmental cooperation.

Project Fidelium seeks to remedy those issues by creating and communicating a unified vision across the Diocese, empowering front-line decision makers and increasing collaboration between the Pastoral Center and its 56 parishes.

Full story at Orange County Catholic.