All Things New, the archdiocese’s strategic pastoral planning initiative, will evaluate the effectiveness of the Church in St. Louis in proclaiming the Gospel. It also will identify opportunities for improvement and renewal within all parishes, schools, archdiocesan offices and agencies and other ministry efforts.

The following passages have been chosen as the guiding texts for All Things New:

Revelation 21:3-5

I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be His people and God Himself will always be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, the old order has passed away.” The one who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then He said, “Write these words down, for they are trustworthy and true.”

Evangelii Nuntiandi No. 18

For the Church, evangelizing means bringing the Good News into all the strata of humanity, and through its influence transforming humanity from within and making it new: “Now I am making the whole of creation new.” But there is no new humanity if there are not first of all new persons renewed by baptism and by lives lived according to the Gospel.

Go Make Disciples No. 10

The simplest way to say what evangelization means is to follow St. Paul VI, whose message Evangelii Nuntiandi (On Evangelization in the Modern World) has inspired so much recent thought and activity in the Church. We can rephrase his words to say that evangelizing means bringing the Good News of Jesus into every human situation and seeking to convert individuals and society by the divine power of the Gospel itself. At its essence are the proclamation of salvation in Jesus Christ and the response of a person in faith, which are both works of the Spirit of God.

Evangelii Gaudium (“Joy of the Gospel”) No. 27

I dream of a “missionary option,” that is, a missionary impulse capable of transforming everything, so that the Church’s customs, ways of doing things, times and schedules, language and structures can be suitably channeled for the evangelization of today’s world rather than for her self-preservation.