The US Bishops published Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us in 1999. Twenty-three years later they acknowledge the time was then. If any readers in Catholic parishes are still with me, you can assess if your community has seen the sea change envisioned in this document.
Time must be taken to understand the plan, carefully analyze local situations, and prepare diocesan and parish action steps. It will take at least one year before local plans can be put into effect. (179)
One year? How many parishes dusted themselves off right away and ushered in the new millennium with action? In the next paragraph, 2005 was marked as a moment to analyze, assess, and celebrate. Five years on, and every five years that followed. I wonder if every parish that tried this approach kept up with the advice here.
Catholic Sensibility 