Thank you for your participation in the Vision 20/20 process.  This initiative is crucial in our effort to revitalize the Catholic Church in southeast Iowa.
 
We face many challenges today: Mass attendance is dwindling in many places, people young and old are drifting away from the Church, and at times the very fabric of our faith seems to be unraveling.  Meanwhile, there is a solid core group of believers who are totally committed to their Catholic faith and embrace the joy of the Gospel.
 
We know that we need to do something to foster growth in our communities of faith, and we know that lay people need to be actively involved in attracting others to the Church and in accompanying them on their journey of faith.  This Convocation is one of many steps we are taking to address these challenges together.
 
We are baptized believers, disciples of Jesus Christ. Evangelization is not a new fad. It is the mission Jesus gave us. It is not only what we do, it is who we are.  Pentecost after Pentecost we are reminded of the gifts the Holy Spirit brings to assist us in our ongoing mission – to go and make disciples.

Sincerely in Christ,
Most Rev. Thomas R. Zinkula
Bishop of Davenport
 

Purpose
Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and with deep faith in the people of God, Bishop Zinkula calls the Diocese of Davenport to a revitalization of our faith and a renewal of grace in the spirit of Pentecost. The time is now for us to move forward and fill every heart and life with the joy of the Gospel through a fresh encounter with Jesus Christ and His Church. Let us rise up and embrace the glorious future for God’s faithful in southeast Iowa. In recent years, we have weathered storms and navigated through some difficult challenges. We believe it is time now to be proactive about the future and be a light to the world. It is time to read the signs of the times as we name our sorrows and our joys, and look ahead toward a bright future of the Church. To this end, we are planning a diocesan Convocation at St. Ambrose University on June 6-8, 2019, which is entitled: "Vision 20/20: From Pentecost to Pentecost"
 
Timeline and Steps
In October-December 2018, we held listening sessions in every parish of the Diocese in order to assess the landscape in our area. Prior to these sessions, participants were asked to reflect upon Pope Francis’ The Joy of the Gospel and review a set of materials to raise their understanding of the current state of the Church here and worldwide. The parish sessions focused on questions about missionary discipleship and evangelization.
 
In February-March 2019, we conducted regional conversations around the Diocese, with representatives from each parish delivering the message heard at their listening sessions. From these regional conversations, we will identify certain themes that will be addressed around the Diocese during spring 2019 and at the Convocation.
 
On June 6-8, 2019, we will hold the Convocation to meet these objectives:

• Celebrate our unity in the joy of the Gospel
• Reflect on the call to be “Spirit-filled evangelizers”
• Look to the peripheries of our communities
• Read the signs of the times in our Diocese of Davenport
• Explore practical strategies for the future
• Begin to chart out concrete plans for taking the next steps
• Pray for the grace to move forward

 
In fall 2019, we will work on the next steps that are identified at the Convocation. During Pentecost 2020, we will hold a diocesan celebration to keep the momentum going.