I am pleased to report to you on the continuing important work being accomplished throughout the Archdiocese of Newark with the New Energies Project.  I initiated the project in 2002 when I asked the Task Force on Parishes to study the needs and realities of the Archdiocese and to make recommendations regarding the future of parish structures according to a specific timetable.

Two years ago I spoke of the recommendations not being the final word, but rather the start of the conversation and response phase of the project.  I asked the 48 immediately involved parishes in the First Round to study the recommendations and to respond by accepting them or designing new possibilities which they thought more appropriate.  Now we also have recommendations and responses from more than 100 Second Round parishes in Cycles 1 and 2.  I am pleased that our parishes have both taken seriously the Task Force recommendations and been creative in suggesting new ideas or possibilities. 
[Read the full letter from the Archbishop]