Bishop Tylka's Five Foundations

Through numerous conversations with priests and lay leaders, Bishop Louis Tylka discerned five foundations on which to build the future of the Diocese of Peoria, to become an even more vibrant, mission-driven and sustainable Church. The five foundations are:

1. Empower evangelization so as to share the saving name of Jesus.
2. Inspire discipleship in each baptized follower of Jesus.
3. Deepen our awareness of the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
4. Strengthen vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
5. Continue the legacy of Archbishop Fulton Sheen.

Growing Disciples - The Five Foundations 
​Part 1: Empowering Evangelization
What does "evangelization" really mean, and how are we called to evangelize as Catholics? What does this have to do with the Growing Disciples Pastoral Planning initiative? In this video, Bishop Lou Tylka and Father Adam Cesarek, pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Pontiac, Ill., discuss their perspectives–and address common challenges and questions–related to evangelization and Growing Disciples.

Growing Disciples - The Five Foundations
​Part 2: Inspiring Discipleship
What did Jesus intend for all of us when he called his first disciples--and what does that mean for us as a Church today? Matt Faley Chief of Mission for the Diocese of Peoria, and Jenny Witt, Director of Evangelization at St. Philomena Parish, discuss what we mean when we use the word "discipleship," how to discern what Jesus intended for all of us, and how to live out vibrant discipleship--both in our personal apostolates and in our parishes--which is an important goal of the Growing Disciples pastoral planning process.

It's all about Jesus

To show our unity with Bishop Tylka's plan, we have created a list of values that lay the foundation for our conduct and interaction with others. As we grow in our prayer life, we can create a culture of discipleship and build healthy teams at St. Mary's.

1. Joyful
2. Tangible Faith
3. Discipleship
4. Healthy Teamwork
5. Unceasing Prayer

Updates

Growing Disciples Update: Key Parish Leaders
Monsignor Mark Merdian explains the role of Key Parish Leaders, and how their feedback and insights from the parish level support the Growing Disciples pastoral planning process.

Growing Disciples Update: More Than Numbers
Father David Richardson discusses the important aspects of our parishes–aside from numerical data–that are essential to consider as we plan for the future in advancing the Five Foundations for Growing Disciples, and creating an even more vibrant, mission-driven and sustainable network of parishes.