Dear Brothers and Sisters,
In my almost two years as your Bishop, I have witnessed and experienced the vibrant life of the Church here in the Diocese of Harrisburg. The commitment of our clergy, the passion from our Catholic school administrators and teachers, the dedication of our parish and Diocesan staff, and the deep faith from you, the faithful, are visible everywhere I go.
We have great opportunities in our Diocese to strengthen and expand the life of our local Church. Focusing these priorities has been a goal of our work with Catholic Leadership Institute, which included the Disciple Maker Index in the fall of 2024. The results of this survey have been analyzed, and we are in the final steps of developing a Pastoral Plan, which will outline priorities and goals for our Diocese over the next several years in the areas of faith formation, proclaiming the Gospel, and engaging our youth and young adults/young families in a more active, personal way. As Pope Leo observed: “Ours is a time marked by a growing search for spirituality, particularly evident in young people, who are longing for authentic relationships and guides in life. Hence, it is important that the Christian community be farsighted in discerning the challenges of today’s world and in nurturing the desire for faith present in the heart of every man and woman.” (Message to Participants in the Seminar “Evangelizing with the Families of Today and Tomorrow: Ecclesiological and Pastoral Challenges,” May 28, 2025)
It has become clear through this process that, while the opportunity and desire to renew our Diocese moving forward is there, the resources of the Diocese are limited. To that end, we have partnered with the Steier Group, a national Catholic fundraising and development firm from Omaha, Nebraska, to conduct a Feasibility Study for a Diocesan capital campaign. I have engaged the Steier Group, having received the counsel and support of our priests who serve as Deans and members of our College of Consultors and Presbyteral Council to undertake this Study. I have also subsequently received support for this initiative from our Diocesan Finance Council. A feasibility study typically serves as a first step to a possible capital campaign. We have made no commitments to a Diocesan-wide campaign at this time, and it is important to highlight that this Study does not oblige the Diocese to initiate such a campaign. Instead, the Study will equip us with both an assessment of our current ministry endeavors and provide essential information regarding the feasibility of launching a campaign, should we decide to proceed.
The Steier Group was selected to partner with the Diocese because of their extensive experience working with Catholic organizations. With this partnership, we are taking steps to grow and sustain the ministries and mission of our Diocese for years to come.
The preparation for the Feasibility Study will begin in late June, with the main portion of the Study commencing in January 2026. During this preparation phase, the Diocese will be gathering background information and constructing the surveys and online questionnaires. From January through April 2026, personal interviews with all pastors and key constituents will be conducted. At the conclusion of the planning study, the Diocese will have the results needed to make an informed decision regarding the practicality of moving forward with a comprehensive fundraising effort to fund specific initiatives identified as needs by both our clergy and you, the faithful.
As we move through this process, updates will be provided concerning the status of our progress. Thank you for your continued faith and devotion. I ask that you join me in prayer for this initiative and invoke the intercession of Our Blessed Mother, Mary, Mother of the Church, Saint Joseph and Saint Patrick, our patron.
Sincerely in Christ,
Most Reverend Timothy C. Senior
Bishop of Harrisburg