Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
Lake Geauga District Website

What is a District?

The district structure provides an effective two-way communication between parish staff members and diocesan leadership.  There are five district meetings held per year.  The district chairperson plans and convenes district meetings, meets with the Bishop and other chairpeople and serves as contact person for parishes in making referrals to appropriate diocesan offices.  The presbyteral convener is a priest who promotes community building among priests, addresses priestly issues and meets three to four times per year with the priests within a district.  Both the presbyteral convener and district chairperson report to the membership at the district meetings.

The primary functions of the district structure include:

• Providing the opportunity for communication with the wider diocesan community:
  • Representing local pastoral interests and needs
  • Giving feedback and recommendations on issues requested by the bishop
  • Serving as a forum to receive diocesan communication
  • Aiding in implementation of pastoral directives of the bishop
     
• Discussing local spiritual and social concerns relating to the life of parishes in their neighborhoods.
   
• Planning pastoral activities which respond to local needs:
  • Sharing experiences
  • Coordinating activities within the district
  • Pooling resources and personnel
     

• Evaluating local pastoral activities and programs
   
• Providing opportunities for pastoral in-services and spiritual formation.
   
• Providing opportunities for inter-district meetings and collaboration

District membership is comprised of pastors, parish administrators and pastoral staff members including retired priests, deacons, staffs of high schools, colleges, seminaries, hospital chaplains and pastoral care staff, Newman Campus ministers, Catholic Charities.