In November of 2004, the Paulist community gathered in Albuquerque, New Mexico to formulate a strategic plan that would begin the Paulist response to "the needs of the Age" in the 21st Century. An intensive time of discernment, the "Albuquerque Summit" was the largest gathering of Paulists since the 1983 meeting held at Notre Dame University which marked our 125th Anniversary. In Albuquerque, we worked together to envision our Paulist future and to reaffirm our values about priesthood and Church. The community dealt with difficult but important decisions. Faced with the reality of an aging membership and reduced numbers, we re-committed ourselves to Fr. Hecker's vision of a religious community whose impact is not measured by its size, but by the strength and influence of its mission.

This renewed focus on our mission includes elements critical not just to the Paulists, but to the whole Church in North America:

● A regional focus on renewing and expanding our outreach that extends beyond our local parishes and foundations, supported by our National Offices and Ministries;

● A reallocation of our resources in the context of our mission priorities that will foster new, creative responses to the needs of the Church and her people;

● An explicit commitment to campus ministry, young adult ministries, and multicultural ministries; and

● A desire to begin new faith-based initiatives in on-line communications and ministries of Reconciliation.

This vision rings true to the work for which Father Hecker founded the Paulists to do. It continues our proud history of innovation and creativity and responds directly to the needs of the Church in the 21st century. In each element, the work has already begun.