As part of our response to “Envisioning Ministry for the Future” our Ad Hoc Committee met on December 6, 2004. The committee consists of the following members: Joseph Basko, Edward Quigley, Robert Rice, Anne Michael, Tara Rowan, and Anne Liberati. Their task was to make recommendations concerning the ministry in our parish when there would be one less priest. In our case, that would mean, no priest. They made the following recommendations which have been shared with the Dean of Beaver County and the Diocese.
These recommendations will now be taken to a cluster meeting of the following parishes: St. Frances Cabrini, St. Titus, Our Lady of Fatima, St. John the Baptist, and St. Catherine of Sienna. The recommendations from the cluster meeting will be presented to Bishop Wuerl for his consideration. Our representatives to the cluster meeting are Joseph Basko and Tara Rowan. More information will be forthcoming in future bulletins.
Worship & Prayer:
- A Deacon or Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion would bring communion from a Mass to a parish Liturgical Service.
- Alter Mass Schedules to accommodate as much of the parish and surrounding parishes as possible. (Will Priests still be limited to three Masses per Sunday?) Is it possible to schedule Masses on a rotational or flexible schedule?
- Is there a Consolidation Plan including the surrounding parishes? Will a new Church Building be needed? Would hope to maintain local parish identity possibly through local parish (community) facility.
- View Cluster Mass schedules as resources. Make surrounding parish Mass schedules more readily available (bulletin, web sites, e-mail.)
- Alternative Worship Services in place of daily Mass.
Service:
- Increased participation by laity at the community level.
- More staff positions.
- “Advertise” specific service needs, for Ad Hoc duties.
- Continue Stewardship Fair.*
- Gather intelligence/information about Parishioners. This could be accomplished through In-Home visits, survey taking while compiling the Parish Directory, etc. Match database talents to needs of the parish.
- Ministry Nominations or a community level effort to be aware of current parish talents as well as those talents brought by new parishioners.
Education:
- Staff position(s) to assist the Director of Religious Education (DRE) or Pastoral Assistant (PA) or both.
- Share education resources with surrounding parishes.
- Small Groups (In-Home Studies, for example), with Deacons and/or Seminary students.
- Educate through multi-media outlets (web, e-mail, post-Mass speakers, bulletin supplements, etc.)
- “Expert” volunteers from the parishioners to host/teach classes (Marriage Preparation, Baptism, etc.)
Community:
- Focused efforts on welcoming both new and established parishioners to foster community environment.*
- Events to include entire parish (i.e. Baptisms at Mass, Reconciliation Blessing).
- “Sponsor” Families for new parishioners to integrate new members into the community quicker.*
- Develop a Strategic Communication Plan to reach out to parish members (web site, e-mail, etc.)
- Maintain “Local” Parish identity throughout processes (ref. 1-c).
Leadership and Administration:
- Hire more Professional Staff.
- Increased involvement by laity (stewardship). Recruiting programs for Deacons, Ministries, and Councils.*
- Increased efforts to involve younger parishioners.*
- Develop “Committees” or “Councils” for specific purposes. Formally invite specific members.*
- All activities must involve entire families (children always included).*
- Formal Leadership and Development training for anyone wishing to volunteer, provided at minimum, a “Contract” for services after training is agreed upon.
*Options the Parish could commit to today.
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