Father Kleppner - May 27, 2007
Parish Life Collaborators: Questions and Answers for Clergy
Through the envisioning Ministry process begun in 2004, the
parishes and deaneries across the Diocese of Pittsburgh have
been actively working to find ways to meet pastoral needs with
fewer priests. An option that has been under study here and
elsewhere is the Parish Life Collaborator. The following is a
brief definition of a Parish Life Collaborator. Sister Dorothy
Pawlus, CSFN, has been appointed by Bishop Bradley to serve
as the first Parish Life Collaborator for St. Bartholomew Parish,
Penn Hills effective July 9, 2007.
What is a Parish Life Collaborator?
A Parish Life Collaborator is a deacon or lay ecclesial minister
appointed by the diocesan bishop to participate in the pastoral
care of the parish. Canon 517, #2, permits this appointment
where there is a shortage of priests in a diocese.
Are Parish Life Collaborators new in the life of the church?
The 1983 Code of Canon Law provides for the position of
Parish Life Collaborator. Canon Law recognizes those situations
where the diocesan bishop does not have sufficient priests to
provide a pastor or an administrator for every parish. Parish Life
Collaborators have been functioning in the United States and in
other countries around the world. It is estimated that there are
about 700 Parish Life Collaborators working in parishes in the
United States.
What will Parish Life Collaborators mean for the church?
Parish Life Collaborators are a response to an extraordinary and
specific need as determined by a diocesan bishop. If that need
changes, a diocese will no longer include this ministry.
Why is the Diocese of Pittsburgh initiating this ministry?
Our local church has been experiencing a steady decline in the
number of active priests available for parish ministry. Two
dozen priests presently serve as pastors for two or more
parishes. Within the next five years the number of active priests
will be less than the number of parishes in our diocese. The
ministry of the Parish Life Collaborator enables the diocesan
bishop to provide pastoral care for all the faithful.
Can anyone be a Parish Life Collaborator?
No, there are particular criteria which must be met by those
interested in serving as a Parish Life Collaborator. They must be
practicing Catholics of high moral repute, who have proven
pastoral and administrative skills demonstrated in at least five
years of pastoral experience working in the Catholic Church.
They must also have a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) or a Master
of Arts (M.A.) degree in theology, or its equivalent, and be
willing to accept the authority of a diocesan bishop. A Parish
Life Collaborator must maintain the highest standards in
personal, theological and professional competencies required by
the Church.
What does a Parish Life Collaborator do?
A Parish Life Collaborator oversees the overall day-to-day
pastoral care and administration of the parish. This includes
oversight of the implementation of religious education in the
parish and ensures that sacramental catechesis and
evangelization efforts are appropriately coordinated. The Parish
Life Collaborator plans and coordinates liturgical celebrations
throughout the church year, and also oversees the administration
of the parish, including everything from the buildings and
budget, to parish personnel and staffing. The Parish Life
Collaborator will carry out all administrative functions in the
parish necessary for its effective running, including the signing
of checks. A Parish Life Collaborator ensures that the pastoral
needs of the parish and the wider community as a whole are met.
What is a Priest Director?
A Priest Director is appointed by the diocesan bishop to work
with the Parish Life Collaborator. The Priest Director ensures
the authentic teaching of the Faith, the pastoral care of souls,
and that sacramental ministry reserved only to a priest is
provided for the faithful. The Priest Director may be any priest
who possesses the faculties of the diocese. While the Parish Life
Collaborator is assigned by the bishop to be the administrative
leader in the parish, the Parish Life Collaborator must keep the
Priest Director fully informed about all activities and concerns
in the parish.
To whom does the Parish Life Collaborator report?
As with the offices of pastor and administrator, the Parish Life
Collaborator ultimately answers to the diocesan bishop. The
Parish Life Collaborator will carry out all policies and
procedures established by the diocesan bishop through the
pastoral administrative offices of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, and
will work cooperatively with the dean, priests and lay ecclesial
ministers in the deanery and cluster. The Parish Life
Collaborator will also work closely with the requisite advisory
bodies of the parish, including the Parish Pastoral Council and
Finance Council.
Who provides for sacramental ministry in a parish led by a
Parish Life Collaborator?
The Parish Life Collaborator will work closely with the Clergy
Office and the local cluster to ensure that priests are regularly
available for the celebration of Mass and the sacraments. The
priest who carries out sacrament ministry will work with the
Parish Life Collaborator and the Priest Director to meet the
needs of the faithful. Ordinarily one priest will regularly provide
sacramental ministry so as to build fraternal bonds with the
people.
Will the Parish Life collaborator only be assigned to
minister in a small or rural parish?
The Parish Life Collaborator participates in the pastoral care of
souls and can be assigned to any parish, large or small, urban,
suburban or rural, depending on the needs of the local church.
Does the Parish Life Collaborator receive a salary?
Yes. The Diocese of Pittsburgh has established salary and
benefits guidelines. As with the guidelines for other lay ecclesial
ministries, these will be based on objective criteria. The parish
to which the Parish Life Collaborator is assigned is responsible
for all salary and benefits.
Will the Parish Life Collaborator live in the rectory?
As with deacons or other lay ecclesial ministers in the Diocese
of Pittsburgh, residence in a property owned by the parish is not
ordinarily part of the compensation package.
Does the Priest Director receive a salary?
Just as any other priest is not compensated for added
responsibilities, the Priest Director will not receive an additional
salary.
Are there other names for the position of Parish Life
Collaborator?
Yes. Other common titles are “Parish Life Director,” “Parish
Life Coordinator,” and “Community Director.” The particular
term, Parish Life Collaborator, is used in the Diocese of
Pittsburgh because it most closely reflects the 1997 Vatican
document, “Instruction on Certain Questions Regarding the
Collaboration of the Non-Ordained Faithful in the Sacred
Ministry of Priests.”
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