Cluster Core Teams Reviewing Preliminary Recommendations for Parish Reconfiguration

Dialogue must be based on prayer, study and reflection

The Diocese of Scranton Planning Commission has issued preliminary recommendations on how all parishes in the 11-county Diocese might be reconfigured.

Now each Cluster Core Team will discuss the preliminary recommendations that pertain to its area and prepare a response that will be considered by the Planning Commission.

This process is part of Called to Holiness and Mission: Pastoral Planning in the Diocese of Scranton, the project that is focusing on the effective revitalization of all parishes.

To facilitate the planning process and to engender cooperation among parishes in a given geographic area, each parish was grouped into one of 50 clusters. Each cluster has a Cluster Core Team consisting of the Parish Core Teams in that cluster.

Members of the Cluster Core Teams have received the preliminary recommendations for their cluster and a summary of the preliminary recommendations for all the clusters in their region. The complete list of all preliminary recommendations is posted on the Diocesan website at www.dioceseofscranton.org.

“We need to emphasize that these are preliminary recommendations; this is not the final plan,” said Monsignor Vincent J. Grimalia, V.G., project director. “As we have said all along, nothing has been predetermined and no decisions have been made. There will be a lot more discussion and input at the parish and cluster levels before we reach that point.”

The preliminary recommendations were formulated after the Diocesan Planning Commission, comprised of priests, deacons, religious and laypersons from the various regions of the Diocese, came together June 30-July 2 for a planning retreat at Fatima Renewal Center in Dalton. They engaged in two-and-a-half days of prayer, discernment and intense discussion. This was the third step of an overall eight-step planning process.

The Planning Commission’s main task was to review the work of the Cluster Core Teams, which for the past two months have been studying the parish self-evaluations that were completed during the first phase of the project. These self-evaluations, which were performed by the Parish Core Teams, examined ministries and resources, finances, demographics, liturgical and sacramental life, and evangelization activities.

Based on these self-evaluations, the Cluster Core Teams suggested one or more of four models for the parishes in their cluster: consolidation to form a new parish entity, linking of two or more parishes under one pastor, establishing partnerships with other parishes to operate joint programs and share resources, and forming teams of two or more priests, deacons and lay people who would serve multiple parishes.

Each pastor has conveyed to the entire parish the preliminary recommendations of the Diocesan Planning Commission for its cluster. These recommendations were conveyed by being published in the parish bulletin.

This week, regional meetings were held with members of the Diocesan Planning Commission so that the members of the Cluster Core Teams could obtain clarification and ask questions about the preliminary recommendations. These sessions were also designed to prepare the Cluster Core Teams for the next step, which is conversation and response to the preliminary recommendations.

The Cluster Core Teams will spend time over the summer and early fall to discuss the preliminary recommendations and formulate a response to them.

“These are preliminary recommendations – the best thinking of the Planning Commission at this point in the process. Now is the time for the Cluster Core Teams to pray, study and reflect on the preliminary recommendations and contribute their best thinking as they formulate a response,” said John Reid of The Reid Group, the national consulting firm that is helping to facilitate the planning project.

As these conversations are occurring, the Parish Core Teams are responsible for informing and engaging their respective parish communities.

“This is a crucial part of the process,” Mr. Reid said. “The Parish Core Teams should share the details of the recommendations with the parishioners and ask them to provide feedback on a regular basis.”

Monsignor Grimalia noted that it is natural for people to have questions or concerns about the preliminary recommendations, especially if they might have to attend a different church in the future.

“People are welcome to offer suggestions on how things might be done differently, as long as the suggestions meet the goals and criteria of Called to Holiness and Mission,” he said. “Any suggestions should be made to the local Parish Core Team or Cluster Core Team.

“It is important to remember that this is not a time for a debate, it is a time for prayer, study and reflection. There should always be a respectful dialogue.”

Monsignor Grimalia noted that some people have been asking hypothetical questions about how practical aspects of the recommendations will be accomplished.

“It is premature to address such matters now,” he explained. “We’re still in the planning phase and these are preliminary recommendations. Questions about what might have to be done to accommodate the final recommendations, whatever they may be, will be addressed during the implementation phase, which doesn’t even begin until July of 2009.”

The Cluster Core Teams must submit their responses to the Planning Commission by Oct. 1. The Planning Commission will gather to reflect on the responses and to prepare the final recommendations for parish reconfiguration.

In November, the final recommendations will be presented to Bishop Joseph F. Martino, who will consult with the Council of Priests and other advisors before announcing the final reconfiguration plan in January 2009.

Implementation of the plan will begin in July 2009. The practical aspects of any reconfiguration will be addressed at the implementation phase.