Parishioners Participating in Pastoral Planning Project
 

Although Called to Holiness and Mission: Pastoral Planning in the Diocese of Scranton is only three months old, hundreds of meetings involving several thousand people have already been held.

The process is based on broad consultation involving clergy, religious and lay faithful in every parish. Input at the parish level has been coordinated by Parish Core Teams consisting of the pastor, one member from the parish Pastoral Council, one member from the parish Finance Council, and two other parishioners.

These teams were responsible for completing a self-evaluation of the parish, and for ensuring that communication and consultation involved all members of the parish.

“Pastors and their Core Teams have made the effort to keep everyone informed. Of course, the parishioners also have a responsibility to read the information and attend the general meetings. They have been given the opportunity to learn about this project and offer input, and hopefully they participated,” said Monsignor Vincent J. Grimalia, V.G., project director.

With the conclusion of the self-evaluation phase of the project, The Catholic Light talked to several pastors to gain their perspective on the progress made to this point.

The process has led to fruitful discussions, according to Monsignor Joseph Bambera, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas in Archbald and St. Mary of Czestochowa in Eynon.

The Core Teams of both parishes met a total of 14 times, task forces assisted with the evaluations, and town meetings for all members of both parishes were held. Information was also provided through pulpit announcements and the church bulletins.

“There has been enthusiasm to review what has been accomplished, and what can be done for the future,” Monsignor Bambera said. “Some people are beginning to see that we can probably do more if we pool our resources.”

He acknowledged that there is some concern about losing individual parish identity, “but at this point it’s not an overwhelming fear. I think people are viewing this (project) as more of a challenge.”

At Resurrection Church in Muncy, Father Glenn McCreary sent a general survey to parishioners, but the response was minimal. “Some affirmed the work the parish does. Some were more critical. And some simply didn’t know a great deal about what goes on in their parish or their diocese.”

Two town meetings were held, and although attendance was modest, these public sessions were much more useful, Father McCreary said.

“People certainly had questions and concerns,” he said. “For example, Resurrection Parish is in the midst of a building project (to construct a new church). People wanted to understand the impact of Called to Holiness and Mission on that project. Most people recognize the problems facing the Church today and the need to respond creatively to those problems.”

Father McCreary said the Parish Core Team “is certainly committed to seeing this process through. It’s been good to assess our parish. Sometimes it takes a process like this to help us recognize and be grateful for the great good, the grace that happens in a parish. Many of the weak pieces are issues we’ve known about and have been talking about for some time. I hear people saying that maybe this will help us get beyond whatever impasse we’ve reached on a given issue, such as youth ministry, further cooperation between neighboring parishes, and so forth.”

Eleven Core Team meetings and a town meeting for all parishioners have been held at St. Patrick, Holy Ghost and St. Michael the Archangel churches in Olyphant, where Father Thomas Muldowney is pastor.

During the town meeting, the parishioners who were present were invited to participate in a parish survey. This survey was based on the five criteria of parish life.

“The survey was thought to be a very positive tool for parish pastoral planning,” Father Muldowney said. “It gave parishioners who were not on the Core Committee (or its Subcommittee) a way to be part of this process. Positive comments as well as constructive criticism were offered by parishioners. The Core Team found the parish survey as well as the Subcommittee evaluations to be very helpful in completing the self-evaluation of each parish.”

In addition to the bulletin and pulpit announcements, the parish website (www.sphgsm.org) includes a section that allows parishioners to read the minutes from each of the Core Team meetings. There is also a link to the Called to Holiness and Mission page on the Diocese of Scranton website.

Father Muldowney said the attitude of the parishioners is mainly positive, partly because  the three parishes in Olyphant have been operating as partners for the past several years. In addition, many of the people realize that the Church in the Diocese of Scranton needs to make some significant changes in order to continue the mission of Christ and His Church. With the decreased number of priests and the declining population, they know and understand that things are going to change.

“With change comes anxiety and fear,” he said. “Some of the parishioners are concerned that they will lose their parish buildings. This is a valid concern, but I think we need to keep emphasizing that we (the Church) make up the Body of Christ. We are called by our Baptism to spread the Gospel message and teach all nations. If we are focused on Evangelization and trust that the Holy Spirit is guiding this planning process, we will come to the realization that God will provide and continue to take care of His people.”