Planning Commission Reviews Suggestions from
Cluster Core Teams
 

The pastoral planning process reached another important milestone when the Diocesan Planning Commission completed its review of the suggestions submitted by the Cluster Core Teams on how the parishes in their clusters might be reconfigured.

This is part of Called to Holiness and Mission: Pastoral Planning in the Diocese of Scranton, the project that will result in parishes throughout the Diocese being reconfigured for the effective revitalization of those parishes.

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 consist of Parish Core Teams coming together in a given area of the Diocese.

For the past two months, the Cluster Core Teams 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.

The Planning Commission retreat was a two-tiered process. First, work groups for each of the four pastoral regions of the Diocese reviewed the suggestions submitted by the Cluster Core Teams in those regions.

Then the four work groups presented a list of possible preliminary recommendations to the whole Planning Commission. The Planning Commission discussed the possible preliminary recommendations, gave further suggestions, and sometimes asked for more study from the work groups.

After deliberation of the work groups’ further study, the Planning Commission ultimately reached a consensus and approved preliminary recommendations. In some cases, the suggestions made by the Cluster Core Teams were affirmed as submitted. In other cases, the Planning Commission determined that modifications were appropriate.

The preliminary recommendations represent the “best thinking” of the Planning Commission after listening and seriously studying the good work of the Cluster Core Teams in the light of the Diocesan Mission Statement, and the assumptions, criteria and goals of Called to Holiness and Mission, according to Monsignor Vincent J. Grimalia, V.G., project director.

The Planning Commission, he added, was inspired by the effort put forth by the Cluster Core Teams, whose members faced a challenging task with faith and an understanding that their work will have implications beyond their individual parishes.

“As we studied the suggestions accompanied by the reasons for them, it became clear that the Cluster Core Teams took this very seriously and have been very diligent. The Planning Commission paid close attention to what the people are saying, and they considered all that in their recommendations,” Monsignor Grimalia said.

The preliminary recommendations are currently being prepared for dissemination to the Cluster Core Teams.

The weekend of July 26-27 has been designated Announcement Weekend in all parishes. Each pastor will convey to the entire parish the preliminary recommendations of the Diocesan Planning Commission for its cluster. These recommendations will be conveyed by being published in the parish bulletin that same weekend.

The entire list of preliminary recommendations for all 50 clusters will be posted on the Diocesan website after July 28.

During the week of July 28, regional meetings will be held with members of the Diocesan Planning Commission so that the members of the Cluster Core Teams can obtain clarification and ask questions about the preliminary recommendations. These sessions will also prepare the Cluster Core Teams for the next step, which is conversation and response to the preliminary recommendations.

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

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, said John Reid of The Reid Group, the national consulting firm that is helping to facilitate the planning project.

“The Parish Core Teams should share the details of the recommendations with the parishioners and ask them to provide feedback on a regular basis,” he said.

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

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

Implementation of the plan will begin in July 2009.

Eight Steps of the Pastoral Planning Process 

STEP #1 -- Conversation at the Diocesan, Parish and Cluster level. 

STEP #2 -- Suggestion of a particular Model (Consolidated, Linked, Partnership, In Solidum/Team) with a rationale to the Diocesan Planning Commission by the Cluster Core Team.  

STEP #3 -- Preliminary Recommendation of the Diocesan Planning Commission with a rationale back to Cluster of Parishes.  

STEP #4 -- Conversation about the recommendation at the Cluster level.  

STEP #5 -- Response to the Diocesan Planning Commission of a particular Model with a rationale by the Cluster Team.  

STEP #6 -- Final Recommendation of the Diocesan Planning Commission with a rationale back to Cluster of Parishes.  

STEP #7 -- Decision by the Bishop after appropriate consultation based on the recommendations made to him by the Diocesan Planning Commission.  

STEP #8 -- Implementation at the Parish, Cluster and Diocesan level of all decisions made by the Bishop with needed support.