VERNON DEANERY
FOURTH REGIONAL MEETING
APRIL 5, 2011
GENERAL MEETING
The meeting opened with the diocesan prayer for restructuring
Bishop Cote was introduced and began with a few comments about the pastoral planning process, emphasizing its importance for the future of all our parishes. He made it clear that he does not have pre-designed plans for any parish, but is waiting to hear from the people of the deanery about what they want for their own future in the event of some necessity in the staffing of parishes. Bishop Cote emphasized the centrality of the Eucharist in our lives as Catholics, and pointed out that pastoral planning is concerned with having the Eucharist available to everyone. He used the example of St. Joseph Parish in Dayville which has found new energy and vitality after being merged with two smaller parishes in the Putnam Deanery. He reminded everyone that God is with us in this process, and that if we look at our situation honestly and trust in God, we will be fine.
Members of the parish committees asked several questions. The first concerned having laity as pastoral associates in our parishes. Bishop Cote commented that this is not a new concept, but the questions of proper training and proper skills are essential. Probably, this diocese could use an already established program, such as the one offered through the Archdiocese of Hartford, rather than establish its own, but certainly we are very accepting of having laity serve as pastoral associates.
Another committee member asked about he current situation of seminarians preparing for the diocesan priesthood. The Bishop said that the diocese has six candidates studying theology and six others at the college level. Although these numbers are not “great,” they are good and a reason to be hopeful for the future. Bishop Cote pointed out that the diocese has had some very effect ad campaigns, but statistics show that thirty inquiries to a vocation office will result in one actual candidate. He pointed out that our culture does not support the idea of vocations; also, in most instances, parents no longer encourage vocations. This is an issue that needs everyone’s attention.
Another questioner asked if there were any plans for the reinstatement of the permanent diaconate program in the diocese. Bishop Cote responded that in the diocese we have about 60 permanent deacons right now, but we do not use them properly. It has been pointed out, even by officials at the Vatican, that the charism (gift) of the deacon is not governance in parishes, but charity. The permanent deacon is intended to be the public conscience of the Church, pointing out to the community those who are in need. Bishop Cote feels that we misuse permanent deacons by not allowing them to be what they are meant to be. It is true that ordination allows the permanent deacon to preach after the Gospel at the Eucharist, but for many other activities, ordination is not a factor. Deacons are not meant to replace the priests. It was pointed out that the question of the proper function of permanent deacons is being addressed in several dioceses in the country. Actually, very few activities of the permanent deacon require ordination. A bishop can give the care of the parish to a lay person or to a woman religious. There are many ways to meet the needs of our parishes. There is a commission in the diocese which is looking at the question of the permanent diaconate program.
Another questioner asked about Parish Pastoral Councils in parishes that are yoked: can the Councils be joined and work as one council? The response was that this could be done, but such a step would be decided by the parishes involved, and never mandated for everyone in the situation of yoking.
A committee member asked if there was any assistance available for parish Finance Councils that might need guidance. The response was that the diocesan Finance Office would be happy to provide assistance.
The next question of the evening concerned parish schools, and if there were any initiatives underway to assist parishes with financing schools. Bishop Cote explained that a committee set up to look at that question was in the process of making its final recommendations to him. There is a plan being proposed for financing of schools, since Catholic education of our children needs to be a responsibility shared by all our parishes. Evangelization and the sharing of our Faith with the next generation is a fundamental responsibility for all of us.
One committee member asked if priests from religious orders would be asked to take over two parishes if that became necessary. Bishop Cote explained that the diocese has contracts with the religious communities that send priests to our parishes, and there is ongoing communication about these contracts. Certainly, there would be conversations about the needs of the diocese, as this becomes necessary.
The final questioner asked if the diocese took any steps to protect the priests from “burnout.” Bishop Cote commented that priests who are organized and comfortable with collaboration and delegation usually don’t have the problem of burnout. However, this is a personnel issue. It is important not to give any priest an assignment he cannot handle.
At the end of the questions, Bishop Cote thanked the committee members for their work in the pastoral planning process, and that he looked forward to receiving their final recommendations.
CLUSTER MEETINGS
CLUSTER ONE: St. Luke, All Saints, St. Edward
A group from St. Edwards and All Saints met to discuss the youth ministry as a shared program among the cluster parishes. Fr. Roland will coordinate a follow up meeting with St. Luke’s youth director. Future events such as an icebreaker are to be scheduled.
Website feedback: Parishioner feedback is needed for a cluster name/ identity. The logo is attractive, members from the group should discuss ideas for a cluster name within their respective parishes and are to come back with ideas for the next meeting. Tim P. Will open the draft web page up on a test site for review by the parish councils.
All Saints had a parish meeting to discuss cluster planning. St. Luke presented items from the pulpit. St. Edward has posted information in their bulletin. St. Edward is hosting a stewardship fair in late April/early May.
The entire cluster group would like to be present when the time comes for making the recommendations to the Bishop. This will show the parishes that we are united & not just represented by 1 or 2 people.
Some of the cluster parishes have run missions from time to time. Moving forward, the cluster may work together on their missions to benefit all the parishioners and to save on expenses. Adult faith formations, special Advent or Lenten programs may also be done in collaboration.
The group discussed creating a new name for St. Edward School and will consider promoting the school under that name. No decision was made and we may need guidance from the diocese before recommending any such change at this stage.
The members of the cluster teams will organize a trip for viewing each others facilities.
The team began working on draft responses for Part II on the blue form (Final Report). 2a was tabled.
2b. Parishes operated by orders need to review order contracts, and see if there are terms in those contracts that might frame our responses based upon which parish is without a priest. For example, if All Saints were left without a priest, St. Edward and St. Luke priests would stay in their current residence and commute to All Saints.
2c. A business manager would be needed to authorize the business functions for any parish(es) left without priests. The current secretarial staff at each parish would handle administrative tasks. Another person as a full-time trained lay administrator/pastoral associate would be needed for coordinating sacramental needs.
2d. It was the consensus of the group that without seeing facilities, it is difficult to decide whether any buildings would be closed (see note above). However, St. Luke may not need the convent, or possibly their rectory if there was no priest. All Saints has a surplus building that could be demolished, the parish hall across the street could be considered saleable at some point in the future. The current rectory at All Saints is too close to the church building to be separated off.
The cluster groups were called back to the main meeting and did not discuss the balance of the questions.
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CLUSTER TWO: St. Bernard, St. Matthew
Present: Fr. Jim Carini, Deanna Chvatel, Ray Lamy, Deacon Mike Berstene, Paul Sanner, Francine Ouellette, and Mary Conway
What points from Bishop Cote’s comments will be brought back to your parishes, and how will this be done?
The most important things we heard from Bishop Cote were that he is hopeful for the future of the diocese. The Bishop made it clear that the focus of his role, of his life, is to ensure access to the Eucharist. He also believes that when people come together with greater participation, great things happen. The Bishop also supported the notion that two parishes can combine to have one parish council and that each parish can maintain its own identity.
Continue with plans for the three areas of collaboration in the cluster. When will the plans be implanted? How will they be explained to the parishes?
See the minutes from the supplemental meeting on March 15, 2011.
Continue talking about how the parishes of your cluster can continue to operate if one parish in the cluster is without a priest (no pastor, assistant, or administrator). Use the questions for the Final Report on staffing, buildings, etc. to guide the question.
We need to get feedback from our parishioners. Can we do it at a parish council meeting? All cluster team members can facilitate a discussion with the parish council. We need to meet – one night together. St. Matthew’s will discuss this with their parish council at their next regular meeting on April 27, 2011. We would like to hold a joint meeting inviting all the ministry heads, the parish councils, and parishioners from both churches to discuss the ideas of the cluster planning team to get feedback and new ideas. We are planning (right now) to have a meeting on May 11, 2011 from 7 until 9. We are checking with each parish to see if the hall is open that night in either parish.
Begin to talk about how your cluster would continue to operate if two parishes were without a priest (no pastor, assistant, or administrator). Use the questions form the Final Report on staffing, buildings, etc. to guide the discussion.
The Cluster members decided to defer the discussion of this question until we have met with parishioners in both parishes.
What information from this meeting will be brought back to your parishes? How will it be made available?
Ray Lamy has drafted another letter to be printed in the bulletin for both parishes. A draft of the letter is forthcoming.
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CLUSTER THREE: St. Joseph, Sacred Heart, St. Maurice
Attending: Members of Parish Committees from all three parishes including the priests from St. Maurice, Sacred Heart and St. Joseph
The cluster discussed the agenda questions as follows:
1. Points from Bishop Cote Remarks to bring back to Parishes
There was a brief discussion on which churches has brought information from these meetings to their parishes. Sacred Heart has continued to bring all minutes to parishioners while St. Joseph has not given much information out as yet. They have plans to update the Parish Council.
2. Areas of Collaboration
The areas of collaboration noted in the March minutes was refined and changed slightly as follows:
1.Youth Group –the idea of combining the youth groups from the parishes was discussed noting that a larger group of youth would have a greater impact on the youth of all the parishes. St. Joseph noted that their group is very small—only about 8. They will be talking with their Youth Group Director about combining with St. Maurice and Sacred Heart.
2.Adult Formation–Combining RCIA outreach and training was discussed briefly but the logistics of how this would take place needed to be studied. All the Parishes have some program of Adult formation including Bible Study and Small Christian Communities. These can be noted to all the parishes via church bulletins.
3.Common cluster weekly bulletin. It was decided that it would be better to start this collaboration by placing news of all three parishes in all of the three parish bulletins as a first step. All parishes have their bulletins on their web sites and it would be relatively easy for news to be drawn from each of these sources to include in the weekly bulletins of all three parishes. If or when a Parish is without a Priest or if two of the parishes are without a priest, it was decided to implement one bulletin for all three parishes (perhaps under a name for the cluster as indicated in the March minutes.)
3. How would cluster operate if one parish in the cluster is with a priest including no administration personnel?
The cluster continued its discussion from last month. It was noted that there are three parishes with four priests (and one Deacon). The thoughts were to look just at the numbers of priests and not particularly at where the priest is located. If one priest left from St. Maurice or Sacred Heart, there would still be three priests for three parishes. If one left from St. Joseph, given the current contract with the Pauline Fathers, another one would be assigned. Therefore, the first change that might have to be looked at is the number of Masses and the times that they would be presented at all three parishes.
4. How would Cluster operate if two parishes are without a priest or administrative personnel?
There was not time to discuss this issue. There is an expectation that Sacred Heart and St Maurice’s past yoking could provide the blueprint for a plan for the cluster to review.
5. What information will be brought back the individual parishes about this meeting?
There was not much time left to discuss this question. Sacred Heart and St. Maurice already have published the minutes in their bulletins. St. Joseph will be speaking with its Parish Council in the following week.
