VERNON REGIONAL MEETING
February 15, 2011
GENERAL MEETING
The meeting began with the Prayer for Restructuring
It was agreed that the clusters are now settled. It was also agreed that all clusters have the parish evaluation forms for their parishes completed.
Various materials were explained and later distributed: (1) financial information for each parish in the deanery; (2) a sample Bulletin from a group of parishes in the Diocese of Portland (Maine) which illustrates one way in which bulletin space can be shared; (3) a Mass schedule drawn up by a cluster of parishes in the Norwich deanery, to illustrate how this might be done as a beginning step in collaboration. Financial forms will be discussed at the next meeting.
Sr. Elissa mentioned several issues taken from the minutes of the previous meeting:
- Those who prepare minutes from each cluster, please use as little formatting as possible
- There are privacy concerns about the use of e mails of committee members. Everyone was asked to be careful about these addresses, and use them only for Pastoral Planning communication. This would mean keeping the addresses out of general mailings of jokes, ads, or other statements.
- Help is available if any cluster is having difficulty with group dynamics; that is, people who don’t participate or those who might dominate the conversation
- If any cluster needs office supplies; charts, paper, markers, etc. these will be provided by the Pastoral Planning Office
Because the Vernon Deanery has missed two meetings because of inclement weather, and because some parish representatives are just now attending meetings, a short review of the overall planning process was given. There are three levels of discussion.
- Collaboration and cooperation are discussed and implemented as we go forward. There is no “implementation date.” Rather, this is an ongoing and active process. For example, one cluster has mentioned the possibility of the cluster organizing a program for outreach and evangelization. A cluster of parishes would have more resources for such a project than a single parish by itself. Discussion on this level can begin with the list of parish activities in your folders. This level of discussion is relatively easy.
- Restructuring when one parish in the cluster has no priest . There is no implementation date for this level, but the recommendations submitted by the committees will be taken into consideration if and when the situation arises. The questions to be answered include: What does the cluster want? Which parishes can best share the leadership of one pastor? What other staffing would be needed for all the parishes to continue to function? This level of discussion is more difficult than the first.
- Restructuring when two parishes in the cluster have no priest. This conversation will be different for different clusters. The questions to be addressed are similar to those in level two, for the most part. Again, there is no implementation date, but implementation will be governed by necessity.
It was pointed out that committee members have information on parish schools, parish finances and parish activities (Parish Evaluation Form) in order to provide a factual basis for any recommendations eventually submitted at the end of this process.
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CLUSTER MEETINGS
Cluster One: St. Luke, Ellington; All saints, Somersville; St. Edward, Stafford Springs
Received financial reports for review next meeting
Received St. Joseph School report
Communications have thus far been limited. St. Luke put a note in the bulletin.
Cluster will remain as projected.
No questions on the school report. Substantial subsidy from St. Edward that is a significant part of the parish.
Yoking opportunities:
RCIA at St. Edward Stafford no candidates at All Saints Stafford, One at St. Luke Stafford.
Group discussed a collaborative ministry, but one where the director/administrator moves from church to church; parishioner stays at the home parish.
Perhaps have one leader from each parish as the ministry team.
Pre-Cana conferencing/couple to couple
The group will need to create the inter-parish leadership list so that parishioners or leaders at each parish know who the other leaders are from the other parishes.
Post confirmation Youth ministry program starting at All Saints with a part time paid youth minister. Nothing currently at St. Luke Ellington. St. Edward Stafford is also looking to build the program with a youth board.
Cluster Two: St Bernard Church and St Matthew Church
Present: Deanna Chvatal, Mary Conway, Ray Lamy, Deacon Mike Berstene, Father Jim Carini
(Attending members agreed to meet with the absent members, prior to the next Deanery meeting to review discussions)
Agenda discussions:
- What have you done to communicate with your parishioners? What have you heard from them?
- Given that this is our second meeting, there is nothing at this time.
- Make a final decision on whether the cluster will remain as it is, or if changes will be requested. (All requests must be handed in this evening.)
- The two representatives from the two parishes are comfortable with the cluster.
- 3. What was helpful for the cluster from the report on parish schools?
-There was no impact on our clusters as neither has a Catholic elementary school. There was interest in working on sharing the knowledge gained from the experience with our preschools.
- Using the list in your folder entitled “Yoking” decide on two or three areas of collaboration for the parishes of the cluster. What first steps will be taken to make the collaboration happen? What is the time line for these steps? (When will they begin?)
Areas for collaboration
- Youth ministry -need for collaboration-St. Matthew’s group is focused on Confirmation preparation. Kate, Hillary, Heidi, Brigit Thurston – first step is “brain-storm” Youth Ministry. What can be done if we work together. Junior high is a gap in both parishes.
- Lenten Mission for 2012- joint planning- alternating locations?
- Bereavement Committee. Funeral planning, reception and grieving support. Post funeral support. Working together on training.
- Adult faith formation. Getting the core groups working together to plan. Parish retreats.
- Acts retreat team members from both parishes working together.
- If time permits, begin talking about how your cluster might operate one parish in the cluster is without a priest (no pastor, assistant or administrator).
-We began to explore the potential for sharing one associate when there are two pastors and one associate.
- 6. What information will be brought back to your parishes? How will it be made available?
Publish in parish bulletin
Status: Progress has been slow because of the frequent conflicts with snow storms. The group has had only two meetings to learn the process and begin assessment of where we are now.
The definition of our cluster
The plan for pastoral planning
The opportunity for input
Cluster Three: St Joseph, Rockville; Sacred Heart, Vernon; St. Maurice, Bolton
Attending: Members of Parish Committees from all three parishes including the priests from St. Maurice, Sacred Heart and St. Joseph
Absent: Two members from Sacred Heart, one from St. Maurice
Sacred Heart Church updated their 2005 population numbers in the Parish Questionnaire as 726 households.
The cluster discussed the agenda questions as follows:
1. What had been down to communicate with the parishes
Sacred Heart—Brief announcement at the masses with the minutes published in the bulletin.
St Joseph—Because there had only been one meeting, nothing has been announced or shared in the bulletin. The Parish Council had a brief update.
St Maurice—Held a coffee social and asked for input from the parishioners to fill out the parish questionnaire.
2. Final decision on the cluster
St. Maurice felt that St. Joseph should be in a cluster that has a school. St. Joseph indicated that their main interest in the parish is the running of the parish school. They did pick up 35 children from St. Bernard’s when its school closed but St. Bernard has kept its preschool and kindergarten programs. St Maurice can help with recruitment of children in its church as can Sacred Heart who already has children coming to St. Joseph School.
The group indicated that as far as distance goes, it makes sense to keep the cluster as it is currently.
3. Report on Parish Schools
Everyone in the cluster thought the report provided a good background and helps everyone know what is going on in the diocese.
4. Areas where Parishes can begin to collaborate.
Various areas of collaboration were discussed including sharing of maintenance staff, office supplies procurement, Director of Religious Education including same curriculum, and Faith Formation groups.
The areas that all were in agreement were sharing Lenten/Advent schedules, Bulletin Resources, and Faith Formation/Bible Study.
5. How would cluster operate if one parish in the cluster is with a priest including any administration.
Sacred Heart and St. Maurice shared their experiences with this issue. They noted that they combined masses, pastoral councils, faith formation, Youth Groups and the bulletin. They felt that there needs to be a great deal of communication especially with the diocesan office in Norwich.
6. What information will be brought back the individual parishes about this meeting.
Sacred Heart—Group meeting with parishioners and publishing of minutes.
St. Maurice—continued discussion at coffee socials and publishing minutes.
St. Joseph—brief announcement in the bulletin and publishing of minutes.
Following the cluster meetings, committee members were reminded of how important it is to communicate accurately with their parishioners. Accurate information will reduce the number of rumors based on inaccurate information.
Representatives from St. Joseph Parish, Rockville will bring snacks for the next meeting.
The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 15.
Following the cluster meetings, the evening closed with a prayer at 9 PM.
