September 2007
Newsletter
Parish Cluster of:
Saint Cecilia,
St. Felix, Freedom
Our Lady of Peace,
St. John the Baptist,
Good Samaritan, Ambridge
Sisters of
Mass and Confession Schedules
Town Hall Meeting
Any interested parishioners
From all of the cluster parishes
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
7:00 to 9:00 pm
Our Lady of Peace Parish
(Stephens Hall)
For directions, call 724-869-3024
Introduction- Review
of What “Envisioning Ministry” Means
The original call for us to “envision ministry for the future” is a diocesan-wide consultation to respond to the conditions we face today to plan how we will conduct parish life in the future. A number of studies show the declining number of priests available for parish ministry in the future. As a consequence of having fewer priests, providing for the basic sacramental and pastoral needs of the Faithful was the greatest concern expressed by the priests of the diocese. This includes the availability of regular Mass, hospital visitation, and parish administration.
The practical response most often raised concerned collaboration among parishes. Examples of such collaboration could be Mass schedules that complement neighborhood parishes. Shared sacramental preparation for baptism, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), first penance and communion, confirmation and marriage were suggested. Parishes could also join together in elementary religious education and youth ministry, as well as social justice programs.
The goal is to make people aware of the circumstances of the day and the need for action. The consultation is a way to call for increased participation and collaboration among the faithful and to involve parishes in a common effort to work together. Some of the types of collaboration mentioned above are already underway among the five parishes in this current cluster as well as in other parishes of the diocese.
To facilitate this increased exchange of information, there
is to be a Town Hall meeting for any interested parishioners from all of the
cluster parishes to be held on Tuesday, October 16, 2007, from 7:00 to 9:00pm
at Our Lady of Peace Parish (Stephens Hall)
Summary of activities in the parish cluster over the past year
At the cluster meeting in October, 2006, representatives reviewed local and diocesan statistics on the number of priests in the diocese and in our parish cluster, noting how the declining numbers will affect all of us. While there are no plans at the present time to close any parishes in the cluster, our common understanding of how parishes provide ministry is changing. As stewards of the gift of faith, parishes need to be open to change in the future, in light of changing populations, necessary ministries, and the number of priests available to celebrate the Eucharist on Sundays and Holy Days.
“Envisioning Ministry for the Future: means we begin to think about not just the number of single parishes, but the Church in our entire diocese. For us, it means looking at how our cluster can work together as one Catholic community. This means leaving behind one sense of identity we have all become accustomed to and begin thinking a new reality. This is not meant to be a message of doom and gloom, but rather a message of promise and hope.
Given the dwindling number of priests projected in the future it is becoming evident that, in a few years, the five parishes of our cluster may very well have only three or four priests ministering to the sacramental needs of all the parishioners in the cluster, instead of the six priests currently assigned to the cluster parishes. Within the next ten years, as many as 30 to 45% (64 to 96) of the parishes in the Diocese of Pittsburgh may be without a resident pastor (this has already happened to St. Felix and St. John’s.).
At the first cluster meeting of 2007 in January, the group held a brainstorming session and set priorities in various areas, from what Mass schedules could look like as the numbers drop from six priests to four priests to three priests; training in common ministries, such as lectors, Eucharistic ministers, leaders of prayer at the funeral home or cemetery; how to meet religious education and sacramental preparation needs; service resources and needs in the cluster, such as Communion calls, hospital visits, ministering to nursing homes; and finally leadership and stewardship issues.
At the March 2007 meeting, representatives continued to address the six areas identified at the January meeting: Worship and Prayer, Community, Service, Education, Leadership and Stewardship. Most of the time was devoted to Worship and Prayer, primarily on how to adjust Mass and confession schedules with fewer priests, allowing for travel time between parishes, for example.
In addition to discussion of religious education, there was also an expressed need to look at a common youth ministry program as well as ongoing adult education programs that could be held for cluster parishes, perhaps using the Sisters of Saint Joseph as resource personnel as well as the possibility of using their facilities for common events. The Sisters have been contacted about this possibility and are open to it. A representative for the Sisters will be joining future cluster meetings. The discussion of service focused on food for the needy, monetary requests for those in need, activities for the elderly. In the area of leadership, the group discussed the need to possibly form a cluster-based Pastoral Council. Finally, in stewardship, the discussion was on how parishes will cope financially in the future if there is a reduction of the number of Masses due to fewer priests. There is an obvious concern over the financial viability of the parishes and how to maintain a parish identity as the number of assigned priests to the parishes in the cluster declines.
At the last cluster meeting in May, we continued our review of six important areas for parish life and vitality which will serve as a guide for overall pastoral planning in the cluster as the number of priests serving in the cluster is reduced. The possible Mass schedule options presented are to be taken to the respective parish Pastoral Councils for their advice and input. The possibility of an evening of reflection for liturgical ministers in the cluster was also discussed, with Sister Dolores Montini and Father Joe Carr agreeing to work on the program with help from some of the cluster representatives.
In the discussion of education, a fact sheet was presented, illustrating the numbers projected to be enrolled in the five parish CCD programs in the cluster in 2007-2008. Since most parishes have CCD programs on Sunday, revised Mass schedules for the cluster would have to keep this in mind. Ongoing discussion will continue to be held in the hope of developing programs in common within the cluster.
For example, retreat programs for students preparing for confirmation within the cluster as well as having combined confirmations when the number of students available for this sacrament warrant it. There is also a possibility of a combined RCIA program in the future and well as others sacramental preparation programs. An ongoing discussion continues about a youth ministry program within the cluster.
The areas of Service, Leadership, and Stewardship within the cluster were briefly discussed and will receive more attention in future meetings.
The next meeting for the Cluster representatives and priests will be on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 at Good Samaritan Parish, Ambridge.
Conclusion
Our vision is to continue to collaborate so that we can develop possible daily and weekend Mass schedules so that all parishioners in the five parishes will have the greatest opportunities to participate. Our vision is also to continue to collaborate on developing on-going cluster programs which will benefit all cluster parishioners. As an example, we have included with this newsletter the Mass and confession schedules for all five parishes. Whatever Mass you choose to attend, at whatever church, please feel free to put your parish envelope in that collection and it will be returned to the parish in which you are registered.
Let us continue to pray for each other so that we may grow together in the one Body of Christ.
Compiled Mass &
Confession Schedules
St. Felix, Freedom
Confessions:
See schedule at other cluster parishes
Sunday Mass Schedule:
Sundays, 8:30 AM / 11:00 AM
Saint Cecilia,
Confessions:
Saturdays: Noon – 1:00 PM
Sunday Mass Schedule
Saturday Eve 5:00 PM
Sundays, 7:30 AM / 9:15 AM / 11:45 AM
Our Lady of Peace,
Confessions:
Saturday, 11:00-11:30 AM / 4:30-5:00 PM
Sunday Mass Schedule
Saturday Eve 5:30 PM
Sundays, 8:00 AM / 9:30 AM / 11:30 AM
St. John the Baptist,
Confessions:
See Good Samaritan, Ambridge
Sunday Mass Schedule
Saturday Eve 4:00 PM
Sundays, 9:45 AM
Good Samaritan,
Ambridge
Confessions:
Wednesdays, 6:00-6:20 PM
Saturdays, 12:00-12:30 PM
Sunday Mass Schedule
Saturday Eve 5:30 PM
Sundays, 8:30 AM / 11:00 AM
Sisters of
Sunday Mass Schedule
Sundays, 10:00 AM