Pastoral Planning Update ~ by Phyllis Booth and Mary Ann Allen

The Central Vicariate met last Saturday at St. Michael's Parish Hall. The meeting opened with prayer by Monsignor Barrett. Beth Neu presented a Power Point presentation on the progress made during the last 10 months by parishes in the Central Vicariate which includes Richmond, Petersburg and other towns in Central Virginia.

St. Elizabeth's was well represented among the parishes whose parishioners attended this meeting. Your representatives this day were Ethel Cooley, Rita Hatchett, Phyllis Booth, Barbara Vaughan, Frances Pope, Barbara White and Mary Ann Allen, as well as our priest.

LPA (Local Planning Area) 11, to which our cluster of parishes belongs, has what may become a model for some parishes. This cluster includes St. John in Highland Springs, St. Patrick and Holy Rosary. They are currently sharing a business manager, an MRE and a Secretary. Sacramental Preparation is done at Holy Rosary.

Fr. Wayne Ball explained this canon law process of sharing as a "Juridic Person." The juridical person must develop a relationship or build a relationship. This relationship cannot be forced. It takes time and there needs to be a natural affinity or something in common among the parishes. Occasionally a "marriage" or "merger" occurs; but there must be respect for the individual personality of each parish so that they do not lose their individual identity.

Paulita Matheny, the business manager of this cluster, spoke about the structure and benefits of this relationship among the parishes. A group of parishes working together can more easily attract and share qualified professional persons through their contract negotiations. A group of parishes can also leverage their buying power so they can buy in bulk at a cheaper rate. The challenges in this relationship among parishes include schedule conflicts, competing priorities between parishes and the relationship between larger and smaller parishes.

Bill Murphy, Diocesan Auditor related four stages most parishes go through in working together as a group:

1. Shock or "Why is this happening?"
2. Survival or "Are we going to close?"
3. Sharing or "What are our common interests?"
4. Sustaining or "We can work together."

Ed Hanzlik, former Diocesan Pastoral Planning Committee member said Communication was a vital key. Some pastors meet monthly; staff meet every other month and contact information is sent by email. Agenda items are shared, as well as liturgical information, reconciliation, confirmation events and youth ministry.

Recommendations that came from the small group discussions are as follows:

* Coordinating Committee of the DPPC needs to continue the vision
* Review what is being done; especially regarding sharing of resources
* Encourage quarterly meeting of Councils, Priests, Staff and Laity. Finance councils meet with Diocesan Finance Council.

* Make available consultation services from the Diocese where parishes are not clustering
* Clustering by two priests serving several parishes rather than one
* Need for welcoming activities between clustering parishes
* PARISHES MUST ACCEPT DIVERSITY/HERITAGE OF OTHER CATHOLICS!