PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

________________________________________________________________________________________                                                                                                     June, 2024

Who Are the U.S. Catholics

On April 12, 2024, the Pew Research Center published information about the makeup of the Catholic population in the United States.  (9 Facts About U.S. Catholics by Justin Nortely, Patricia Tevington and Gregory A. Smith)  It stated, “The U.S. has more Catholics than all but three other countries – Brazil, Mexico and the Philippines.”  Here are the demografics related to U.S. Catholics:

1. Currently, 20% of U.S. adults describe themselves as Catholic, a percent-age that has remained approximately the same since 2014.
2. A majority (57%) of Catholics are non-Hispanic White, while a third (33%) are Hispanic. Only 4% are Asian, 2% Black and 3% of another race.
3. Overall, Catholics tend to be older than Americans as a whole, 28% being over 65, compared with 22% of the general public. Close to three-fifths (57%) of the adult Catholics are at least 50 years of age, compared with 48% of the general population.
4. The racial and ethnic makeup of the Catholic population varies by where they live. Most of the non-Hispanic Whites are located in the Midwest (80%) or Northeast (72%).  There is greater racial/ethnic diversity in the West where the majority of the people are Hispanic (55%) and the South where 40% have an Hispanic lineage.
5. Education levels vary among Catholic adults, with 68% of White population having either graduated from college or who attended at least a year or two of higher education. This is not the case for Hispanic Catholics.  Only 41% of them have attended college, 27% below their White counterparts.
6. Less than a third of U.S. Catholics (28%) said they attended Mass at least once a week, and another 10% said they came on a monthly basis. There was no significant difference between the attendance patterns of White and Hispanic Catholics regarding their liturgical attendance.
7. Voting patterns differed significantly between White and Hispanic adults. The former tended towards the Republican side, while the latter toward the Democrat, with 61% of the Whites leaning toward the Right and more of the Hispanics (60%) toward the Left.
8. Catholic attitudes toward whether abortion should be legal or not depended on their political preference. As a whole, 61% felt it should be legal, but this differed significally with what political party they favored.  Among Catholic Democrats, 78% said it should be legal in most or all cases, compared with less than half (43%) of Catholic Republicans. 
9. As a whole, 75% of U.S. Catholic adults at the present time are favorable toward Pope Francis, which is down from 84% when he was first elected in 2013. Although a slippage of 9% has occurred in 11 years, this still is a high positive rating compared with other well-known leaders. 

These attitudes from Catholic adults around the country might stimulate a discussion among staff and parish leaders, either separately or as a combined group.  After allowing personal time to contemplate one’s own reaction to these topics, the participants would then share with each other, either as a whole body or in the subgroups.  It might even prove helpful to write up a summary of the interaction to share with others, along with various ways in which these people could offer their ideas and feedback as well.     

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

________________________________________________________________________________________                                                                                                     May, 2024

History of the PEP Newsletter

The first newsletter appeared in February, 2002 as a way of offering ideas and suggestions for improving parish life and ministry.  Never more than one page in length, each monthly edition explored one aspect of the parish, covering such areas as liturgy, community-building, formation, outreach, administration and leadership. Since that initial entry, 268 monthly editions have been published over the last 22 years.  This might be a good time to revisit a few of the previous issues to refresh your memory.  All of the past issues, except for a few of the earliest ones, can be viewed on the PEP website, www.pepparish.org/newsletter.    

Popular Issues

1. Bringing People Together: What a parish can do – 1. Create a climate of equality, 2,. Get people talking, 3. Provide a non-partisan environement, 4. Pray for blessings.  (August, 2012)
2. Weekend Liturgies: Become welcoming celebrations, 2. Invite active participation, 3. Attend to diversity in the congregation, 4. Create a hunger to return. (May, 2002)
3. The C-D-I of Decision Making: This stands for Consult-Decide-Inform.  If the parish leadership, pastor, staff and lay leaders, can catch on to this, then everything else falls into place. (May, 2003)
4. Moving On (Out of the Church): Significant numbers of people are leaving the Catholic Church. Why is this happening? One way to find out is to let people tell their own stories. (Oct, 2011)
5. Managing Volunteers – Why So Difficult? We suggest that a Community Life group be added to the parish structure, as well as a staff person who is good at fostering relationships. (Jan. 2004)
6. Aging With Grace: Those 70 and over are a blessing to any parish community. They have the experience, wisdom and time to be engaged in parish acitivities and programs.  (Mar. 2024)
7. Young Adults: Planning social activities, group discussions and service projects for those in their twenties and thirties would pique their interest and provide outlets for their service. (Mar. 2010)
8. The Role of Women: “The Church is woman, and if we cannot understand what a woman is, what is the theology of women, we will never understand the Church.” (Pope Francis.) (Feb. 2024)
9. Serving Others: A big event happens on a Saturday when one thousand parishioners of all ages and backgrounds gather to offer help to those in need, returning for a Mass and meal. (Dec. 2012)
10. Unplugging: A young person asked, “Help me unplug.” If there is an addiction, it is not to technology but to a habit of mind that does not include a space and time for solitude.  (June, 2011)
11. Community Counts: People long for a place where they belong, feel connected, share customs and rituals together, are accepted and supported for who they are, all are welcomed. (July/Aug. 2023)
12. Proclaiming Jesus With Joy: “Ideologies are cold, all of them.  The Gospel has the warmth of joy, it makes you smile because it touches the soul with the Good News.  (Dec. 2023)

If you have trouble finding any of these Newsletters or would like to receive some other one, please send a reply to this email and I will make sure you receive it.   

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

________________________________________________________________________________________                                                                                                     April, 2024

Creating Opportunities for Dialogue

         The Center for Disease and Prevention (CDC) recently provided a resource for improving communication between parents or caregivers and their children (https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/back-to-school/connecting-conversations.html).  It offers suggestions for ways to “encourage open communications . . .  that help to strengthen your relationship with your child or teen.”  Although focused on connecting with adolescents, it provides helpful tips for relating with others no matter the age.  

Takeaways

Creating regular opportunities to talk with children and youth can have a big impact on their health and well-being.

• Parents and caregivers can promote healthier and safer experiences by making a habit of knowing about their children’s and youth’s lives and connecting with them through regular check-ins.
• Connecting with children or youth can reduce their risk for poor mental health and other health risks.

The article went on to offer four practices that could help improve and nourish the level of interaction among parents or caregivers and their children.

1. Engage in active listening: “Active listening is when you let your child share their thoughts and feelings without interruption.  Once they are finished sharing, try to repeat back to them what you heard in your own words.  This shows you heard what they had to say and understood what they meant.”
2. Find out more about what they like and why: “You can build connections with your kids by asking about their interests and being curious about their lives. . . .  Encouraging your kids to share what has been happening to them, things they like to do and why, and what they think and feel can build connections.”
3. Be the person they trust and want to come to when they need an adult: “Make it safe for your kids to share what has been happening with them and what they’re thinking and feeling without worries that you’ll be angry with them or punish them. . . . While certain things they tell you might lead to some follow-up, it is important that you make sharing things with you as safe and comfortable as you can.”
4. Be patient and consistent: “Your kids may not want to share things with you and, like all relationships, it may take time to build open communication.  Creating regular opportunities for you and your kids to share will help communication grow.”

     These suggestions apply to all relationships, especially those in which people do not agree or share the same viewpoints.  Getting to a level of trust and open sharing may take longer, but the rewards are many.  They could even lead to a long and lasting friendship.  One great service a parish could provide is offering occasions in which people can gather in a safe environment.  Then applying the above criteria, they are invited to share their thoughts and feelings with one another, knowing that they are accepted and respected for who they are and that they will be listened to, whatever they think or have to offer.  

PEP Newsletter

                                              Ideas For Your Parish      _______________________________________________________________________________________                                                                                                     February, 2024

Recent Comment From Pope Francis

“Pope Francis has drawn attention to the question of the role of women in the Church,” wrote Colleen Dulle in the December 7, 2023 issue of americamagazine.org.  She quoted Pope Francis as saying, “The Church is woman, and if we cannot understand what a woman is, what is the theology of women, we will never understand the Church.  One of the great sins we have witnessed is ‘masculinizing’ the Church.  This is the job I ask of you, please: Demasculinize the Church.’  A statement from the Holy See Press Office said that the pope’s cabinet ‘agreed on the need to listen . . . to the feminine aspect of the Church, so that the processes of reflection and decision-making can benefit from the irreplaceable contribution of women.’”

Colleen Dulle also referred to the final document of the October, 2023 Synod in Rome which stressed that “it was ‘urgent’ for women . . . to assume roles of responsibility in pastoral care and ministry.  It called for women to be allowed to be judges in all canonical processes and for future reflection on the female diaconate. . .  It recommended creating a special commission to work between the (synod) sessions to explore possible changes to canon law that may be necessary to elevate women to positions of greater authority in the Church, in particular regarding the separation of ecclesial authority from the Sacrament of Holy Orders.”

A Scenario For Inclusion

              At the present moment women are very active on the local parish level.  They make up the majority of the staff and lay volunteers.  The question is, to what extent are they included in shaping the final directions and policy formation of the parish as a whole.  Consider, for instance, a new pastor being assigned to a parish.  He is wise enough to know that his task for the first six months, in so far as possible, is to lay low and pay attention to how it operates.  He pays attention during staff and council meetings to the degree to which people wait to see what he will say and then follow his lead.  That had not been his way of pastoring in his previous parish, but he lets it continue to see how it will play out. 

              An important issue arose which demanded his direct involvement.  It had to do with the lower number of people at the weekend liturgies.  Although the Covid crisis had largely passed, parishioners were no longer attending the Masses to the extent they once did before the pandemic struck.  No amount of new publicity and fresh attention given to re-inviting people back to church seemed to have made a dent in the attendance numbers.  It became obvious that a reduction in the number of Sunday liturgies was needed.  Although the impetus did not come from the pastor, he was happy when the staff and lay leaders felt a change was necessary.    The pastor called a special meeting of the combined council and staff to explore options and decide upon a course of action.  Rather than run the meeting himself, he asked the head of the pastoral council, a man, to be the chair.  The meeting did not go well because the chair gave more credence to the men than the women.  A woman staff member broke in, “Excuse me but may I make a comment?  I don’t feel comfortable about how this meeting is proceeding. It seems to me as if my opinion does not carry as much weight as do those of the men in the room.”  Many of the women nodded in agreement.  At this point the pastor broke in saying, “What an important moment this is.  May I suggest we suspend the agenda and focus instead on how we intend to operate as the leadership of this parish.  I ask that we break into mixed groups of three, each including at least one woman and one man.  Choose a person to act as the observer while the other two discuss what changes might be possible in order to act more as a united group where all feel affirmed and accepted as equal members of the parish leadership.”  This they did and it became a turning point for the staff and leaders.  These small group discussions uncovered a number of areas where greater acceptance and mutuality could be made, especially for women members, raising the level of awareness where the contributions from women could be better affirmed.         

PEP Newsletter
Ideas For Your Parish
________________________________________________ 

March, 2024

The Art of Aging
“People do not become old or elderly at any specific age,” stated Richard Stefanacci of the Jefferson College of Population Health. (Overview of Aging, 2022). He goes on to suggest, “When a person becomes old can be answered in different ways.” The three he mentioned are chronologic age which is based solely on the passage of time, biologic age which refers to changes in the body that commonly occur as people grow older, and psychologic age which is based on how people act and feel. “Although people age somewhat differently, some changes result from internal processes . . . called ‘pure aging.’” Other aspects of aging that he mentions can be influenced by forming healthy habits throughout one’s lifetime and into the elder years. These include following a nutritious diet, avoid smoking and excessive drinking, exercising regularly and staying mentally active. Stefanacci notes, “The sooner a person develops these habits, the better. However, it is never too late to begin. In this way, people can have some control over what happens to them as they age.”
Making Room For Newcomers
Most Catholic parishes have a large contingent of active parishioners 65 years of age and older. Many of these people continue to volunteer in the same ministries which they joined earlier in life. I had a chance to witness a gathering of ushers who “worked” the weekend Masses, most of them were over 70 years of age. There were no women among them. The pastor was anxious to have some younger men, as well as women, join this somewhat exclusive group, although the current ushers had no awareness that this was their image. An announcement was made at the liturgies that new people were invited to attend an organizational meeting of the ushers at a given evening in the coming week. This was the first time the ushers had ever gathered together in the living memory of any of the current members. A young man in his 30’s was curious and showed up for the gathering. He listened to the stories coming forth from the “veterans” and then asked what he had to do to join this ministry. One of the older gentleman replied, “Yes, you are welcome to join. There will be a place for you as soon as I die.” (I was present when this rather amazing statement was made.) It is often difficult to break into a group that has a long history.
Assests of an Older Volunteer Corps
Those 70 and over are a blessing to any parish community. They have experience, wisdom, and the time to be engaged in parish activities and programs. A suggestions concerning recruitment include:
– Offering choices for involvement in activities and programs that fit an older clientele’s gifts and desires. What appeals to those in their forties and fifties might not appeal those sixty and over.
– Make it easy for older people to sign up and join an activity, making allowances for a lack of transportation, attending meetings after dark, providing provisions for sitting rather than standing.
– Include opportunities for meeting and getting to know new people, both coworkers and clients. Many join primarily to interact with others rather than to accomplish a task.
– Make sure that the activities are well directed, stressing inclusion and collaboration rather than conformity to “this is the way we have always done things here.”
– Provide opportunities for sharing personal stories while at the same allowing time for getting something done.

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

______________________________________________________________________                                                                                                     December, 2023

The Proclamation of a Great Joy

“Either we proclaim Jesus with joy, or we do not proclaim him, because another way of proclaiming him is not capable of bringing the true reality of Jesus.”  These words of Pope Francis were spoken at his Wednesday exhortation on Nov. 15, 2023.  He went on to say, “The Gospel is a proclamation of joy.  Ideologies are cold, all of them.  The Gospel has the warmth of joy.  Ideologies do not know how to smile; the Gospel is a smile, it makes you smile because it touches the soul with the good News.  The birth of Jesus, in history as in life, is the source of joy.  Think of what happened to the disciples of Emmaus who could not believe their joy, and the others, the disciples all together, when Jesus goes to the Upper Room; they could not believe their joy, the joy of having the risen Jesus. 

“An encounter with Jesus always brings you joy, and if this does not happen to you, it is not a true encounter with Jesus.  What Jesus does with the disciples tells us that the first to need to be evangelized are the disciples. The first who need to be evangelized are us: we Christians.  This is very important.  Immersed in today’s fast-paced and confusing environment, we too indeed may find ourselves living our faith with a subtle sense of renunciation, persuaded that the Gospel is no longer heard and no longer worth striving to proclaim.  We might even be tempted by the idea of letting ‘others’ go their own way. 

“Instead, this is precisely the time to return to the Gospel to discover that Christ is forever young, he is forever a constant source of newness.  Thus, like the two at Emmaus, one returns to daily life with the enthusiasm of one who has found treasure.  They were joyful, these two, because they had found Jesus, and he changed their life.  One discovers that humanity abounds with brothers and sisters waiting for a word of hope.  I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed . . . encounter with Jesus Christ.  Each one of you take a little time and think: ‘Jesus, you are within me.  I want to encounter you every day.  You are a Person, you are not an idea; you are a traveling companion, you are not a program.  You, Jesus, are a source of joy.  You are the beginning of evangelization.  You, Jesus, are the source of joy!”

Where Joy Is Found

              Joy is infectious.  It spreads quickly from one person to another.  A celebrant walks down the aisle at the start of Mass and the community becomes imbued with his energy as he calls all to prayer and worship.  This is not a task to be accomplished but a gift he shares with all present.  “Good morning, everybody,” he declares.  “Let us praise our loving God together.”  His enthusiasm affects all in the community as they answer his call to worship.  Throughout the liturgy the leaders of song encourage people to raise their voices in praise as the hymns touch into people’s inner emotions of thanksgiving, gratitude, forgiveness and petition.  They leave humming the tunes that will help carry them through whatever they may be facing.  Despite any difficulties, sorrows or frustrations they may have are balanced by the joy that remains fixed in their hearts. 

              Not only at Mass, but in many other experiences throughout the week, joy can be manifested.  The regular staff meeting, although squeezed in between many other pastoral commitments, the participants may not be in the best frame of mind for a fruitful encounter.  But they show up and participate to the best of their ability in the discussions, decisions and planning that are part of any staff meeting.  An underlying joy carries them through the impatience, rash judgments or frustrations they may be feeling.  The same can be said for those lay leaders and parishioners who might have less than positive reactions toward what is happening in the parish.  They endure these and remain faithful to the community as a whole.  Why?  Because of the joy deep within that overcomes fear, anger, disillusionment and withdrawal.  “This is my parish,” they say, “and despite the flaws and failures, disappointments and frustrations I might feel occasionally, it is my spiritual home and that is a joy.”

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

_______________________________________________________________________                                                                                                     November, 2023

Letter to the “People of God”

Justin McLellan, a reporter for the Catholic News Service who attended the Synod in Rome, wrote in the Oct. 25, 2023 edition of that publication, “The Catholic Church must continue discerning its future by listening to everyone, starting with the poorest and excluded.” The reporter also mentioned, “It means listening to those who have been denied the right to speak in society or who feel excluded, even by the Church.”  His report made special reference to the need for listening to the laity, catechists, children, the elderly, families and those who want to be involved in lay ministries and all who “participate in discernment and decision-making structures of the church.”

Pope Francis told those attending the Synod, “Trust the fidelity of the people they listened to in preparation for the Synod. . . . One of the characteristics of this faithful people is its infallibility, yes, it is infallible in ‘credendo,’ in belief, as the Second Vatican Council taught. . . . The faithful people have a soul, a conscience and a way of seeing reality.”

Method Used in the Small Groups

              The processed used at the Synod was spelled out by Fr. James Martin, SJ. (America Media, Oct. 30, 2023) The first step was prayer.  Everything was grounded in that, and each small group frequently paused during their discussions to reflect on what they heard from one another.  Next, everyone went around the table and for three minutes (strictly timed), each shared their response to the question that was being discussed.  No one interrupted and everyone was required to listen – this was part of the ground rules for discussion.

              In the second round of discussion, after more prayer, people shared what they had heard, what moved them and what resonances they felt in the discussion. Where was the Spirit moving them?  This was all guided by a group facilitator who allowed no interruptions while people were talking.  Finally, at the third round of the small group, there was a freer interaction during which people could answer questions, share experiences and challenge one another.  As the discussion progressed, a group secretary wrote down the convergences, divergences, tensions and questions. 

              At the conclusion of the small group discussions, a reporter from each group presented the table’s results to the plenary session.  There was no need to force a false consensus when there wasn’t one; rather any differences and tensions were honestly communicated to the large group.  This method meant that everyone was listened to, everyone got a chance to contribute and an honest summary was offered for further reflection.

A Synod in the Parish

  The above process can be easily adapted for a parish-wide Synod by following these steps:

1. The pastor, staff and lay leaders choose a topic for discussion, such as reaching out to young adults or inviting back those who had stopped attending the parish during Covid-19.
2. A time is chosen, such as a Saturday morning or Sunday afternoon, for a parish-wide “Synod” to which all parishioners are invited to attend a discussion related to the chosen topic.  A wide variety of people would be personally invited in order to assure that the gathering represents a cross-section of the parish.
3. The first step is to form random groups of five to eight people each to participate in the same small-group process used at the Synod in Rome described above.
4. The results from the small group discussions are published for all the parishioners can see.  As is happening in Rome, a follow-up parish Synod is planned to take place within six months.

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

_______________________________________________________________________                                                                                                    September, 2023

Completion for NY Sisters of Charity

No matter the age, whether it be an individual, family, community or organization, there is always a moment of completion when it is time to let go and move on to something else.  This happened at an assembly of the New York Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.  They were founded by Elizabeth Ann Seton in 1809.  In the spring of 2023, on extraordinary event occurred.  The sisters voted unanimously to no longer accept any new novices.  The community, in other words, would eventually cease to exit.  Sherryl White wrote an article about this that appear in the May 17, 2023 issue of America Media (www.americamedia.org), “They listened to the report of predictable data: fewer members, a rising median age, long-standing absence of viable inquirers. . .   The delegates then voted unanimously to stop accepting new members.”  At the same time they affirmed that they would “continue to live our mission to the fullest, while acknowledging that we are on a path of completion.”  While there would still be work and ministry that lay ahead, in a not too distant future, the community would cease to exist.  All would come to completion. 

Letting Go

The same happens to us all.  At various times throughout our lives we are called to move on to something new, having realized that what we had been doing was good, but now something else was needed.  It might be freely choose, such as changing majors in college, trying out a new occupation, moving to a new location, falling in love, making a life-long commitment to another.  Or it could be forced upon us by circumstances outside of our control.  The youngest in the family goes to college leaving us as empty-nesters, our place of employment changes ownership forcing us to look elsewhere for work, an accident or a sudden change in health demands an adjustment in our routine and life style.  All of these situations require a letting go of a previous way of operating and a rethinking of what was once normal but now no longer seemed realistic.  These experiences, whether of our own making or coming from outside, grab our attention and demand shifts and adjustments in our lives.  Whatever changes we make are unique to each person’s situation, desires and abilities, but some general suggestions can be made as one moves from one situation to another. 

5. Accept the reality that change is inevitable; we can’t escape this ongoing movement in our lives. A loved one dies, a friend moves away, an engaging interest becomes routine, a hobby is left behind.   
6. Develop an attitude of being open to new experiences when they occur, seeing them as avenues to enjoyment rather than obstacles to our happiness.
7. Prepare for letting go by occasionally stepping out of a regular routine or ritual and trying out something new and unfamiliar.
8. Look for new ways of doing things, realizing that they can provide extra energy and interest rather than being a threat to what you are used to doing.
9. Be thankful when a new path is laid out before us and we have to take the risk of giving it a try. As St. Paul states in II Corinthians, 5:17, “The past is finished and gone, everything has become fresh and new.” (J.B. Philip’s translation.)

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

_______________________________________________________________________                                                                                                                    May, 2023

Young Catholics Who Are Active

St. Thomas Aquinas is a thriving community located on the campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.  1,500 of the 13,000 Catholics in the university not only attend Mass but are active in some other activity or ministry.  What draws them is not only the event but the opportunity to meet new people and interact with them – to foster relationships, in other words,  The activities and events are planned, managed and directed by student leaders numbering 90 at the present time, all coordinated through the parish staff. 

A Wide Variety of Options

              St. Tom’s, as it is known, offers many possibilities for involvement outside of the Masses.  One is called “Boiler Awakening.”  This is a prayerful and peaceful retreat experience that is led by student parishioners who contribute their gifts and talents to “empower participants in perpetually owning their faith and creating a life-long passion for involvement in the faith community.” (www.boilercatholics.org/boiler-awakening)  The website goes on to state, “The weekend includes a variety of talks, activities, and reflections designed to allow each retreatant to be ‘awakened’ to the Holy Spirit within them.”

              Another is the Sunday Night Dinner.  This takes place after the Sunday 5:30 pm Mass in the basement of the Newman Hall at St. Thomas.  It provides an opportunity for not only students attending Purdue but other young adults and families in the area to meet new people and share a meal together.

               The parish offers a program called ESTEEM which stands for “Enlivening Students to Engage the Ecclesial Mission.”  It is sponsored by the National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management, and it helps student parishioners transition into a leadership role within their respective parishes following graduation.  Each year the parish staff selects and invites a cohort of seniors to participate in an intensive of lectures and discussions on matters of faith and leadership.  All the participants are assigned a person to discuss issues of faith and learn about Catholic leadership from this mentor. 

              The Adult Faith Formation Program, along with learning about one’s faith, offers helps for ongoing growth and spiritual development.  One help is learning about Centering Prayer and how to put it into practice in their lives.  This suggests a way of relating to God by preparing a person “to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, that is, prayer in which we experience God’s presence within us that is closer than breathing, closer then thinking, closer than consciousness itself.  This method of prayer is both a relationship with God and a discipline to foster that relationship.”

              The other emphasis of adult formation at St. Thomas Aquinas is Spiritual Direction.  As the parish website explains, “Often one finds oneself in need of a companion as one traverses the roads of life.  Spiritual Direction provides that companion.  Through Spiritual Direction, you are invited to meet regularly with a trained and experienced Spiritual Director who will help you hear and see God’s movement and call in your life.” (https://www.boilercatholics.org/adult-faith-formation)

              Described here are but a few of the many ways that St. Thomas Aquinas Parish encourages and supports young adult ministers through their college formation and beyond graduation.  Its Vision Statement, found on the parish’s website, describes what it is attempting to achieve:

              “St. Thomas Aquinas is a vibrant and diverse community of student and resident parishioners.  We are welcoming to all, a beacon of peace and God’s love, and a model of Jesus Christ to the local community of Purdue University, the Greater Lafayette area, and the world.  We value spiritual and intellectual formation and act to be a source of church leadership.”  Based on the information found on the parish website, St. Tom’s appears to be achieving much of what it has set out to accomplish.

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

______________________________________________________________________                                                                                                                      April, 2023

The Rite of Reconciliation

              In the ten years since Francis was elected Pope, many memorable images of him have become popular.  One was during a Penance Service at the Vatican in which he was supposed be one of the priests hearing confessions.  Instead, he went over to one of the other confessors, knelt down and professed his own sins. It was a humbling image to witness. 

            Many parishes offer a Penance Service during Lent.  The ritual includes an entrance hymn, Scripture reading with a Psalm response, a Gospel selection, followed by a homily.  After an Examination of Conscience said in common, each person then has an opportunity for individual confession.

An Option For Confession

              Following the Second Vatican Council, reception of this sacrament has fallen off as people realized that they didn’t need to go to confession before receiving Holy Communion.  The brief confession-type rite at the start of every Mass – “May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins and bring us to life everlasting”  – took care of all but the most serious sins.  Given that, a good number of people who attend  Penance Services also go to a priest for the Rite of Reconciliation.  Having been on the receiving end of these individual confessions, I have been edified and humbled by the depth of feeling manifested by the penitents.  Two aspects of each confession is a “penance” suggested by the priest and the Act of Contrition said by the person before, during or after confession. 

`            First the penance.  What used to be a typical penance after confession –Three Hail , three Our Fathers and three Glory Bes.” – now has become quite varied.  The priest might ask the penitent, “What do you think would be a good penance for you?” or he  might offer an action or a prayer as a a positive response to the sins just confessed.  My own approach is to ask, “Do you have a cell phone?”  If so, I would ask the person to put into Google these four words – “Nothing is more practical. . .”  What comes up on the phone is a prayer which I ask them to say at least once after receiving the sacrament.  The prayer begins with:

              Nothing is more practical than finding God,

                            that is, than falling in love in a quite absolute, final way.

              What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination

                           will affect everything . . . 

An Alternative Act of Contrition

              When leading a Penance Service with Jane King at the Jesuit Retreat House in Oshkosh, WI a few years back, we came up with this variation to the customary form for contrition:

• I am sorry for my sins and failures.
• It is not what you had in mind for me.
• I have chosen myself over You and others.
• But I want to do better,
• And You are here to help me.
• Free me from my wants and fears,
• And let me live and trust in You. Amen.

A woman who came to me recently for confession remarked, “I was waiting in line to come in here and I noticed that all those who came out of the confessional were beaming with joy and happiness.”  That’s one of the many graces offered by God for those who make the choice to participate in the Rite of Reconciliation.

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

____________________________________________________________________                                                                                                     February, 2023

Origins

               In preparation for the 50^th Anniversary of the Parish Evaluation Project (PEP) on March 19, 2023, this Newsletter and the next will tell the story of its journey.  PEP began with a presentation at the annual National Federation of Priests’ Councils (NFPC) Convention which took place at Detroit in mid-March of 1973.  Having just completed graduate studies, I was invited to give a workshop to a group of 40 priests on how to gather information about the attitudes and desires of the parishioners.  My hope was that once this information was provided, the pastors could plan ways to better serve their people. 

After providing some of the results from my research and offering to do the same type of surveying in their parishes, the Office of Parishes in the Detroit Archdiocese decided to do a pilot project.  A sample of six parishes from across the archdiocese were chosen to participate.  Under my direction, the pastor and some of the staff and leaders from each parish met together on a Saturday in a church gym.  The objective was to construct a survey instrument that would be given to a random sample of the parishioners in each parish.  After tabulating the returns, I wrote a report of the findings for each parish, thinking that this information would be incorporated into the goal-setting process for the coming year.  Wrong!  The analysis I provided got relegated to a shelf somewhere and nothing more was done with it.            

Expanding the Facilitation

              Besides the frustration that the survey results were not acted upon, it also became clear that only one parish could go through this process at a given time.  Each congregation had its own unique issues and concerns that needed individual attention.  What was originally a nine month project soon grew into a two and a half year commitment that included six weekends involving the pastor, staff and leaders. 

For the six sessions, the first two still dealt with surveying parishioners’ attitudes and preparing a report from which the leadership focused on concrete parish needs.  The other four weekends concentrated on assisting the leadership not only in making plans based on the survey results, but on improving staff interaction, developing collaborative decision-making, creating new structures, establishing goals and action plans, and holding groups accountable.  Because of these added components, it soon became clear that I needed to hire additional staff to direct this new planning model.  By the middle 1980’s, the PEP staff had grown from one person to three.  Besides myself, there was a person to manage the office and another to partner with me in preparing presentations and traveling to parishes located in various parts of the country.

Parish Assessment and Renewal (PAR)

              In the late 1990’s, having visited over 160 parishes across the country, something was still missing.  Working with parishes six weekends over two and a half years had a built-in flaw.  While we were leading meetings in a parish, the participants became excited about what was being accomplished – attitudes were uncovered, staff interaction was improved, pastors stared sharing decisions with others.  But in between our visits, the motivation of staff and leaders waned; their efforts slackened and the continuity was lost.  Observing all this and searching for a solution, a new phase of PEP was born.  Rather than visiting a parish six weekends over two and a half years, we decided to remain present in the parish for a longer period.  There would still be a preliminary weekend for setting up a survey of attitudes and a follow-up weekend for digesting and responding to the results, but this was only the beginning of a much more thorough level of facilitation.  This new phase was called PAR (Parish Assessment and Renewal) which will be described in next month’s PEP Newsletter. 

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

_______________________________________________________________________                                                                                                     February, 2023

Origins

               In preparation for the 50^th Anniversary of the Parish Evaluation Project (PEP) on March 19, 2023, this Newsletter and the next will tell the story of its journey.  PEP began with a presentation at the annual National Federation of Priests’ Councils (NFPC) Convention which took place at Detroit in mid-March of 1973.  Having just completed graduate studies, I was invited to give a workshop to a group of 40 priests on how to gather information about the attitudes and desires of the parishioners.  My hope was that once this information was provided, the pastors could plan ways to better serve their people. 

             After providing some of the results from my research and offering to do the same type of surveying in their parishes, the Office of Parishes in the Detroit Archdiocese decided to do a pilot project.  A sample of six parishes from across the archdiocese were chosen to participate.  Under my direction, the pastor and some of the staff and leaders from each parish met together on a Saturday in a church gym.  The objective was to construct a survey instrument that would be given to a random sample of the parishioners in each parish.  After tabulating the returns, I wrote a report of the findings for each parish, thinking that this information would be incorporated into the goal-setting process for the coming year.  Wrong!  The analysis I provided got relegated to a shelf somewhere and nothing more was done with it.             

Expanding the Facilitation

              Besides the frustration that the survey results were not acted upon, it also became clear that only one parish could go through this process at a given time.  Each congregation had its own unique issues and concerns that needed individual attention.  What was originally a nine month project soon grew into a two and a half year commitment that included six weekends involving the pastor, staff and leaders. 

             For the six sessions, the first two still dealt with surveying parishioners’ attitudes and preparing a report from which the leadership focused on concrete parish needs.  The other four weekends concentrated on assisting the leadership not only in making plans based on the survey results, but on improving staff interaction, developing collaborative decision-making, creating new structures, establishing goals and action plans, and holding groups accountable.  Because of these added components, it soon became clear that I needed to hire additional staff to direct this new planning model.  By the middle 1980’s, the PEP staff had grown from one person to three.  Besides myself, there was a person to manage the office and another to partner with me in preparing presentations and traveling to parishes located in various parts of the country.

Parish Assessment and Renewal (PAR)

              In the late 1990’s, having visited over 160 parishes across the country, something was still missing.  Working with parishes six weekends over two and a half years had a built-in flaw.  While we were leading meetings in a parish, the participants became excited about what was being accomplished – attitudes were uncovered, staff interaction was improved, pastors stared sharing decisions with others.  But in between our visits, the motivation of staff and leaders waned; their efforts slackened and the continuity was lost.  Observing all this and searching for a solution, a new phase of PEP was born.  Rather than visiting a parish six weekends over two and a half years, we decided to remain present in the parish for a longer period.  There would still be a preliminary weekend for setting up a survey of attitudes and a follow-up weekend for digesting and responding to the results, but this was only the beginning of a much more thorough level of facilitation.  This new phase was called PAR (Parish Assessment and Renewal) which will be described in next month’s PEP Newsletter.

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

______________________________________________________________________                                                                                                                                              December, 2022

Summary Report   

   In the Fall of 2021, the US Catholic bishops participated in the world-wide Synod process.  Although Pope Francis has extended the deadline for another year, the Bishops Conference has now published the results from the information gathering phase entitled, “National Synthesis of the People of God in the US for the Diocesan Phase of the 2021-2023 Synod.” (usccb.org/synod) 

Enduring Wounds

              An estimated 700,000 people participated in the diocesan phase of the Synod in the United States.  “Those who shared their stories,” the report stated, “especially those who participated in small group sessions, stated that they felt listened to by the Church for the first time.” (p. 4)   One wound people endured was the continual effects of the sexual abuse crisis.  “Trust in the hierarchy of the Church is weak,” people proclaimed, “and needs to be strengthened..” The misuse of power related to the abuse of innocent victims and keeping this hidden from public view “had a compounded effect on priests and lay ministers’ willingness to develop closer relationships with the people they served due to a fear of being misinterpreted or falsely accused.” (p. 5)

              Another wound people mentioned was the experience that the Church is deeply divided.  The report said, “Sadly, celebration of the Eucharist is experienced as an area of division within the Church.  The most common issue regarding the liturgy is the celebration of the pre-Conciliar Mass. . . Many felt that the differences over how to celebrate the liturgy sometimes reach the level of animosity.  People on each side of the issue reported feeling judged by those who differ from them.”

              A third wound was the lack of unity among the US bishops, as well as individual bishops with the pope himself.  “This perceived lack of unity within the hierarchy seems to, in turn, justify division at the local level.  People at both ends of the political spectrum have set up camp opposing the ‘others,’ forgetting that they are one in the Body of Christ.  Partisan politics is infiltrating homilies and ministry, and this trend has created divisions and intimidation among believers.” (p, 5)

              Yet another wound is that of marginalizing individuals and groups, keeping them alienated and looking in from the outside.  Some who are on the fringe are those who lack social or economic power, such as migrants, ethnic minorities, the homeless and undocumented, people with disabilities or mental issues, those suffering from various addictions.  Also included in this category are women whose voices are frequently marginalized in the decision-making processes of the Church.  “Women on parish staffs said they felt underappreciated, underpaid, not supported in seeking formation, worked long hours, and lacked good role models for self-care.”  (p. 6)   Others who felt on the margins of the Church included LGBTQ+ communities, the divorced or those who have remarried without an annulment or were civilly married. 

              In response to these and other areas of alienation, the reported stated, “Throughout the synodal process, it was evident that most participants genuinely believe that support for one another is essential – laity and clergy; Churched and unchurched, and those in need of healing.”    

A Welcoming Church

              “The most common desire . . . was to be a more welcoming Church where all members of the People of God can find accompaniment on the journey. . .  People want the Church to be a home for the wounded and broken, not an institution for the perfect.  They want the Church to meet people where they are, wherever they are, and walk with them rather than judging them; to build real relationships through care and authenticity, not superiority.” (p. 7-8)  The report stated, “More work is necessary to welcome diverse cultural and ethnic com-munities. . .  Rather than divide us, our diversity should be a source of strength. . .  age, race, life experience.”             

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

______________________________________________________________________                                                                                                                                 December, 2022

Summary Report

              In the Fall of 2021, the US Catholic bishops participated in the worldwide Synod process.  Although Pope Francis has extended the deadline for another year, the Bishops Conference has now published the results from the information gathering phase entitled, “National Synthesis of the People of God in the US for the Diocesan Phase of the 2021-2023 Synod.” (usccb.org/synod) 

Enduring Wounds

              An estimated 700,000 people participated in the diocesan phase of the Synod in the United States.  “Those who shared their stories,” the report stated, “especially those who participated in small group sessions, stated that they felt listened to by the Church for the first time.” (p. 4)   One wound people endured was the continual effects of the sexual abuse crisis.  “Trust in the hierarchy of the Church is weak,” people proclaimed, “and needs to be strengthened..” The misuse of power related to the abuse of innocent victims and keeping this hidden from public view “had a compounded effect on priests and lay ministers’ willingness to develop closer relationships with the people they served due to a fear of being misinterpreted or falsely accused.” (p. 5)

              Another wound people mentioned was the experience that the Church is deeply divided.  The report said, “Sadly, celebration of the Eucharist is experienced as an area of division within the Church.  The most common issue regarding the liturgy is the celebration of the pre-Conciliar Mass. . . Many felt that the differences over how to celebrate the liturgy sometimes reach the level of animosity.  People on each side of the issue reported feeling judged by those who differ from them.”

              A third wound was the lack of unity among the US bishops, as well as individual bishops with the pope himself.  “This perceived lack of unity within the hierarchy seems to, in turn, justify division at the local level.  People at both ends of the political spectrum have set up camp opposing the ‘others,’ forgetting that they are one in the Body of Christ.  Partisan politics is infiltrating homilies and ministry, and this trend has created divisions and intimidation among believers.” (p, 5)

              Yet another wound is that of marginalizing individuals and groups, keeping them alienated and looking in from the outside.  Some who are on the fringe are those who lack social or economic power, such as migrants, ethnic minorities, the homeless and undocumented, people with disabilities or mental issues, those suffering from various addictions.  Also included in this category are women whose voices are frequently marginalized in the decision-making processes of the Church.  “Women on parish staffs said they felt underappreciated, underpaid, not supported in seeking formation, worked long hours, and lacked good role models for self-care.”  (p. 6)   Others who felt on the margins of the Church included LGBTQ+ communities, the divorced or those who have remarried without an annulment or were civilly married. 

              In response to these and other areas of alienation, the reported stated, “Throughout the synodal process, it was evident that most participants genuinely believe that support for one another is essential – laity and clergy; Churched and unchurched, and those in need of healing.”    

A Welcoming Church

              “The most common desire . . . was to be a more welcoming Church where all members of the People of God can find accompaniment on the journey. . .  People want the Church to be a home for the wounded and broken, not an institution for the perfect.  They want the Church to meet people where they are, wherever they are, and walk with them rather than judging them; to build real relationships through care and authenticity, not superiority.” (p. 7-8)  The report stated, “More work is necessary to welcome diverse cultural and ethnic com-munities. . .  Rather than divide us, our diversity should be a source of strength. . .  age, race, life experience.”             

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

_______________________________________________________________________                                                                                                                            November, 2022

A Gem Of A Parish

              The leadership of St. James Parish in Eau Claire, Wisconsin participated in a PEP Leadership Retreat consisting of an afternoon of reflection for the pastor, a full day of prayer and interaction for the staff on Friday, and a similar day for members of the parish leadership on Saturday.  While conducting the retreat days and presiding at the weekend liturgies, I became aware that this was no ordinary parish.  The blend of a warm and inviting pastor, an enthusiastic and creative staff, a group of dedicated and committed lay leaders and a community of welcoming and openness all worked together to create a sense of church well beyond the ordinary. 

What Is Happening

              While visiting the parish I had the opportunity to interview the pastor and a few others on staff and in leadership positions.  A staff member mentioned, “The parish was very active before the current pastor arrived.  People in the back pews sing out.  That doesn’t happen in a typical parish.  Long-time members say we have always been a singing parish.  The parish motto is ‘All Are Welcome’ and people really take this to heart.  Many people make a point of connecting with strangers and newcomers before the Mass begins.  It’s not just the pastor doing this.  And when people join the parish, they follow the example of long-time members and become active as well.  This feeds on itself in the best way possible. The previous pastor was very justice-minded, so the parishioners became justice-minded as well.  This tradition continued when there was a change in pastors a number of years ago.  One current problem is that we have such a wide variety of ministries that we do not have the room to accommodate them all; a nice problem to have.  Also, we have a great staff who feel blessed to be able to work at St. James.  It is important to have people who are enthusiastic about the parish;  the staff and lay leaders certainly are, and the parishioners see this and follow suit.”

              A second person interviewed was a member of the Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW) and is very active in the parish.  She began by saying, “There is a lot of positive energy here.  It began with the previous pastor who was very energetic and got things started.  It has continued to grow with our current pastor and with all of the young people who show up and want to keep it going.  We have three groups that work at the homeless shelter, as well as a new group that deals with environmental issues.  This is called, ‘Caring For Our Common Home.’  Everything we are doing now will be for naught if we don’t address climate change.  The parish is working on a master plan at the present time.”

              The third was a former member of the staff.  She remarked that when she first arrived at St. James a number of years ago, she could not believe what she found.  “People were so kind and hospitable.  All those who come, the parishioners accept them.  There is socializing with refreshments after every weekend Mass, including the Saturday evening Mass.  It now includes a light supper to which people bring pizza, tacos, barbeques and the like.  When anyone is in trouble, has a need or experienced a death in the family, the community is very supportive.  The key ingredients of the parish are hospitality, community, supporting people through difficult times, creativity, open-mindedness, wonderful liturgies and strong singing.”

              The pastor remarked, “The parish was already warm and welcoming before I came, as well as down-to-earth and unpretentious.  One Advent everyone got a tree ornament with a little mirror as a way of looking at oneself and considering how to grow spiritually.  There is an emphasis on helping people grow in relationship with God and with one another.  We have a Grief Support Group which got started on its own.  Little of this had to do with me.  That’s just one example of how the people are taking initiative at St. James Parish.”

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

_______________________________________________________________________                                                                                                                      October, 2022

A Pastor Does It All

              In September of this year I had an opportunity to visit Scotland.  One Sunday while there I went to Mass at  St. Mary’s in Fort William, a town on the western side of the country.  The church was well attended.  There was no cantor or organist present when the pastor walked down the aisle.  He and the deacon bowed and went up to kiss the altar.  He then headed over to the side and sat down at the organ to lead the congregation in the opening song.  He did the same for the responsorial psalm between the readings, as well as for the offertory and communion songs.  When it was time for the final blessing, the deacon did the honors while the priest made his way over to the organ to lead the recessional .  He, in other words, did it all – and he did it well.  The people responded by following his lead.  The only problem was, it was all his show.

A Different Approach

              The document on the liturgy from Vatican II encouraged all present “to full and active participation in the liturgy.”  To make sure this happened, people were hired to provide the accompaniment, select the songs, direct the choir, lead the congregation.  Because of this, liturgical staff people were hired to provide music at most of the weekend Masses.  The same emphasis on hiring staff members was true for religious formation, administration, community-building and outreach ministries.  The number of staff members in a Catholic parish now numbers between ten to twenty people, if not more.  As a whole they are dedicated people who usually work more than 40 hours a week, agree to a pay scale that is below what they could earn elsewhere, and provide a compassionate, pastoral presence to all seeking help, support, direction and a sense of community.

Celebrating Their Ministry    

            While giving of themselves for the benefit of the parish and beyond, they can often be taken for granted.  Because they are the instigators and planners for much of what happens at the parish, they may not be given the recognition they deserve.  Listed below are options for fostering greater appreciation:

• At one or more of the weekend liturgies, inviting all of the parish staff forward to receive some form of thank you for their service and dedication, such as a plaque, certificate or gift
• A joint meeting of the staff and pastoral council at which staff members pair up with a member of the council to describe the ministry that staff person does. The council member then describes to the entire group what was shared
• Making a video of each staff person’s ministry that is shown at all of the weekend This could be done either as one presentation for the entire staff or separate ones for each area of ministry that would be presented over a number of weekends.
• An insert in the bulletin that has pictures and descriptions of the various staff persons, along with how to contact each one to voice thanks for that person’s ministry in the parish and elsewhere
• A special dinner celebrating the staff and the contribution each one makes to the parish. This could be a catered meal or a potluck at which staff members make known their favorite dishes.

These are only a few of the many ways the staff might be given the recognition they deserve.

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

_______________________________________________________________________                                                                                                                               September, 2022

Touching the Spirit

              There are many ways in which a parish can stir people’s souls, either through music, scripture readings. Preaching, presentations, outreach projects, community gatherings.  One that is not often used is the reading of poetry.  In June, 2021, I had the pleasure of directing a gifted poet in an eight-day individually guided retreat.  Her name is Ashley Cleveland, a teacher at a charter school in Kansas City, MO.  She shared with me this poem she had written earlier. She also took the picture of a sunset over Niles Pond at Eastern Point Retreat House near Gloucester, MA. 

                                                       The Gift

Is it possible that my brokenness is                                                                    to me.

              truly beautiful to You –                                             But I wish it wasn’t for I’d find it.

That those parts of me hidden from                                                                    simpler if You asked something

              all others                                                                                  of me –

              even myself                                                               if I’d a task to do, a method that guaranteed

are what You most wish to see                                                             I’d win You over.

              embrace                                                                     But I believe You promised I’ve

              kiss softly                                                                                already won –

as if they were delicate like eyelids                                                       though I don’t remember competing,

              rather than hard                                                                       crossing the finish line to cheers

              as a callous?                                                                            and applause.

Can it be true that it is my weakness                                       Yes.  This is much more difficult

              You want most –                                                                                   than earning Your love –

That my competence just gets in the way                               for You have found me desirable in

              of surrender                                                                             my ugliness

              and humility                                                                            capable in my ineptitude.

which You offer to me like                                                     And what do you ask in return?

              precious jewels                                                                        That I accept this acceptance

              that which we covet                                                                this gift

rather than discard for lack of                                                               this affirmation –

              appeal, inability to                                                     That every inch of me is divinely inspired,

              dazzle?                                                                                   every moment sanctified,

Yes.  This is what I think You’ve said                                                               and You are all –

                                                                                                                                                       Sufficient..

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

______________________________________________________________________                                                                                                                                August, 2022

What Can Be Done?

              The Country is reeling from a spat of mass shootings in which a young male armed with a high powered rifle mows down a group of helpless children and adults for no apparent reason.  What makes them do it, why are they so obsessed with killing people?  An article by David Brooks that appeared in the July 8, 2022 of the New York Times offers some insights.  He notes, “They are not necessarily loners; they are failed joiners. . . .  The ones who become mass shooters decide they are Superman and it is the world that is full of ants.  They decide to commit suicide in a way that will selfishly give them what they crave most; to be known, to be recognized, to be famous.  They craft a narrative in which they are the hero. . . .  For people who have felt impotent all their lives, the guns seem to provide an almost narcotic sense of power.”  Quoting a young man who was caught before he went on a shooting rampage, “I wanted attention. If someone would have come up to me and said, ‘You don’t have to do this, you don’t have to have this strange strength, we accept you,’ I would have broken down and given up” 

Fostering Relationships

              A common thread running through those who perpetrate indiscriminant shootings is their lack of social skills that would help them to initiate and maintain meaningful relationships.  Spending long periods on one’s cell phone can often hide the loneliness and isolation a person is experiencing.  Kerry Jarvi, a Mental Health Counselor in Seattle, works with young people suffering from social anxiety.  He states, “One of the important parts of fostering a relationship is just starting a conversation and finding out what are the person’s interests, what are they passionate about.  Even if their interests don’t match your own, it is valuable to connect with them any way you are able.  It may seem small, but the act of reaching out to someone to ask about how they are or showing an interest in their life is powerful because it creates the feeling in them of ‘I matter to someone.’”  Granted that a certain level of self-confidence and social skills are needed to show interest in a person who is aloof and unresponsive, even a small amount of attention and focused listening can bring people out of their shell and initiate a response from them. 

Enlisting Help

            Because those who are withdrawn and uncommunicative are often unknown to the pastor and staff, it will take the involvement of others to reach out and connect with those who are withdrawn and alone.  The first step might be raising the topic among staff members.  Have they come across anyone in their ministry that fits this description?  What have they done about it; if anything, and what happened?  The staff members might then bring this topic up among co-ministers and lay leaders to see whether they had experiences in their families or with co-workers and acquaintences that could shed light on the topic.

            Those preaching at the weekend Masses could offer a homily on reaching out to the loners or those on the fringes of social groupings.  It is part of being a follower of Christ to seek out the lost, lonely and forsaken.  Rarely is this mentioned in the course of a reflection on Scripture, whether in church or elsewhere.  Mass-goers might also be invited during the Petitions to turn to the person next to them and ask that person to pray for someone who is lonely or without companionship, whether young or elderly.  Such an request could have implications far beyond a simple interchange during a liturgy.  It might save a life of someone contemplating suicide or perhaps more than one life if someone is considering a mass shooting.  As David Brooks wrote, “If someone would have said, ‘You don’t have to do this,’ . . . I would have . . . given up.’”

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

_______________________________________________________________________                                                                                                                       July, 2022

Connecting With Young Adults

              One of the desires on many Catholic parishes’ wish-list is a thriving ministry for those in their twenties and thirties.  “Where are the young people?” many parishioners complain.  “I look around and all I see are a bunch of gray heads.  There is no future for us with this clientele.”  Enter the Miami Vineyard in southern Florida.  It has a mission of “loving all people into a growing relationship with Jesus.  Whether you are looking for a fresh start, second chance or a community of faith to set down roots, we’re a great church for you.” (miamivineyard.com)  One of its many successes is a thriving Young Adult Ministry, many of whom are pictured in this photo.

Success Factors

              Two monthly events keep the twenty and thirty year olds coming back for more.  The first is a “Monthly Network Night.”  The goal of the experience is to have young adults who do attend invite their friends to this “cool thing happening.”  These nights are for those who might be intimidated by a small group environment.  After checking in, people enter a large room where there is music playing, food available, plenty of time to connect with others.  There are usually group activities and games, all aimed to help people feel comfortable and ‘at home,’ as well as getting to know others they had not previously met.  The winners of the games receive prizes, including gift cards, tee-shirts and the like.  Towards the end of the evening there is a brief period for prayer and quiet reflection, about fifteen minutes in all.  It includes a short presentation, one-on-one interaction or questions from the group as a whole.

              The second event takes place once a week and stresses small groups sharing.  At 7:30 pm all meet briefly together for reconnecting, mingling and snacks.  This is followed with a large gathering for announcements and common prayer.  Then everyone splits into small groups, some made up of only men or women, others are mixed singles, while still others focus on couples.  Most use prepared discussion materials, either written or on video, others have a topic or question that participants have usually reflected on before the meeting.  Towards the end, time is called in order to space for closure and a concluding prayer.

              Nick Hage, the Communications Pastor commented, “A big deal for us as a church is that Young Adults Ministry does not become a church community separate from the larger Miami Vineyard.  This is why we encourage our young people to serve during weekend services, to plug into the life of the church, to serve on outreaches, to invest in kids/youth by serving in those areas.”

A Plan of Action

Knowing that establishing a Young Adult Ministry in a parish is no easy task, here are tips to help this happen:

1. The pastor, staff, council and leaders make a commitment to become a “young-adult-friendly” parish
2. Parishioners are encouraged to welcome and accept young people into the parish community
3. The Finance Council makes this ministry a spending priority by providing a budget for implementation
4. Parishioners are asked to locate as many young adults as possible, inviting them to a special gathering
5. A committee is formed to hire a young adult minister who can create and lead the program
6. Trial periods of three months, six months and one year are built into the job description
7. The new minister and young adult leaders construct goals, name desired outcomes and form traditions
8. Contacts are made with successful programs from around the country as a way of discovering “what works”
9. Personal contact and social media are used for inviting young people to events and activities
10. Include many options for young people to become involved, such as  trips, parties, social outreach, tutoring, etc.

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_______________________________________________________________________                                                                                                                                  June, 2022

A Quiet Revolution

              Without fanfare, a document was released from the Catholic Curia in Rome entitled, “Praedicate Evangelium (Preach the Gospel). It takes effect on June 5, 2022, the Feast of Pentecost.  It has the potential of shaking up the Church and the way it operates in the present day.  It is in line with how the Holy Spirit affected Christ’s original disciples in Jerusalem’s Upper Room. 

              An article entitled, “Pope Francis Draws On Vatican II To Radically Change How the Church Is Governed,” by Colleen Dulle appeared in the May, 2022 issue of America magazine (pp. 12-14).  She wrote, quoting the document, “The Curia reform ‘must foresee the involvement of lay men and women . . . in roles of governance and responsibility’ (Sec. 1, Art 10). This means that ‘any member of the faithful may preside over a Department or Body, given their particular competence, power and governance or function.’ (Sec. 2, Art 5).”  Dulle goes on to state, “By making church leadership more cooperative between bishops and lay people, especially laywomen, it may make the Church more attractive to those disillusioned by the Church’s lack of equality.” (p. 13-14).

              The May, 2022 issue of Commonweal also had an article on the same topic.  It was called, “Rome on Mission,” authored by Austen Ivereigh, a biographer of Pope Francis. (pp. 10-12)  He quotes from Praedicate, “The power of governance in the Church does not come from the sacrament of Orders, but from the canonical mission.  .  .  Never has clericalism been dealt such a deadly, final blow.” (p 11)   Ivereigh mentions that when Pope Francis was elected in 2013, “the Curia was a law unto itself, self-referential and haughty, wedging itself between the local Church and the papacy. . .  That has long since changed. . .   Curial officials are keen to hear and learn from them (the bishops) and to assist them. . . It is a shift from confidence in human power to receptivity to the Spirit, away from a command-and-control vertical Church to one where authority is service.”

Local Applications

            Reconstruction of parish structures has been going on for many years in response to the declarations and suggestions of the Second Vatican Council, as well as the urgings of the Holy Spirit.  The oversight groups direct and plan the ministries of worship, formation, outreach, community and administration.  The maintaining of coordinating groups on the local level has been going on for a number of years, although assessing and renewing their effectiveness is an ongoing task.  Taking the cue from the pope’s “Preach the Gospel” decree, these are aspects associated with any parish leadership group:   

• Coordination: Making sure all ministries and activities in a particular area are functioning well
• Planning: Looking ahead at what needs to be accomplished and what it would take to get there
• Communication: Every group and parishioner receiving up-to-date information about its operation
• Diverse: Its membership reflects the gender, age and cultural backgrounds of the parish
• Attactive: The group is appealing to parishioners, it has a positive image in the community
• Listens: Makes an effort to hear ideas and gain insights from others not in the group
• Open: Has an open stance to new approaches, creative ideas and regular feedback
• Connecting: It links together all of the groups and activities associated with its area of ministry

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________________________________________________                                                                                        May, 2022

Relating Over Time

            David Brooks’ column in the New York Times last month was entitled, “The Secrets of Lasting Friendships.” (NYTimes, March 24, 2022)   He refers to a recent book, Friends, by Robin Dunbar, “The average human mind can maintain about 150 stable relationships at any given moment.  These 150 friends are the people you invite to your big events.”  He goes on to state, “Most have a circle of roughly 15 closer friends. These are your everyday social companions – the people you go to dinner and the movies with.  Within that group there’s your most intimate circle, with roughly five friends.  These are the people who are willing to give you unstinting emo-tional, physical and financial help in your time of need.”

Old Scouts Together

            Four Scouts, Jerry, myself, Chuck and Jim, were part of Scout Troop 88 in Minneapolis from 1950 to 1954.  It was a time for exploration – camping, swimming, hiking, advancing through the stages of scouting.  In the summer of 1954, twins Jim and Jerry moved to Los Angeles with their family and the connection was lost.  Then in 1990, we reconnected for a canoe trip in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota.  Since that time, we have been in regular contact with one another, first through an annual one-week “expedition” somewhere in the United States, and more recently, through a weekly Zoom meeting together.  We’re close friends, in other words.  Where did it all begin?  At Visitation Parish at the age of 11. 

Providing Opportunities        

            A typical parish is made up of hundreds, if not a thousand or more parishioners.  As the Covid threat recedes, the largest gathering is once again at the weekend Masses.  People become accustomed to seeing one another at church, offering a simple nod as they enter, gesturing to each other during the Greeting of Peace, standing in line with others as they receive Communion.  Taken as a whole, this is not a circle of friends, but lasting friendships do arise from the experience and at various smaller parish gatherings throughout the years.  It is at these groupings – sewing circles, book clubs, sporting events, volunteering, social outreach – where close relationships can arise, ones that might last for decades or more. Such relationships cannot be forced, they just happen, but the soil from which they grow and flourish can be prepared, cultivated, tilled and watered.  Such parish occasions might include:

            Instead of the Petitions at Mass being read from the Ambo, people could be invited to turn to the ones close to them, preferably those they might not know, and ask them to pray for a need, person or situation.  They, in turn, would listen to what the other person’s request might be.  It often happens that at a following Mass, people make contact with their “prayer partner” to learn what had happened.

            At smaller gatherings, a custom of identifying participants with name tags and sign-up sheets help people remember those who were present.  Reports and meeting summaries could include the names and contact information of those who attended so that a further connection might be made if so desired.

            Where possible, keep groups small, splitting those that have become too large, no more than 15, as David Brooks suggested.  Make it easy for new people to join by maintaining an image of openness and acceptance of new members.  Friendships among the staff and leaders serve as models for other close relationships among people throughout the parish community.  It is pure gift whenever it happens.

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 _______________________________________________

                                                                                          April, 2022

Mary Oliver’s Poem On War 

            The Eskimos Have No Word for War             

            Trying to explain it to them

            Leaves one feeling ridiculous and obscene. . .

            They listen politely, and stride away

            with spears and sleds and barking dogs

            To hunt for food . . .

            . . .  Later, by fires and boiling bones

            in steaming kettles, they welcome me, . . .

            To share what they have in a hungry time

            In a difficult land.  While I talk on

            Of the southern kingdoms, cannon, armies

            Shifting alliances, airplanes, power,

            They chew their bones, and smile at one another.

A Source of World Unity

            The Inuits were focused on surviving in a harsh climate at the time the poem was written, January, 2010. They had little connection with and even less interest in what was going on elsewhere.  This might not be true today.  Almost every corner of the globe is caught up with the conflict and suffering in the Ukraine because of the pictures, videos, reporting and commentary from every angle.  Despite the devastation, discovering a common ground of protest against the war has shown that world leaders and governments are able to agree that sanctions, protests, condemnations and outrage are appropriate in the face of unwarranted aggression.  They are not just chewing bones and smiling at one another, they have leaped into action at a pace that has surprised perpetrators and victims alike.            

Parish Responses

Besides offering prayers and taking up collections, some churches are doing other things to help the Ukranians:

• St Barnabas in Chicago asked for medical supplies and in two days filled two carloads and drove them to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the neighborhood to be sent to Poland and on to Ukraine.
• The Gesu Parish in Milwaukee had a Prayer Vigil that began with the Ukrainian flag leading the entrance procession as the Ukrainian Anthem was being sung. Many stayed to light candles at the end.
• Christ Our Light Church in Princeton, MN is uniting with all of the denominations in the area to pray as one for the people of Ukraine, both those who have fled the war and those who remain to fight.
• A parishioner at St. Josephat in Warren, MI, Chrystyna Adams owns a restaurant. She urged parishioners to eat there on the day she pledged to send all proceeds to refugees and citizens of Ukraine.
• This parish held a Car Rally from Warren to Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit in support of Ukraine.
• Immaculate Conception Ukranian Catholic Church in Warren, MI is preparing to welcome women and children refugees from Ukraine, arranging housing and tuition-free education.
• The IC Schools also sponsored a “School Road Rally” in which 100 cars took part in a two-mile parade from the church to the schools in solidarity with the soldiers, citizens and refugees of Ukraine.

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          Ideas For Your Parish            ________________________________________________

                                                                                       March, 2022

Influencing Others

            Sometimes we discover a book that we didn’t think would amount to much but surprises and delights.  Such was a recent offering by Zoe Chance entitled, Influence Is Your Superpower, The Science of Winning Hearts, Sparking Change, and Making Good Things Happen (Random House, 2022.).  What got my attention was a recent interview on National Public Radio in which the author mentioned the question,  “What would it take?” As Chance wrote in her book, “I call this the Magic Question, and it’s my favorite influence stratgy.” (p. 152).  It caught my attention because it tends to get the entire group involved in solving a problem or finding a solution. 

            A second suggestion Chance offers for influencing behavior is, “People tend to take the path of least resistance.  Ease is the single best predictor of behavior,” (p. 41)  In other words, make it easy, simple.  Amazon knows this well.  Select what you want, put it in the cart, click on send, off it goes.  So does Southwest Airlines.  Choose a destination and the dates, look for the best fit of price and time of day, and you are on your way. 

            Another method for influening others is framing.  Zoe Chance writes, “A well-chosen frame can determine what’s relevant, what’s important, or what’s good.  When you frame someone’s experience in a compelling way, you shape their expectations as well as their interpretation of events.” (p. 101)  She lists different kinds of frames.  One is monumental (this is a big deal).  For example, “We are out to break the record.”  Another frame is manageable (it’s not that hard).  “You can do it, lots of people your age have.”  A third frame touches into the mysterious (it sparks intrigue and curiosity).

 You tend to pick up a mystery book that catches your attention; it is well framed for adventure and action.  

Ask the Magic Question

            What issues face a parish these days?  Encouraging people to return in-person to the weekend liturgies?  Building a sense of community where all feel welcomed?  Connecting with young adults on the margins?  Enlisting more than a faithful few to participate in service projects?   First, choose the issue or challenge to address.  Invite a group of people, both those with experience in the area and those without.  Put the question before them – What would it take to solve this problem or meet this challenge?  Prime people’s imagination and creativity with a few starters.  As people pour out ideas, list all the contributions, choose the ones to work on.            

Make It Easy

            Suppose the topic is young adults who are thinking of leaving the Church.  What would make it easy for them to change direction?  Coming to a weekend liturgy might be the last place they would consider as an easy place to come.  Something more attractive might be a fun gathering of those their own age, such a pizza and beer night, or viewing and discussing a recent movie.  Target various subgroups, such as those with small children (free baby sitting included), working couples who can’t find time for each other, singles who would like to meet others with similar interests.  Perhaps a location away from the parish would make it easier for them to attend, or the parish setting might act as a common ground where all could gather.  Best to ask the young adults who are still active what suggestions they have to make it easy for others to attend these events.

Frame It Well

            How the event is framed can make all the difference.  What’s in it for them – what would make it inviting and interesting.  One frame might be, “Addressing climate change right in your home.”  Another could be, “Come as a stranger, leave with a friend.”  A third frame touches on the mysterious: “Discover next weekend what are three symbols people often miss at Mass.”  (Spoiler Alert: standing for the Gospel, adding a few drops of water to the wine, breaking the host before communion, among others.)

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Ideas For Your Parish            ________________________________________________

                                                   February, 2022 (20 Year Anniversary)

Moving Into Top Gear

            Christopher Lamb in the Dec. 18/25, 2021 issue of The Tablet wrote, “The Pope seems determined not to waste what he sees as a critical, epoch-shifting, kairos moment to reshape the Church for the twenty-first century.” (p.4).  Lamb went on to list the pope’s achievements during 2021:  

• Opening the Synod process for the entire Church
• Making a historic visit to Iraq
• Giving the green light for an unprecedented corruption trial in the Vatican
• Offering bold leadership on the migrants’ crisis, climate change and social justice
• His intention to stay pope until his reforms are ‘irreversible’
• His effort to uproot the entrenched culture of clericalism in the leadership
• A trip to Cyrus and Greece at the end of 2021 

The Pope’s Desires for the Church

            Christopher Lamb’s article offers three characteristics of the Church close to the heart of Francis.  The first is a more fraternal Church.  “The pope told the priests and religious in Cyprus, ‘Walls do not and should not exist in the Catholic Church, for the Church is a common home, a place of relationships and of coexistence in diversity. . . .  It must become an open space in which all are welcome. . . .  The divesity of the whole shows the richness of unity.” 

            The second characteristic is humility.  “For Francis,” Lamb wrote, “a Church marked by humility does not assume it is the dominant force in the culture.  As the pope mentioned, ‘Do not forget that the Church throughout the world is a minority, but this does not mean being insignificant, but closer to the path loved by the Lord, which is that of littleness: . . . of meekness.’” 

            The third characteristic of the synodal Church is being prophetic.  “His consistent advocacy for refugees and migrants,” Lamb noted, “at a time when European governments are hardening in their attitudes makes him seem like a voice crying in the wilderness.  Francis is modeling a Church that stands alongside the marginalized and speaks truth to power.”           

Applications On the Local Level

            A parish could do worse than to model itself on fraternity, humility and prophesy.  Paraphrasing the pope, a parish should not have any walls separating the community but needs to foster the spirit of a common home as a haven of unity in the midst of a rich diversity.  Easy to say, hard to achieve.  Most parishioners in a typical Catholic parish are strangers to one another, and the fear of Covid is keeping individuals farther apart.  What they hunger for is a warm environment where all feel welcomed and cherished as a member of the parish family.

            Inviting people into the parish demands a practice of meekness and acceptance where all are valued, all are worthy.  No one is better than another, regardless of one’s status, function, age or length of membership.  The pastor, staff and key leaders are as much learners and listeners as they are proclaimers and initiators.  A spirit of equality and acceptance pervades all liturgies, activities, organizations and group interactions.

            Being a prophetic parish means speaking up for the voiceless and calling into question unfair practices.  It means speaking truth to privilege and favoritism.  This begins with discovering and challenging one’s own assumptions and ways of acting, as well as those of the parish taken as a whole.  It also means joining ranks with local groups and other faith communities so that, following the example of Pope Francis, the leadership and parishioners alike “stand alongside the marginalized” and find the courage to “speak truth to power.”

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Ideas For Your Parish            __________________________________________________

                                                                                               January, 2022

The Church Must Be Political

            These are the words of Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv. of Lexington, KY, in an interview conducted by John Gehring in Commonweal Magazine (Nov. 8, 2021).  The bishop stated, “It seems to me that the bishops of the United States need to collectively accept and integrate the magisterium of Pope Francis and defend his role as the universal shepherd from those who publicly work against him. . . . If the pope is commissioned to promote the unity of the Church, those who resist his teachings and insult his person are sowing division. . . . Bishops should correct the distortions about papal teaching and his pastoral priorities and try to explain how the universal perspective of the pope will not always be in sync with the priorities of the United States.”

The Example of St. Francis of Assisi

            Bishop Stowe was asked by the interviewer, “What do you think St. Francis would tell bishops if he could show up as a speaker at a national meeting?”  His response was, “I am not sure that those bishops who fail to understand Pope Francis would be able to capture what St. Francis was really saying.  He would tell us to love each other as brothers.  He would tell us to share the Gospel joyfully.  He would encourage us to get out in the streets and live among the poor.  He would tell us to celebrate the marvels of creation and teach everyone to appreciate it.  He would sound an awful lot like his namesake on the Chair of Peter.”

Implications For the Parish

            Bishop Stowe challenged his confreres to work with the pope as he responds to the mandates of the Gospels.  The leadership of a Catholic parish–pastor, staff and lay leaders–have the same duty no matter what it may cost them.  First comes an underlying thirst for Unity, one that allows for differences of opinion and outlook, but never a breakdown into factions.  A strong effort is afoot to encourage people once isolated by Covid to return to communal worship and parish functions.  One activity, offered perhaps regularly, might be to gather in small groups of people invited at random.  With guidance from a moderator, along with a few ground rules and some leading questions, have a frank interchange of personal thoughts and feelings that are devoid of any judgment or posturing.  It is okay to agree to disagree but never a sense of putting oneself above another.

            One path toward greater unity is to agree on the essential aspects of the parish’s Identity.  The staff and leaders might identify a few words that best describe the role and function of the parish.  Examples include Welcoming, Worshiping, Celebrating, Growing, Serving.  Once settled upon, they would then be proclaimed throughout the parish.  The key words could be introduced at the weekend Masses, asking people to share with one another what was implied by the words and in what ways they described the parish both now and in the future.

            Two other actions were mentioned by Bishop Stowe as close to the heart of St. Francis of Assisi.  One was to encourage parishioners to leave their comfort zones and make personal contact with those who were less fortunate than themselves.  The second was inviting parishioners to treasure creation and work towards its survival.  This is a major step for many parishioners, one they are unlikely to take on their own.  They need something that they can easily join, a activity where they find companionship through working with others, and where they feel they are accomplishing something worthwhile.  One way of achieving this is by planning regular Service activities throughout the year.  Special days could be occasions for work groups to fan out to clean up and beautify the surrounding area.  On another day people would visit churches and participate in liturgies, socials and discussion groups, even forming friendships with those unlike themselves.  St. Francis, as well as the pope, would be proud of such a parish.

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      ____________________________________________                                                                                               November, 2021

Neither Here Nor There

            Susan Beaumont has written an intriguing book entitled, How To Lead When You Don’t Know Where You’re Going, Leading in a Liminal Season (Rowman & Littlefield, 2019).  By liminal she means, “Seasons where something has ended, but a new thing has not yet begun. . . . Liminal seasons are challenging, disorienting, and unsettling.  We strive to move forward with purpose and certainty.  Instead, we feel as though we are trudging through mud, moving away from something comfortable and known, toward something that can’t yet be known.” (p. 2)  In transitions, it is the middle phase of being in a limbo that is fraught with chaos and confusion, but it is also a time of great creativity and new possibilities.

The Role of the Leader

            As the photo suggests, people may feel as if the sky is falling, but the leader is there with a bright white umbrella, holding the group together, providing assurances in the midst of fear, a beacon of courage despite a loss of direction.  Beaumont states, “When the identity of the organization is in flux, some parts of the old identity have died.  New passions and skills are emerging.  Leaders must attend to these shifts, naming what has ended, clarifying what is arising, resourcing what seems to be emerging.” (p. 114)

Uniting Into One

            Throughout the United States, Catholic parishes are consolidating because of changing demographics and a shortage of priests.  No longer is it possible to maintain the status quo.  A “liminal” season is being forced upon leaders and people alike, resulting in anger, confusion, denial, apathy, rebellion and rejection.  How the pastor, staff and leaders respond to different cultures coming together is critical.  Tasks for the leaders include:

• While acknowledging the gifts of each culture, emphasizing what they have in common is essential. This includes identifying such assets and attributes as welcoming, serving, growing, celebrating, caring. These are characteristics that all parish communities try to maintain and develop.
• Sharing stories about each place’s origin, history, triumphs, failures, pastors, defining moments is important. This is best done in small mixed groups, perhaps with a group facilitator or recorder.  “When we are between an ending and a new beginning, when we are neither here nor there, when we aren’t certain what to do next, we turn to our memories to make meaning of our experience.” (p.97-98)
• Leading people through the “in between time” means providing reasons for the change. “In the absence of meaning and purpose, people become fearful.  Fearful people will attach themselves to anyone who promises to reduce their anxiety.  Often, this involves attachment to one who promises a return to the past.” (p. 113)  Reminding people again and again why this is happening reduces the fear and anxiety.
• A good leader not only names what must be left behind, but points out what is coming to life, what new avenues are opening up for them. “Leading a congregation whose identity is shifting is difficult work.  The process is an exercise in attending and surrendering. . . . We surrender the loss of that identity without fully knowing what will replace it. . . .  We attend to what is emerging as we walk forward in faith, trusting that a new identity is unfolding.” (p. 116)  A leader who is aware of this movement is critical in keeping the gaze forward towards new possibilities rather than backwards to what is no more.  
• As a new future begins to emerge, good leaders look for ways of engaging people in new and exciting activities and projects. “Innovation happens naturally when we empower people to solve problems they care about, when we let go of our obsessions with right order and proper channels, and when we let everyone have equal access to information and communication channels.  When we let go of our need to feel in control of what happens next, remarkable things begin to occur.” (p.147)

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__________________________________________________                                                                                                    October, 2021

It Won’t Be Pretty

            The book is called, The Ministry For the Future, the latest novel of Kim Stanley Robinson (Orbit, 2020).  It begins with a deadly heat wave in India in which tens of millions die, but moves toward a hopeful sharing of resources that seeks to keep the earth’s increase in temperature to two degrees centigrade or less.  The UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow during this November will include over 30,000 delegates from around the globe, including Pope Francis.  In Laudato Si’ he wrote, “Leaving an inhabitable planet to future generations is, first and foremost, up to us.” [160]

Both Macro and Micro

            The crisis is real and must be confronted by governments as a whole (macro), as well as by local communities, churches and organizations (micro).  An excellent guide for helping to reduce our carbon footprint is The Climate Diet by Paul Greenberg (Penguin Books, 2021). It covers such areas as eating and drinking, saving and spending, fighting and winning.  Here is a sampling of some of Greenberg’s suggestions.

Changing Habits

• Ease up on the meat and cheese; consider chicken and wild fish instead.

      “If every beef-eating American switched to chicken, the United States would cut its carbon emissions by over 200 million tons.” (p. 5)

• Veggies are good, but roots are better.

      “In case you’re wondering which foods deliver the absolute most nutrients for the absolute least  emissions it’s  … carrots.” (p. 15)

• Buy food without the packaging; and reduce the use of aluminum foil.

      “Aluminum manufacture requires a tremendous amount of electricity – around 3 percent of the global  supply.” (p. 21)

• Reduce the amount of wasted food; compost what is left over.

      “Americans throw out about 40 percent of their food. . . . United States has larger landfill emissions than any other country on Earth, the equivalent of 37 million cars on the road each year.” (p. 23)

• Use electricity instead of gas for cooking, water heater, dryer and furnace.

      “Every time you turn on your gas stove, or every time your gas water heater fires up, methane leaks into the atmosphere.” (p. 45)

• Drink from the tap; it is by far the cheapest drink in both emissions and money.

      “The billions of plastic bottles manufactured every year . . . use the equivalent of around 17 million barrels of oil – enough to fuel more than a million cars and light trucks for a year.” (p. 27)

• Change part of the lawn into a forest; plant trees as gifts to one another and for special occasions.

      “Just half an acre of lawn converted to forest and allowed to grow to maturity will sequester more carbon dioxide than a car emits in a year.” (p. 58)     

An Urgent Call

            “Trimming your personal carbon emissions has two effects,” Greenberg states.  “The most immediate and obvious one is a simple raw reduction of pounds of carbon dioxide put into the atmosphere.  The second and perhaps more important effect is that once we establish an effective climate diet ourselves, we might work to get the nation on one as well.” (p. 95)  This is the calling of the the Church and local parish, to be known as “Instigators of Change.”  The life of our species and of our home planet depends on it.

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___________________________________________________                                                                                         September, 2021

A Relationship

            Over the last few years, I have been offering staffs and leaders a Day of Renewal and Reflection, both through in-person visits and online via Zoom.  During these one-day mini-retreats, the participants spend three periods of individual prayer, each lasting 20 minutes.  For the first one, those attending are given a prayer by Fr. Joe Whalen, SJ, former provincial of the Maryland Jesuit Province, which he wrote in 1979.  It is often referred to as the Pedro Arrupe Prayer after the Jesuit Superior General in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s.  The second prayer period is based on the Scriptures.  People choose one of three options, either from the Gospel of John or Luke.  The third prayer time has as its focus one’s personal commitment to ministry as a member of the parish leadership. The focus for all three periods of prayer is to strengthen one’s personal, intimate relationship with God, whether it be God Father/Mother, Jesus the Risen Christ, or the Holy Spirit.

Pedro Arrupe Prayer

            “Nothing is more practical,” the prayer begins, “than finding God, that is, than falling in love in a quite absolute, final way.  What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything.  It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you do with your evenings, how you spend you weekends, what you read, who you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.  Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.”  As the retreatants go to their Sacred Place of prayer, they are asked to respond to these two questions: “What speaks to me in this prayer?” and “What is my response?”  As they reflect on the prayer, one word or one phrase might catch their attention or give them pause.  “Stay there and don’t move on,” they are told.  “Talk to God/Jesus/Spirit about it and listen intently.”

Praying With Scripture         

 For the second prayer time, the retreatants choose one of three passages.  The first is from John, 1:35-42, regarding the invitation offered by Jesus to Andrew and his companion when they asked, “Where are you staying?”  “Come and see,” replied Jesus.  The two were forever changed by the experience.  The second passage is from Luke 10:1-9 which contains the commissioning of the seventy disciples.  “Whatever town you go into and the people welcome you. . . ,” Jesus instructed. “Tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is very near to you now.’”  The third choice is at the end of Luke’s Gospel, Ch 24:36-45, when Jesus appeared to the disciples on the night of his resurrection.  “It is really I myself,” he assured them.  “Touch me and see: ghosts have no flesh and bones as you can see that I have.”  For this time the suggestion is to “put yourself into the scene.  Become one of the persons in the story.  Pause and rest wherever you feel drawn or moved.”  At the end of the prayer, people pair up with one other person, sharing with each other which passage they chose and why.  If the two chose the same scripture, what were their different takes on what drew them in and how they reacted.

A Commitment

The final prayer period focuses on the person’s ministry, whether as a staff member or a parish leader.  Each was asked four questions on which to reflect and then share their answers with a partner.  The first question asked people to consider one key aspect of their ministry, “What am I doing now?”  Given that area, they were asked, having had this time to speak with the Lord, “Am I being called to do this one thing differently?”  The third question, having had time to pray, “Is anything new being asked of me?”  If yes, the final question is “What do I need to let go of to make this new thing happen?”  Obviously these questions need more time for reflection and discernment later, but the prayer and the discussion with another could be a start in perhaps a new direction.  The answers to these questions are not made alone but only with a grounding in personal prayer and the help and insight from others.

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

     ____________________________________________                                                                                                            August, 2021

Focus On the Family

            Many Catholic parishes have been experimenting with alternative approaches to religious formation. One example is Christ the Good Shepherd Parish in Spring, TX.  It has decided to do away with classroom instruction and focus on family interaction and spiritual growth.  The pastor, Fr. James Burkart, wrote, “Last September (2020) we completely re-visioned our faith formation process from a class-centered model to a family (domestic Church) centered model.  We have eliminated on-going, on-campus ‘classes.’  In their place, our faith formation department is producing weekly Family Guides.  The classroom is now in your living room, your deck, the clubhouse of your apartment complex.  These guides are emailed out weekly to every family for whom we have an email address.”  “Family” includes all varieties of living experiences present in the parish.

            Each week’s Guide includes a reflection question to stimulate a discussion that could take place any time during the week.  The question for the 17^th Sunday of Ordinary Time on July 25, was, “What does it mean to support the ministry of the Church so that many people come to know and love Jesus Christ.”  Following this question there are numerous resources to help stimulate and guide a family interchange.  Two ideas offered for that week’s question included:  1) Name some of the work that the Church does?  2) How do you think the Church helps people to know and love Jesus Christ?  The pastor stated, “If families are to thrive, we must learn to practice our faith in the home and in the world in which we live. The future of our children and our entire society depends on it.”   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ICd1rO08rL3enrrKaGH6KUcMnYRTUFU_/view

Gathering Groups of Families

As a way of affirming, encouraging and supporting the at-home discussions, the second step is the formation of groups of families that would meet every four to six weeks to share and discuss what each family talked about over the previous weeks.  Volunteers are recruited to facilitate the small groups, receiving both guidance and support from the parish staff.  One resource for the facilitator is a sheet containing “Key Points for Small Faith Groups.”  It offers such helps as, “There are no wrong answers in faith sharing.” “Take your time. Silence is okay.” “Listen and affirm each other.” “Give everyone a chance to share.”  Because the parish has experienced small faith group sharing in the past through “Renew” and other similar programs, many parishioners have welcomed this initiative and have become involved.  Some groups include children while others have only adults.  Where children are present, the weekly Family Guide provides suggestions and activities for different ages, including pre-school, elementary, junior high, senior high and adults.  Ivana Meshell, Director of Lifelong Faith in the parish wrote, “Through the small Faith Groups, we learn and grow together as we become more faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.” 

Periodic “Flock” Events

The third phase of the process are parish-wide gatherings of the Faith Groups. The word “flock” comes from the name of the parish, Christ, the Good Shepherd.  Three or four times a year, a large event is planned that takes place on parish grounds.  Speakers who appeal to various age groups supply the energy and motivation to “Go Deeper” in their faith and care for others.  People then divide into random groups that do not include those with whom they are familiar.  The focus is on more than sharing faith, it is putting their faith into action.  They pick an area of outreach to work on and then strategize ways that it might become a reality.. 

The entire process begins in the home, offering helps and suggestions for sharing faith and growing spiritually.  As a support in this effort, families are encouraged to share their experiences in small groups.  These include a variety of approaches depending on the ages of those involved.  Finally, these small groups meet in one large parish assembly,  This approach to religious formation may prove helpful elsewhere as well.

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Ideas For Your Parish

____________________________________________________                                                                                       

April, 2021

An Uncomfortable Fact

            The Catholic Church in the United States is made up mostly of white people. There is an increasing number of those with Hispanic backgrounds, but only a small percentage is African American.  The uncomfortable fact is that among the white parishioners, every person lies somewhere on the continuum between manifesting strong biases and racial behaviors to those with less strong racial attitudes.  No one is exempt.  A person may protest to the contrary, but each one of us, as a white person, lives in a privileged and entitled environment. 

A Personal Antidote

            Only recently have I become aware of my racial attitudes and accompanying behaviors.  I grew up in Minneapolis, MN and attended a Catholic high school of 1000 students, of whom only a few were black.  I never related to any of them, nor did I encounter many African American people until I was sent to Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL to study philosophy and physics.  Upon arrival, I took part in a ministry to the black community nearby, tutoring grade school students and becoming acquainted with their families.  During my three years there, two incidents stand out.  One was being called “[N]-lover” by a Jesuit classmate who grew up in the South.  I never forgot it.  The second was the week that JFK was killed.  The entire black community was in deep despair; the whole neighborhood was deathly silent.  On my rounds to tutor the children that weekend, one family invited me into their home.  They included me in their grief and spoke of their experiences of being black in a southern city.  From that day forward I never thought of myself as being racist, but I was wrong.  There is a way of acting that presumes that I can do whatever I wish so long as it is within the boundaries of the law and makes good sense.  That gives me a freedom most African Americans do not have. 

Waking Up As A Parish        

            Awareness is the first step to moving along the continuum towards becoming less racist.  Robin Diangelo in White Fragility wrote, “When our fundamental understanding of racism is transformed, so are our assumptions and resultant behaviors.” (Random House, 2018, p.142)  She continued, “Imagine the difference in our environment, interactions, norms, and policies if the following list described our assumptions:”  A few items on the list included, “All of us are socialized into the system of racism.”  “Racism cannot be avoided.”  “Bias is implicit and unconscious; I don’t expect to be aware of mine without a lot of ongoing effort.” 

            The awakening begins with the leadership: pastor, staff and lay leaders.  They are all overworked, but a reordering of priorities might be required.  A Google search provides local resources for workshops, classes and seminars on anti-racism.  A few could attend one or more and bring back to the others what they had learned.

            Forming relationships with people of color, especially African Americans, is a healthy step, interacting with them on an equal basis, listening rather than explaining, making excuses, interrupting or sharing ill-placed humor or remarks.  If the experience leads to lasting friendships then these encounters have become graced.

            Relating these experiences to the parish community as a whole is the next step, either through homilies, reflections at the end of Mass, materials in the parish bulletin, presentations between Masses or during the week, small group discussions and the like.  Hopefully, as people return to Mass and active parish involvement following wide-spread vaccinations, they will join this emphasis on racial awareness and accountability,

            Fostering frequent interactions with people of color, both formally and in casual settings, is the key to creating experiences where people pray together, share potlucks, enjoy sports and games with one another, visit one another’s churches, speak freely without judgment or fear of reprisals.  “See how they love one another.“   

___________________________________________________                                                                                        March, 2021

Imagining the Future

            That is what Pope Francis has asked us to do in a new book entitled, Let Us Dream. The Path To A Better Future (Simon & Schuster, 2020).  It is divided into three parts: “A Time to See,” “A Time to Choose,” “A Time to Act.”  Or in his own words, “Contemplate, Discern, Propose.  “First, look at reality, however uncomfortable, above all the truth of the suffering in the margins of society.  Second, discern the different forces at work, distinguishing what builds up from what destroys, what humanizes from what dehumanizes, and thus choose what is of God, rejecting the opposite. Finally, propose fresh thinking and concrete steps that stem from the diagnosis of what ails us and how we might act differently. (pp. 142-143)

Contemplating

            Despite the broad, global vision of the book, it includes concrete, practical suggestions that apply to the local level.  “To go to the margins in a concrete way,” exhorts the pope, “allows you to touch the suffering and the wants of a people but also allows you to support and encourage the potential alliances that are forming.” (12)  What does that mean for a parish community, especially one that is beginning to regroup following the pandemic?  Can people, fresh from lockdowns and aloneness, see how others are still suffering and neglected?  The pastor, staff and leaders are in a position to turn the gaze of parishioners to something greater than themselves.  “What the Lord asks of us today,” the pope commented, “is a culture of service, not a throwaway culture.  But we can’t serve others unless we let their reality speak to us.” (15)  The challenge is to bring the awareness of those on the margins to the center of parish life.  “Who are they.”  “Where are they?”  “What are they asking of us?”  These questions are not for that small portion of the parish that responds to those seeking help; it’s for the whole community to contemplate and ponder.

Discerning

            Once the information flows in and the entire parish has a chance to digest what has been discovered, the next step it to make choices.  “We can start to discern, to see new possibilities, at least in the little things that surround us, or that we do each day.  And then, as we commit to those small things, we start to imagine another way of living together, of serving our fellow beloved creatures.  We begin to dream of real change, change that is possible.” (20)  Many people, not just a few in leadership, need to be included in the discerning process.  This has happened in the universal Church through Synods where many diverse groups come together to reach a consensus.  The same process could happen on the parish level.  “Synods produce intense discussion, which is good:” the pope states, “they involve different reactions and responses to those who think differently.” (85)   He goes on to say, “Most important of all is the synodal spirit: to meet each other with respect and trust, to believe in our shared unity, and to receive the new thing that the Spirit wishes to reveal to us.”  Discerning is hearing God’s voice in us all.

Proposing

            After “pondering” how the community might connect with those on the margins and “discerning” what are possible ways to do this by narrowing the options down to the few that show promise, then.  comes the final step of translating ideas into “action.”  But connecting with those on the margin is a two-way street.  As the pope mentions, “The homeless have the dignity to sit at our table, to feel ‘at home’ among us, to feel part of the family.  This is the sign that the Kingdom of Heaven is in our midst.” (113)  He also says, “Hidden there [on the margins] are ways of looking at the world that can give us all a fresh start.  We cannot dream of the future while continuing to ignore the lives of practically a third of the world’s population rather than seeing them as a resource.” (119)  This is the path to a better parish future. 

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

_____________________________________________________                                                     February, 2021 (Begun in Feb. 2002)

Taking the Risk To Speak Out

            After the incident at the US Capital on Jan. 6^th, I asked a number of pastors whether they mentioned anything about it in their homilies or bulletins.  A number responded, one was even quoted in a prominent newspaper.  The article appeared in the Jan. 16, 2021 edition of the Chicago Tribune.  Written by Mary Schmich, it was entitled, “A Catholic pastor speaks out about Trump.  Some parishioners walk out.”  “On the Sunday morning after the deadly riot at the United States Capitol,” it began, “Father William Corcoran put on his black suit and clerical collar and stepped into St. Elizabeth Seton Church in the Chicago suburb of Orland Hills.  .  .   When it was time for the homily, Fr. Bill stepped up and said, “On this Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we drink in the last goodness and glories of the Christmas season, and begin ordinary time on Monday.  Goodness and glory are not two words that we would use describing our past week when we saw an angry and violent mob seize our United States Capitol and interrupt Congress in its duty of certifying the State Elector votes for President and Vice-President.  Such an action has left many of us angry and hurt.  Since then we have entered a typical moment of finger pointing, blame, and holding people responsible for what happened.  Such finger pointing is not new.  In the very story of creation Adam points his finger at Eve for tempting him with the apple, and Eve points to the snake as the cause of the trouble.  Finger pointing often leads to avoidance of responsibility. 

            “I too want to engage in finger pointing and point to myself, and accept personal responsibility in part for what happened in the Capitol this past Wednesday.  As President Trump has lied about so many things, I have never spoken out, and fear we are teaching the young that truth and facts do not matter.  To remain silent now, in the face of the violence, is to give tacit permission that this is how we settle some things. .  .  When you lance a boil, it’s messy, it’s painful, it’s smelly.  But it lets the poison out.  We need to let some poison out of the system for the process of healing.”

            The reaction?  The article continued, “By Corcoran’s count, a dozen people walked out of the early Mass that morning.  Nearly two dozen more at the 9:30 Mass. “Probably 30,” he estimates, at the 11:30.  Each time he was startled.  Saddened.  ‘Awful,’ is how he described it later.  And each time he knew he was doing what he had to do. . .  ‘I didn’t think it was courageous,’ he said.  ‘I thought it was necessary.’”

            Another pastor, Fr. Bob Kinkel at St. Jude’s Parish in Lakewood, CO, a suburb of Denver, had a similar response.  “I spoke about Trump’s impeachment at this morning’s Mass.  A woman started shouting at me.  I asked her to leave.  She didn’t like the idea evidently.  I said that this is an unprecedented day in our history that a president should be impeached twice because of what happened last week with all this lying.  She finally left, shouting all the while. . .  And of course, we are not to speak of politics at Mass.”

Uncovering Truth

            Fr. Norbert Maduzia, pastor of St. Ignatius Loyola in Spring, TX, just north of Houston, began his bulletin reflection, “This is a difficult column to write.”  He went on to mention the attack on the Capitol and admitted, “I know there are parishioners among us who believe that the attempted insurrection was the right thing to do and those involved were justified in their actions.”  He then declared, “Truth prevails.  Senator Mitt Romney remarked, ‘The best way we can show respect for the voters who are upset is by telling them the truth.  That is the burden and the duty of leadership.’”  The pastor said, “We are called to live the Truth.  Jesus has called us to live in unity, to be healed of division and hatred.  Violence is never the answer. . .  I probably will be verbally attacked and there will be at least a few who may choose to leave the parish.  But, in my opinion, it’s a little price to pay for the truth.”

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Ideas For Your Parish

___________________________________________                                                                        December, 2020

Coming Out Of The Fog

                There will be a moment when the pandemic is left behind.  Once this happens, parishioners who have spent months watching live-streamed liturgies, remaining at a distance from parish life, may need some encouragement to rejoin the community.  It will be up to the leadership to invite and encourage full in-person involvement once again.    

Listen, Really Listen

            Underneath the Masses, socials and celebrations, beyond the gatherings, large and small, will be the need to provide occasions – many of them – where people are free to tell their stories.  They need to know that the pastor, staff and leaders are listening intently to what they have to share.  These include accounts of what people have gone through, remembrances of those who have died, why they have chosen to rejoin the parish community in person and what ideas they have about how to move forward as a parish.  In other words, begin the post-covid era with “Listening Sessions” in safe environments small enough where all can speak freely and know they are being heard.

How To Have Better Conversations

            David Brooks, of the New York Times, wrote about conversations in his November 20, 2020 article.

• Approach the person with awe:  Begin by expecting to be delighted.  Every human being is a miracle and has something to teach us.
• Ask elevating questions:  Examples include, “What was a positive moment during Covid?”  “Whom do you feel most grateful for in your life?”  “What problem did you used to have but now have licked?”  “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” 
• Use open-ended questions:  The best questions start with, “What was it like . . . “ or “Tell me about a time . . . “  or  “How did you manage to cope when your [wedding, reunion, birthday party, etc.] was postponed for a year or even canceled?”
• Make the person an author, not just a witness:  Brooks writes, “So many of the best conversations are not just a recitation of events.  They involve going over and over an event, seeing it from wider perspectives, coating it with new layers of emotion, transforming it.” 
• Treat attention as all or nothing:  Brooks suggests, “In conversation it’s best to act as if attention had an on/off switch with no dimmer.  Keep it on with total focus; the effect is magnetic.”
• Don’t fear the pause:  It is hard to stay attentive right to end when someone is speaking.  We often are ready with a comment as soon as the person has stopped talking, or even before.  Better to wait for a second before responding.  This is better than replying immediately, or worse, interrupting the person.
• Keep the gem statement front and center:  In the midst of many difficult conversations, there is the comment that keeps the relationship together.  People may come with hurt and pain, but somewhere in the midst of this there might be, “I never doubted your efforts.”  “You wanted the best for me.”  Grab it.
• Find the disagreement under the disagreement:  When a conflict appears, there may be another hidden issue that caused it.  By inviting people to go deeper and being curious about where the disagreement came from is more important than winning or being right.
• Use the midwife model:  This means helping others bring their thoughts to birth.  As Brooks writes, “Spend a lot of time patiently listening to the other person . . . bringing forth unthought thoughts, sitting with an issue as it slowly changes under the pressure of joint attention. . .”

Before inviting people back with programs and activities, give them the freedom to speak to you first.

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

____________________________________________                                                                         November, 2020

The Pope’s Recent Encyclical

                The word “parish” never appears in Fratelli Tutti, the Pope’s lengthy commentary on social friendships and world fraternity.  But the word “community” does appear 24 times, half referring to it as a global reality and the other half stressing a more local emphasis.  Using these last 12 references as a guide, the encyclical does have much to offer to the parish situation.            

We Can Only Be Saved Together

            The pope makes mention of community when he touches upon the Covid-19 pandemic by saying, “Once more we realize that no one is saved alone, revealing once more the ineluctable and blessed awareness that we are part of one another, that we are brothers and sisters of one another.” (#32)  Even though people are viewing Mass at a distance and are deprived of parish-wide celebrations, they are still included as part of the parish community.  Many parishes are discovering creative ways to include people virtually and spread the feeling of “belonging” despite the obstacle of not being together physically.

Turning Aside To Help Another in Need

            Chapter Two is devoted to the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10.  “The parable eloquently presents,” Francis writes, “the basic decision we need to make in order to rebuild our wounded world.  In the face of so much pain and suffering, our only course is to imitate the Good Samaritan.  Any other decision would make us either one of the robbers or one of those who walked by without showing compassion for the sufferings of the man on the roadside.  The parable shows us how a community can be rebuilt by men and women who identify with the vulnerability of others.” (#67)  The stress and tension of the pandemic and struggles of the current election process have left many feeling vulnerable and unsupported.  Parish leaders and parishioner alike are called to set aside their own plans and agendas while showing compassion to those on the margins.  So many people are alone, unemployed, homeless, hungry, afraid and separated from others.  “Like the chance traveler in the parable,” the pope commented,” we need only have a pure and simple desire to be a people, a community, constant and tireless in the effort to include, integrate and lift up the fallen.” (#77)  Little acts of kindness and concern exercised by parish volunteers help bridge the gaps between the “haves” and the “have-nots.”

Thinking and Acting in Terms of Community

            Pope Francis calls us to act in solidarity with those who have been thought of as not worthy of ongoing care and attention.  As he put it, “Solidarity means much more than engaging in sporadic acts of generosity.  It means thinking and acting in terms of community.  It means that the lives of all are prior to the appropriation of goods by a few.” (#116)  It is, in other words, an ongoing state of consciousness that there is no one who lies outside the circle of a parish community.  One example mentioned in Chapter Four is the plight of the immigrant.  Francis suggests, “Our response to the arrival of migrating persons can be summarized by four words: welcome, protect, promote and integrate.” (#129)  He goes on to list 15 concrete actions that give meaning to these words, ending with “supporting the reuniting of families; and preparing local communities for the process of integration.”

            Fratelli Tutti means “Brothers and sisters all,” a quote from St. Francis of Assisi who was called by God to “build Me a Church.”  St. Francis thought he was to repair a building but eventually discovered he was to reform the faith community.  Pope Francis is asking the same from us today.  Form community and foster friendships with those unlike ourselves, those outside our circle.  No better place to begin than the local parish.   

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

________________________________________________________________________________________                                                             September, 2020

Worship of a False God

                This is the title of an interview conducted by Regina Munch with Fr. Bryan Massingale, a professor of theology at Fordham University.  It appeared in the July/August, 2020 issue of Commonweal Magazine, pp. 36-39.  Although Fr. Massingale has been quoted in the last two PEP Newsletters, this interview is too important not to be the subject of this current issue.  The origin of the title comes from conversations Massingale had giving lectures on racism and the Catholic Church.  “People always ask me, ‘Well, how many African-American priests are there?’  Currently there are fewer than a hundred of us on active duty in the United States, out of tens of thousands.  That’s not by accident.  It’s a reflection of the normative whiteness that, to be blunt, is a form of idolatry – that God can be imaged and God can only manifest God’s self through European and European cultural products.  Yeah, there is a normative whiteness present in the Church, but I would say that it’s a form of idolatry.  It’s the worship of a false god.” (p. 38)

The Catholic Bishops’ Document On Racism

            Commenting on the U.S. Catholic Conference’s pastoral document, Open Wide Our Hearts, published in 2018, Massingale pointed out, “the document was written by white people for the comfort of white people.  It illustrates a basic tenet of Catholic engagement with racism: when the Catholic Church historically has engaged with this issue, it’s always done so in a way that’s calculated not to disturb white people or make white people uncomfortable. . . . It never condemns police abuse of power or police misconduct.”  He goes on to say, “If white comfort sets the limits of conversation, then that means we will never face the difficult truth: the only reason for the persistence of racism is because white people benefit from it.  That difficult truth is something that the Catholic Church in America has never summoned the courage or the will to directly address.”  

The Courage To Act

            In speaking about courage, Massingale mentioned, “There are a lot of good white people who know what the right thing to do is. But they don’t do it because they’re afraid of the disapproval of their friends or family, or they’re afraid of the consequences of speaking up.  It isn’t that people don’t have the conviction, but they don’t have the courage to act on those convictions.”  He also addressed the issue of violence, referring to it as “misdirected anger.”  He complained, “If there are better ways for people to make their point, I wish they would tell me what they are.  Because people of color, black Americans, have marched.  We have demonstrated.  We have organized.  We have protested.  We have voted.  We have studied.  We have taught.  We have begged.  We have cried out – for years, for decades, even centuries.  The reason why these measures haven’t proved effective up till now is that not enough white Americans want substantial change.” (p. 39)

Ways A Parish Can Act With Courage

• The leadership of the parish makes a commitment to courageously address racial attitudes and actions.
• Groups are formed to discuss various topics that people of color suggested needed to be addressed.
• Results from the discussion groups are posted for reflection and sharing among family and friends.
• Pastor and pastoral council create a document which affirms anti-racial policies and ways of acting.
• Teams are established to carry the policies into concrete actions which are shared with the community.
• After six months, the parish celebrates the progress made and pledges to keep the momentum going.

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

________________________________________________                                                                            August, 2020

Understanding Racism

                Ten years ago, Fr. Bryan Massingale wrote a book that still rings true.  It’s called, Racial Justice and the Catholic Church (Orbis Books, 2010).  He  suggested that sympathy or even empathy is not enough in response to racial disparities.  Solidarity, for him, was the key.  “Solidarity entails a constant effort to build a human community where every social group participates equitably in social life and contributes its genius for the good of all.” (p. 117)  This is a difficult ideal to achieve. 

            One way to build a community where every social group contributes to the good of all is to realize that there is a difference between how those of different races view themselves.  “If one were to try to capture the ‘soul’ of African American culture,” Massingale writes, “perhaps it would be struggle.” (p. 20)  For the White culture, the core element is “the presumption of dominance and entitlements.” (p. 24).  The movement towards solidarity requires a greater understanding of how these two cultures differ from one another and how the differences might be addressed.  To this end, those of various racial backgrounds will need to talk with one another about their personal experiences.

A Process For Building Awareness

            One way to foster parish conversations on this topic is a process called The World Café ((Juanita Brown with David Isaacs, Berrett-Koehler Publ., San Francisco, 2005.)  Any number of people can participate and it can be adapted for virtual interaction.  In a parish setting, for instance, those who choose to “attend” would receive an email that included links Zoom sessions.  The planners for the event would divide the participants into three sets of “meetings” of four people each, plus a “host” to act as moderator.  The ideal would be to have racially mixed groups, although this might not always be possible.

A Sample Meeting

            You receive a surprise call from the pastor asking you to join a pilot project.  “If you agree,” he says, “you will receive an email with links to three Zoom sessions, each including 3 other people and a moderator.  The first session will start at 3:00 pm on Sunday, another at 3:20 pm and a third at 3:40 pm.  There will also be a fourth link for all 20 participants to share their reactions.  It will start at 4:15 pm.”            Having agreed to participate, you link into the first Sunday session.  The other three parishioners are new to you.  The host explains the process and then asks the four of you to reflect on this question: “What was a personal interaction you had recently with someone who was of a different race?”  After a moment of reflection, each of you have a story to tell.  After 15 minutes, the host intervenes, telling us to go back to our original email and click on the second Zoom link for the 3:20 pm session.                               This second session has a group that includes a different host and three other new people.  The host begins by asking this question: “As you told your story in the first session, do you remember making any assumptions about the person you encountered, or if not when it happened, at least as you reflected on it now?”  This is a more difficult question, but as people struggle to answer, some insights begin to emerge.  The interchange ends when the host asks you to enter the third session with a new group and a new question: “What could I do to foster greater solidarity among those of different races in the parish?”  It is some time before anyone begins the conversation, but soon various ideas surface.  At 4:00 pm, the session comes to an end with the instruction, “Join us in 15 minutes with your reactions and whether we should do this with others in the parish.”  You link into the combined meeting, recognizing those you were with at the earlier sessions.  After sharing reactions, the process comes to an end with the pastor thanking everyone for our involvement and promising to let us know what the next steps will be.  Your response?  “It was a great experience.  Thank you for the invitation and yes, do it again for others!”

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

__________________________________________________________________________                              July, 2020      

Confronting White Privilege

                The world-wide outpouring for solidarity around “Black Lives Matter” following the killing of George Floyd could be a tipping point for a change in attitudes and actions by white people towards People of Color.  Local churches and parishes could play a significant role in keeping this momentum for greater racial equality moving forward.

What Can White People Do

            Fr. Bryan Massingale, an ethicist at Fordham University, has written a powerful reflection in the June 12-25, 2020 issue of the National Catholic Reporter on the current racial justice activism in our country.  It is entitled, “The Assumptions of White Privilege and What We Can Do About It.”  He guides the readers to a deeper understanding of a troubling reality, especially for many white Catholics, and includes several practical action steps for individuals and faith communities.  These include sitting with discomfort, admitting the need for further education, confronting family and friends, being unconditionally pro-life, and praying. (https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/assumptions-white-privilege-and-what-we-can-do-about-it)

A Parish Case Study

            Consider a pastor who took these words to heart and did something about it.  “I need to allow this awareness to go deep into my soul,” he reflected.  “What person of color could I find to lead me through this?”  He found a Black woman, a Unitarian pastor, to be his mentor.  For eight days in a row he met with her and listened to her stories of racial intimidation and fear.  Then he prayed that he would be open to a new understanding of himself.  When the week concluded he was ready for the next step.

            First, his homilies included an acknowledgement of his white privilege and power.  Next, he called the parish staff together for a Zoom session.  He shared his retreat experience and asked them to reflect on their own areas of white privilege, how this influenced their attitudes, actions and ways of ministering.  They agreed to do this soul-searching he requested.  What he prayed for became a reality; the staff “got it.”  As one member shared, “I feel we are no longer the same staff we once were.  It seems as though there has been another virus in our midst, one hidden deep inside that has now shown itself.”

A Blue Ribbon Commission

            With the staff’s support, the pastor called the pastoral council together for a virtual meeting.  He recounted his own retreat experience and the staff’s desire to move forward.  “What is happening in our country,” he began, “is a rare opportunity, a moment of grace.  I propose that we gather a group of picked individuals to lead us toward a new reality as a parish, one open to greater racial equality.  Let’s face it, we are a white community with all of the hidden benefits this includes.  What I ask of you, as the council, is to give this new commission the authority to make decisions and an adequate budget to carry out its mission.  Will you take this risk, uncertain and uncomfortable as this may seem?”  Much discussion followed but in the end they agreed to give it a try, but limit it to only a six month trial period.

            This new commission began by mapping out action steps.  These included inviting a Black pastor to preach at the Masses and answer questions afterwards, an outdoor social to which a local Black congregation be invited to attend, offering videos and other materials for online reading, a monthly speaker series with small group discussions, new banners and decorations in the church.  Parishioners would also be given suggestions about how to talk with family and friends regarding racial issues.  These plans all pointed to a parish more open and accepting of all, no matter the person’s culture or background.

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

________________________________________________

May, 2020

It Won’t Be The Same

                There will be a time when churches reopen, when people gather for Eucharist, when marriages and funerals take place before the assembly.  But the pandemic has changed us all, and the parish as well.  The old skins will no longer contain the new wine.  This will be a time to imagine the parish in a new light, to realize that, as Paul wrote, “everything has become fresh and new.” (II Cor. 5)  The response of Pope Francis to the Synod on the Amazon entitled, Querida Amazonia (Beloved Amazonia), might offer a framework for an altered future.   

The Pope’s Exhortation

            When the pope’s response was published in early February, 2020, many American Catholics were disappointed that he did not allow for the priestly ordination of married men or for women deacons,  This will not be the end of the discussion, however.  As Tom Reese, SJ commented, “Francis did not say yes to married priests, but neither did he really say no.  Discussion of the matter will continue, whereas previous papacies said no to even discussing the topic.”  (Religion News Service, Feb. 14, 2020)  More significant were the four “Dreams” the pope enunciated for the Amazon region and for the world at large.  The first was a Social Dream so all are able to enjoy “a spirit of human fellowship.” (No. 20).  The second was a Cultural Dream that fosters “intercultural encounter.” (No. 36)  The third was an Ecological Dream where there is a “close relationship between human beings and nature,” (No. 41).  The fourth was an Ecclesial Dream where the “missionary proclamation must continue to resound.” (No. 62)

Dreams For The Parish

            These dreams could serve as a framework for what the “New Normal” might be for parish life.

Socializing:  Once the distancing is relaxed and people are able not just to “watch” services but to participate in person, the key word is listen.  This begins with the leadership, flows through the community and out to those on the margins who need to be included and given a voice.  They are part of the  new wine  that God is offering.

Enculturation:  Pope Francis warns, “Factors like consumerism, individualism, discrimination, inequality, and any number of others represent the weaker side of supposedly more developed cultures.” (No. 36).  Parishes  might be quite different as diverse people search for a spiritual home that satisfies their longings. The pope goes on the say, “Let us sit around the common table, a place of conversation and of shared hopes. .  .  . Our own cultural identity is strengthen and enriched as a result of dialogue with those unlike ourselves.” (No. 37) 

Ecology:  The response to the pandemic showed that we can make changes to our lifestyles in a crisis.  Another one is staring us in the face.  Much as people would like everything to be as it was before Corvid-19, this is no longer possible.  A parish community can provide a model for care of our environment by living and preaching a simpler, cleaner, renewable way of life.  “A sound and sustainable ecology,” Pope Francis wrote, “one capable of bringing about change, will not develop unless people are changed, unless they are encouraged to opt for another style of life, one less greedy and more serene, more respectful and less anxious, more fraternal.” (No. 58)  One locus for change could be the parish, a place to pour new wine into new wine skins.

Inclusion: One aspect of the New Normal could be the increased role of the laity, both men and women.  Referring to the Amazon region, the pope affirmed, “The laity can proclaim God’s word, teach, organize communities, celebrate certain sacraments, seek different ways to express popular devotion and develop the multitude of gifts that the Spirit pours out in their midst.” (No, 89)  The same needs to continue to grow in the parish as well.  A second aspect of inclusion is connecting with other denominations and faiths.  All reflect the action of God in our world.  Including them in the new wine skins can enhance the life of the parish itself.

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

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March, 2020

Mentoring

                Parents mentor their children, teachers mentor their students, professionals mentor apprentices, Jesus mentored his disciples.  People with knowledge, experi-ence, wisdom and insight help and guide those seeking growth and maturity.  The parish is one place where this happens.  Colleen Campbell and Thomas Carani of the Catholic Apostolate Center in Washington, DC have published The Art of Accompaniment: Theological, Spiritual and Practical Elements of Building a More Relational Church. (www.CatholicApostolateCenter.org. 

Where It Happens

            We are both mentors and mentored throughout our lives.  In the parish this dynamic takes place on many levels and in many areas.  Walking with people through sacramental formation is one place this happens.  A child is born and the parents participate in a pre-baptism program that affirms their responsibility to raise their daughter or son as a beloved of God.  The child grows and encounters many mentors who help, guide and nurture the person through Confirmation, marriage preparation, perhaps joining a ministry, dealing with transitions and culminating in being helped through sickness and aging.  In other words, ours is a life-long journey that is made easier when there are individuals or groups willing to walk with us, hold our hand, share a story, give advice and simply listen to our feelings and desires.  These companions on the journey may not be parish-related, but it helps when a parish community and its leadership is available if someone seeks assistance, guidance and support.

Good Mentors

            Jesus was one, as revealed in the Resurrection stories.  Two despondent disciples are on their way to Emmaus.  Jesus comes along side, first listening to their experience of loss and despair, then explaining the scriptures and finally sharing a meal.  It was an encounter of discovery.  Mary Magdalene was another, rushing back to the upper room to spread the Good News, acting as a mentor to the stricken gathering.  St. Paul was one to the community in Corinth.  He admitted he was not a very good speaker, but “I have made myself all things to all people in order to save at least some of them.” (I Cor. 9:22).  In our present day, we are blessed to have Pope Francis as a humble mentor who cajoles and challenges us to reach out to the poor and needy. 

            In our personal lives we can recall a parent, family member or friend, teacher or colleague, pastor or church member who made a big difference when we needed it, helping us through crises, affirming our self worth, encouraging our dreams, loving us despite our failings, remaining a faithful, caring mentor.

Forming A Culture

            In a parish, accompaniment happens in many hidden and unknown ways.  It would be helpful to shine a light on these occurrences and give them the attention they deserve.  This could begin with the pastor, staff and lay leaders identifying the many relationships formed between mentors and those being accompanied.  They might explore where this is happening in worship, community-building, formation, ministries, outreach and administration, even where it happens among the staff and leaders themselves.  Start making connections between these individual relationships so they become known as an essential ingredient of what it means to be a parish of kindness, inclusiveness and affirmation.  Then make this reality known throughout the parish community, encouraging everyone to expand this mentoring culture so that both the helpers and those who are looking for accompaniment are given the support and encouragement they need and desire.  

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

_________________________________________

February, 2020

Addicted to Criticism and Back-biting

                “When the Pharisees went outside, they immediately began to plot with the Herodians on how they might destroy him.” (Mk 3,6)  It has ever been thus, but with the advent of the Internet, destroying people’s reputations through gossip has become rampant.  Kaya Oakes, a correspondent for Religion Dispatches, wrote in A Pope Francis Lexicon, (Liturgical Press, 2018) “To gossip is to speak without thinking, write without fact-checking, or tweet without sourcing.  Gossip is instant gratification, and, as with so many other kinds of instant gratification, the after affects are something we rarely consider in the moment.” (p. 81)

The Work of Satan

            The same book, A Pope Francis Lexicon, contains a contribution on “Satan,” by Gregory K. Hills, a theology teacher at Bellarmine University in Louisville, KY.  Referring to a homily by Pope Francis from January, 2014, Hill wrote, “Whereas Christ through his Spirit endeavors to unify through humility and love, the devil seeks to divide through pride and hatred, both of which manifest themselves in gossip, envy, and infighting. . .  The devil thus sows theological and ideological divisions that threaten to tear apart the one body of Christ.  He does this by fostering jealousy and greed,  particularly through the terrorism of gossip. . . ‘ Gossip divides communities,” the pope stated, “it destroys communities.’” (p. 169)

Gossip In the Parish

            In the same book, Kaya Oakes, wrote a section entitled “Gossip,” in which she said, “At a local church, this [gossip] can lead to a kind of modern-day shunning, one in which individuals are iced out, ignored, turned down for committee work, or made to feel so uncomfortable that they leave.  Priests are not innocent of this; they too can fall into the habit of grousing about parishioners and one another, and especially about their bishops.  But all of these patterns begin in gossip.  A rumor begins with an individual who hears something.  Like the childhood game of telephone, as it passes from one person to another it becomes distorted and amplified to the point that the true story is lost.  The demonic aspect of this pattern is about the power to control the narrative.  The truth is stolen from the individual being gossiped about – and given over to gossipers.  This is only amplified in our age of social media where gossip runs rampant.” (p. 80)

Dialogue and Ground Rules

            Pope Francis suggests that dialogue is the antidote to gossip.  Gregory Hill paraphrases a homily Francis delivered in January, 2014.  “A dialogical church is one that rejects Satan in favor of genuine love for the other, including love for those who do not love us.” (p. 170)  Speaking directly to people rather than behind their backs uncovers misjudgments and brings the truth to the fore.  This takes much courage and often requires the help of a trusted third party to help facilitate the interaction.  What might help to foster dialogue and reduce the level of gossip in a parish community is a list of Ground Rules to which the pastor, staff and parish leaders commit themselves as a model for the parishioners to emulate.  Here is the beginning of a list that can be expanded and adapted for each parish community:

• When hearing or reading something unfavorable or unkind about another, don’t pass it on to others.
• If someone does something you find distasteful, if it is important, seek out the person for dialogue.
• Don’t use social media to criticize or judge another who has no way of knowing where it originated.
• Foster a climate of affirmation where all are thanked and congratulated for their efforts and abilities.
• If you can’t say something nice or supportive about someone else, don’t say anything at all.

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

______________________________________

January, 2020

A Growing Awareness

                I entered the Jesuits not thinking of priesthood.  My love for physics was what landed me in the Society of Jesus.  Being ordained was part of the package.  It was significant for me, of course, but how it eventually grew in importance was a surprise to me.  In the middle sixties I left teaching physics and took up sociology and group process with a focus on the Catholic parish.  For the last 45-plus years my ministry has been as a resource and help to pastors, staffs and leaders as they tried to bring out the best in their parish communities.  For much of this time, being ordained was an asset that helped to legitimate my ministry but it was not the main focus. 

            In recent years I have grown to appreciate my priesthood much more. One example comes to mind.  While doing a weekend leadership retreat in a parish, I was asked to preside at the Saturday Vigil Mass.  At the time, I had a bothersome cold.  When the opening song began I realized that I could not sing a note, not a usual experience for me.  It was a humbling situation but a good one.  During my proclamation of the Gospel, I began to cough so badly that I had to stop in the middle of the reading to fetch a glass of water.  For the homily, which I did from the middle aisle, I took my water glass along with me, gesturing with it in my hand.  Once again, this time during the Eucharistic Prayer, I stopped to retrieve my glass of water from the stand next to the presider’s chair. The congregation, a rather small one in a huge church, was very patient and accepting of my predicament.  I think it was one of my better Masses because it was not all about me.  Quite the contrary; this one belonged to the people and to the Spirit that got me through it.  The story describes a few aspects of my priesthood that I have discovered in recent years.

Be Myself

            Although 80 years of age, I am still healthy enough to offer mini-retreats for pastors, staffs and leaders, and I am enjoying it a great deal.  Three areas of my present work relate strongly to my priesthood.  One is presiding at Masses in a number of parishes across the Milwaukee Archdiocese.  I have discovered that I love to preach and lead people in worship.  I pull apart the readings and discover details that bring the stories to life, but hopefully without putting on airs or trying to impress others so much as to grow in understanding along with community.  I am who I am and am learning to let it go at that – nothing phony, contrived or put on.  It took me a while to get to this point and people have been responding well to this.

Connecting With Others

            Many priests are better at this than I am, but I’m learning.  Pope Francis has been such a model for me by the way he let’s go of his own agenda and turns to relate to the most unlikely persons in the crowd.  People’s lives are much messier than mine.  I need to listen to their joys and sorrows and let them change me.  If priesthood is to be Christ-centered, then that’s the way I need to shape my life as best I can.

A Relationship

            I firmly believe that we are meant to fall in love with God, Jesus, Spirit because that is what God keeps doing, falling in love with us.  Our God is not way out there somewhere.  Rather, it’s all about an intimate, loving, head-over-heels relationship.  All we have to do is show up and say, “Yes.”  I now realize that my priesthood is about helping people find God and fall in love.  But helping people fall in love with God is not the full scope of my priesthood.  There is always that next step which involves inviting people to listen to what God is asking of them as they grow into this relationship.  This usually means carrying this love of God to others and allowing them to love us and the God they see in us.  That is what I would like my priesthood to be..

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

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December, 2019

Rising Awareness of Women’s Role

                At the conclusion of the recent Amazon Synod, the bishops said in their final document that the idea of ordaining women deacons had been very present during their discussions. Pope Francis himself announced after the close of the synod, “I am going to take up the challenge that you put forward, that women be heard.” (Voice of the Faithful, Oct 28, 2019.)  Bishop McElroy of the San Diego Diocese was present and said, “I was struck by the tremendous support of the ministry of women in the region among the bishops who were here, among the indigenous leaders, among the women themselves who were participating, among the communities that were represented.” He added, “There was tremendous support for enhancing women’s roles in every possible way in the life of the Church and thinking creatively. . . How can women’s roles be expanded so that they can serve even more effectively than even they are at the present time?” (America Media, Oct. 29, 2019)

Taking the Next Step

            At the Synod, Bishop McElroy remarked, “One of the parish leaders got up and said what she does. She does everything in the parish except saying the Eucharist and hearing confessions. She baptizes, she celebrates the weddings, she preaches when there is the Eucharist, she has the communion service.”  The bishop saw broad support at the Synod for that and commented, “That really has already expanded there (in the Amazon region) beyond what we do in the United States.”

            Could the Church in the United States be approaching a critical moment similar to the Church in the Amazon?  Pastors are being spread thin these day, serving either very large congregations or being responsible for two, three or more parish communities.  Consider the liturgical and sacramental demands this creates, let alone overseeing all of the other pastoral, administrative and community-building responsibilities.  There was a trend to hire pastoral administrators or parish life coordinators, very often a woman, to carry out many of the leadership duties of a pastor, leaving presiding at the Eucharist and hearing confessions to an ordained minister, usually a retired priest.  This option does not appear to be as common now as has been.  Instead, many dioceses are merging or closing parishes as a way of dealing with the shortage of priests.  What suffers is being present to the community and providing adequate care for parishioners and others in need.

            What follows is a suggested progression for going beyond what is now happening in parishes with regard to the role of women.

1. Begin with a small Fact-Finding Team. Keep it small, no more than 8 members so all can be engaged in the discussion. Include men and women of various ages and backgrounds.  Its mandate is to discover all that is going on now that relates to the role of women in the parish, as well as what more might be possible.  It is important that the pastor both affirms and supports this group.
2. Within six months of its existence, a report of its findings is presented to the parish community as a whole, along with a process that helps people digest and discuss the results.  One option is the World Café method based on small group interaction.  (www.theworldcafe.com)
3. Based on the results from the gathering, various task groups could be formed to explore where  greater awareness, inclusion and involvement of women might be possible, such as in liturgy, music, partnering with the pastor, chairing various ministries, fostering a greater gender balance.
4. Various pilot projects might then be formed to implement what the task groups uncovered.  After six months, build in an evaluation process to assess successes and make any changes necessary.

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

____________________________________________

October 2019

Visiting the Border

                This picture was taken on the bridge over the Rio Grande River that delineates the border between El Paso, TX and Juarez, Mexico.  It shows a long line of people waiting to pass through U.S. customs.  David Shields, SJ and I stood in this line for over an hour on a Saturday morning in early September.  At other times, the line could be much longer.  This was part of a week-long experience of listening, volunteering and learning about the immigration situation on our southern border. 

A Few Impressions

            One day was spent at a shelter in El Paso at which busloads of migrants were dropped off by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel.  These were the lucky ones.  They at least had the name and phone number of a person or group somewhere in the country who would take them in.  As they got off of the buses, they were greeted warmly and their contact information recorded.  They were then given a set of clean clothes, toiletries, blankets and a cot on which to sleep for the night.  This was followed by a shower and a warm meal while their sponsors were called so they could send either a plane or bus ticket to take the migrants to their temporary home.  There they would wait for a court date to plead their case.  At the end of their brief stay in the shelter–24 to 48 hours–they were given sufficient food and drink for the last leg of their journey.  What was impressive was the level of organization necessary to process the people, as well as the patience and good humor of the migrants themselves.

            Another day was spent in Juarez, Mexico where those who had no one to sponsor them were sent back from U.S. customs to await their day in court.  The two of us, along with a group of volunteers from many parts of the U.S., passed out bottles of water, bags of sandwiches, cookies, fruit, toiletries, teddy bears, toys and coloring books for the children, and most importantly, shoe laces.  When the migrants are processed during their brief stay in the U.S., the ICE officers take almost everything the migrants have brought with them, including belts and shoe laces, just as happens to criminals entering prison.  When the migrants return to Juarez, it is easy to spot someone with shoes but no laces.  These are the ones who are prey for drug cartels looking to extort them or force them into servitude.  

A Resource for Parishes

            As a way of providing parishes and organizations with firsthand experience on the southern border, Jesuit Fr. Rafael Garcia, SJ and Marist Brother Todd Patenaude, FMS have founded the Encuentro Project.  This includes, according to their Information Guide, “direct work with asylum seekers, site visits, evening reflection and spiritual accompaniment.”  The project provides a residence and base of operation that can accommodate up to 20 people.  The participants are able to:

• Encounter and minister to migrants and refugees in shelters, guest houses and local parishes
• Visit with persons and organizations serving the El Paso and Juarez regions
• Participate in workshops on Catholic social teachings and border realities
• Participate in personal and group reflection and daily evening prayer
• Live in community, either as a short term immersion experience or for a longer term involvement

For more information about the Encuentro Program, email encuentroproject@gmail.com.

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

____________________________________________

August, 2019

Keys That Control

                The statue to the right is of St. Peter holding the keys to the Church.  At various times throughout history these keys have been construed as a symbol of dominance.  That is not what Jesus taught.  “Anyone among you who aspires to greatness must serve the rest, and whoever wants to rank first among you must serve the needs of all.” (Matthew 20:27)  The Christian community began with a flexible and inclusive structure  A few centuries later it became the official religion of the Roman State and its way of governing changed.  As it grew in numbers and spread into new areas, a hierarchical, top-down model developed that fostered power, prestige and privilege. 

A Shift In Emphasis

            The Second Vatican Council challenged this top-down way of operating, but the vision lost momentum as those in control spoke the rhetoric of “servant leadership” but failed to put it into practice. Then the election of Pope Francis held out hope for a new way of leading.  In his “Letter to the People of God” published on August 20, 2018, he said, “It is impossible to think of a conversion of our activity as a Church that does not include the active participation of all the members of God’s People. . .  Such is the case with clericalism, an approach that not only nullifies the character of Christians, but also tends to diminish and undervalue the baptismal grace that the Holy Spirit has placed in the heart of the people.” (Confronting the Systemic Dysfunction of Clericalism, Association of U.S. Catholic Priests, 2019, p 4.)

A Culture Without Accountability

            Cultures come into being when those with similar intentions, expertise or identity interact to fulfill a common task or service.  For example, teachers at the beginning of a new school year regroups to welcome newcomers, affirm their dedication to their students and plan was to work towards inculcating knowledge and character into the minds and hearts of their students.  They form a tight-knit unit as they make decisions together, knowing that they will be held accountable by the principal, parents and outside evaluative boards and organizations.  There are, in other words, built-in checks that keep the teachers’ culture in balance.  Such is not apparent with the hierarchical culture, as the recent crisis regarding sexual abuse has manifested.

Changing the System

            In any system, if one part changes, however small it might be, the whole is affected.  Accordingly, if the local parish changes, the entire Church experiences a shift.  In the present ecclesial structure the pastor is the one “in charge.”  This means that he has within his power the ability to change the way the parish operates.  For instance, suppose a pastor chooses to initiate a “checks and balances” process for himself.  He decides to hire a part time partner to work with him in handling many administrative duties of the parish, including personnel issues, conflict management, staff development, pastoral council formation, strategic planning and many other tasks he has had little time to cover.  The pastor begins by forming a task force to suggest possible candidates to be his partner.  From the list, he interviews a few he feels would possess the right chemistry to work with him and would bring out the best in both the staff and pastoral council.  After confiding with those he feels know him well, he picks one person who hopefully will complement his leadership skills and abilities, someone who will be forthright in offering suggestions a manner he can receive.  Part of the job for this new partner will be to help him accomplish such duties as the annual progress reports for staff members, formation sessions for the pastoral council and other leaders, listening to comments and complaints from parishioners who are afraid to address him directly.  The willingness of the pastor to be held accountable serves as a model for the staff and council to do the same.  It expands into many other areas.  It expands into many other areas.

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

___________________________________________

July 2019

Spur of the Moment

                While leading a one-day mini-retreat at a women’s prison recently, there was some extra time available before Mass.  As a spontaneous invitation I asked the group of seven, “What are three words that touch deep into your heart that would help you become a better person?”  They thought about it for awhile and then wrote their three words on a piece of paper.  I then asked each person to share the words and why these were important to them.  A partial list included understanding, kindness, forgiveness, freedom, patience, see differently, choose life.

Focus On the Positive

            Just as some parishes sum up their mission and purpose in just three or four words, each one loaded with meaning about the essential aspects of the parish, this summing up in just a few words might  be helpful for each member of the community as well.  It takes some thought, reflection and prayer to identify the three words, ones that lead us in a different direction from some of the self-seeking, addictive leanings we all experience at various times.    

A Parish Event

            As a way of helping people get in touch with the words that could lead to greater spirituality and growth, the parish might sponsor an event lasting about two hours that would help each individual identify a few words to live by.  Preceded by creative, inviting publicity, this experience might begin with the participants gathering together for prayer, an explanation of the process and what might be a possible outcome. 

            Next would be two people chosen beforehand to share their own special words.  For the man, it might be kindness, gentleness and patience.  “If I could practice each one of these just once a day, it would be a big step forward for me and I’m sure that all those with whom I might come in contact with would appreciate it as well.”  The woman liked the words he chose, especially being more patient. “But for me, one word is forgiveness.  This is so hard to do when someone puts me down or takes advantage of my generosity.  I sometimes find it hard not to hold onto a grudge or try to get even.  My second is stillness in the midst of my hectic life.  Finding the time just to unplug and be quiet, just for a moment.  I’m a much better wife and mother when I can grab a little peace somewhere in the day.  The third is not judging.  It sneaks up on me all of the time, seeing myself as better than another, or interpreting another’s motivation when I have nothing on which to judge why the person acted that way.”

            Once the group witnessed this interaction, they could be given an numbered index card and during a brief moment of silence be asked to write down three words that could make a difference in their lives.  At a signal from the leader, everyone would then find the other three persons who had the same number on their card as she/he did.  Small tables could be set up around the room ahead of time, each with a prepared group leader who would direct and oversee the conversation.  The foursome would then each share one of their words, along with an indication of why this was important.  If anyone had the same word, then that person would be invited to share, perhaps adding different nuances to its meaning.  The group leader would make sure that everyone had sufficient time to share their words and help all to practice the art of attentive listening.   

            At the conclusion of the sharing, after a few moments of quiet reflection, everyone would regroup to give their impressions of the event, including what surprised them, what gave them hope and insight, what ways could this experience be shared with others.   As people disperse, hopefully they might leave with an awareness of how just a few words could lead to a better life and a new way of acting.      

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Ideas For Your Parish

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April, 2019

Preparing for the Sunday Readings

            One way to get the most out of the weekend liturgy is to prepare ahead of time.  Bishop Ken Untener when he was still alive and leading the Saginaw, MI diocese, wrote brief introductions to the first two readings at the Sunday Masses.  For example, the first reading for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, Cycle C, which this year is on March 31^st, is from Joshua 5:9-12.  The introduction is: “After Moses died, God selected Joshua to lead the Israelites.  In this reading, Joshua and the Israelites have just crossed the Jordan River and now at long last are in the Promised Land.”  This short description provides the location and context for what is about to be proclaimed.  The Introductions for the first two readings for all three cycles is available for only $12 from Little Books of Saginaw. (www.littlebooks.org, 989/797-6686)  Having your own copy allows you to prepare ahead of time for the Masses.

Understanding the Gospel

            Learning about the Gospel requires more attention because it is so rich in meaning.  Brendan Byrne, SJ offers an excellent resource.  He explains in just a few pages the background and meaning of each chapter of the gospels, one book for each Evangelist: Lifting the Burden: Reading Matthew’s Gospel in the Church Today (2004), A Costly Freedom: A Theological Reading of Mark’s Gospel (2008), The Hospitality of God: A Reading of Luke’s Gospel (2000), Life Abounding: A Reading of John’s Gospel (2014) (All four books are published by Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN.)   Reading the section that refers to the weekend’s liturgy greatly enriches the experience of “taking the Scripture reading to heart.”

            One example is Mark 10:17-27 about the rich man who asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. (See the 28^th Sunday of the year, cycle B).  The rich man runs up to Jesus with great eagerness.  He falls on his knees and breathlessly asks the question, “What must I do?”  As Byrne puts it, “The man presumes that there is something he must ‘do.’” (A Costly Freedom, p.161-3) 

            Jesus begins to explore the question on a deeper level.  He attempts “to focus the man’s attention away from what he must do and onto the goodness and generosity of God.” Jesus then asks the man whether he has kept the commandments.  “The man protests that he has kept all these since his youth, clearly implying that he is looking for something more.”

            Byrne goes on to describe, “The sense of emptiness in the man’s life prepares the way for the invitation Jesus now sets before him.  In a detail particular to Mark we are told that before issuing the invitation Jesus ‘looking at him, loved him.”  A footnote adds, “The verb may imply that Jesus made his affection palpable through a gesture of some kind.”  Jesus is calling the man to a new way of life that is based on an intimate personal relationship with himself.  The man, in other words, is invited to a total transformation of life.

            The first step in this transformation is to make room in his life for a radical shift.  He must give up all the “stuff” that he has been counting on for his security, give it away to those who could use it, that is, the poor, and only then is he ready to follow Jesus.  By abandoning his wealth in this way, Jesus recom-mends transferring his security into a heavenly ‘bank;’ that is where his treasure will be.  Letting go of the dubious source of a security that is provided by wealth, the man will then be free to join Jesus, putting all of his trust in the Father’s goodness.  But he couldn’t do it.  “Sadly,” Byrne writes, “the man balks at the invitation and goes away, his disappointment patent in his downcast looks.  What he sought with such eagerness he cannot win because the pull of his ‘many possessions’ holds him captive.”

            Preparing for the Gospel beforehand makes it all the more enriching when heard during Mass.  

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Ideas For Your Parish

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March, 2019

Can Francis Do It?

            A new book will be coming out this month entitled, Can Francis Change the Church: How American Catholics Are Responding to His Leadership (Crossroad Publishing).  A select group of Catholics from around the country were asked their opinions about the Church at three key moments; in 2011 before Francis was elected pope, in 2017 after four years of his papacy, and in the fall of 2018 following new revelations of sexual abuse and accusations of cover-ups.

An Agent of Change

            According to those interviewed, these are some of the ways in which Francis is changing the Church:

• He has created a new and refreshing image of what it means to be a Catholic.  Bob, a person who is no longer a practicing Catholic, exclaimed, “Francis is a breath of fresh air.”  Colleen, who also has left the Church, remarked, “I am really excited that he is the pope because he is so open-minded.”
• His emphasis on the poor, the needy and those on the margins has challenged others to do the same.  Larry, an older person who was critical of the Church, nevertheless, was most impressed by Francis’ lifestyle.  “I see him living with poor people and understanding the poor.”
• Francis, by his words and actions, has made Jesus present in the modern world by calling for a change of heart.  Kristy, a person who has remained Catholic, commented, “I love the way he does things.  It goes back to the way Jesus would do things.”
• The pope’s care of the world’s environment through his encyclical Laudate Si’ has prompted others to follow his lead.  “He has given us a new vision,” remarked Maureen, a struggling but faithful Catholic.
• His awareness of the messiness of life and not making judgments about “irregular” situations that people face has given hope and encouragement to those who have become disheartened by life’s burdens.  “He would be welcome around our dining room table,” said Jamie, a former Catholic.
• He uses technology, news sources, and social media to spread the word about God and Jesus in the world at large.  “People are listening,” said Sally, now at a distance from the Church.  “They are following his tweets—it is good that they are getting his messages.”
• What amazes people is the freedom Francis has shown in challenging the hierarchy and Roman Curia to become servant leaders and not to get caught up in privilege and clericalism.  Joanne who is still a Catholic affirmed his efforts: “I hope the pope can appoint good men as bishops and cardinals, ones who see the reality of the situation and are not taken up with the trappings of their office.  That is what is so important.”
• Francis has shown an openness to include women in the life of the Church to a greater extent than his predecessors.  As Tony affirmed, “Francis has opened himself to seeing new things.  Who knows whether he will see the women’s issue differently.  It may not be his priority right now, but it may become so later.”
• There is a realization that the Holy Spirit is active in the Catholic Church and is working through the pope to bring all human beings into greater unity, forgiveness and love.  Anne, a Catholic who finds new hope in Francis, affirmed, “This is where the pope affects my life now—his good decisions.”  Rachael who also has remained in the Church commented, “The Spirit is moving, and the Spirit cannot be held back.”

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

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February, 2019

Three Parishes Into One

            In 1999, Fr. Tim Kitzke was commissioned by the Archbishop of Milwaukee to bring Holy Rosary, St. Rita and St. Hedwig on the near Eastside of the city into one.  It became Three Holy Women, a single parish with three locations.  The first thing Fr. Tim did was to calm people’s fears about “losing my parish home.”  He did this by focusing on relationships and not buildings.  “First of all, we need to get to know each other and be mission-driven to this area, not build our own little kingdoms,” he remarked.  Rather than merging the three sites into one, each one remained a viable place of worship. 

People Will Go Where They Are Fed

            The neighborhoods that Three Holy Women served were in the midst of transition when Fr. Tim arrived.  Many young adults were taking up residence while most of the retired people remained.  This created a wide spectrum of ages.  Fr. Tim began his pastoring by hiring good musicians at each place in order to provide a positive sense of liturgy.  He also focused on making the three worship sites places of hospitality.  He made sure that the growing staff worked well together and that it included those with a business background so that Three Holy Women would be on solid financial ground.  Soon a formation person was added to the staff, as well as a person to direct the social justice aspect of the parish.  When he first arrived, the staff had only three people; now there are twenty-five.  The yearly number of baptisms rose from 3 to 140.  “Be creative about what staff you hire,” suggested Fr. Tim.  “The concept of a parochial parish serving only those in the area is over.  When people witness a place with vision and purpose, they will come, and what is more, they will become engaged.”

Becoming Pastor of Three More Parishes

            A few years after Three Holy Women came into being, the Archbishop asked Fr. Tim to take over another parish but with the mandate not to merge it with another parish.  Thrown into the bargain was an associate pastor as a help to Fr. Tim.  The new assignment was a downtown parish which served a mixed clientele of working professionals and visitors to the city.  This meant at least one more Mass added on to the three celebrated on the weekends at Three Holy Women.  About six years later, another parish, Ss. Peter and Paul, was having difficulty, so it was added to the pastor’s plate, followed by a third parish that was itself the result of two parishes coming together as one.  To handle this new challenge, Fr. Tim pulled together a team of three priests to serve this community which was very different from Three Holy Women.  If you are keeping score, Fr. Tim was now the pastor of four parishes at six locations.   

How Does He Do It?

            According to Fr. Tim, “It has to do with leadership, it has to do with spirit, it also has to do with flexibility.”  He went on to say, “You can not live in the suffocation of planning.  Jesus did not say, ‘Go and form a strategic plan.’ Rather he said, ‘Go teach, go baptize, go proclaim the Kingdom.’  I am not deriding the need for good plans, but as a priest, I just want to be a dreamer.  Along with that, I want to be a coordinator of charisms.  I have now hired everybody on staff and they are all excellent in their specific field.  Lay ecclesial ministry is absolutely essential for the running of any parish.  I have discovered that the more I share the ministry, the stronger my priesthood becomes.  And the more I share the coordination of charisms, the stronger my priestly authority becomes.  These parishes are now looked upon as successes because we have full churches, full sacramental programs and we are taking care of the poor.  We have so much energy, both from the young and the retired.”

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

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January, 2019

[The following is an excerpt from an article to be published on americamagazine.org/voices/thomas-p-sweetser.]

A New Way To Be Church

            The gathering of heads of bishops’ conferences with the pope at the end of February, 2019, could be a start in a new direction.  Archbishop Scicluna of Malta, one of the organiz-ers for this meeting, stated, “We bishops need  . . . to adopt what Pope Francis is calling a ‘synodal approach,’ that is, we cannot do it alone in our community; we need also to empower the lay people, the laity, in order to help us be good stewards.” (Interview with America Magazine on Nov. 23, 2018.)   What would this empowering entail?  Many of those interviewed for a forthcoming book entitled, “Can Francis Change the Church?” (Crossroad Publishing, 2019), called for the laity to take a more active role in the various structures and decision making processes of the Church.

            Kathleen, an older woman living is Washington, DC, called for the Church to “bring the laity in, full force.  We are a huge hunk of the Church.  We need to be part of deciding what the Church is going to look like.”

Expand the Role of Women In the Church

            Larry, retired and living in Wisconsin, pleaded, “Bring women into leadership positions at the highest levels even if you don’t want to ordain them.  So much of what is human, caring, inclusive, watchful and loving is, by and large, better expressed by women, or at least better expressed by men and women together.”  This sentiment was a common theme among those interviewed.

Pope Francis’ Role Is Critical

            The pope is key to a shift from clerical power and privilege to a sharing of authority and decision making.  Nancy, a Midwesterner said, “I want my pope to be, at this point in time, very bold, loud, demanding, a daily voice; one who is championing changes that need to take place in the Church.”  Tom, an 80-year-old from California, also asked for bold action from Pope Francis, “Lead the way!  Be strong!  Be not afraid!  Propose and promote real changes, recognizing and realizing the stiff opposition that you will encounter.  Reform the culture of the Church itself.  Either that or watch the Church deteriorate and see millions of people lose their faith.”

A Cultural Change For Bishops and Priests

            This cultural change must then be embraced by influential bishops and priests on the local level.  Imagine what it would look like if those who attended the February conference took to heart the insight that, “Yes, we have to be transparent and accountable in our handling of sexual abuse.  But this is only the be-ginning.  We bishops must also change the way we manage the diocese.  No longer can we operate on our own.  We must learn to be in partnership with the laity.  Our chanceries will be open, inviting environments with an emphasis on hospitality and cooperation.  Training in this new approach will be offered to priests so that a shift towards a more inclusive culture becomes the norm in parishes as well.” As Ed, a priest who is no longer active, mentioned in an interview, “The task is enormous, the resistance is palpable and seemingly impossible, but a deep conversion is essential.”  Let this February meeting among heads of bishops’ conferences and the pope be the start of this new conversion.

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

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December, 2018

A Challenging Read

            Jack Jezreel has just published a book entitled, A New Way To Be Church: Parish Renewal from the Outside In. (Orbis Books, 2018.)  He created “JustFaith,” a small group process that immerses people in education and exploration of social justice issues.  “The process was intended to prepare people for social mission.  I was hoping this would have the effect of making people passionate about the work of mercy and justice.” (p. 121)  “JustFaith” demands a significant commitment from participants over six months, including weekly meetings, assigned reading and direct connection with those on the margins.  This book does the same, asking parishes to change their vision, structures and actions. 

The Mission Belonging to All

            The first step is to change the culture of the parish, to one that is “Completely Mission-Oriented,” according to the author.  The Gospels describe Jesus and a group of followers constantly in motion, moving out on a mission and forming relationships with others.  These encounters “can and do change everything.” (p. 13)  No longer can a parish organize itself primarily around itself.  Instead, suggests Jezreel, “A parish renewal that is completely mission-oriented is a parish that will inspire, empower, heal, transform, and provide its members with a spiritual and geographical blueprint for their lives that will change them forever.” (p. 20)

Restructuring

            A parish on mission reorders its priorities and operation so there is an equal share of “gathering” and “sending.”  Components of gathering include formation, worship, community-building; all of the aspects that take place on parish property or close to it.  Sending is “out on the streets,” as Pope Francis puts it.  It has to do with refugees, the homeless and unemployed, prisoners, peacemaking, and dealing with crises.  “Gathering and sending; it cannot be one or the other.  It is necessarily and unavoidably both.” (p. 26)  In a typically challenging way, Jack Jezreel writes, “Why not a kind of restructuring so that parishes ask everyone – everyone – to commit to a social ministry? . . .  Why not half of the parish budget for gathering and half for sending? . . .  Why not half of the parish staff dedicated to gathering and half dedicated to sending? . . . Why not half of the parish buildings dedicated to gathering, like worship centers and classrooms, and half of the parish’s buildings dedicated for sending, like hospitality houses, clinics, low-income housing, and literacy centers?” (p. 32-33).

Six Things A Parish Can Do  (pp. 73-79)

1. Help people connect with someone who is poor. Get to know the person and form a relationship. “We need to give ourselves a face-to-face opportunity to care about somebody who’s poor.”      
2. Ask questions and search for answers. “This work might sometimes seem dry, hard and overly academic, but its inspiration is love.”
3. Start to advocate. “The parish should be a place where serious attention is given to the issues affecting the poor and vulnerable, and should empower its members to act.”
4. Work side by side with those who are poor as they help themselves. “It is powerful and exciting to be part of the process or project that includes people of various economic backgrounds working together.”
5. Share your resources. “Do not underestimate the potency of sharing your wealth. . . . Earmark some of your tithe for local causes, some for international causes, and some for person-to-person support.”    
6. The work of compassion, to make an option for the poor, is most effectively and faithfully done in teams. “We must work together; if not, we fall prey to burnout, cynicism, recklessness or the tyranny of our own egos.” This way of operating not only connects with those in need, it transforms the parish community as well.

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

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November, 2018

Parish Leadership Retreats

            Pastors are stretched thin these days.  If it is a large parish, they are pulled in many directions, as they cope with difficult issues, attend meetings and functions, and prepare for Masses and funerals.  If they have more than one site, then relating with many different communities is also draining.  Staff members are also overworked as they plan events, prepare meetings, deal with people and unexpected crises.  “When will this merry-go-round stop,” they cry.  A different set of challenges face those serving on pastoral councils and parish leadership groups.  The issues that dominate their meetings are often not related to anything spiritual.  “We never seem to get past the nitty-gritty,” they com-plain.  A number of parishes, however, are discovering a spiritual oasis in the midst of their hectic pace.  One example is St. Mary of the Woods in Chicago.  Guided by a director, the pastor, staff, council and lay leaders recently participated in a day devoted to their spiritual growth and renewal. 

Starting With the Pastor

            Knowing how important personal prayer and reflection are in a busy schedule, the pastor freed up three hours on Thursday for himself.  Following a short conversation with the director, he spent an hour in silence away from any distractions.  After jotting down insights from his prayer, he took a long walk in an area where he would be less likely to run into people he knew.  When the three hours were up, he reconnected with the director for a brief conversation and a refreshing dinner by way of conclusion.

Staff Reflection

            On Friday, the entire staff gathered at 9 am for a day of personal and communal prayer lasting until 3:00 in the afternoon.  At the beginning each person was asked to link up with a partner.  After that, they were to find an inviting place for their own prayer.  When they regrouped, the director led them through a guided meditation and sent them off for prayer time in their personal space.  This was followed by a reflection on the dynamics of parish life: “gathering” and “sending.”  Most parishes do a good job at gathering people together for worship, community and formation, but not so many do well at sending people forth to spread the Good News, help those in need and work for justice.  Staff members were asked, “If you were sent out, what would you do?”  They wrote their ideas down individually and then shared their thoughts with their partner.  These two joined with two others and the foursome came to a consensus about one concrete action that the staff might do.  The second part of the day focused on the model of Church that Pope Francis encourages. This includes being open to change, risking new ways of operating and setting an example of going out to where the people are rather than waiting for them to come to the staff or parish. 

Pastoral Council and Leaders

            Saturday was a day of renewal for the leadership.  Much was the same as what happened with the staff, but from a different perspective.  The leaders are the ones who work in partnership with the pastor and staff.  They are people of prayer and discernment, of faith and vision.  By being “bearers of the dream” and “instigators of change,” they follow in the footsteps of Pope Francis.  They are called to a spirituality of parish leadership which includes time for personal prayer, being visible and recognized by parishioners, making it easy for people to join groups and volunteer, as well as shaping plans and actions in key areas of parish life.  The council and leaders set an example of attending to the needs of others and encouraging the parishioners to do likewise. 

Listening Sessions In Catholic Parishes

            In July, 2018, a popular American cardinal, Theodore McCarrick, was forced to resign because of allegations of sexual abuse.  In August, 2018, a grand jury report was released by the attorney-general of Pennsylvania that chronicled seventy years of sexual abuse by clerics and a systematic cover up by bishops in six dioceses.  The wide-spread response of anger, sadness and disgust was immediate.  Catholic parishes throughout the country held listening sessions and town hall meetings at which parishioners gathered to express feelings, offer responses and suggest possible actions.  One example was at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Washington, DC.  Those attending asked that the laity be consulted and included in all significant areas of Church and parish decision making.

A Sampling of  Opinion

            From 2011 to 2018, I have been interviewing a group of once-active Catholics of all ages and backgrounds from across the United States.  In recent years they have pulled away from participating in leadership roles in the Church and local parish, and in some cases, from attending Mass on a regular basis.  Of the 55 people included in this study, 60% have remained in the Catholic Church and 40% have chosen to withdraw their membership to join another church or remain unaffiliated.  These people were interviewed three times during the research, once before Francis became pope, again after his fourth year in the papacy, and a third time this summer following the events surrounding the sexual abuse issue.   The people’s responses from this last round of interviews provide insights into how a selection of former and current Catholics viewed these critical events and changes they proposed for moving forward.    

Suggested Changes In The Church

            Peggy, who is no longer a practicing Catholic, offered this suggestion, “I think that anytime a child is sexually abused, it has to be reported to the police.  Those in charge don’t even talk to the person accused.  Let the police deal with the crime that was committed.”  Mike felt the problem begins before ordination, when future priests go through formation.  “There is a need to rethink the priesthood in the Church, more as being a shepherd.  My impression is that those coming out of the seminary are climbing back up on the pedestal.  They want to be seen in that role.  Priestly formation needs to have more to do with humility and the servant model of priesthood.” 

Those who still remain Catholic had much to say about what changers are necessary.  The responses are grouped under three headings: the involvement of the laity, the role of women and the requirements for ordination.  For instance.  Ed called for a complete change in Church governance.  “The task is enormous, the resistance is palpable and seemingly impossible, but a deep conversion is essential.  Is it time to convene a Vatican Council III, but this time with deliberative decision making power by the whole Church, the People of God?”  Anne proposed an oversight committee, or as she called it, “An independent Inquiry Board comprised entirely of lay people.  It needs to look into the basic flaw that has exempted bishops from the sexual abuse process.” On the local level, Danielle suggested, “Calling more lay people to active participation in our parishes, churches and dioceses.  Our voices are needed if we are to grow spiritually in our discipleship.  It is time to be partners with our parish priest, and if we have to, train him!”  Joanne addressed the problem of clericalism.  “The hierarchy must begin to truly share power and leadership in a meaningful way.  I want to trust that the Holy Spirit is working and that God will not abandon us.”   Finally, these positive thoughts came from Ginny, “This is a good moment for the Church.  There needs to be a new way of including non-clerics, including women, in the decision making of the Church, new structures of shared decision making.” 

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

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July, 2018

Contemplatives in the Midst of Action

            On March 19, 2018, Pope Francis published an Apostolic Exhortation entitled Gaudete et Exsultate (Rejoice and Be Glad).  The subtitle was, “On the Call to Holiness in Today’s World.”  “We are called,” he wrote, “to be contemplatives even in the midst of action, and to grow in holiness by responsibly and generously carrying out our proper mission.” [27]  He goes on to affirm, “This does not mean ignoring the need for moments of quiet, solitude and silence before God.  Quite the contrary.  The presence of constantly new gadgets, the excitement of travel and the endless array of consumer goods at times leave no room for God’s voice to be heard.” [29]  How can a parish help people find these moments of silence and solitude for prayer?

Begin With Liturgy

            The weekend Masses are where most of the parishioners come together for prayer and Eucharist.  One wonders to what extent this gathering offers much on learning how to pray.  Consider a homilist calling  every member of the assembly to spend at least some minutes each day in silent prayer.  This means turning off all cell phones, computers and other distractions.  First find a time where it is possible to be alone so as to enter into a personal conversation, one-on-one, with God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit.  Next, locate a place that is comfortable and available every day.  Make this place of “meeting God” special, perhaps by lighting a candle, adding a small picture, cross or keepsake.  At the beginning, ask God for help and then ask for one thing you want out of this prayer, such as gratitude, openness, perseverance, insight, support or understanding.  Use a Gospel passage as a resource, perhaps a reading from the daily liturgy provided in the parish bulletin or other helps for personal prayer offered online.  The “Little Books” from the Saginaw, MI diocese provide prayer guidance during Lent, Easter, Advent and Christmas (littlebooks.org), as does “Living With Christ” or “Give Us This Day” booklets throughout the liturgical year. Besides homilies on personal prayer, there could be periods of silence during the Mass itself as a way of encouraging people to find their own moments for quiet reflection throughout the week.

Parish Prayer Circles

            For those who like to have more direction in how to pray, the parish might offer a Prayer Circle at various times throughout the month, morning, afternoon and evening, during the week or on the weekend, at which small groups of no more than ten people of all ages would gather to learn how to pray and to experience a short period of silent prayer as a way of getting started.  At the end, they would receive handouts with suggestions, possible scripture passages and links to resources available on the Internet.  Each new Prayer Circle would meet for a limited number of times to start with so that participants would be free to try another group or continue with personal prayer on their own.  The purpose would be to help people learn how to spend “a few moments of quiet, solitude and silence before God.”

Spiritual Direction

            Spending time in quiet prayer is only one aspect of being contemplatives in the midst of action.  Because of the messiness of people’s lives, it helps to have someone to talk with about the obstacles, distractions and choices one faces.  A parish can offer a great service if it has a group of trained volunteers available to be spiritual directors for those seeking help in how to pray and follow their call to carry out their unique mission in life.  A little research on Google will reveal places where people can be trained for this special ministry.

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

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June, 2018

No One Is Perfect

            Even the pope makes mistakes.  On April 12, 2018, The New York Times wrote, “Pope Francis has apologized for ‘grave errors’ in the handling of sexual abuse cases in Chile, where he had adamantly defended a bishop accused of covering up abuse by the country’s most notorious pedophile priest.”  The article went on to state, “A remorseful pope then invited representatives of the abuse victims to Rome so that he could personally apologize.”

Integrity and Honesty

            What a beautiful model of how to respond when you discover that you have made a mistake, whatever the issue.  He admitted his error and sought to apologize to those affected by his actions.  In addressing the victims, the pope affirmed, “I assure you of my prayers and I want to share with you the conviction that the present difficulties are also an occasion to re-establish the trust of the Church, broken by our mistakes and sins, and to heal wounds that haven’t stopped bleeding in Chilean society.”

Implications on the Local Level 

            This behavior of the pope acknowledging a fault soon after it was apparent that he misjudged the situation and apologizing to those harmed, even inviting them to Rome where he could do this in person, is a fitting example for any Church leader to emulate.  Each diocese has its own issues, each bishop his own way of operating, but one option might be to have a committee formulate procedures for what to do when mistakes are made that need immediate attention.

            The same could be true when this happens on a parish level.  Issues can arise that, if not dealt with, cause anger and resentment.  Suppose, for instance, a parish is raising money for a building campaign.  Parishioners are asked to make donations for various aspects of a new church, including pews, stations, organ, stained glass windows, to name a few.  A number of generous contributors respond and send in money.  The parishioners notice, however, that when the building is finished, there are no stained glass windows.  “What happened?” the contributors ask.  “Oh, there was not enough money to include all that we had planned,” admitted the pastor.  “We’ll put the new windows in later.”  He could leave it at that without offering any explanation or apology.  But remembering the model of the pope, the pastor and building committee could go in a different direction. 

1. Admission: There must have been a moment when the pastor and those handling the finances discovered, “We have a problem.”  They made a miscalculation of how much the church building was going to cost.  The only way to finish the project was to put in regular glass windows, hoping that sometime in the future the stain glass windows could be installed. 
2. Honesty: It is no good to hide the fact that for the present, there will be no ornate windows.  The money that people gave for the stained glass was used to pay for other parts of the building.  Speak the truth and don’t make excuses.  “We made a terrible mistake.”
3. Amends: Just as the pope invited the victims of the abuse to Rome so he could apologize in person, so too the pastor and committee decide to plan a special gathering of the entire parish to announce, “We hear your anger.  We have broken your trust.  We apologize for our actions.”
4. Ritual: A parish-wide service is arranged, perhaps in the new church, that points to the plain-glass windows as a symbol of an imperfect parish that is in need of healing and yet still reaches out to heal others, just like the pope.

From Maintenance to Mission

            In 2014, Fr. James Mallon published Divine Renovation.  The book describes how a parish that is stuck in maintaining the status quo can move to one centered on forming parishioners into missionary disciples.  (Twenty-Third Publications, New London, CT)  At the time, he was the pastor of Saint Benedict Parish in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.  It was an immediate success.

Stirring Up Interest

            The Divine Renovation process can be summarized in three words: Bringing – Forming – Sending.  This is spelled out in the parish vision statement: “Saint Benedict Parish is a healthy and growing faith community that brings people to Christ, forms disciples and sends them out to transform the world.  Every member is committed to worship, to grow, to connect and to give.” (p. 252)  In his book, Fr. Mallon used the image of a bus to explain this vision.  “The Church of God is missional.  It is like a bus that is designed to go. When a pastor starts the engine and calls ‘all aboard,’ those who receive the invitation must be told where the bus is going.  [It is] a process of inspiring and winning people over to be part of something wonderful.” (p. 254)  He went on to say, “Vision is communicated when people’s imaginations are captured.  My favorite words when speaking about vision are ‘Imagine if. . .’  Imagine if this was a parish that became a place where everyone was loved and accepted.  Imagine if this was a parish where all parishioners shared their gifts and talents for the work of ministry.  Imagine how our community and our city would be transformed.” (p. 257)

Forming a Network

            This is what happened at Saint Benedict.  “Could something similar be done in other parishes?” they asked.  “Yes, it can,” was their answer.  Their first step was to form the Divine Renovation Network that, among other resources, provided personal coaching to other pastors and parishes.  Not that these places duplicate the Saint Benedict model, but are helped to discover their own potential in forming missionary disciples among their parishioners.  

            In June of 2016, the parish hosted a Divine Renovation Conference.  Six hundred people from eleven countries showed up for two days of presentations and workshops covering such topics as Liturgy, Hospitality, Sacraments, Discipleship, Evangelization and Leadership.  One parish that attended was St. Ann Parish in Coppell, Texas.  The experience changed their way of viewing parish and its way of operating.  As Kurt Klement, the Director of Evangelization, put it, “After reading the book, the next major step occurred when a team of key leaders, along with our pastor, Fr. Henry Petter, attended the Divine Renovation Conference in 2016.  That was a massive shift as our lead team was able to actually see and experience the fruitfulness of Saint Benedict Parish.  Following the Conference we applied and were accepted into the Divine Renovation Network.  The Divine Renovation team is committed to the parishes in the Network through coaching sessions, webinars and leadership sessions.”  St. Ann’s is now in its second year as members of the DR Network. 

            The Divine Renovation Ministry and Saint Benedict in Halifax are committed to spreading the word and expanding the Network. A second conference is being planned for June, 2018.  Already 500 participants have signed up.  (See www.divinerenovation.net)       

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March, 2018

Confession: More or Less

            The contrast between two weeks of hearing confessions was dramatic.  One Saturday I was at a suburban parish outside of Milwaukee, the next week I was at a church on the edge of downtown.  Only two people showed up during the hour of confessions at the former parish in contrast to the long line of people waiting for confession at the second one.  In listening to the confessions I was struck by the heavy burdens people bring into the confessional and the sense of joy and relief they manifested as they left.  They had told their story, sought forgiveness, pledged to do better in the future and received absolution for all their sins.  This happened in both places, but why the large crowd at one and not at the other? 

A Parish Reputation For Penance

            The parish on the edge of downtown is the Church of the Gesu.  For many years the Jesuits have been offering frequent opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  People from all over the area come to participate in this Rite.  This ministry is part of the charism and mission of the parish.  Granted that most parish priests are stretched thin these days and this cuts into the available times for confession.  A Penance Service that includes a group of penitents is frequently offered during Lent and Advent, but this offers only limited time for each penitent to interact with the confessor. 

            One option might be to focus on reconciliation and forgiveness one week out of every month. It would start with a explanation at all of the weekend Masses of how to participate in the sacrament.  Extra times would be available for confession throughout the week, along with many other options, including conversations with staff members or counseling by trained professionals.  Small sharing groups could be arranged to give people the chance to tell their own stories in a safe environment.  As this week takes shape, other avenues might surface, including areas of division, injustices and social sin.  The effort would be to offer non-threatening and welcoming ways for people to admit their shortcomings, seek forgiveness and be at peace within themselves and with those they may have hurt or alienated.

The Person and the Priest

            The confessions that draw lines at Gesu do so because people know that they are welcomed and accepted.  Over the brief span of confession a bonding is established between priest and penitent.  No judgments, no condemnations, no accusations are made, only attentive listening and questions of clarification by the priest.  There is an emphasis on God providing mercy, compassion and faithful love, rather than on a person’s sinfulness.  When someone begins with a long list of personal failings and bad decisions, the priest might ask, “What is just one thing that is hardest to overcome or that causes you the most difficulty?”  That often is enough to prompt the person to admit guilt, remorse, despair or confusion.  As the level of trust and acceptance grows between priest and penitent, new hope, healing and fresh resolve gains a foothold.  The bond between the two can often lead to discovering new ways that poor choices give way to better ones, temptations are replaced with renewing activities and attitudes, remorse and guilt are dissolved by increased self worth and positive thinking.  All of this takes place in the realization that God is an intimate and loving Person who only asks for the person’s willingness to enter into a mutual relationship and believes that it can happen – as a matter of fact, is happening.  All the rest – penance, act of contrition and absolution flow out of this realization. 

The Parish Bulletin is supposed to be the place where people find out what is happening in the parish each week.  It usually contains Mass times and intentions, listings of ministers, schedules, upcoming events, sections for the youth, religious formation, times and locations for group meetings, outings, social gatherings, finances, some pictures, the weekly calendar and then one, two or even three pages of advertisements.  The better bulletins typically group all of these under  key headings, such as worship, community, formation, outreach and  administration.  The question is, does it commu-nicate and do people read it?  Yes, to some extent, but it could be done differently to attract a wider audience using the website, social media and a parish app, now more common in parishes.

One Page – Two Sides

            Instead of a four to eight page spread that covers a wide range of events, schedules, names, finances and letters, what if the parish bulletin changes to a single sheet that gives short introductions to events and happenings, followed by references to the appropriate places in the parish website.  It would include lead-ins to stories and upcoming programs, as well as a few small pictures to attract attention and provide color.  The intent is to encourage parishioners to read enough on this single sheet to pique their interest. The readers are then invited to go to the parish website for further information. 

            For example, if the pastor writes a letter each week for the bulletin, perhaps a paragraph or two containing the gist of the message could be included in this short version, leading parishioners to read the full text on the website.  Instead of a detailed calendar of events for the week, this new bulletin could name just a few and entice people to explore further on the website.  This page might begin with a warm welcome to visitors and newcomers, encouraging them to look to the website for more information and staff contacts.  Perhaps each week one of the ministries or parish functions might be featured with a short description, followed by an indication of where to look on the website for more information. 

The New Format

            Of course, the parish website might need an updated format that could easily guide people to the continuation of stories and events mentioned in the one-page bulletin.  It might help to divide it up according to key areas, such as worship that contains Mass intentions, schedules for liturgical ministers and scriptural readings for the week. There might be a section for formation, including school news, baptism classes, RCIA and the like, and a special place for parish and local community events, as well as a section for service and outreach projects and notices.  Finally, administration would give people financial information and news on stewardship or maintenance issues.

Taking the Risk

            Change is never easy.  As a start, people could view the traditional bulletin on the website. Also, there would be little room for advertising in the one-page bulletin which results in a loss of revenue.  Perhaps this shorter bulletin could be produced onsite.  Hopefully this more focused attempt at communication will show that the parish is a community connected as parishioners take an interest in the content of this shorter version.  It is likely that more people will make the effort to follow stories on their phones and computers.  Tables outside of the Masses could show people how it works and guide them through it.

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

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January, 2018

Does He Make A Difference?

            Over the past year I have interviewed a number of Catholics and former Catholics to find out what difference the election of Pope Francis has meant to them.  What I discovered was that they felt challenged to follow his example personally, but many had not found much help in doing this from their local parish.  One person said, “There is absolutely no evidence of any influence of Francis on our local parish, none.”  Others mentioned that their parish did refer to the pope by quoting him in homilies, putting articles about him in the bulletin, offering study groups on his writings but, as one person to put it, “My local church has not changed because of the pope.”  The words about Francis, in other words, had not translated into action.

A Pope Francis Parish

            What if a parish made a conscious effort to become a living model of what Francis has been trying to accomplish in the larger Church?  This might mean a change of identity for the parish community.  The pastor would have to be open and willing to try out a new focus in his pastoring.  Using the pope as his model, he might have to take some risks in calling the staff, leaders and community to a new way of being parish.  This would begin with learning more about this pope, what are his priorities, his understanding of mission, his use of resources.  This might entail a few staff members and leaders doing some research so they can become experts in what the pope is doing and saying, and then feeding this back to the pastor, leaders and parishioners as a whole. 

A Change of Focus

            As a result, whenever people come together for prayer or worship, for meetings or activities, they are reminded, following the pope’s example, that they are to look not only to the needs within the parish but to the needs of those “on the streets” – to the poor, marginalized, the forgotten, those alone or in pain.  The constant theme could be, “How does what we are doing here make a difference to those who need not only our prayers, but our care, love and personal attention as well?”  People need help to do this.  They require encouragement and direction to change their focus from the church to the streets outside.  A “Pope Francis Parish” would be a master at marketing this new emphasis of “not in here but out there.”  The homilies, bulletin, website, banners, formational materials would be filled with quotes from the pope.  Along with this new focus, there must be practical opportunities for connecting parishioners with those outside of their own comfort zone.  These offerings must be non-threatening and easy to join, but worthwhile enough so people feel they are making a difference in people’s lives.  Other options might include sharing the pulpit with churches of all faiths, taking trips to new sections of the city or surrounding area, inviting others to parish functions.  The key is reaching out as Pope Francis has modeled so effectively.  All who come know that this is a Pope Francis Parish.

Transparency and Collaboration

            Transparency means being up front in what you are trying to accomplish, that is, becoming the pope’s ambassadors on the local level.  It means asking for feedback when new approaches are tried, creating occasions for dialogue among those who don’t always agree, being willing to shift and change if new and better ways of operating are presented.  Collaboration means sharing the load, not trying to be the sole “owner” of this way of being parish, asking for help and offering training so everyone can do their small part in bringing about this new parish identity. 

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

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December, 2017

Ministry to the Aging

                Most Catholic parishes in our country have a large population of older people, some of them quite healthy and others close to death.  All of them are approaching the final stages of their lives and face the challenges of diminishment and death.  A member of my Jesuit community, Pat Burns, SJ, wrote an unpublished article entitled, Fleshing Out That Final Mission (June, 2016).  His intended audience was older Jesuits but it contains wisdom that applies to anyone of “a certain age.” 

The Aging Continuum

            Pat Burns, SJ writes, “Most U.S. Jesuits today are probably taking better care of their health and doing more to prepare for old age and diminishment than was the case only a few years ago. . .  All of us are, of course, bombarded with advice from the culture on how to handle retirement and all those golden years, though these messages normally say little about how to handle diminishment and death.” (P. 2).  The same could be said for the general public as well.

            He goes on to describe those along the aging continuum.  At the beginning of this continuum are those who are retired but are still active.  They do not need any special health care or a special health-care community.  They continue to work, perhaps part time, without feeling useless or bored.  At the end of the continuum are those who are experiencing really serious physical and mental diminishment because of sickness or old age.  Between these two end points are all those who “are still able to do some limited activity but also experience some physical and mental diminishment.  Most of them need some special health care, and most either reside in a special health-care community or are preparing to move to such a community.” (P. 5)

Facing Mortality

            “In spite of the attention paid to the phenomenon of aging in our contemporary culture, very little is said about death itself and the suffering entailed in approaching and passing through physical death.  Even the word ‘death’ is often avoided: people ‘pass’ these days,” says Burns.  He goes on to say, “Christian belief in a personal resurrection after death might be considered a helpful and consoling sentiment both for the dying and for those left behind, but the reality quotient of that sentiment is seldom addressed directly.” (P. 8)  He suggests that one of the challenges facing every aging person is simply to acknowledge one’s own mortality.  One aspect of a spirituality for aging is to admit that “the decline I am currently experiencing will inevitably get worse, not better.  As a person I am made for life, life without end, but as an enfleshed person in a material creation I will inevitably pass through physical death.  I have been given time to prepare to pass through death, even as my time in this life is running out.  So I had better begin to think seriously about my own death now.”

            A spirituality for aging includes: 1) Naming what I am losing as I move into a final stage of life in this world and say “yes” to it.  2) Facing diminishment and death freely as God’s will for me, emptying myself of self-centeredness so I can be completely filled by God.  3) Focusing on the hope that I am made not for death but for life, life without end.  Physical death is a passage to eternal life.  4) Savoring all the good things that have happened throughout my life and being utterly thankful.  5) Engaging in a loving dialogue with my God.  As Pat Burns, SJ says, “Dying is not the end but the final stage of a pilgrimage that leads to the fullness of life, perfect communion, endless day.” (P. 11)

            A parish might offer roundtable discussions for those of all ages on the topic, include reflections in the parish bulletin or occasionally offer homilies on the subject.  It is something all must face one day.    

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

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November, 2017

Something Old, Something New

                The Alpha approach to parish adult faith enrichment has been around since 1977.  Nicky Gumbel, an Anglican priest in London began it as a small group effort to help bring people into a relationship with Jesus Christ by sharing the good news of the Gospel.  It was directed to church-goers and non-church-goers alike.  Alpha spread to other countries, including the United States.  By 2016, more than 29 million people had exper-ienced Alpha.  Primarily a Protestant model, only recently has it found its way into Catholic parishes.  One leader of a Catholic group commented, “I have not seen another ‘church video series’ that touched such a broad group of people.  The amazing thing is how the videos impact people.  Even if someone didn’t like one as well as another, they all said they were thought-provoking and led to meaningful discussions, sometimes much deeper than anyone expected.  The videos are a means to an end.  I think the deeper learning came in the small group discussions and prayer.”  Alpha is free and accessible to anyone.  (See alphausa.org)

How It Works

            The Leaders Guide describes Alpha as “a series of fifteen interactive sessions typically run over eleven weeks, including a weekend away where anyone can explore life and the Christian faith in a friendly, open and informative environment.” (Alpha Team Guide, p. 67.)  Each of the interactive sessions has three parts.  It starts with a meal and people enjoying one another’s company.  This is followed by a video presentation lasting 20 to 25 minutes.  After this comes table conversations of six to eight people each at which they share their reactions to the video, how it affected them or touched their own experience. 

            Two parishes in Pewaukee, WI, Queen of Apostles and St. Anthony on the Lake, teamed up to offer a pilot last Spring.  They liked it enough to offer Alpha again in the Fall.  Kathie Amidei, the coordinator at St. Anthony’s remarked, “Through this Alpha course the groups saw themselves as one.  We had younger, older, those with differing devotional propensities, well-informed Catholics, neophyte Catholics, both involved parishioners and those who were marginal in their Catholic faith.  I was amazed at how this approach reached literally all of these folks in a personal spiritual experience that deepened their faith.  That is obviously the work of the Holy Spirit.”  Liz Kuhn, the coordinator at Queen of Apostles added, “We surveyed both our guests and our volunteers after Alpha.  Ninety-nine percent of the guests said they would invite a friend to Alpha.”

Outline of the Sessions

            There are eleven two-hour sessions, with a weekend day away following the seventh one.  The topics for the sessions are: 1) Is there more to life than this?  2) Who is Jesus?  3) Why did Jesus die?  4) How can I have faith?  5) Why and how should I pray?  6) Why and how should I read the bible?  7) How does God guides us?  8) How can I resist evil?  9) Why and how should I tell others?  10) Does God heal today?  11) What about the Church?  The four sessions presented during the weekend day away are:       1) Who is the Holy Spirit?  2) What does the Holy Spirit do?  3) How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit?  4) How can I make the most of the rest of my life?  Liz Kuhn remarked, “Alpha is just that, an introduction.  Interested folks can dig deeper into Catholicism afterwards.  It makes evangelization easy.”

One Parish’s Flood Relief Story  

     What follows is the account given by Stephen Lenahan, Communications Director for the Catholic Parish of St. Anthony of Padua in The Woodlands, Texas.  ”When Harvey hit, many never pictured how bad it was going to be. Houston has flooded be-fore but never on this scale. As the rains fell, a few staff members were able to get out of their neighborhoods to meet at the parish Center. Viewing the damage, we knew that our campus was going to be fine other than a few leaks. Our pastor, Fr. Tom Rafferty, implemented a daily leadership team meeting starting that Monday, August 21^st. Those who could not make it to the parish joined us by phone. We took action immediately by collecting supplies from our food pantry and handing them out.

Setting Up A Distribution Center

     “The next day, people started to venture out of their areas to look for ways to help others. One of our neighboring parishes, St. Ignatius of Loyola in Spring, TX, was completely flooded, while two others, Sts. Simon & Jude in The Woodlands and Sacred Heart in Conroe were operating as shelters.  We decided to focus our efforts on becoming a Distribution Center for the Southside of Montgomery County.

      “While search and rescue efforts were still in full force around the city, many people without boats wanted to help.  They began donating supplies for those that had nothing. Within six hours of opening our Center, we filled 20,000 square feet of space with donations.  They filled our cafeteria, gym, adult faith formation area and outreach building.  The first thing people donated was clothing, but flood victims had no house to hang them in. We organized 85 pickup trucks to take the clothes we had to a warehouse for sorting and storage until people were ready for them. 

Shifting the Focus

     “By Wednesday, we stopped accepting clothing and began concentrating on cleaning supplies, bottled water and food. Then we made a priority list of what were the more pressing needs.  These included:

1.      Setting up a SignUp Genius Account.com, a free online software tool for volunteer management.  
2.      Creating a Google Form to coordinate people willing to drive and distribute donations.
3.      Arranging an Amazon Wedding Registry for people to donate specific needed items.
4.      Asking for Gift Cards from stores so flood victims could have the dignity of choice as they started to rebuild.  This also helped to re-boot the local economy.
5.      Making connections with organizations and ministries all over Houston in order to distribute the abundance of donations we received.
6.      Encouraged parishioners to form their own work teams to assist in cleaning up homes and neighborhoods instead of depending on an official request from the parish.
7.      Publicized all of our updates each day on our parish website, on Facebook and Flocknote, an email and text messaging tool for parish based organizations. These daily updates kept everyone in touch with immediate needs.

     “Once we implemented all of these plans, it became a well-oiled machine by the second week. At the end of the second week we decided to stop collecting material donations except for continuing our Food Pantry as normal.  We concentrated instead on providing financial relief. We are now mapping out our plan for distributing the financial relief to those without a home or any resources for rebuilding.”

PEP Newsletter

July, 2017

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A Simple Invitation

While visiting St. Margaret Mary Parish in Winter Park, Florida, I noticed the front cover of their bulletin for Pentecost Sunday.  It featured a red door with the words, “Welcome Home” scrolled across it.  Next to the picture was a statement entitled, “A Simple Invitation.”  It read, “Statistics show that a simple invitation is the most effective way that people feel welcomed to return to the Church.  Is there someone in your family or circle of friends who has been away from the church?  You would like to invite them back, but you don’t know where to begin.  Below are some frequently asked questions to help you get that conversation started.”  These words, and those that follow, were co-authored by Sr. Rosemary Finnegan, OP, the Adult Formation Director at St. Margaret Mary, and her associate, Jeanne Smith.

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What can I do to help someone discern about coming back to the Catholic Cburch?

Just listen.  Don’t defend or try to make amends for the reason they left the Church.  Remember, it is their journey and there is nothing for us to fix.  However, you can share your own faith journey and see if it adds value to their discernment process.

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What do I say to someone who feels angry or betrayed by the Church?

Without excusing or minimizing what causes this anger, we can share that even in our families, we want to care about all members, even those who have hurt us.  We work towards reconciliation and pray for mercy and forgiveness.

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What are some practical ways to share my faith?

Invite them to share in your ministry or to a social event at church.  Share online resources such as CatholicsComeHome.org, apps like Laudette or Living With Christ, and some books or articles that you have enjoyed on your faith journey.

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Why should I encourage people to come back to the Catholic Church?

It is our baptismal responsibility to bring others to the faith and walk with them on their spiritual journey.  Encouraging them to deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ through the sacraments is a gift beyond measure.

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I’ve invited my friend/family member to church many times but they never come.  What should I do?

            Remember that finding your way back to the faith is a process.  As Catholics we can plant seeds and hope that they will grow.  Try not to get discouraged.  Be sure to share the joy you receive from your faith as a witness to the love of Jesus.

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Their Concluding Remarks:

Pentecost season is a perfect time for welcoming people who may have been away from the Church.  Next week at all of the Masses we will hear witness stories of parishioners who have journeyed back because of a simple invitation from others.  May we all take our baptismal call to welcome others seriously.  Together, as a community, may we say to them by our words and actions. . .

WELCOME HOME!

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Tom Sweetser, SJ

PEP Newsletter

Ideas For Your Parish

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June, 2017

Revitalizing the Catholic Church

Chris Lowney wrote a new book called, Everyone Leads (Rowman & Littlefield, 2017).  It is organized around the acronym, EASTeR, which stands for Entrepreneurial, Accountable, Serve, Transform, Reach Out. (p. 6).  His premise is that it is not up to those in the hierarchy or positions of authority to practice these traits.  Rather it is up to each individual baptized believer, united with others in a common endeavor.  Pope Francis, in a recent Ted Talk said, “Let us help each other, all together, to remember that the ‘other’ is not a statistic, or a number.  We all need each other.” (April, 2017)

The Church In Crisis

Lowney begins his book with a list of what he calls, “a multidimensional crisis of historic proportions.” These include 1) a shortage of priests, 2) the sacraments becoming unavailable to the faithful, 3) Catholics becoming less and less engaged with the Church, 4) young adults showing little interest in organized religion. “All of these trends,” he says, “are on track to worsen.” (p. 13)  His solution?  Become an EASTeR People.

Entrepreneurial

The first step in revitalizing the Church is to realize that it is each individual’s responsibility and calling to make this happen, not just those in authority.  One recent example is St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Lima, Ohio.  One hundred and eight parishioners took it upon themselves to visit all of the parishioners for whom they had names and addresses.  They called themselves Parish Ambassadors.  During the month of April, 2017, supported and encouraged by the pastor and leadership, these people knocked on the doors of 867 parish households.  They made contact, listened to people’s concerns and updated parish records  Their work is not done, they have another 850 to visit, but this was a great beginning.  These Ambassadors are following Lowney’s maxim that Everyone Leads.  “Imagine the power that will be unleashed when half of all Catholics start taking more ownership of their parishes, even thinking of themselves as ‘leaders of leaders.’” (p 43)

Accountable

Jesus in his parable on the Last Judgment, held people accountable, as has Pope Francis by calling priests, bishops and Curial officials to let go of clericalism and connect with people in the streets.  The Pope is challenging all the baptized to seek out the poor, marginalized and forgotten, not waiting for them to come to us.  Imagine a parish that has built in structures of accountability, pastor and staff included.  One such is Most Holy Trinity in San Jose where the pastor and staff work in partnership, holding one another accountable, as well in those with whom they labor in various parish ministries.  There are no silos, no independent, self-contained, isolated workers – they are ministering as one, supporting, encouraging and challenging each other.

Serving, Transforming and Reaching Out

“An entrepreneur thinks: ‘Here’s a need, and I can do something about it.’  And leadership says, ‘let me show the way forward instead of waiting for someone else.’  And that’s accountability.” (p. 115)   The focus of this way of acting is on the needs of those right in front of you, taking the time and making the effort to be of service.  “The all-encompassing commitment to serve will energize us, unite us, transform our hearts.” (p. 117)

The transforming aspect is about the power of the Gospels and the life and teachings of Jesus that set hearts on fire.  “If millions are walking away from us because their spiritual needs are not being met, then we’re not doing our jobs.” (p. 134)  The challenge is to speak to people’s hearts and help them encounter the Risen Christ.  Reaching Out follows the impetus of Pope Francis.  Don’t wait for people to come to us, he urges.  Go out and meet the people in the streets, in homes, in office buildings, on social media.  “Engage all those outside our doors, not hanging back and merely saying they are welcome.”  (p. 151)   Be an EASTeR People!

Tom Sweetser, SJ

April, 2017
Planning for the Future
Jonathan Swift said, “Vision is the art of seeing the invisible.” For a parish, this means looking ahead and creating a scenario for what you want it to look like a few years hence. Visualize the buildings, the people filling the spaces, the programs that are thriving and full of life, the makeup and energy of the parish community, the various occasions, liturgies and celebrations where the members interact, and the leadership that gives it direction. This takes some creativity and perspective, but there is no substitute for trying to spell out a future that provides hope, energy and vitality to leaders and parishioners alike.
A compelling vision is not the same as the mission. The mission or purpose of why a parish exists is the bedrock that stays the same over the years until a major shift in direction takes place. It is usually spelled out in a few key words that everyone can remember and repeat to any new members or visitors. Some examples might include: Welcoming, Inclusive, Celebrating, Growing, Serving, Sharing, among others. A Parish Vision, on the other hand, may change with the circumstances. It provides a desired outcome for a certain target date in the future. “If we could only . . .” the leaders, and perhaps the parishioners, say, as they try to flesh out what they want to have happen five years down the road. They want it badly; they can see it, feel it, desire it enough to marshal all the resources, energies, personnel, motivation and commitments of the parish to make it happen.

Vision 2020
St. Monica Parish in Santa Monica, California has tried to paint the picture of their invisible future as “a strategic plan establishing goals and objectives in support of the St. Monica Catholic Community mission of ‘Forming Loving Disciples Who Will Transform the World.’” (www.stmonica.net) The vision covers seven parish ingredients they hope to achieve over the next five years.
• A Welcoming Place of Worship: “Make every effort to permeate our parish life with hospitality and respect for the diversity of our community.”
• A Catalyst for Ministry and Service: “Offer a variety of opportunities to be involved in ministry, build relationships, and make a difference in the world.”
• A Place for Spiritual Formation: “Grow in faith through prayer, meditation, retreats, scripture reflection, faith sharing groups and a vibrant sacramental life.”
• Opportunities to Connect: “Provide occasions for adults, young adults, traditional and non-traditional families, couples, singles and youth to connect, make friends, and have a joyful experience.”
• Prudent Stewardship of Resources: “Strive to manage our resources well and give back responsibly to our community. Our financial condition is transparent.”
• Leadership Development: “Promote ordained ministers, religious life and strong lay leadership with collaborative decision-making processes for parish councils, volunteers and subject-matter experts.”
• Fidelity to Catholic Doctrine: “Being faithful to the foundational teachings of the Church and Gospel message.
Succeeding pages of the St. Monica Vision 2020 include Five Year Assumptions of what is likely to be happening, one of which is the retirement of the current pastor. Also listed are the Goals and Opportunities in the areas of Worship, Ministry, Service, Formation, Parish Schools, Community-building, Administration, Leadership development and Discipleship. One stated goal is: “To move persons from the ‘Not Engaged’ group to the ‘Engaged’ group over the coming years.” The 2020 Vision plan concludes with three Appendices covering the areas of Spiritual Commitment, Member Engagement and Inviting Others to Our Parish. St. Monica’s is a parish that it seeing “the invisible” and is working towards its fulfillment.
Tom Sweetser, SJ

March, 2017

From Those Who Have Moved On

It is no longer news that a significant number of people who were once active in the Catholic Church and in their parishes have decided to withdraw their membership and move elsewhere. Over the last few years I have been interviewing some of these people trying to discover why they have made this shift. These findings will eventually lead to a book that will cover not only reasons why people have left the Church but insights from those who have decided to remain active despite struggles and ambiguities with the institution. While all of this information is too lengthy for a newsletter, there is one area worth summarizing. It is contained in a chapter called, Suggestions for Parish Life. It came from those who have left the Church but still offered ideas about what a parish might do to maintain its membership.

What Could A Parish Do

 
Each inactive person was asked the same question, “What could a parish do that would help others like yourself feel more at home and engaged?” One young adult male responded, “Parishes should have the courage to ask questions without regard to conflicts with the hierarchy. I know of a parish now that is trying to create a welcoming environment for all who wish to join, as well as playing an active part in the surrounding neighborhood. There are still limits to what a pastor and parish can do, but this one is trying its best. Ultimately if the Church is going to change for the better it will have to happen from the ground up.” A woman in her fifties made this suggestion: “What parishes could do is speak more to women. When I was going to the Catholic parish it didn’t speak to me as a woman. Everything was male-oriented. Where was my part in all of this? There are so many contradictions in all that is said and done in the Catholic Church as compared with what Jesus really taught and said.” Another woman who has moved on offered this advice: “The Church needs to welcome people for who they are and where they are at in their life journey. It needs to communicate to people that they do not have to fit a mold. If you are there, you are Catholic. If people think a little left or a little right, that’s o.k. Welcome them in! I would like to remind pastors as they relate to people, ‘Be supportive, be understanding, remember that life is hard for many of us and that people need to be nurtured without feeling judged or dismissed.’”

Eight Steps To Vitality

Drawing all of the comments together from those who have left the Church, the following checklist emerged:
? Pastors: Encourage the pastor to be with and among the people, acting in partnership with them and fostering a lay leadership that operates on an equal footing with the pastor.
? Listening: Create an attitude in the parish of “We care,” not offering solutions so much as hearing and taking to heart the stories people have to tell.
? Dialogue: When conflicts or critical issues arise, engage the whole community in a discussion of what might be the best path to follow rather than making unilateral decisions.
? Welcoming: Create a culture of inclusion that is open to all, without judgment or discrimination. Pope Francis has been a model of openness that invites all to come to the table, no questions asked.
? Liturgies: Engage the congregation in active communal prayer that stirs in the people an awareness of God’s presence and a hunger to keep returning to the worshiping community.
? Small Groups: Gather small clusters of people together, making sure there is a safe environment where people can speak freely, where they can agree to disagree while still affirming one another.
? Volunteers: Allow parishioners to share their gifts, keeping all areas of involvement open to new people and new ways of doing things. Reach out to young adults on the margins and ask for their help.
? Outreach: Creating a parish-wide reputation of service and acceptance so that anyone who is in need knows that the parish is a place where help and support can be found.

Thomas P. Sweetser, SJ

February, 2017

Creating An eLetter

Many Catholic parishes no longer rely solely on the weekly bulletin but use a variety of communication vehicles to get the word out.  One option is sending an electronic update via email.  Holy Trinity Parish in Georgetown, DC is one example.  As Karelia Pallan, the Direction of Communications, mentioned, “People love to ‘click’ and find out more about what is happening.”  Included here are suggestions about how to start up something similar in your own parish.

Each issue has these regular sections, “A Friendly Reminder” about important events in the parish, “This Week At Holy Trinity,” “Looking Ahead,” “Support Holy Trinity,” that includes a Donation button, and “Parishioners in Action” which posts pictures of events that people had participated in over the past week.  Links to the bulletin, monthly calendar and daily Scripture readings are at the end.  What keeps people’s interest are the short videos that are included in the body of the eLetter.  The Jan. 4, 2017 issue had two videos, one on “Practice Gratitude,” and the other on “Screenagers.”  (See the attachment to our PEP Newsletter.)

Getting Started

            Starting up a monthly, bi-weekly or even weekly email Newsletter is not as difficult as it may seem, and the image it creates of a vital and active parish is invaluable.  Begin by locating two co-editors to put it together, either present staff members or a few volunteers who are technologically savvy.

Next, find a software program that is inexpensive and easy to use.  Three options are MailChimp.com, ConstantContact.com and AWeber.com.  The one Holy Trinity uses is MailChimp; it has many templates to get you started and it is free for organizations with less than 2,000 email users.

Gather information about the parish, including things to keep in mind, events that are coming up in the next week or two, projects or functions taking place in a month or more.  The more pictures the better.  Arrange for the parish Bulletin to be linked to the eLetter, along with a monthly calendar and perhaps Scripture readings for the upcoming weekend Masses or even readings during the week.  Ask for help in searching on YouTube for inspirational videos and learn how to link them into your eLetter.  People love to click on these videos.

Become acquainted with the software program and what it can offer, then create a sample parish eLetter and send it out to a small group for comments and suggestions, then do a second one and get feedback.

Once the format is set, work out a schedule for how often it will be sent out, the deadline for when it will be published, and timeframe for preparing each edition so that it becomes a regular tradition similar to how the weekly bulletin is prepared for distribution.  Be consistent in sending it out.  Try never to miss a deadline.

Signing Up

Publicize the new eLetter and encourage parishioners to sign up for receiving it.  If there already exists a parish list of emails, send out a one-time email to everyone, inviting them to participate in this new way of keeping in touch with all that is going on.  If no email list exists, invite people to send theirs in and then transfer the list into MailChimp.  Whatever time, energy and finances are committed to this effort will reap a multitude of benefits from the large number of informed and interested parishioners.

Jessamyn Amezquita  Thomas Sweetser, SJ

January 2017

Parents In The Forefront

Chapter Seven of The Joy of Love (Amoris Laetitia), an Exhortation by Pope

Francis, centers around the obligation of parents to be the primary shapers and motivators of their children’s formation.  This

can not be handed over to others.  “The home must continue to be the place where we learn to appreciate the meaning and

beauty of the faith, to pray and to serve our neighbor. . .  Handing on the faith presumes that parents themselves genuinely trust

God, seek him and sense their need for him.”  The pope then alludes to the place the parish religious formation program its into

this process of passing on the faith.  “Family catechesis is of great assistance as an effective method in training young parents to be aware of their

mission as the evangelizers of their own family.”  (287)

Formation As A Community

What is this Family Catechesis that the pope mentions?  This is not a new approach.  It is being used in many Catholic parishes across the country

and beyond.  Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Milwaukee, WI is one example.  It has been their religious education program for the last eleven years

and it is still going strong.  They call it GIFT, which stands for Generations In Faith Together, which is not only directed to families with children

but to the entire parish community.  The parish website describes GIFT as “a true intergenerational learning experience as singles, seniors, couples

and families/households of all varieties and forms gather to grow in faith together.”  (www.ololmke.org/ministries)

Successful Ingredients  

• How does GIFT work?  Ten times a year people of all ages gather either on Sunday morning following the 10:30 am Mass or on Monday evenings at 5:30 pm.  First comes a meal prepared by talented cooks, supplemented with desserts brought by participants.  People come in and sit at round tables wherever they like.  After an opening prayer, they pick up plates of delicious food and return to their tables for fellowship.  After 45 minutes comes a table activity based on the theme for the weekend.  In December, 2016, the theme was “The Joy of the Incarnation.”  The table activity was listing all the stars, heroes, actors and athletes that people could think of, ending with “Jesus as our star of life!”  After the meal and group project, the children leave the hall for individual formation in separate rooms depending on their age, pre-K through high school.  Two or three catechists lead each group out with well-prepared lesson plans in hand.

• Once the children have left, the adults move forward for their own session.  The content may differ, but the format is the same. A speaker gives a presentation that is interspersed every 15 minutes with table discus-sion based on questions provided by the leaders.  Also there is a video clip that relates to the theme of the day.  After an hour and half, the children return for a short wrap-up and final prayer.

• The three staff persons in charge of GIFT mentioned the key ingredients that keep people coming back.  These included the sit-down meals, round tables for easier sharing, interactive table discussions based on prepared questions, requiring the parents to attend (not just dropping off their children), creative planning beforehand by staff and core team, volunteer cooks, and providing every family or individual with a bible along with help about how to use it.  Those attending are required to pay a tuition fee (scholarships are available where needed), and people are encouraged to bring their own table setup to reduce the use of paper.  Most of all, GIFT is successful because of strong support from the pastor and creative planning by the directors.  With an average of 370 participants each of the ten weekends, GIFT must be doing something right, not only providing “an effective method in training young parents,” but those of all ages.

Tom Sweetser, SJ

December, 2016

Raising the Issue

An article entitled, “The Challenge of Unconscious Racial Bias” by Fr. Bryan Massingale appeared in the Fall, 2016 issue of The Church in the 21^st Century published by Boston College (www.bc.edu/c21). This was an excerpt from Conscience and Catholicism, Rights, Responsibilities and Institutional Resources published by Orbis Books in 2015. In the article he stated, “Racism is a symbol system, a culture operating on a preconscious level, a learned and communal frame of reference that shapes identity, consciousness, and behavior – the way social groups understand their place and worth. Race, in the Western world, tells us who we are.” Fr. Massingale offered ways to raise consciousness and counteract the movement toward separation and prejudice. “I suggest that a way forward lies in the cultivation of authentic interracial solidarity and trans-formative love (compassion). . . . What would authentic interracial solidarity entail? It would seem that the following would be among the essential requirements: an ability to hear and be present to black anger; the interior space to welcome perspectives that significantly differ from one’s own; and the cultivation of genuinely affective relationships with persons of color.” (p. 31) In an email sent in response to this Newsletter he mentioned, “One of the benefits and challenges of being Catholic is that we have sisters and brothers of faith who are ethnically and racially different than whites (in many dioceses, the majority of Catholics are nonwhite).  The challenge of this moment is for the Catholic Church to live up to our name by becoming truly ‘catholic’ –that is, radically inclusive – especially of those whom society disdains or even demeans.”

Enter the Parish

What might a parish do to address this issue of racial bias, knowing that it includes all persons of color? Preaching or teaching on the subject is not enough. There needs to be creative actions that touch people’s lived experience. Presented below is just one of many ways of proceeding.

• The pastor sets the tone. He might feel that this would be a good time to give racial solidarity a primary focus, perhaps even declaring next year to be a Year of Racial Solidarity.
• He presents this idea to members of the staff and is encouraged by their enthusiastic response. They immediately begin to brainstorming how this new focus could be reflected in their ministries and programs. No longer is it just the pastor’s priority, it gains momentum through the staff’s heightened awareness and willingness to become involved.
• The pastor then goes to the pastoral council and asks for more ideas of how this emphasis on racial solidarity might shape and influence all that takes place in the parish community over the coming year.
• One council member suggests forming a Racial Solidarity Committee that could plan, coordinate and oversee events throughout the year that would keep this initiate present in the minds of the parishioners.
• The council find two persons to co-chair the group and help them pick five other people known for their commitment and creativity to join them in this effort for the coming year.
• The pastor kicks off the Year of Racial Solidarity by inviting a multicultural pastor from a neighboring parish to join him for the weekend homilies. Both pastors announce a joint “Gathering of Solidarity” to include staff, leaders and parishioners from both parishes as a way of getting to know one another.
• The committee, now made up of members from both parishes, begin planning a Day of Service. Projects are arranged throughout the local community, each requiring a crew of 10 to 15 people. By pre-arrangement, volunteers from both churches spend three hours on a Saturday sharing the task. They return to the neighboring church for a brief prayer service and a time to share stories with one another. From there they move to the parish hall for a celebration of food, music, videos from the service projects and presentation of gifts. This is only the first of many programs planned for the Year of Racial Solidarity where “the cultivation of genuinely affective relationships” might begin to blossom.

Tom Sweetser, SJ

November, 2016

On A Mission

Recently we visited St. Anthony on the Lake Parish in Pewaukee, WI. This banner was displayed on the wall in the Gathering Space as people

came into and out of Mass. The three words shaped their identity as a parish. They came alive as people reflected on the meaning of each word and

put them into operation in parish ministries and in their personal lives. Many parishes now realize that a mission statement is not nearly as

important as a few core words that move parishioners into prayerful reflection and creative action. For example, Welcoming, Celebrating,

Empowering, and Serving shape St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Bay City, MI, while Invite, Celebrate, Transform and Serve sum up the core

values and mission of Holy Trinity Parish in Georgetown, DC.

Keeping the Words Alive

It is the Pastoral Council’s role, along with consultation from other leadership groups, to settle on the key words that define the purpose and unique identity of the parish. It is up to the various ministries of the parish and the parishioners themselves to put flesh on the words. Using the key words on the banner above, those planning the weekend liturgies might explore how “LIVE the Gospel of Jesus Christ” could be the theme for the Masses, encouraging the people to COMMIT to regular periods of prayer each day and to reflect on concrete ways to SERVE others over the coming week. In a similar way, those directing adult faith enrichment programs might offer a Live-Commit-Serve series of talks, videos and group interaction directed to drawing people into a life of faith that includes a commitment to go deeper into the scriptures and a firm resolve to put their faith into action through serving others.

Great Catholic Parishes

This is the title of a new book by William E. Simon, Jr., based on information gathered from 244 pastors and parishes around the country. It

focuses on best practices regarding lay leadership, inviting liturgies, forming disciples, and looking outward rather than inward as a parish

community. Bill Simon describes this last emphasis as a shift from maintenance to mission. He calls it, “From Mirrors to Windows.” As he

explains, “‘Mirror people’ look at the glass and see only themselves. In contrast, ‘window people’ can look through the glass and see others. . . .

They see the needs of the world and make room in their lives to provide for others.” (Great Catholic Parishes, Notre Dame: Ave Maria Press, p.

141)

To achieve this movement from inward to outward, the other three themes of his book come into play. Developing lay leadership comes first. No

longer can the pastor, nor even the staff, handle this shift. It belongs to those parishioners who step up and contribute their talents and enthusiasm

toward the realization of a community on mission. Bill Simon writes, “Lay involvement has had a domino effect in parishes. Pastors have watched

staff members empower volunteers to become leaders themselves, eventually taking on special projects and programs in the parish. Over time,

parishes form a tradition of lay involvement. . . parishioners become accustomed to getting involved and exercising leadership.” (p. 26-27)

Inviting, meaningful liturgies also play a large role in changing the vision from a mirror to a window. It takes concentrated planning that starts

long before the weekend Masses and continues afterwards by assessing the worship experience, seeing it not just from the perspective of the

liturgical ministers, but from those in the congregation. As Bill Simon put it, “We are beginning to understand that it takes a whole lot more than a

friendly greeter at the door.” (p. 101) It means inviting everyone into an experience of not just listening to, but Living out the Gospel of Jesus

Christ, not just mouthing responses, but being Committed to life-long faith learning, not just making a donation, but stepping up and Serving any

individual or group that is in need.

Tom Sweetser, SJ, Debora Elkins, Jessamyn Amezquita

October, 2016

Building Bridges

At the recent World Youth Day gathering in Poland, Pope Francis told 1.6 million young people: “God comes to break down all our fences. He comes to open the doors of our lives, our dreams, our ways of seeing things. . . Life nowadays tells us that it is much easier to concentrate on what divides us, what keeps us apart. People try to make us believe that being closed in on ourselves is the best way to keep safe from harm. Today, we adults need you to teach us how to live in diversity, in dialogue, to experience multiculturalism not as a threat but an opportunity. Have the courage to teach us that it is easier to build bridges than walls!”

Making Connections

The Catholic parish is an excellent place for building bridges because it can provide occasions for people to interact with those different from ourselves, including individuals who might need help, support, friendship or assistance. Two of many parishes who offer a wide variety of opportunities for parishioners to break out of their own worlds are located in Washington, DC. One is the Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament Parish in the Chevy Chase section of DC. They provide parishioners with many options, including activities centered around feeding the hungry, helping the sick and homebound, social action formation and legislative action. Some of the more creative outreach projects include growing food on parish grounds to donate to the hungry, taking CD’s and books from the library to the homebound, and working to “green” the parish, along with planning environmental education events. (www.blessedsacramentdc.org)

The second parish is Holy Trinity in the Georgetown section of DC. The key components of their Social Justice ministry include direct service opportunities, advocacy, education, spirituality, and a large social justice tithe for scholarships and worthy causes. (www.trinity.org) One of the more popular events is the annual “Power of One,” a parish-wide day of service in which 200 or more parishioners serve at various locations around the DC area. Because some of those who took part in this service day wanted to come together more often than once a year, there is now a monthly gathering of parishioners who perform service projects throughout the city. Holy Trinity also has two sister parishes, one in Haiti and the other in El Salvador. At the latter, the parish is currently supporting a comprehensive violence prevention plan for youth.

Attracting New People

To help parishioners “experience multiculturalism not as a threat but an opportunity,” as Pope Francis put it, contributing to worthy causes is not enough. Consider a parishioner who attends Mass regularly, at least two or three times a week, and is faithful in contributing to the collection but who is not active in any outreach ministry. That person might need a nudge to get over the hump from inactivity to involvement. What will capture this person’s imagination and sense of adventure? These three words could help: Visible, Personal and Companionship. Visible: Keep it simple. Promote just one outreach ministry one weekend per month. Talk it up at the Masses, include it as part of the homily, put up pictures in the gathering space and where refreshments are served, have those who have participated in the event do a presentation sometime over the weekend, hand out brochures and sign up cards. Personal: Nothing is more effective than a personal, one-on-one invitation. Have a cadre of leaders and outreach people talk to those who show interest, answer their questions and concerns, obtain their names and contact information, have them attend an orientation session, invite them to go on a trial run so they see firsthand what it is like. Companionship: Pair up with new people, give them a chance to talk about it afterwards, encourage them to come back, provide other options if this event did not fit their interests or desires. Be the bridge to help people step into new and renewing adventures.

Tom Sweetser, SJ, Debora Elkins, Jessamyn Amezquita

September 2016

Why Church?

Why believe in the Church? Yes, believe in God, Something or Someone beyond ourselves, but the Church? It is full of so many contradictions, failings, self-seeking, injustices and power-plays. Is it worthy of our allegiance?

Yes, so long as it is seen as a means to an end and not an end in itself. David Brooks wrote at the beginning of The Road to Character (Random House, 2015), “Recently I’ve been thinking about the difference between the résumé virtues and the eulogy virtues. The résumé virtues are the ones you list on your résumé, the skills that you bring to the job market and that contribute to external success. The eulogy virtues are deeper. They’re the virtues that get talked about at your funeral, the ones that exist at the core of your being – whether you are kind, brave, honest or faithful; what kind of relationships you formed.” According to Brooks, these are two opposing sides of our nature and the road to building character is by fostering the eulogy virtues. He goes on to say, “No person can achieve self-mastery on his or her own. Individual will, reason, compassion, and character are not strong enough to consistently defeat selfishness, pride, greed, and self-deception. Everybody needs redemptive assistance from outside – from family, friends, ancestors, rules, traditions, institutions, exemplars, and, for believers, God.” (p. 12) Enter the Catholic Church at its best.

One Person’s Story

A young adult wrote about her journey out of and then back into the Catholic Church (Radical Reinvention, Kaya Oakes, Berkeley: Counterpoint, 2012.) “Faith is a love story, “ she wrote. “Over and over, Christ tells us to love one another, love our enemies, love the people who persecute us. The Catholic Church is so good at ministering to the poor, caring for the sick, educating people in forgotten communities. It is so good at encour-aging its flock to stand up to injustice and fight oppression. And it is just awful at understanding what it means to be a woman or to be gay . . . Yet, what being Catholic has given me is a sense of love and compassion for the people around me that was pretty much absent in my decades of fake atheist faithlessness. . . . Being Catholic has taught me to give compassion and love in return.” (p. 186)

In her new awareness of what being a “reinvented” Catholic meant, she also discovered that there are many ways of being a Catholic. This, in turn, demanded that she make choices of what was important to her faith and what could be left behind. She admitted, “I like some churches more than others. At the ones where priests are cruel or the congregation is terrified of change, I know I don’t belong – and I feel pain for Catholics who think they do belong there. . . I know there are better things out there – better churches, better priests, better ways of believing. And I get up, walk out, and never return.” (p. 195)

But she also admitted, “In my years as a returned Catholic, I’ve learned that it’s impossible to arrive at a metanoia [a conversion] alone.   Yes, there is a role for the priests, bishops, and popes who run the show, but ultimately, living a life of faith is not about following marching orders. It’s about finding God in other people, feeling the movement of the Spirit, living the compassion of Christ as best we can. There is a reason Catholics return again and again to the idea of conscience, that deep, secretive part of ourselves that secular life makes it easy to ignore. A neglected conscience will shrivel and curl into itself in a manner that can feel impossible to unfold. But it will unfold with the help of others. It will grow. Mine does, every day. . . . Faith is part of my identity, and it’s not going away, even if it’s not always a perfect fit.” (p. 239) It is this development of a strong inner life, be it conscience or character, that makes believing in the Catholic Church worthwhile. As Kaya Oakes wrote about her return to the Church, “I’m Catholic in my guts. Let’s just deal with that.” (p. 12)

Debora Elkins & Tom Sweetser, SJ

August 15, 2016

Feast of the Assumption

Dear Newsletter Recipient,

A heads up for the coming year – 2017.  We have openings for working with parishes, religious groups, dioceses, or organizations of any size or background.

Options include:

• The full Parish Assessment and Renewal (PAR) process that includes a preliminary information-gathering phase regarding parishioners’ desires and expectations, followed by a two-week visit by our team to improve communication, develop staff support, clarify structures, establish goals and set up actions for the implementation of goals, and then concluding with a follow-up weekend six months after the two-week visit in order to hold groups accountable and do whatever fine-tuning and adjustments might be necessary.

• Workshops for staff, pastoral councils or other areas of parish ministry to help clarify individual roles and responsibilities, improve communication, do team building, modify statements of mission or core values, learn effective leadership skills and ways for making decisions.

• Conferences and gatherings for priests’ groups, religious congregations’ leadership teams, diocesan departments and offices, non-profit organizations and communities, to help them deal with issues and challenges that may be hampering the full use of their potential and resources.

This is a sampling of what we offer groups, always adapting the content and processes to fit the particular needs of each parish, diocese, community or organization.   If you know of any one who might be interested in what we provide, click on the “Reply” button for this email and send us the names and relevant  information so that we can make contact.  Thank you.

Maria Gabriela Garcia, Deb Elkins, Tom Sweetser, SJ

July, 2016 

Pope Francis on Marriage and Family Life

The Pope’s Exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, is a rich mixture of profound insight and practical suggestions related to marital relationships and raising a family  A few examples:

– Love needs time and space; everything else is secondary.  Time is needed to talk things over, to embrace leisurely, to share plans, to listen to one other, and gaze in each other’s eyes, to appreciate one another and to build a stronger relationship.  Sometimes the frenetic pace of our society and the pressures of the workplace create problems.  At other times, the problem is the lack of quality time together, sharing the same room without one even notic­ing the other. (224)

– Instead of offering an opinion or advice, we need to be sure that we have heard everything the other person has to say.  This means cultivating an interior silence that makes it possible to listen to the other person without mental or emotional distractions.  Do not be rushed, put aside all of your own needs and worries, and make space.  Often the other spouse does not need a solution to his or her problems, but simply to be heard, to feel that someone has acknowledged their pain, their disappointment, their fear, their anger, their hopes and their dreams. (137)

– In the family, three words need to be used. . . . “Please,” “Thank you,” “Sorry.” Three essential words!  In our families when we are not overbearing and ask: ‘May I?’; in our families when we are not selfish and can say: ‘Thank you!’; and in our families when someone realizes that he or she did something wrong and is able to say ‘Sorry!’, our family experiences peace and joy.  Let us not be stingy about using these words, but keep repeating them, day after day. . . .  The right words, spoken at the right time, daily protect and nurture love.  (133)

– Parents need to consider what they want their children to be exposed to, and this necessarily means being concerned about who is providing their entertainment, who is en­tering their rooms through television and elec­tronic devices, and with whom they are spending their free time. Only if we devote time to our children, speaking of important things with sim­plicity and concern, and finding healthy ways for them to spend their time, will we be able to shield them from harm. (260)

Options for Parish Ministry

The Pope suggested that it is essential, during the first years of married life, that couples en­rich and deepen their conscious and free decision to have, hold and love one another for life. (217)  Perhaps a group of people who have experienced the ups and downs of married life could be recruited in the parish to reach out to those recently married and meet with them three or four times during the first year, two-on-two, sharing stories and providing support.

Pope Francis also commented on the contribution a parish can make to the pastoral care of families, seeing itself as a family of families, where small communities, organizations and various associations live in harmony.” (202)  Fostering pastoral care of families might include an annual renewal of marriage vows, regular events that reinforce commitment, such as a Valentine’s Day Dance or a World Café process where couples share on a deep and meaningful level. (see www.theworldcafe.com )

“Nowadays,” the Pope wrote, “pastoral care for families has to be fundamentally missionary, going out to where people are.” (230)  A creative use of social media and other means of digital communication could reach out “to where people are,” rather than waiting for them, especially younger adults, to come to the parish.

The Pope’s Exhortation is a treasure hidden in a field.  It will take some time and effort to discover the gems, but the rewards are well worth it.

Maria Gabriela Garcia, Debora Elkins, Tom Sweetser, SJ

June 2016

Responding To Special Needs

The May, 2016 edition of the PEP Newsletter contained descriptions of what three Catholic parishes were doing for those with special needs.  That newsletter prompted St. John Chrysostom Parish in Wallingford, PA to send us what is happening there.  It is worth passing it on to others for more ideas about what could be done in this unique ministry.

St. John Chrysostom in Wallingford, PA

Mary Chollet, Director of Parish Ministry and Communication wrote, “I would like to share some of our efforts in this regard at our parish, the winner of the 2015 Loyola Press Opening Doors Award from the National Catholic Partnership on Disability. Our efforts include:

• A monthly Mass of Welcoming & Inclusion (the only one in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia) with a modified liturgy for persons with disabilities, including shorter homilies, shorter hymns, softened lighting, and increased Communion distribution in the pews, etc.  This Mass draws many worshippers from across our area.
• Two regular Sunday Masses a month, including the Mass of Welcoming and the Mass of Anointing, which have an American Sign Language interpreter.  The interpreter is also present at the seasonal liturgies of Christmas, Palm Sunday, Easter and the like.  The Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Deaf Apostolate coordinates these Masses with other ASL liturgies in the surrounding area.
• Our Sacramental preparation program for children, youth and young adults with special needs includes an Adaptive PREP (religious formation) program that uses materials from Loyola Press. (For more information, please contact Theresa Hedlund at 610/872-4673, ext. 131 or thedlund@sjcparish.org.)
• A continual effort to integrate those with disabilities into our regular ministries, including blind persons as lectors and people on the autism spectrum as cantors and servers.
• Parish social gatherings that are geared toward those with disabilities, such as cook-ins for young adults and a Sensory Friendly Breakfast with Santa, to mention but a few.
• Parish Service opportunities for all those with disabilities, as their abilities permit.
• The Ministry with Persons with Disabilities which provides a regular parish-wide forum on disability issues that includes speakers and other resources for the families.

These and other initiatives have nourished a deep level of care and compassion across our parish family, which, in turn, has inspired new efforts. We are mindful at St. John’s that, although we have made progress with this ministry, there is always more we must do to reach out to all, always remembering that we are all wonderfully made.”

Mary E. Chollet, Director, Parish Ministry & Communications

Tom Sweetser & Maria Gabriela & Deb Elkins

May, 2016

 All God’s Children

            We recently heard this comment from an inactive Catholic, “My entire family left the Catholic Church when I was about 11 years old because the priest would not allow my mildly retarded (an acceptable term in the 70’s) sister to take Confirmation classes.  It was not an issue of behavior or disability, as she had been doing well in public school.  It seemed more of an issue of a lack of knowledge from the priest and the Church.  I don’t believe much has changed in the past 40 years.  There still seems to be very limited accommodations, if any, for ‘special needs’ children in church or religious education.”  This same frustration for parents with special needs children is still prevalent today because many parishes are unwilling or unable to provide accommodations for them.  There are, however, some parishes that have seen the need to make something wonderful and welcoming for all people.

 St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Lakewood, CO

            “Special Education” is a class that started over 40 years ago at St. Jude’s.  It was designed to prepare children with special needs for their sacraments.  The class currently has 13 students ranging from 6 to 54 years of age.  This is a one-on-one class that meets every week.  They work with the students who go at their own pace.  The students celebrate their sacraments together unless there is a need to do a private session.  During a private Confirmation, one student showed his joy with a thumbs up and a “Yes! I did it!”  Over the years it has gone beyond just sacramental preparation because there is such a need among both young and old.  Many of the people with special needs live in group homes, some in independent living and some with their parents.  There is a struggle sometimes for attendance because one of the biggest problems the teachers face is trying to get transportation to and from the parish, along with getting permission for them to return after-hours.  The teachers do the best they can and the students just shine for their efforts.  As the students continue learning about their faith, they begin to thrive.  There is also a marked decrease in violence.  Some have become Eucharistic Ministers or ushers, and most attend Mass regularly.

 Old St. Patrick’s Church in Chicago, IL

            In this parish, during the school year there is a special needs Mass one Sunday a month at 12:30 pm. This started because a mom of a special needs student wrote to the pastor about having a place to meet and celebrating a Mass for this group.  The pastor, the mom and a volunteer started the Mass five years ago.  They have it in the cafeteria.  It starts off with a craft project before Mass and a reception afterwards.  About 50 or more people attend this Mass, coming from five different zip codes.  It is a safe place for them where they are allowed to be who they are.  One boy would always come and barricade himself underneath a table for the entire Mass.  During one of the sessions everyone was given a Beta fish; this child took care of the fish and slowly started opening up more.  Now he sits with the rest of the congregation and brings his fish with him to every Mass.  They are all encouraged to participate; some are doing the readings, others bring up the gifts and one person in a wheel chair enjoys taking up the collection. They even have an interpreter for sign language.

 Blessed Sacrament Parish in Washington, DC

            “Did you know?” is the name of a section in the bulletin.  It contains information about the activities of the Young Catholics Disabilities Group, such as an upcoming dance or exercise classes led by DDA certified trainers.  The blurb also includes helpful information for those with disabilities, such as special easy-access shoes being created by Nike or bills being introduced in Congress.

             These parishes are only a few of those making special efforts to include all the People of God in the worship and activities of the parish community.

Maria Gabriela Garcia, Debora Elkins, Tom Sweetser, SJ

March, 2016

 For Others

            The St. Francis Xavier Elementary School in Phoenix, AZ has as its mission and purpose, “Empowering students to become men and women for others through faith, service and justice.”  One concrete way of carrying out this mission is a creative project for the 7th and 8th grade students called, The Arrupe Project.  It was named after Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ, the General Superior of the Jesuit Order during the tumultuous period following Vatican II.  He continually prodded Jesuits and non-Jesuits alike to live their lives for others.

The Project Defined

            The first step of the project is to have the participating students raise $10 on their own, which is then matched with another $10 by the school, funded through grants.  There is a Commissioning Ceremony attended by parents when the students receive their matching grants.  From there they go out to use this $20 for seed money to raise a larger sum for others.  For the 7^th graders, they hand-craft creative products, including homemade note cards, flower arrangements, etc., which they sell at the school-wide Arrupe Marketplace.  The 8^th graders are given a greater challenge of planning and carrying out an event at which they raise money for others.  Both grades use the proceeds from their sales and fundraising to purchase needed commodities for local organizations of their own choosing, such as Catholic Charities, Head Start, Homeless Shelters and other non-profit agencies and groups.  It is up to the students to hand deliver their donations to the organization as a way of doing something concrete and practical for others.  The final step in the Arrupe Project is to chronicle their own journey in order to reflect on their experience and to state what they learned from it.

One Example

            Emme East, class of 2015, earned her initial $10 before the Commissioning Ceremony by cooking and serving a  home dinner one night.  According to her, “The dinner was delicious and it was a great way to begin my Arrupe Project with a base of family values.”  She then used her $20, now matched by the school fund, to host an 80’s Jazzercise class in her backyard.  She asked an instructor to donate her time to lead the class.  The attendees wore 80’s outfits and exercised to classic 80’s music.  Emme raised $588 from this event that would go to My Sister’s Place Domestic Violence Shelter in town.  She bought toys, coloring books, bibs, pacifiers, etc. that she personally delivered to My Sister’s Place.  Afterwards, reflecting on her Arrupe journey she wrote, “I was so excited about the many things I could purchase for the shelter.  Beginning with earning $10 from a simple chore, to planning and executing a fund-raising event, and then purchasing and delivering items to a local charity, it has been an extremely rewarding experience.  It was both humbling and uplifting, two words that describe the Arrupe Project for me.”

A Final Reflection

            Cameron, also from the Class of 2015, wrote, “This was the most influential project I’ve participated in during my years at St. Francis Xavier.  Through the Arrupe Project, I was actually able to experience the action of doing justice.  What made this project so special for me was all of the different steps I was able to accomplish on my own.  This project teaches you so much about being a person for others, just as Pedro Arrupe wanted for us.  I learned how good it feels to help people from all different aspects.”  Perhaps a similar approach could be used for the upper classes in other Catholic schools, as well as for elementary religious education, high school youth groups and young adults.  However it is implemented, the purpose remains the same, finding a way to do something concrete and practical “for others.”

Maria Gabriela Garcia, Debora Elkins, Tom Sweetser, SJ

February, 2016

Calling It Quits

The story of one person’s journey away from and toward the Church. My 14 year old self would say I left the Church because in 1971 an usher told me I could not come in wearing blue jeans. I told him that God didn’t care what I wore and marched out the door; indignant and knowing I was right. What a gift he gave to a rebellious little girl. I don’t think I consciously left the Catholic Church that day, I just stopped going to Mass. And then my life continued without the Church and I was too busy to go looking for it.

Staying At A Distance

All of the stringent rules people associate with the Catholic Church would be one reason I have stayed away; they don’t seem based in love.  I have been to many Masses at which the priest was berating the people for not coming to church every Sunday. I have been at funerals where the priest made a point of telling those present who could NOT come up for communion, thus separating out the non-Catholics from the Faithful, instead of taking the opportunity for all of us to come together as one.  I’m sure that all religions have occasions where they misplace the focus by emphasizing something other than God and community. The other reason I stay away is the authority given to the pope, bishops and priests instead of fostering a direct communication with God and a shared responsibility with the parishioners.  Finally, I think that faith is experiential so that reciting a creed isn’t really authentic for me.  In my mind, all religions are similar in their beliefs – basically to love God and people; it is just the rituals that are so different.

Staying Open

Fortunately the Catholic family I was raised in was not legalistic.  We weren’t taught the little rules from the Vatican, but were immersed in the big rules from Jesus – to love God and love each other. I learned to love and accept all people and didn’t feel damaged by my Catholic upbringing as did many of my ex-Catholic friends.  I do love so much what the Catholic Church does.  I love the reverence in the Mass as that is how I like to worship.  I love the songs, too – they make me cry.  I love that it focuses more on liturgy with a little mystery so we don’t have to cheapen things with exact words.  I love that when you visit a Catholic Church you still feel part of the community because Mass is about the same everywhere.  The repetitive prayers are great to fall back on in times of need – they just come to you automatically as a way to cry out to God when you don’t know what to do.  And the rituals work so well in keeping special  moments in life sacred or in going through the motions during times of grief or when you don’t know what is the right thing to do.  And, of course, I love the focus on social justice practiced by so many Catholics.

Rethinking

I am considering attending Mass on a regular basis at my local Catholic Church.  The church I would like to go to is the Unitarian Universalists Church but it is too far away and it would mean being away from my husband every Sunday morning.   I like that church because the sermons and principles draw on works of all faiths to help us down our path with God and the world.  But the distance does not allow me to immerse myself in that community, to attend church functions and get to know people well. I know I really need and enjoy regular worship with God within a community of people, so I think I will return to the Catholic Masses which I know well and the parish is just down the street. I am hoping to hear my favorite quote –  “But only say the word and I shall be healed”

Maria Gabriela Garcia, Debora Elkins, Tom Sweetser, SJ

January, 2016

Finding A Spiritual Home

            I am part of the millennia generation (ages 18-39) which requires a sense of purpose in life; we strive for accomplishment in everything.  We want to feel we are significant as we look for a spiritual home.  This can be a challenge because we young adults can be very “picky.”  There are certain amenities that are important to us if we are going to commit to a particular parish.  What we look for is acceptance, for the possibility of being nourished and for the opportunity to feel useful.

Acceptance

            Because social media is such a large part of our everyday lives, we have a sense of being watched and judged for every move we make.  The reverse is also true, we try to keep up appearances and edit our profiles in order to reveal only what we want the world to see.  It is not about being perfect so much as being accepted for who we are.  We need to know that we will be loved no matter our past, our present state or any future choices we are likely to make.  As a result, we gravitate to a parish that teaches – and practices – acceptance of all, no matter who that might be.  First impressions are critical.  Every liturgy, every activity, every small group and ministry must manifest a welcoming, hospitable environment and attitude if young adults are going to feel, “this place has possibilities.”  It can’t be faked or put on, it must be honest and real.

Being Nourished

            Once the initial contact is made and introductions exchanged, how is the parish going to get young adults to stay?  Nourish them, give them something meaningful and challenging to think about, let them feel they might learn something new and interesting.  This begins with the homily.  Many of us come to church yearning to be fed with something solid, something real, something authentic.  As we listen, we want inspiring explanations of the readings and concrete suggestions that we could work on.  We seek guidance and direction for our busy go-go-go lives that we face when we step out of church.  As a result, we don’t just hear the homilies, we listen intently and take in all that is being said.  We search for those that are engaging, ignoring the boring or insulting ones.  This is why homilies need to be well-prepared and thought-provoking.  To this end, it helps to have a monthly homily reflection group of ordained and non-ordained, young and old, to reflect together and offer insights so the homilies are both spiritually nourishing and easy to apply.

Feeling Useful

            The Church continually urges people to help the less fortunate, feed the hungry, cloth the naked, be peacemakers.  This emphasis attracts young adults.  Labeled as the  “cause driven” generation, we want to make the world a better place.  Many parishes do not seem to offer us much along these lines.  As a result, we find a home in non-profit organizations where we feel we can make a difference.  If parishes want to attract those in my age bracket they will have to provide a variety of opportunities where we can work on clear and challenging causes and projects; places where we can roll up our sleeves, get involved and see results.

Not Being Different

            The over-all objective for young adults is to find a place where we belong.  We want to fit in and not  stand out as being the youngest person present.  We look for diversity in all aspects of parish life, whether it be race, age, gender, status, background or experience.  We want to relate to others and be accepted, to be useful and make a difference, to be inspired and grow through the homilies and ministries that are offered.  Ask any young adult what they want and they will probably be more honest and transparent than you would expect.  So, ask them!

Maria Gabriela Garcia, Debora Elkins, Tom Sweetser, SJ

December, 2015

The Pope’s Urging

            Pope Francis, both in word and action, has cajoled and challenged all the Faithful to connect with, listen to and care for the poor. Helping the poor can be a daunting and intimidating task. Where to begin? In practical terms, the late Bishop Ken Untener, back in 1991, offered a similar challenge to the Catholics of the Saginaw Diocese in Michigan. He decreed that all meetings held under diocesan auspices, from the beginning of Lent to July 1, should begin with this agenda item: “How shall what we are doing here affect or involve the poor?” He published what he discovered in the August, 1991 issue of Origins, later reprinted in The Practical Prophet (Paulist Press, 2007, pp. 134-141).

It Takes Initiative and Creativity

Bishop Ken began by focusing on the “poor poor.” These people are often right in our midst but are left out, unseen, hidden and rarely, if ever, on anyone’s agenda. No parish bulletin, flyer, pulpit announcement or newsletter will find them. We must look with different eyes to discover their presence because the poor feel we do not want them in our lives. They disguise themselves and absent themselves. To connect with the “poor poor” takes some ingenuity and a willingness to start searching in invisible places.

Tackling Causes

“Food baskets at Thanksgiving, toys at Christmas,” Bishop Ken wrote, “are good as far as they go, but they don’t go very far.” People are very generous on special occasions – clothes, food, money – and this should not be taken lightly, but trying to do something about the poor’s state in life is much harder. Getting at the causes of poverty means providing basic skills to help people manage their lives. making loans available through a credit union, assisting people in signing up for health insurance, offering a parish job market so people can earn a living wage, sponsoring an immigrant family or working with local groups and agencies to put a roof over people’s heads. As Bishop Ken stated, “Direct assistance is good. Tackling the causes is better.”

The New Normal

After 97 days of having all diocesan and parish meetings include talking about the poor in their midst, he challenged all Catholics to find ways of translating their words into action. The new normal meant, in his words, “focusing on the poor as much as Jesus did.” The poor themselves practice this in the way they reach out to help one another. They take in a neighbor’s child when a family is struggling. They contribute money to someone who needs it, saying, “They need it more than I do.” They share food or provide rides although they don’t have much gas or food for themselves. That’s a normal way of acting for them. Can it be the same for those of us who have more than enough to share with others? What habits and ways of acting can a parish adopt to create this “new normal” regarding the poor?

Possible Actions

1. Acknowledge the invisible poor by looking deeper, more creatively and carefully for their presence.
2. Address one cause of poverty at a time, forming small groups to create plans and discover solutions.
3. Form new habits that keep the needs of the poor foremost, such as frequent petitions at Mass, offering homilies and presentations on the topic and planning service days for the entire parish,.
4. Involve the poor in the ministries, programs and projects of the parish, encouraging them to share their wisdom and insights.

                             – Maria Gabriela, Debora Elkins, Tom Sweetser, SJ

November, 2015

A pastor recently asked what we thought were indicators of an alive and vibrant parish.  Successful Parishes came to mind, a book Tom wrote in 1983.  Here is a new checklist for the modern parish.

For Liturgy  

   ?_  Every door at every Mass on the weekend has a family or a few adults welcoming people into church, remaining for those coming late to the liturgy.  These greeters are also present at the end to say goodbye.

   ?_  The music is geared to the age and culture of those attending each Mass so that the entire congregation is singing with joy and spirit.  Some of the hymns are sung in parts or rounds or alternating subgroups.

   ?_ The readings are read in such a way that it goes to the heart of those attending, perhaps with an introduction to the readings that helps people understand the context and background for each Scripture text.

   ?_ The homily brings the Scriptures to life and provides an age-appropriate application to people’s everyday experiences, all within a reasonable time length and delivered with an appealing and clear delivery. 

For Formation  

   ?_  There is a monthly gathering of families and individuals of different ages, cultures and lifestyles where people can grow in their faith and spirituality, including both large and small group interaction and learning.

   ?_  The weekend Masses include two-minute explanations each month about some aspect of Catholic faith and practice based on questions offered by parishioners, such as issues related to the Mass, saints, traditions.

   ?_  Adults of all ages, cultures and interests are offered a variety of faith enrichment options throughout the year that including large and small group interaction, spiritual direction, Scripture study, book sharing.

For Community 

   ?_  Those of different cultures and backgrounds have regular events at which each one can interact and share with others the unique gifts and customs they have to offer and join together as a single community.

   ?_ Hospitality is a hallmark of the parish so that all newcomers and strangers are welcomed into the community, all groups and ministries are open to new members, all events are joyful celebrations of unity.

   ?_  All who volunteer for a ministry, committee or project know what will be expected of them, that they will be held accountable for the work they do and will serve for limited time so others can take their place.

For Outreach

   ?_  The ministries of pastoral care, Christian service, peace and justice, connecting with inactive Catholics are well-known by the parishioners, are publicly affirmed and attract new members to join their ranks.

   ?_  Those who no longer attend church regularly are personally contacted by visitors who are trained to listen to the stories and concerns of each person, answering questions and offering assistance as needed. 

For Leadership  

   ?_  The pastor, staff and lay leaders continually inform parishioners about any decisions and plans they are making, along with the reasons why certain choices were made, inviting the people’s feedback and insights.

   ?_  Parishioners are challenged to be stewards of God’s gifts, including time for regular prayer, being involved in one or more areas of service, and returning a portion of their financial livelihood back to God.

The temptation is to say, “We already do all these things, ” but try asking others to see if this is so.

Gabriela Garcia, Debora Elkins, Tom Sweetser, SJ 

Parish Newsletter

A Service of the Parish Evaluation Project

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

September, 2015

A New Co-Worker With A New Perspective

            My name is Maria Gabriela Garcia and I am the newest member of the PEP team.  I am not new to this work because I have been part of three Paris h Assessment and Renewal (PAR) projects over the last few years.  I have moved to Milwaukee from the Denver area where I lived for the last 20 years.  I was a member of the St. Michael the Archangel staff when it went through the PAR process in 2011. What follows are my thoughts regarding three challenges facing Hispanic parishioners in a Catholic parish.

Language Differences

One challenge that I experienced was the many different Spanish dialects present in a multi-cultural parish.  It is difficult to translate something from English into Spanish that will be understood by those of different backgrounds and cultures.  This is something I noticed as a staff person at St. Michael’s.  What seemed to work best was translating the messages not word for word but getting the meaning across in a simplified manner.  What also helped further communication and clarify understanding was the constant use of visual aids.  These included using many pictures and diagrams in brochures, posters and banners so there was one easily understood message and visual that was the same for both English and Spanish.  The most important approach is to have at least one person who knows exactly what needs to be communicated and spends the time to explain the message to the Spanish-speakers, and answers any questions people have in order to make sure the message has been understood completely.  That person can also take back to those who created the English message any concerns or issues mentioned by the Hispanic parishioners.

Two Communities Rather Than One

A second issue regarding parishes with a significant number of Hispanics is the feeling of being in two separate camps.  It can be a mutual experience for both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking parishioners.  There are different wants and needs in each language group.  Hispanic parishioners celebrate special moments in a person’s life, such as the reception of a Sacrament or when an individual reaches a certain age, either 3 years or 15 years old.  For the Hispanics, these celebrations are done as a family unit, while for the English-speakers, celebrations are done as a total parish.  With Masses and religious education done in separate languages, there are different ways for celebrating events.  The result is two separate parishes running parallel with little interaction and connection.  To overcome this separation, there needs to be parish events that are common to all cultures.  For example, my home parish sponsors an “International Rosary.”  People are invited ahead of time to take turns leading the Hail Mary in their own language, and others of the same culture join in.  They also bring their own Marian statues common to their tradition.

Fear of Parish-Wide Leadership

The third challenge is finding Hispanics who are willing to join parish leadership groups.  This is difficult because it means, in effect, spending twice the effort than is required of others.  The Hispanic leaders must first completely understand what is going on and then must communicate this back to the Hispanic community in ways they can understand.  Another issue is that Hispanic parishioners do not always take seriously what is relayed to them by those in parish leadership positions.  This is because there is a reluctance to make any changes in how they wish to participate in the life of the parish.  One way of over-coming this is by personally inviting bi-lingual Hispanics who are trusted among their peers and letting them know how they are appreciated for accepting the role of being bridge-builders and communicators between the various cultures.

               Maria Gabriela Garcia, Debora Elkins, Tom Sweetser, SJ

                                                         Website: www.pepparish.org

Parish Newsletter

A Service of the Parish Evaluation Project

Milwaukee , Wisconsin

August, 2015

A Pasto ral Experience

Pope Francis wrote in The Joy of the Gospel, “I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter them..” [#3]  Knowing that this was not the experience for a large number of parishioners at St. Lucy’s paris h in Campbell , Cal i f ornia , the pastor and staff decided to try out something new.  The pasto r and all of the staff members responsible for any area of religious formation met twice a mont h to pray, discuss and plan ways of changing what they offered parents of those preparing for the sacraments of First Eucharist, First Reconciliation and Confirmation.  Providing classes for parents was not working; they seemed to have no lasting effect.  Something more personal, more spiritually enriching was needed.  The pasto r and religious educators agreed, “No more classes!”  But what should take their place?  Perhaps something closer to a retreat experience was needed where people could discover Jesus in their lives.

Mandatory Retreats

The new approach was to offer retreats for parents of children preparing for first sacraments, each one lasting six hours, from 9 am to 3 pm, on a Saturday.  If parents did not come then their children could not receive the sacrament.  Each retreat began with Mass, followed by fellowship and refreshments.  They then listened to a talk given by the pasto r or a staff member on the theme of, “Who is Jesus and what is his plan?”  The emphasis was on how Jesus preached about what kind of God we have, One that loves each person ind ividually and wants only good for that person.  Jesus Christ, through his life, death and resurrect-tion, witnessed to this and pledged that he himself would be personally present to each one of us.  All we need to do is to be open and welcome him in.  Most of the parents had never heard this before.  Following the talk, a parishioner who had undergone a conversion experience shared about an encounter with Jesus Christ that had been life-changing.

After the testimony, everyone was asked to reflect for half an hour before the Blessed Sacrament on two questions:  1. On a scale of 0 to 10, where is my personal relationship with Jesus, with zero being none at all?  2. How could I improve that relationship by one or two numbers?  Following this time for reflection, groups of 3 or 4 were formed so that people could share, if they so wis hed, their answers to the two ques-tions.  None of the staff were in any of the groups.  This sharing was supposed to last 20 minutes, but people did not want to quit.  As many mentioned afterwards, they had nev er shared with anyone else their thoughts about such things.   Lunch followed, animated by continual sharing.  A second talk took place in the after-noon about how the sacrament their children would be receiving fostered and deepened one’s personal experience of Jesus Christ.  At the end both children and parents came together for a final prayer experience .

The Weekend Masses

Based on the remarkable response from the parents who participated in the retreats, those preaching at the Masses decided to shift their emphasis as well.  The new theme was, “Allow the Risen Christ to come into your life in very personal and practical ways.  Experience firsthand the reign of God alive in your heart and allow it to change your way of acting and relating.”  Using the Little Books created by the late Bishop Ken Untener(www.littlebooks.us), the preachers asked each person, from 8^th grade on up, to pray quietly for at least six minutes a day.  People were encouraged to find a regular place and time each and every day for prayer, allowing Jesus to touch their hearts.  This has caught on.  Weekly attendance at both the Spanish and English Masses has increased by 250 people for each language group and continues to grow.

                                                                          Tom Sweetser, SJ and Debora Elkins

                                                                                                            Website:www.pepparish.org

Parish Newsletter

A Service of the Parish Evaluation Project

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

July,2015 

Our Common Home

Pope Francis in Laudato Si’ stated, “It is my hope that this Encyclical Letter . . . can help us to acknowledge the appeal, immensity and urgency of the challenge we face.” [15]  The urgency is not only on a global scale but relates to the local level as well.  As the pope mentioned, “Since the world has been given to us, we can no longer view reality in a purely utilitarian way, in which efficiency and productivity are entirely geared to our individual benefit.” [160]  Change is taking place through efforts at recycling, developing renewable energy and curbing consumption, but much more is possible.  Each person can make a difference because whatever happens on the local level can have a ripple effect that will influence not only the surrounding area but perhaps the world at large.  The local parish can initiate this ripple effect.

Awareness

Begin with the leaders: pastor, staff and pastoral council.  As they become familiar with the document and discuss it among themselves, they discover areas for conversion.  In order to facilitate this discussion perhaps two or three gifted persons could study the text and help focus it for others.  This would be a great help for pastor, staff and leaders who already have so much on their plates but desire to respond to the challenges found in the Encyclical.  As the pope wrote, “Leaving an inhabitable planet to future generations is, first and foremost, up to us.” [160]  Once parish leaders probe the document and discover what changes might be possible, they then share their insights with the parishioners using whatever means possible: homilies, presentations, bulletin, website, handouts, social media.

An OCH Committee

Receiving information from the leadership is not enough.  Parishioners need to be given a chance to share their insights and ideas as well.  Managing and shaping this dialogue could be handled by a committee formed for this purpose.  Using the Encyclical’s subtitle as an impetus, the committee might be called Our Common Home Committee.  Its work would be to offer a number of options for parishioners’ feedback and suggestions, one of which could be a World Café process ( HYPERLINK “http://www.theworldcafe.com” www.theworldcafe.com).  People are divided into groups of four, each one sitting around a table.  It starts with all the groups discussing a common question for 15 minutes, then changing tables to discuss another question for 15 minutes, and finally moving to a third table for the final question.  No two people remain in the same group for more than one segment.  Sample questions for dialogue might be: 1) What am I doing now to care for our planet?  2)  How could the parish help me in my efforts to care for the planet?  3) In what ways could our parish become known as an ecological center?

Moving the Conversation Into Action

Many ideas will be generated through the World Café process.  It would be up to the OCH Committee to translate the sharing into concrete actions.  The Encyclical offered suggestions “such as avoiding the use of plastic and paper, reducing water consumption, separating refuse, cooking only what can reasonably be consumed, showing care for other living beings, using public transportation or car-pooling, planting trees, turning off unnecessary lights. . .” [211]  Other actions could be added, including tapping into the creativity of children and teenagers by providing rewards for the best ideas and projects.  During the weekend Masses, people could give witness talks about what they are doing to protect the environment.  An adult enrichment series might offer ways to foster ecological conversion.  A checklist of personal actions to foster care for the planet could be sent to all parishioners.  These are but a few of the ways in which the parish community could offer hope for Our Common Home.

Tom Sweetser, SJ and Debora Elkins

Website:  www.pepparish.org

Parish Newsletter

A Service of the Parish Evaluation Project

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

June, 2015

All Are Accepted, All Are One

            Picture a parish that is a family which is a gathering of many nations. It is a place where all enjoy each other’s company and are accepted for who they are; where there is no distinction between race, color, language or heritage. Such a place is not a fantasy; it exits in England, at St. Edward the Confessor Parish in Golders Green, London. Having just completed the Parish Assessment and Renewal (PAR) process there, what struck us was that, despite the vast mixture of ethnic backgrounds among leaders and people, it did not seem to make a difference. People were accepted for the contribution they made to the task, not where they came from or what group they represented. There did not seem to be any evident prejudices of any kind.

Growing Into Unity

            How did it happen that everyone was so accepted and invited into groups and activities? It was not always this way. In the past, the English Catholic parishes had a predominance of Irish parishioners. That has changed in recent years because the country itself has changed, especially in metropolitan London. It is now a mixture of many colors and cultures because of the easy access to the UK as part of the European Union and the country’s open immigration policy. What is striking about St. Edward’s is that the different ethnic groups do not just stick with their own people. Instead, the differences between cultures are celebrated as an enriching experience for the parish community as a whole.

Cultural Celebrations

            One example of this is the way that the parish has chosen to celebrate its Centennial year. A number of cultural activities have been planned, each one featuring a different place of origin. The first event was a Mass and Social put on by those from South and Central America. A widely diverse group of people from Latin America played music from their homelands and staged rituals and customs that reflected their native cultures. The Social Hall was filled to capacity as the entire parish joined the celebration of songs, dances and traditions unique to South and Central America. This rousing event was followed a few months later by another Mass and Social, this time put on by the Asian parishioners. They proudly displayed their own music and rituals so that all could learn and participate in what their unique cultures had to offer. This coming month will be a celebration of African customs and traditions, all planned and performed by parishioners from a variety of African nations and regions. Each of these ethnic events had a different style and flavor, but the parish as a whole came alive in what they had to celebrate. The parish was united in its appreciation of its rich cultural diversity.

Pastoral Presence

            In asking the parish priest, Fr. Tony Convery, how this acceptance of diverse cultures and back-grounds came about, he was not able to pinpoint a single reason or cause. “One thing might have been,” he surmised, “asking people to do a task that they could be proud of and that would allow them to show others what growing up in their own country was like, including songs, rituals and ways of celebrating.” He went on to admit, “Perhaps some of it came from the visiting that I do. Every Monday evening for as long as I have been here, I visit three or four homes of parishioners in a given area. They are often surprised that I would make this effort, but they tell me much of who they are and what they experience. I, in turn, put people in touch with one another, such as the young woman who wanted to pray with other women. That led to me sending invitations to 17 other women I had met, and it goes from there. Another example is the diversity in our leadership. The twelve people on our pastoral council, for instance, come from five different ethnic backgrounds, and they all get along quite well. This provides an example for others to follow.”

                                                                                              Tom Sweetser, SJ and Debora Elkins

                                                                                                           Website: www.pepparish.org

Parish Newsletter

A Service of the Parish Evaluation Project

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

            April, 2015

Who’s A Member?

            A recent parish at which a survey was distributed to a random sample of parishioners discovered that a large number of its people were no longer living at the address listed on the parish census forms.  This is not an unusual occurrence.  Most parishes we work with do not have an accurate listing.  In these cases we suggest that the parish initiate an annual Registration Weekend to clarify just who is a member of the parish.

A Simple Response

The process begins with a simple form that is placed at the end of the pews at all of the Masses.  Over a four-week period people are asked from the pulpit to fill it out and put it in the collection basket.  The form needs to be short so it can be filled out quickly.  A sample used at SS. Mary and Patrick Parish in West Burlington, Iowa had the following comments and instructions on the flipside of the card.

________________________________________________________________

WE’RE ‘COUNTING’ ON YOU!

EVERYONE NEEDS TO FILL OUT AND RETURN THE CENSUS.

WHAT DO I DO WITH MY COMPLETED CARD, YOU ASK?  IT’S EASY!

• Give completed card to volunteer after Mass
• Drop it in the collection basket
• Hand deliver it to the Parish Office
• Mail it to the parish office (U.S. Mail)  [Parish Address added]

If you have questions you can call the parish office at ____________

________________________________________________________________

The Census Form itself was as follows:

________________________________________________________________

SS. Mary & Patrick Parish 2014 Census

HOUSEHOLD INFORATION:

(List all persons living in household.  One (1) card per household)

Adults: ______________________               ______________________

 Name                                                           Name

Children: ______________________               ______________________

                        Name    Birthdate                                      Name       Birthdate

Children: ______________________               ______________________

                        Name    Birthdate                                      Name       Birthdate

Other: M_F_  ____________________ M_F_  ____________________

                        Name    Birthdate                                      Name       Birthdate

Address:  ________________________________________________

City:___________________ State:____  Zip:__________  Email:________________

Home Phone:_______________          Cell Phone:_________________

      ARE YOU OR OTHER MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN OUR PARISH:  YES_____ NO______           

________________________________________________________________

The Follow-Up

As the responses came in, they were checked off from the census directory.  Arrangements were made to contact those interested in volunteering.  For those who did not fill it out, a note was mailed with the following request: “Recently we asked our parishioners to fill out a census card like the one you are receiving with this note.  We did not receive one for you or your family.  Would you mind filling out the enclosed and sending it back to our parish?”  The names of those on the census list who did not respond were given to the Outreach Commission which formed a committee to personally contact these people to learn whether the parish might be of any assistance.

Tom Sweetser, SJ and Debora Elkins

Website: www.pepparish.org

Parish Newsletter

A Service of the Parish Evaluation Project

Milwaukee , Wisconsin

March, 2015

Finding a Friend

            One paris h we surveyed recently as part of the Paris h Assessment and Renewal (PAR) process asked this question, “Have you met or become friends with other parishioners since joining the parish?”  The response was mixed.  Thirty-seven percent (37%) responded, “Yes, definitely.” Another 38% felt they had, at least to some extent.  The remaining quarter (25%) marked either “No, not really,” or “No, not at all.”  Other parishes did not think to ask this question so we have no way of gauging whether this was typical or not.  But what a significant issue this is.  Eucharist is essen tial and formation nourishes faith, but building relationships is what keeps people coming back.  Imagine what it would look like if the pasto r, staff, leaders and ministers concentrated on creating a spirit and environment where people get to know each other so well that they could become friends.  What a life-long gift this would become.  Friendships are unique and can’t be forced, but they can be encouraged, nourished and maintained in a paris h environment.

Modeling

Encouraging people to form friendships will fall fla t unless people can catch on to what this might look like based on what they observed from their leaders and fellow parishioners.  For example, at the weekend liturgies, the greeters and ushers recognize those they know.  While not playing favorites, they call people by name, offering a welcoming gesture to those joining the celebration.  Choir members, Eucharistic ministers, even servers, are happy doing this service because they are doing it with others they enjoy being with.  The gath ering after Mass becomes a place people seek out one another, making contact and forming plans for the coming week.  If the emphasis for being a liturgical minister was, “Get to know each other better as a model to the congregation,” it could raise the level of community-building and sharing among all those attending.  The pasto r and staff might explore among themselves how to foster friendships in the parish, starting with themselves and continuing with those they encounter in their ministry.

Initial Invitations

Imagine how newcomers would feel if they were told by a welcoming committee when they signed up,  “As you join us, know that we not only profess to be a community, we try to put this into practice.  We are a collection of many paris hioners from all walks of life who have different interests, backgrounds and abilities.  There are many opportunities to get to know them.  Come to our Coffee and Social after Mass so people can meet you.  You might eventually join a group or help out with a project where you can get to know other parishioners.  You might find people who’s company you enjoy and would like to know better.  This is now your new spiritual home.  Get to know us, as we would like to do the same with you.”

Small Groups

“One way to foster friendships is to offer groups small enough so that people can share important aspects of their lives, their values and their concerns.  Making these encounters available for all is one way to keep a paris h vital and alive.  If forming relationships is important, then every paris h event and function would need to include small group interaction, either of short duration or long, one-time or on-going.  Planning groups, task groups, sharing groups, ministering groups; any way in which 3, 5, 7, 9 people could come together and get to know each other.  All of these groups, however, need to be constantly guided and challenged so they don’t become an end unto themselves.  This is what makes paris h friendships somewhat unique.  They are not closed groups.  The friendships that are formed are not just for themselves but are directed outward to serve others.  As Jesus mandated, “Go out two by two, preaching the Good News and setting people free.”

Tom Sweetser, SJ and Debora Elkins

Website: www.pepparish.org

Parish Newsletter

A Service of the Parish Evaluation Project

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

January, 2015

Praying Is a Start

            “That the homeless and needy experience God’s love by our care, love and concern for all of them.”  This was a petition heard at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Washington, DC recently.  Not only does the power of prayer go out to the homeless, it also raises awareness among parishioners about the plight of those living on the streets.  But it is not enough.  Care, love and concern have to be carried into action as well.

The Jungle

Situated along the Coyote Creek in San Jose was a shanty town called the “Jungle.” It is now past tense because the police evacuated the 300 residents last month, posting guards so that people would not return. The city did provide housing for about half of the residents; the others were on their own. But the homeless are creative in simply moving elsewhere to seek shelter. Two Catholic parishes, Most Holy Trinity and St. Francis Assisi, had been providing food to the Jungle site. After its demise, they simply moved their distribution centers to where the homeless had relocated.

The Distribution Process

Most Holy Trinity has a Food Pantry that receives shipments of food each week from both Second Harvest and local stores.  Volunteers divide the food into some 65 boxes, each of which feeds two or three people for a week, as well as making up 70 bags for individuals.  They also prepare hot meals, fruit and beverages for distribution.  Because the parish is multi-cultural, some weeks the meals are Mexican, some are Filipino and others are Vietnamese.  On Wednesday morning, pick-up trucks and SUV’s back up to the pantry and load up boxes, bags, hot meals and beverages.  The caravan of vehicles drive to sites along the banks of the local creek and elsewhere.  By the time they arrive people are already standing in line waiting for their hot meal and boxes of food for the week.  St. Francis of Assisi also takes part in the distribution, while a Vietnamese couple distributes food on Sunday mornings.  This has been going on for the last four to five years, making this outreach ministry well known in the area.

Another Response

Another example is Good Shepherd Parish in Beverly Hills, CA.  Although situated in a wealthy area, many homeless were sleeping in and around the parish buildings.  One of the deacons came up with the idea of starting a “Martha’s Kitchen” to serve the homeless a substantial breakfast every Friday morning between the hours of 6:30 and 8:30 am.  Between 100 to 130 are served every week by 25 volunteers out of a pool of some 75 who serve when available, including 7^th and 8^th graders from the parish school.

A Third Example

San Francisco is the home of Most Holy Redeemer Parish, but it is also the town where many homeless come to escape colder climates.  For more than 14 years, the parish has sponsored a special banquet on Wednesday nights.  Because space is limited, a list is kept for regular attendees and others who are on standby are allowed in as space permits.  The average weekly attendance is 100, although at Christmastime, room is made for up to 136 guests.  A professional chef does the cooking, while parishioners and neighbors volunteer to serve.  They make sure everyone is welcomed and served a 5 course meal, equal to what would be offered at a fancy restaurant.  Each one who comes is honored and valued; those providing the meal consider it a great privilege to serve their guests.  The gap between rich and poor has grown wider in this country, but not at those places where prayer and action come together to serve those in need of shelter, food, clothing, medicine and loving interaction.

Parish Newsletter

A Service of the Parish Evaluation Project

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

June, 2014

A Creative Response

Pope Francis is putting a new face on the Church and those who have withdrawn are taking notice.  He has encouraged Church leaders to be more inclusive and accepting of those alienated from the institution.  On the local level, the pope has asked pastors, staffs and leaders to be creative.  “The parish is not an outdated institution” he wrote, “precisely because it possesses great flexibility, it can assume quite different contours depending on the openness and creativity of the pastor and the community.” (Joy of the Gospel, #28).  One new pastor has responded to this challenge.  When he arrived in the parish, he learned that all was not well.  “When people speak up,” he noted, “there usually is something there.”  He discovered that seasoned parishioners were pulling away from the parish and were no longer attending.  To stop the hemorrhaging and invite the alienated back, he initiated what he called Project Re-Connect.

A Simple Approach

He began by soliciting from the staff the names of individuals who had been active in their ministries – liturgy, music, faith formation or outreach – but were no longer involved.  The same appeal was made to the pastoral council and other leadership groups.  The result was a list of absent parish volunteers and ministers.  The next step was to invite these people back to the parish to discuss their individual “grievances,” perhaps over coffee or a glass of wine.  “We placed in the parish bulletin,” the pastor recounted, “a request that ran on Easter and the few weeks both before and after that feast.”

The Invitation

The bulletin notice stated: “Over the past few years, some parishioners and our friends have chosen to leave the parish community to worship and receive spiritual nourishment elsewhere. We understand there are many motives for these decisions – parking, convenience, quality of services, personal reasons and experiences. We miss our friends. We would like to reach out to those who have left the parish and invite them back. Should you know of any of these former parishioners among your family or friends, please let us know.” It concluded with information about who to contact, along with their phone numbers and emails.

Personal Contact

“The next step,” the pastor said, “was to pick up the phone and start calling former parishioners.  The response was stellar.” Besides being impressed that the new pastor would care enough to call them, people affirmed their love for the parish and admitted missing being part of it.  One experience the pastor had in making calls was a voice message left on the Sunday before Palm Sunday to a long-time liturgical minister, telling him to call back.  The following Monday an email from his wife described their mutual glee in being invited back, along with the assurance that both would be there to assist on Palm Sunday if needed.  Their comment: “We feel at home again.”  Another person who returned after receiving the pastor’s call mentioned, “Yes, things are changing.  This is truly my parish again.  I am back in my favorite pew.”

“The Project Re-Connect will continue at least until the end of the year,” the new pastor affirmed. “It is my hope that the celebration of our upcoming anniversary will find the parish imbued with a missionary impulse capable of transforming everything around it.  Our parish must become a place, as Pope Francis put it, ‘for dialogue, proclamation, charitable outreach, worship and celebration.’”

Parish Newsletter

A Service of the Parish Evaluation Project

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

April, 2014

Multicultural Parishes

In working with multicultural parishes, the challenge is to find avenues for interaction so that the parish is not a collection of separate communities, but one that is united, all groups heading in a common direction together.  One point of cultural intersection might be the youth who are often bi-lingual, speaking one language at home and another in public.  At one parish, there was a great desire to have the two youth groups, one Hispanic and the other Anglo, come together as one.  A core group was established which is in the process of planning an event at the end of April as a first attempt in pulling the two groups together.

Successful Bridge-Building

One example of drawing youth from different cultures together is the “Ripple Effect” Milwaukee Youth Council.  It was formed to unite African-American and Hispanic teenagers and get them working on common issues and problems facing both groups.  This “Ripple Effect” Council had a humble beginning.  It started when a staff member of the Casa Romero Center on the Southside of Milwaukee led a retreat for five different Boys and Girls Clubs on the predominantly African-American Northside of the city. Annie Rivera built the retreat around the theme of “The Road to Peaceable Leadership.”  She noticed during her presentation that a few of the participants stood out as natural leaders.  They expressed interest in learning more about Casa Romero and, as a result, were invited to be small group facilitators for Casa’s middle school retreats.  A team of nine youth was formed, seven Hispanics and two African-Americans.  They began a collaborative effort to create an open mic event they named “Unite for the Mic.”  The participants would be asked to show off a musical talent or some other ability.  Team members would directed the event, as well as perform acts themselves as a way of showing those attending what would be expected of them.

Unite the Mic

The middle schoolers were supposed to sign up for the open mic when they came in, but few had the courage to do so. The first half of the program included the team doing acts, plus the few others who had signed up. At intermission, as pizza was being passed around, the leaders encouraged others to come up and show off their talent. A number did respond, including one young boy who said he could play the piano. Those running the retreat were apprehensive, not thinking he could do this, but when he started to play, to everyone’s amazement and delight, he showed the 150 middle-schoolers that he was more than up to the task. This was just one of many surprises that made the event such a success.

What Do I Stand For

This first adventure gave the planning group courage to try another. The “Ripple Effect” Council grew to twelve members, six African-American and six Hispanic, along with five adults. The next step was planning a retreat for teenagers, ages 13 to 17. In Annie Rivera’s words, “All of the kids were asked to make a map to lead them to their own futures. . . By the end of the retreat, 100% of the youth had a ten-year goal, they all identified 3 or 4 values that kept them on the right path, they all named and claimed gifts and talents they possess to empower them and keep them motivated, they all identified areas of service they felt drawn to.” The Council led the way by putting on a skit that began with those from the Northside and Southside fighting each other, when all at once a strong voice came from above, telling them to stop, come together and shake hands. They began to discover common issues and a common ground. This led to the entire group huddling together as a team, shouting “1, 2, 3, Diversity!” This progression of forming a diverse Core Group, planning an event that draws youth together, making sure everyone is involved; this is what spells success.

Parish Newsletter

A Service of the Parish Evaluation Project

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

March, 2014

An Annual Ritual

While attending Mass just before Thanksgiving, the presider invited all of the married couples to stand, hold hands and renew their marriage vows.  Watching how intent the couples were as they looked into each others’ eyes and repeated after the priest their commitment, it became apparent how deep and meaningful this once-a-year ritual was, not only to the couples but to the entire assembly witnessing this outpouring of love.  This was but one example of what Bishop Ken Untener, sixteen years ago, defined as ritual, “I look upon ritual as something that is predictable, reverent, personal, communal, evocative of the widest and deepest feelings, and always fresh.”  (“Ritual and Community: What I’ve Learned in the Parishes,” Region IV Convention of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians (www.npm.org), 1998.)

Little Movement for the People

Bishop Ken Untener pointed out in this article how little chance there was for a congregation to participate in the rituals of the Mass.  “There are many movements and many gestures during the course of a Mass, but the congregation gets to move very little. . .  As one member of a congregation once told me, ‘All we get to do is stand, sit, say Amen, and go to the bathroom.’”  He went on to state, “The two biggest gestures in which all (or most) of the members of the assembly are involved at Mass come close together – the exchange of the peace, and the procession to communion.  By my calculation, from joining in the Our Father through the exchange of the peace and procession to communion, the members of the congregation normally get to join in about three-and-a-half minutes of movement.”  No wonder the one-time ritual of exchanging marriage vows struck such a chord at Mass that day; there were not that many other opportunities for ritual movement by the people.

Possibilities for Movement

One important part of the Mass where people participate in ritual movement goes unnoticed by most of the congregation. It is at the beginning as people enter church and take their seats. This could be a time filled with warmth and greeting as all are made to feel welcomed to the liturgy. In the right context, friends, acquaintances and even strangers might say hello to one another, prompted by hospitality ministers who are out on the street inviting people into worship, holding open the doors, handing out song books or worship aides, helping people to their seats, being models of kindness and care. This ritual of “gathering together” is a movement for everyone, including the presider and ministers who process down the aisle, singing with the congregation as they approach the altar. Unfortunately, this is not a common occurrence. Bishop Ken lamented, “How well do the assembly members understand the ritual that constitutes the gathering rite. I am not sure how much they understand about being led by the Word of God, as the lector carries the lectionary held aloft, or the deacon carries the Book of the Gospels. (I’m equally not sure how many people would notice, at the end of Mass, if we stopped carrying the book out, on the theory that we become the Word of God at Mass and carry it within us.)”

The Gift of Oneself

At some parishes, much movement happens during the preparation of gifts. The entire assembly gets up from their seats and bring up not only their financial contribution but gifts of food and clothing for the needy. Witnessing this, Bishop Ken remarked, “They felt part of what was going on. Perhaps they even felt that the bread and wine, placed on the altar, really symbolized the gift of themselves placed there to be transformed into Christ.”

Parish Newsletter

A Service of the Parish Evaluation Project

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

June, 2013

Signs of a Dynamic Christian

Matthew Kelly has a recent book entitled The Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic (Beacon Publishing, 2012).  I prefer Christian instead of Catholic because these signs apply to all followers of Jesus.  The first of the four signs is a daily commitment to prayer.  Matthew Kelly describes it as, “God is not a distant force . . . but rather a personal friend and adviser.” (p. 18).  The key is making this conversation with God a daily occurrence.  It is part of the person’s everyday routine, a priority not to be missed.  The content and method will change along with life experiences, but the daily practice remains a given.  Typically, a person with a habit of prayer has a favorite place to go each day and a preferred time that becomes sacred.  Even with the disruptions of life, this tradition endures.  Most people pray in one form or another, but often spontaneously when there is a need, a crisis or moment of joy.  Dynamic Christians do this as well, but it flows out of their daily contact with their God.

Ongoing Discovery

The second sign of a dynamic Christian is continuous growth in the faith, a constant desire to learn.  Whenever there is an adult formation offering in the parish, a chance to participate in a bible study group or book club, these are the people who can be counted on to attend.  They are hungry to learn more about anything connected with their faith.  Ignatius of Loyola, while recovering from a wound he received in a small skirmish, had a choice between reading romantic novels or the lives of the saints.  He chose both, but the aftertaste from the former left him flat, while the latter kept his interest long after putting down the book.  This inspired him to change his life and continue learning about what it meant to be a Christian, which he continued throughout his life.  Every dynamic Christian does the same.  They read, they listen, they interact, they attend classes, they go online, they take notes, they gain new insights, they develop their awareness and understanding about what it means to be a Christian, a faithful follower of Jesus.

Being Generous

The third sign of a dynamic Christian is that they are generous in giving to others. As Matthew Kelly writes, “Generosity is woven into their lives” (p. 22). They give freely from the abundant gifts they have received from God. No matter how busy, they make time for those needing companionship, encouragement or a helping hand. They are generous with their expertise and abilities, offering to mend what’s broken, work out a solution, plan an event. Proof of their generosity is in the level of contributions they make to their church, organizations and other worthy causes. They may not want to be known as generous givers but it is a trusted hallmark of what it means to be a dynamic follower of Christ. They feel so grateful to God for what they have received, they have no choice but to share this abundance with others.

Spreading the Good News

The fourth sign of a dynamic Christian is to let others in on what they have discovered to be so life giving for themselves. St. Ignatius wrote the Spiritual Exercises as a way of letting others in on his spiritual journey. Mary Magdalene ran to tell the disciples that the “Lord has risen!” In one form or another, every dynamic Christian does the same. Because they have experienced a growing relationship with God through daily prayer and ongoing learning, and have found joy in giving to others what they have received from God, they want to share this with others, more often in action than in words. Pope Francis has been a master at this with his simple gestures that make worldwide news – where he is living, what he wears, whom he greets, where he goes. All dynamic Christians have this way of communicating profound truths with simple gestures. It is a way of life for them.

Parish Newsletter

A Service of the Parish Evaluation Project

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

November, 2012

The Importance of Good Preaching

Edward McCormack wrote, in an article entitled “As It Is in Heaven: Can re-imagining the Gospel revitalize the church?” (America Magazine Sept. 10-17, 2012), “Catholics are often ‘homily hostages,’ as a friend of mine puts it, forced to hear priests retell the Sunday readings or rant about the one moral issue they are concerned about.  This approach snuffs out the embers of faith instead of re-energizing it.”  He went on to state, “Until there is a revolution in the way priests and deacons proclaim the word, the faith of the baptized will not be energized, and few will want to share it with others.”  (p. 18)

Homily Reflection

In our work with parishes, we suggest one approach towards improving the homilies parishioners hear on the weekends.  It begins with the preachers’ willingness to meet with a group of parishioners of their own choosing once a month.  The agenda would be to break open the Word together as a way of gaining insight into the Scriptures.  The priests and deacons we have worked with have seen the value of this reflection group and the benefit it could offer to their preaching.

Once the homilists agree with the concept, the next step is to gather a group of six to eight people, including both those who do the preaching and those who are the listeners.  The homilists usually choose those with whom they feel comfortable but who are also able to provide insights into how the Scriptures relate to people’s everyday lives.  We have been impressed by the sensitivity of those chosen, as well as by their deep faith and keen wisdom.  From the start, the participants look forward to coming together to share.

Step three is to agree upon one day of the month, usually early in the week, on which all are free to meet.  In preparation for each gathering, all study the texts for the coming weekend and jot down any insights or how the readings relate to their own experience.  The reflection group meets for no longer than an hour during which all share their insights.  It is up to those preaching on the following weekend to use as much or as little as they wish in their homily preparation.  Also during the meeting, each of the homilists chooses a partner to meet with briefly sometime after their homily.  This sharing usually includes affirmation of one or other aspect of the homily, as well as tips that might improve the content or delivery of the next homily.  This interaction needs to be sensitive and caring, as well as honest and constructive.  The partners could remain the same or change each month depending on the desires of those doing the preaching.

As an extra bonus for the monthly sharing, we have found Bishop Ken Untener’s small book called, Preaching Better (Paulist Press, 1999) to be a great help and resource to the Homily Reflection Group.  It contains short, pithy chapters about ways to keep homilies brief, focused, insightful and memorable.  Fifteen minutes of each monthly meeting could be used to react to one chapter at a time.  Once the chapters are completed, some other book, article or video could be used as an outside resource for improving the level of preaching at the Masses.

The final step is to choose a date, usually six to eight months from the group’s inception, to assess how the participants feel about the experience and whether or not it should continue.  Just before that date, members of the group might ask others attending the weekend Masses if they have noticed any difference in the preaching and if so, what these differences might be.  The purpose is to discover what Edward McCormack suggested in his article, “When preaching is done well, the Christian faith becomes infectious.

Parish Newsletter

A Service of the Parish Evaluation Project

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

September, 2012

Almost Christian

In 2010, Kenda Creasy Dean wrote a report based on surveys from 3,300 American teenagers, plus follow-up interviews.  The book was called, Almost Christian, What the Faith of Our Teenagers Is Telling the American Church (NY: Oxford University Press, 2010.)  A committee from the San Jose Diocese was asked to summarize the results and present it to the bishop and Council of Priests.  What follows are some key findings quoted by the committee, along with the page numbers from the book.

Faith Of Their Parents

Why are American teenagers at once so positive about Christianity and at the same time so apathetic about genuine practice?  Part of the reason is based on their parents’ view of their own faith.  The book found that the religiosity of American teens largely reflects their parents’ views.  Teens echo “with astonishing clarity, the religious choices of the adults who love them.”  The solution lies not in improving parish youth programs or making worship more “cool” and attractive, but “in modeling the kind of mature, passionate faith we say we want young people to have.”  (pp. 3-4, as quoted in the San Jose Report, p. 3)

True Christianity, Dean contends, has been traded for a religion that stresses “being nice, feeling good about oneself, and saving God for emergencies.”  The guiding beliefs of this approach to religion are:

1. A God exists who created and orders the world and watches over life on earth.
2. God wants people to be good, nice, and fair to each other, as taught in the Bible.
3. The central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself.
4. God is not involved in my life except when I need God to resolve a problem.
5. Good people go to heaven when they die.

Dean asks, “What if the Church models a way of life that asks, not passionate surrender, but ho-hum assent?  What if we are preaching more affirmation, a feel-better faith, and a hands-off God, instead of the decisively involved, impossibly loving, radically sending God of Abraham and Mary, who desired us enough to enter creation in Jesus Christ and whose Spirit is active in the Church and world today?”  She goes on to say, “Exposing adolescents to faith, as it turns out, is no substitute for teaching it to them.”   And that “parents matter most when it comes to religious formation of their children.”  (pp.12,16,18)

A Counter Trend

A small percentage of teens who were interviewed, 8% from across denominational lines, exhibited very different characteristics from the majority.  1. They portrayed God as loving, powerful and active in the world.  2. They talked about their church communities as spiritually and relationally significant.  3. They sensed a divinely appointed purpose for their lives.  4. They bore witness to a hopeful future. (p. 42)

According to Dean, some elements that help cultivate a faith that is of consequence to teenagers include:

– Parents and mentors, such as Confirmation sponsors, who talk about and model their faith.

– Reframing the Word of God into the vernacular of teens, but without dumbing down the Gospel.

– Talking about Jesus more than about God, even learning Scripture passages by heart as a guide.

– Immersion experiences where teens can articulate their faith in a protected environment, i.e., retreats.

– Spiritual encounters, such as a powerful liturgy, a sense of divine guidance, an answered prayer.

How to get there?  Form the parents, bring the Gospels to life, a place to share faith, make demands.

Parish Newsletter

A Service of the Parish Evaluation Project

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

July, 2012

A Culture of Hospitality

First impressions make all the difference as people enter church.  Many parishes have greeters at the doors to welcome all who attend.  Some have a special ministry of hospitality that makes sure all Masses have welcomers at every door and even out onto the street.  This is all to the good, but it is more important to create a “culture of hospitality” that pervades every aspect of parish life, from the weekend Masses to the Ice Cream Social, from the combined First Communion of school and RE students to sending bulletins to graduated seniors during their first year away from home.  No one is excluded because everyone belongs.

Creating the Image

Pastor John Petty at All Saints Lutheran Church in Aurora, Colorado manifested the image and culture of hospitality through a notice on their website, www.allsaintsnet.org.  We came across it while visiting St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in New Middletown, Ohio.  The pastor at St. Paul’s used it in his homily after which he got a round of applause.  What a church we would be if we could put this invitation into practice.

All are welcome!  We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, gay, filthy rich, dirt poor, y no habla ingles.  We extend a special welcome to those who are crying new-borns, skinny as a rail, or could afford to lose a few pounds.

We welcome you if you sing like Andrea Bocelli or like our pastor who can’t carry a note in a bucket.  You’re welcome here if you’re just browsing, just woke up, or just got out of jail.  We don’t care if you’re more Catholic than the Pope, or haven’t been in church since little Joey’s baptism.

We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast.  We welcome soccer moms, NASCAR dads, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians, junk-food eaters.

We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted.  We welcome you if you’re having problems, or you’re down in the dumps, or you don’t like “organized religion;” we’ve been there too.  If you blew all your offering money at the casino, you’re welcome here.

We offer a special welcome to those who think the earth is flat, who work hard, don’t work, can’t spell, or come because grandma is in town and wanted to go to church.  We welcome those who are inked, pierced, or both.

We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down your throat as a kid, or got lost in traffic and wound up here by mistake.  We welcome tourists, seekers, doubters, bleeding hearts . . . and you!  All are welcome!

This is the culture that will fill churches, will make the parish social worth attending, will give people the courage to attend a parish talk and even ask a question.  It will offset the gossiping, the bullying, the “we know what’s best” or  “we don’t belong” attitude.  It’s the gospel come alive.

Parish Newsletter

A Service of the Parish Evaluation Project

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

February, 2011

Parish Exit Interviews

The number of people attending Mass has been in steady decline for a number of years and the rate has been increasing recently.  William J. Byron, SJ wrote an article entitled, “On Their Way Out.” (America magazine, Jan. 3-17, 2011, pp. 16-18.)  He suggested, as happens in businesses that are losing customers, that Catholic parishes need to find out from those who no longer attend Mass what are the reasons.  “An exit interview, if used creatively, could help church leaders discover ways of welcoming back those who have left, even as it helps leaders find ways to strengthen the current worshipping community.”  (p. 16)

Connecting With Those Who Have Left

Locating parishioners who no longer attend church is not an impossible task, but it does take desire, time and a bit of organization.  There are two sources for obtaining names; one is the parish membership lists, the second is the congregation itself.  During a given month put out a simple card in the pews and ask every family to provide the basic information of names, address, phone, cell phone and email.  It takes four weekends to pick up those who come often but not every week.  This information is matched with the parish census as a way of identifying those who have not been attending.  A small sample of names is chosen as the target group for an exit interview.  The second resource is to ask people, on the same card in the pews, for the names of those they know who have stopped coming to church, be it a relative, friend, or neighbor.  They are asked to include phone numbers, addresses or emails if they know them.  From these two sources a list of some 100 names, picked at random, is chosen as people to contact for the exit interview.

What To Ask

The tone is important.  As with any interview, the intention is not to cast blame or make judgments but to express gratitude for providing information that will be helpful to the leadership in ministering to the people.  Either through a personal interview, or by phone, letter or email, the following questions could provide insight into why people have gone elsewhere.  And remember, keep it simple!

1. We have missed seeing you.  If it is true that you have stopped attending, what are the reasons?  Was it something that we at the parish or the larger Church did, failed to do, could have done better?  Your candid response will help us do a better job ministering to others who have had the same experience as you.

2.  If you were in our shoes, what would you do differently, where would you put your energies, what groups or ministries would you emphasize?

It Needs A Response

It is not enough to ask people’s opinions about what the parish could do to stem the tide.  There must also be a commitment to take people’s responses seriously and make amends.  Once key issues are identified, a summary of the results needs to be communicated to both those who responded and to the parishioners as a whole.  Use the information in homilies, hold meetings so people can discuss in small groups what was uncovered.  The second step is to begin addressing people’s concerns, whether it involves the weekend liturgies, the welcoming atmosphere, Catholic teachings, a lack of transparency in decision making, questions about how contributions are being spent.  Discovering why people are losing interest in the Church and the parish is critical for making relevant plans for the future.  As Fr. Byron suggests, “Leaders must try to discern the presence of the Spirit in what the laypeople are saying and find the pastoral courage it will take to implement necessary change.” (p. 18)

Parish Newsletter

A Service of the Parish Evaluation Project

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

January, 2011

Finding New Volunteers

A common complaint among parish leaders and ministers is that it is always the same few people who do all of the work.  “How can we recruit new people to be on committees or to fill in as ministers?”  Many options have been tried, including a Ministry Fair where all of the parish ministries and activities are displayed between the weekend Masses and people are invited to ask questions, learn about what is being offered and make a commitment to become involved.  The difficulty with such an event is that it is labor-intensive and only a few new people sign up.  There must be a better way for attracting new recruits.

A Lesson From John 1:

The first chapter of St. John’s Gospel tells the story of how John the Baptist was standing with his disciples and pointed out Jesus to them as he walked by.  Two of them began to follow Jesus until he turned around and asked, “What do you want?”  “Where are you staying?” they responded.  “Come and see,” he said.  They ended up spending the rest of the day with him.  This short account provides the steps for expanding the volunteer base.  It has these five steps:  1) Someone, in this case, John the Baptist, points the way.  2) A few decide to take the risk to follow the advice or invitation.  3)  Almost immediately they are confronted with a clear choice, “Should we continue on or turn back?”  Is it yes or is it no?  4)  If it is yes, there is a delight and consolation that follows – an affirmation of the choice.  5)  With this delight comes a pressing need to share the experience with others, to tell them what happened.

One Parish’s Approach

The Volunteer Coordinating Committee at St. Anne’s Parish in Wausau, Wisconsin decided to try out a new way for recruiting volunteers.  It began with finding out what was needed.  At the beginning of the school year, the heads of every parish group, committee and ministry provided the committee with a list of how many new people were needed and what they would be required to do.  The heads were also asked to canvas its membership for names of people who might be good candidates to fill the vacancies.  One day at the end of September was set aside as the Parish Information Night.  No other activities or meetings would take place at that time.  An all-out publicity blitz dominated the month with special emphasis on those who were named as good candidates for getting involved.  Each one was personally contacted and invited to the event.  Someone, in other words, was pointing out the way to them.  “Come and see.”

The Information Night

The parish hall was set up with an area for a large gathering and breakout areas scattered throughout the hall covering the five key areas of parish life: worship, community, formation, outreach and administration.  Each section was surrounded with large display boards featuring the ministries and activities associated with that key area.  Many of those who were called made the effort to show up for the event – they took the risk.  After an initial prayer and explanation of the night, people made a choice to move to a section of the hall that was of interest to them.  There they listened to descriptions by the heads of groups and ministries about what was needed.  A number of people made the choice to sign up for a ministry or committee.  From those present, 42 new volunteers were recruited.  Since the beginning of October they have been active in the areas they chose, hopefully enjoying the experience.  Next year they will become the ones who will share their joy of involvement with others who will be invited to a gathering for new volunteers at the second annual Parish Information Night.

Parish Newsletter

A Service of the Parish Evaluation Project

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

February, 2010

Planting Seeds Of Conversion

Bishop Ken Untener, past bishop of the Saginaw Diocese, wrote, “What is the ambience of our parish church?  For the most part, the people there tend to be clean-cut, well-behaved, decent-living, middle-class, socially acceptable. .  .  There are some other types of people, too, but not many are in most parishes.  Many less socially and/or less religiously acceptable people don’t figure a church is the kind of place where they ought to be.  Parishes don’t intentionally screen these people out.  It just works out that way.”  (Quoted in the “Little Blue Book” for January 3, 2010)  What can be done to help a parish become more accepting and inviting to a wider social/ethnic spectrum?  One option is group learning and dialogue using JustMatters.

JustMatters

In the July, 2007 Newsletter we describe the JustFaith process taking place in many Catholic parishes across the country.  This is not for the fainthearted.  It demands a commitment of thirty weeks.  A new approach has been introduced that is much shorter in duration.  Six topics are now being offered,  lasting from six to eight weeks.  Each group includes eight to fifteen people who pray together, read materials, listen to speakers, watch videos and dialogue about an area of social concern, culminating in a call to some form of action.  (See www.justfaith.org/programs/justmatters.html)

Six Modules

1. Living Solidarity: Government, the Federal Budget and the Common Good.  “What kind of society do we wish to become?” is the question that engages people for the eight sessions.  The focus is on values, not opinions, and concentrates on the federal budget as a moral document.

2. Crossing Borders: Migration, Theology, and the Human Journey.  Immigration is a complex issue that has no simple solutions.  The effort of these eight weeks is to find a common ground and discover more about people who are on the move in every part of the world.

3. God’s Creation, Cries for Justice, Climate Change: Impact and Response. These eight sessions emphasize how climate change will affect the poor, both home and abroad, and the hazards of doing nothing.  The module deals with mitigation and adaptation options in the face of this crisis.

4. Prison Reform: The Church of the Second Chance.  Comprehensive prison reform is one focus of this module, but so is centering prayer, Christian reconciliation and redemption.  A deep spirituality and sense of humanity provide paths for renewing this system of incarceration.

5. New Wineskins: Forming Mission-Based Communities.  This module combines reading and prayer designed to explore various aspects and realities of small communities.  It helps people discern whether to form a small community based on a mission to and with the vulnerable.

6. Engaging Our Conflicts: An Exploration of Nonviolent Peacemaking.  The focus of this eight-week module is on the power and potential of non-violent peacemaking in our lives and in the world at large.

Parish Newsletter

A Service of the Parish Evaluation Project

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

January, 2010

Taking Leave Of Loved Ones

Each Catholic parish has its own way of doing this.  What is given below are key moments in a process used by one of the parishes we visited recently.  It is spelled out as the final play in a person’s life.

Act One

The play begins when it becomes clear that a person is dying.  The focus is on keeping the person comfortable and free from pain as much as possible.  During this period the pastor or pastoral minister of the parish visits the one who is dying, and along with offering support and encouragement, makes this request.  “After you die and are in the life to come, promise me that you will ask our patron saint for these special requests: that we will grow in holiness as a parish family and that our membership will increase.”

Act Two

When the person is close to death, the Sacrament for the Sick is celebrated.  All the family and loved ones gather around the person and lay their hands on the dying.  They are invited to say a silent prayer or speak briefly to their loved one.  Once this is concluded, the words of the ritual are spoken as the forehead and hands are anointed with oil.  “. . . May the Lord who frees you from sin, save you and raise you up.”

Act Three

Once the person has died, family members arrange the funeral.  The pastor or pastoral minister sits down with them to help pick out readings and songs.  They are also asked about the person’s life, from childhood through adulthood, right up to the moment of death.  This becomes material for the eulogy that is usually given by the pastoral minister at the beginning of the funeral.  The family is usually relieved to be freed from this task, although on occasion, a family member may wish to do this.  If so, the person is asked to write out the reflection, keeping it to one single-space, type-written page.

Act Four

At the memorial service, friends and relatives are invited to offer reflections and stories, but within guidelines so that the service does not go on too long.  This time is often accompanied by both laughter and tears as spouse, children, grandchildren and friends remember favorite experiences they had with the person who has died.  The service is well-focused and uplifting, lasting no more than thirty to forty minutes.

Act Five

As the funeral begins, after the opening prayer, the eulogy is offered by either the pastoral minister or a family member, keeping it to no more than four or five minutes.  As a result, the priest who gives the homily can concentrate on the Scripture readings, using the occasion to help all present become aware of their own future death and rising to new life.

Act Six

At the gravesite, whenever possible, those assembled are given an opportunity to put closure to the rite by placing flowers on the casket as it is lowered in the grave.  They are then invited to put a shovel-load of dirt on the grave as a parting gesture.

Tom Sweetser, SJ & Peg Bishop, OSF

Parish Newsletter

A Service of the Parish Evaluation Project

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

October, 2009

A Working Model For Youth Ministry

Catholic parishes put ministering to teenagers on the top of their priority lists, but success is hard to realize, at least to the extent found at St. Aloysius Parish in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (www.aloysius.org).  Youth director Steven Brooksher and fellow ministers have created a model that not only attracts large numbers of junior and senior high school students, but a significant number of parents and adults as well.   The secret to their success are the many coordinating groups that include both teenagers and adults

Choosing Teen Leaders

A key ingredient of the ministry is the Youth Leadership Team (YLT) that is made up of 33 teens from the 10^th, 11^th and 12^th grades.  Being chosen as a member of the YLT involves a five step process.  First the teenagers must apply to be on the team for either a one, two or three year term depending on what grade they are in.  Second  they write a paper on such topics as, “My experience of God,” “What unique gifts do I have to contribute,” “Why I feel called to be part of the YLT.”  These papers are reviewed by an adult team that meets on a monthly basis.  Third comes  the personal interviews conducted by the youth director and a group of adults to determine whether the applicant has the abilities and inclinations to be a good leader.  Fourth is the discernment process that includes not only adults but also seniors on the YLT who will soon be graduating from high school.  Finally, those who are chosen for the leadership team are assigned to either the Servant Team that handles the senior high level, or the SALT group – St. Aloysius Leadership Team – that works with the junior high.  The Servant Team is mostly juniors and seniors, the SALT has more sophomores and juniors.  Once this choice is made there follows an extensive training period so the teen leaders are equipped for their tasks.  Some will be assigned to the Liturgy Committee that works on the Sunday evening Mass, some will join the Special Events Committee that plans socials, others will be on the Service Committee that arranges mission projects and trips.  The rest work on planning teams that organize the Sunday gatherings for the youth – junior high on Sunday mornings and senior high on Sunday evenings.

Sunday Gatherings

Ten Sunday gatherings for the senior high students happen each semester and six for the junior high.  The planning teams, made up of two adults and three teen leaders, handle two gatherings per semester.   A total of 350 senior high teenagers participate in at least one gathering throughout the year, with an average attendance of 150 to 175 per Sunday evening.  Each planning team works out a theme, using ideas from LifeTeen materials and other resources.  The planning teams are assisted by adults who help set up the environment and prepare the food.  The typical Sunday night schedule includes ice breakers and socializing at the beginning, then an interactive talk or presentation, followed by small group discussions facilitated by members of the Servant Team, and ends with food and music.  As the evening winds down the adults and teen leaders gather to assess what worked and what could be done better next time.  The Sunday morning gathering for the junior high averages 80 to 90 seventh and eighth graders.  It has a different focus that includes more games, shorter talks and pizza at the end.  What makes both the junior and senior high youth ministry successful is that it belongs to the teens.  The leadership comes from them, with support from the adults.  The teenagers are committed to this structure because it is such a positive experience for them.  Not only are they having fun together, they are doing good for others besides.  It is a worthwhile outlet for their enthusiasm and creativity.  The youth director does not rush in to rescue projects and events if they fail.  He expects much and the youth deliver.  They know they are respected and trusted.

Parish Newsletter

A Service of the Parish Evaluation Project

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

September, 2009

A Task For the Pastoral Council

One of the primary functions of the Pastoral Council is to articulate the mission and purpose of the parish.  The council defines what are the essential elements that describe the parish’s unique character and reason for existing.  One Pastoral Council did just that.  After reflecting on the mission of the parish, writing a statement and asking for reactions and feedback, it came up with the following:

The Mission of St. Maria Goretti Catholic Parish is to be a welcoming

and empowering community, centered around the celebration of the Eucharist

 and built on faith, so that we can help each other hear and respond to the voices

of those around us, providing for their spiritual and material needs.

No One Knows It

When the final version was ready, the Pastoral Council sent out a card with the Mission Statement to all the parishioners and then, after filling one entire wall of the Parish Hall with the new statement, threw a party.  Everyone was invited to sign the Mission Statement as a way of affirming and supporting what it said.  That was a few years ago.  Recently, a visiting priest saw the statement on the wall before he celebrated Mass.  During the homily he read the statement, leaving off the parish name.  He then asked whether anyone knew where it came from.  Only a few people raised their hands – they were all Pastoral Council members.  This hit home to the council and at their next meeting they agreed that something had to be done to make this statement better known. Obviously, the statement was not owned by the people.  They decided to pull out three key words from the statement and use them as a way of summarizing the essentials of the parish.  The members wrote down individually what they thought the key words were and shared them with one another other.  After paring down the selection, they settled on these three:

Welcoming – Celebrating – Helping

Options For Spreading the Words

The Pastoral Council then turned its attention to how best publicize these words so all the parishioners, and those attending the parish for the first time, would know what the parish stood for.  The council members brainstormed about how this could happen, including such possibilities as putting the words on the cover of the bulletin, on the website, on all parish stationery, on a banner coming into church, on coffee mugs, on mouse pads, on key chains, on magnets for refrigerators, on computer screen-savers, on tee-shirts, on the worship aides at Mass, on yard signs at people’s homes (Come to St. Maria Goretti, where we are Welcoming – Celebrating – Helping).  Then the council members began to get really creative.  “We could make up three banners for the back wall of church,” one person said, “and each week have one of the banners missing.  On the fourth weekend of the month, all three would be down and the congregation would be invited after the homily to share with the person next to them what the three words were and what they stood for.”  Another person suggested, “We could have an art contest for the children centered around the words and hang up the pictures in the Hall, encouraging people to look them over during coffee and donuts.”  “We could have the teenagers write a song or do a skit, presenting it at the next parish picnic.”  Two members of the council were then commissioned to type up the ideas for the next meeting so the council could decide on which ideas to start with.  “No longer,” one person said, “will people be ignorant about what our mission or purpose is as a parish.”