UPDATE OF COLLABORATIVE MINISTRY PLANNING TEAM
As was reported in July, Father Bachner, pastor of
the parishes of Our Lady of Loreto (Brookline), Saint
Catherine of Siena (Beechview), and Saint Pius X
(Brookline), Father Mitolo, pastor of Resurrection
(Brookline) and Father Anania, OFM, pastor of Saint
Pamphilus (Beechview), after consultation with
Bishop Zubik’s regional vicar, Father Robert Guay,
have formed a collaborative ministry planning team
for the neighborhoods served by these five parishes.
The impetus for the creation of a team came
from the pastors. They are acutely aware of their own
personal circumstances regarding retirement from
active ministry as well as the circumstances of the
Diocese. There are many priests reaching retirement
age, but few behind them to replace those retiring.
And so it was with foresight and a genuine pastoral
concern that the three pastors asked Father Guay to
help them explore the realities and the options for
ensuring a vibrant Church.
Accordingly, the purpose of this team is to assess
both the current pastoral capabilities and anticipated
pastoral needs of the region served by these
parishes. This will include such things as reviewing
current collaboration efforts, demographics, finances,
buildings, programs and staffing of the parishes. In
addition, the future availability of priests will be
considered. Based on a process of prayer, study and
reflection, the team will develop a proposed plan for
the future of the Church in our neighborhoods that
will include specific recommendations to Bishop
Zubik on how best the Church in our neighborhoods
can ensure its vitality, viability, and sustainability for
the sake of the mission of Christ.
The parishioners serving on the team are:
Our Lady of Loreto
Cathy Lynch & Frances Stewart
Resurrection
Bridget Burns & Dale Perrett
Saint Catherine of Siena
Rick Arzenti & Clare Sinopoli
Saint Pamphilus
Terrance Cain & Deborah Tassari
Saint Pius X
JoAnn Brown & Joseph Costanzo
This group of parishioners, who also serve on
either the pastoral or the finance council of their
respective parishes, along with the three pastors, will
be responsible for reviewing demographic, financial
and programmatic data for the five parishes as well
as assessing current and future needs of the faithful
served by the parishes. Father Guay as regional vicar
serves as the team leader and John Flaherty, diocesan
secretary for parish life, has been asked to facilitate
the team meetings.
In light of the overarching goal of the team to
help grow the parishes in this region into more
vibrant and fruitful communities of faith, the team
has named itself the Beechview/Brookline Catholic
Collaborative (BBCC): Rooted and Growing in Faith.
The team vision is to create a unified vision for the
future of the Catholic Communities of Beechview and
Brookline. This is the inspiration for the team, its
guiding and driving force, and the ultimate measure
of its efforts. Please understand that there is no
preconceived plan about the future of any individual
parish.
The team meets monthly and rotates the location
of its meeting among the five parishes. There have
been six meetings to date (July 17, August 27,
September 23, October 23, November 18 and
December 11). These initial meetings have been
devoted to better understanding the task of the team
and to develop a plan for how the team will work
together to accomplish that task. The first task the
team has elected to pursue is a better understanding
of the strengths and weaknesses of each parish. This
will involve looking at facts and figures, but it will also
mean listening to parishioners.
Please keep the team, its members and its work
in your prayers. The team promises to keep
parishioners informed on a regular basis as
discussions move forward.
December 20/21, 2014