ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

Informal Evaluation by the Cluster Implementation Committee

During the Spring, 2003, the Cluster Implementation Committee conducted an informal evaluation of the Cluster Pastoral Plan in consultation with the Parish Pastoral councils. The purpose of this informal evaluation was to determine the current status of the cluster plan. They considered the following questions:

1. What action(s) has (have) been taken to carry out the Cluster Pastoral Plan?

2. What action(s) still need(s) to be taken to meet the goal(s) of the Cluster Pastoral Plan?

3. To what degree has the vision of the Cluster Pastoral Plan been implemented?

4. Were any new needs discovered or new actions taken during the implementation of the Cluster Pastoral Plan?

5. What obstacles, if any, stood in the way of the implementation of the Cluster Pastoral Plan?

The committee found the following actions have been taken:

Goal #1 - To develop and utilize the varied lay leadership and resources of this large cluster.

• The Cluster organized and hosted two Ministry Workshops at St. Hubert High School;

• The Cluster hosted a Retreat for catechumens, candidates and RCIA teams at the Spiritual Center for Formation on Solly Avenue;
• The Cluster formed a Lay Leadership Committee, which studied Church documents on lay leadership;
• The Cluster hosted a Workshop on Adult Faith Formation at St. Cecilia Parish;
• The Cluster hosted a Workshop for the Pre-Jordan Program at St. Martin of Tours Parish;
• St. Martin of Tours Parish hosted a music ministry Workshop for the Cluster;
• The Cluster created a data base for Masses, Confession schedules, baptismal policies, ethnic groups, school enrollment and tuition, etc. for each parish in the cluster;
• The Cluster sponsored the La Salle University Lay Leadership Workshop, presented by Father Francis Berna, O.F.M.;
• the Cluster created a "Cluster Corner" in the parish bulletins to advertise Cluster programs and special events;
• The Cluster sponsored a "Gathering For Parish Pastoral Councils."

Goal #2 - To nurture the spiritual growth and development of our children, teenagers and young adults.

• While the Cluster considered hiring a Cluster Youth Director, it decided that this would not be practical. Each of these very large parishes have active, large CYO programs;
• After a couple unsuccessful attempts, the Cluster formed a Young Adult Group, with the help of Father Paul Dressler and the Office for Youth and Young Adults;
• The Cluster hosted a successful vocation program of prayer, discussion and dinner for potential candidates for the Priesthood at Our Lady of Consolation Parish.
  
  

Goal #3 - To evangelize the inactive Catholics, indifferent Catholics and non-Catholics in our community.

• The Cluster Evangelization Committee shared creative ways to evangelize and reach out to non-participating Catholics;
• Some of the Cluster Parishes initiated Disciples in Mission;
• The Cluster sponsored a retreat for the parish RCIA team, Catechumens and candidates at the Spiritual Center for Formation on Solly Avenue;
• Most parishes decided that they needed to form or renew their parish evangelization committees.
  
  

Goal #4 - To take advantage of cluster size and resources for maximum benefit of member parishes.

• The Cluster coordinated and advertized Advent and Lenten Penance Services;
• The Cluster created a data base for parish Mass schedules, baptismal policies, school enrollment and tuition; pre-Jordan programs, etc.;
• The Cluster sponsored a good number of liturgical workshops, adult faith formation workshop, retreat for the RCIA team and participants;
• The Cluster sponsors a May procession at St. Martin of Tours Parish, special Mass for cancer patients at St. Bartholomew Parish, etc.;
• Hospital coverage for Jeanes Hospital and Fox Chase Cancer Center is being shared by two parishes in Montgomery County and four parishes in Cluster 15.

Goal #5 - To comply with the Archdiocesan plan for priest deployment in the Cluster.

• The Pastors and parochial vicars met on two different occasions to discuss and recommend the reduction of a total of five parochial vicars.
  
  

Actions that still need to be taken include:

• In 2003, the Cluster Implementation Committee has been working on the pastoral challenge of changing demographics and cultural diversity and the declining enrollment in the Cluster elementary schools. This will be the focus of pastoral planning for the immediate future.
  
  

Status of the Plan

In light of the information collected, the Cluster Implementation Committee in consultation with Parish Pastoral Councils recommended to the Regional Vicar that the status of the plan be

To develop or expand the Cluster Plan - implementation is complete but new information indicates that new cluster plan actions are needed.