ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

May 8-9, 2004

In his letter, dated December 19, 2003, which was shared with all the parishes in Manayunk, His Eminence, Cardinal Rigali, directed the five Manayunk Parishes to continue the feasibility study for restructuring of their parish elementary schools for the next year. It is the intention of the Pastors of Manayunk to keep our parishioners and school parents informed through periodic bulletin announcements under the title: "Focus on the Future."

For the past two months, the school study committee in each parish has been meeting. The school study committee serves as a bridge for communications for the parish and school communities. They disseminate current information during the feasibility study process, answer questions and receive feedback from the parishioners and school parents.

A Steering Committee that draws its members from each of the school study committees is responsible for synthesizing all of the findings and ideas of the 5 school study committees and coordinating communication to the parishes through the school study committees. It is the job of the steering committee to blend the recommendations of all the school study committees into one comprehensive recommendation. The Steering Committee consists of the Pastor and Principal from each parish and two lay representatives from each school study committee. The work of the Steering Committee will culminate with their recommendation for Cardinal Rigali's consideration in December 2004.

What are the criteria for selection of lay representatives on the Steering Committee?

The following are the criteria that were used for selecting the two lay representatives from the school study committee:

• has experience in their parish and school community;
• is able to communicate to the members of the school study committee the work of the Steering Committee;
• has a positive attitude toward the feasibility study, a commitment to fostering the good of all the parishes in Manayunk and the flexibility to assist in achieving consensus;
• has a vision of the Catholic Church broader than his or her own parish;
• is willing to attend all the meetings of the school study committee and the Steering Committee;
• possesses a sense of unity which unites parishioners with their Pastor and the Archbishop;
• is a prayerful person.
  
  

Who are the parish representatives on the Steering Committee?

The following are the members of the Steering Committee:

Has the Steering Committee had their first meeting?

On April 22, 2004, the Steering Committee met for an orientation meeting. Feedback from the work of the school study committees over the past two months was exchanged and discussed. The Steering Committee also received an overview of their role and responsibilities and began to set the time line for developing options to be brought to the parish and school communities in the Fall 2004 for consultation.

What will happen next?

The next Steering Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 14, 2004. The Steering Committee will begin to develop a "preferred future' for the education of the children in the Manayunk area that will ensure a strong commitment to excellent, affordable, accessible Catholic education. During May 2004, the school study committee will meet to determine what elements should be included in the "preferred future" for the new school.

We ask everyone to keep the work of the Steering Committee and all the school study committees in their daily prayers.