February 2001
Cluster 18 Continues Implementation of its Cluster Plan
Cluster 18 Implementation Committee Update, February 2001
Philadelphia - North Vicariate
| St. Athanasius St. Benedict St. Francis of Assisi |
Holy Cross Immaculate Conception St. Madeleine Sophie |
St. Raymond of Penafort St. Therese of the Child Jesus St. Vincent De Paul |
Cluster 18 Implementation Committee of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has met for the sixth time since the approval of the Cluster Pastoral Plan by Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua in March 1999. Cluster 18 began its Cluster Pastoral Planning process in January 1998. Cluster Pastoral Planning is a prayerful, reflective process which addresses the changing needs of the Church in our cluster, including schools, clergy and Catholic population.
Cluster 18's Implementation Committee consists of the pastor of each of the Cluster parishes plus one representative from each parish. Cluster 18's Implementation Committee meets regularly to track achievement of plan goals and to give direction and/or assistance to subcommittees carrying out the Cluster Plan goals, objectives and action steps.
The Cluster 18 Plan Goals are:
- Goal 1: To main the presence of the Church in nine current parishes.
- Goal 2: To develop cluster-wide processes and practices to insure the maintenance, development and viability of quality Catholic Schools.
- Goal 3: To continue to witness to the cluster's commitment to the poor.
- Goal 4: To examine and expand efforts that enhance the cluster's role in the broader community.
The seven subcommittees, charged with carrying out the action steps associated with the achievement of the above goals, have been meeting regularly. The subcommittee on youth is working to determine which parish activities lend themselves to cluster coordination. The subcommittee addressing the cluster's commitment to the poor has identified the cluster parishes current level of commitment and plans to examine the impact on the community. The subcommittee on schools continues to work out the details of its first action step, "to create a Cluster-wide Development Office." The lay leadership subcommittee is preparing a survey designed to gather information from parish pastoral councils on the subject of adult faith formation.
Parishioners with questions regarding Cluster Planning are encouraged to call the Archdiocesan Cluster Planning Hotline, (215) 587-3868.