March 2000
Issued: March 27, 2000
CLUSTER 18 CONTINUES IMPLEMENTATION OF ITS CLUSTER PLAN
CLUSTER 18 IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE UPDATE, MARCH 2000
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 third 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 maintain 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 transition team for the twinning of Holy Cross and St. Madeleine Sophie
parishes reported both parishes have held town meeting. The pastor of the twinned parishes will be named the first
week of April. At that time, the work of the transition team will be finished. The subcommittee on schools continues
to work on its first action step, "to create a Cluster-wide Development office." Additionally, the subcommittee
on schools has been asked to address the issue of financial support of St. Martin de Porres Interparochial School
by St. Madeleine Sophie Parish, in view of St. Madeleine Sophie and Holy Cross becoming twinned parishes.
Parishioners with questions regarding Cluster Planning are encouraged to call the Archdiocesan Cluster Planning Hotline, #215-587-3868.