ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

APRIL 2003

Cluster 20 Parishes Assess the Cluster Pastoral Plan Cluster 20 / Philadelphia-South Vicariate

Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul	St. Francis Xavier	Old St. Joseph
St. Andrew	Holy Trinity	Old St. Mary
St. Augustine	St. John The Evangelist	St. Patrick

The Pastoral Plan for the parishes of Cluster 20 was submitted to Cardinal Bevilacqua in February 1998. Now, after five years of implementation, these parishes are undergoing an evaluation of the Plan. Such an evaluation is taking place in each of the 41 clusters of the Archdiocese.

At their March meeting, Cluster 20 Advisory Council members began this process by gathering information. This was accomplished, first of all, by answering five questions: What has been carried out? What still needs to be carried out? To what degree has the vision been implemented? Are there new needs to be addressed? What are the obstacles?

Advisory Council members agreed that the most pressing concerns (namely, those involving the reduction of the number of diocesan priests assigned to the Cluster, and the merging of St. Hedwig parishioners with St. Francis Xavier parishioners) have been accomplished. Also, per Goal # 3 of the Plan, tours of the historical churches of St. Augustine, Old St. Joseph, Old St. Mary's, Holy Trinity, and the Cathedral were conducted over a three year period. The pastoral care of Catholic patients at Hahnemann Hospital is shared now by several parishes.

While communication among the parishes of Cluster 20 "happens to some degree", Advisory Council members felt that more is needed in this regard. It was suggested, for example, that a list of Cluster activities could be published and periodically updated; perhaps a monthly calendar of events could be printed. A listing of Lenten activities, and a directory of Mass times of neighboring churches posted at each church entrance were also suggested. The suggestion was made, too, that the need for elementary and post-Confirmation age religious education and activities on a cluster level be studied.

At the same meeting, it was proposed that St. Hedwig Church (now a second worship site of St. Francis Xavier Parish) be considered for closure. After reviewing the pastoral and practical reasons for doing so, and hearing a report on a meeting held recently with former parishioners of St. Hedwig who still worship there, all in attendance supported the proposal.

The Cluster 20 Advisory Council will meet next on Mary 12^th. At that time, feedback on this information, from the individual Parish Pastoral Councils and other parishioners, will be considered.