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:

The existence of the Cluster aided parishes in becoming more aware of many programs and what worked and what did not in addition to the following Cluster wide projects.

Goal #1 - Provide pastoral training for laity:

• An Adult Formation Committee was formed and conducted a Liturgical Ministry Seminar in April 2000 and a Gathering of Ministries program is being planned for Spring 2003.
• St. Ignatius has opened their ministry training and catechetical courses to parishioners of cluster parishes.
  
  

Goal #2 - Focus on youth programs:

• A subcommittee was formed of the four parishes consisting of individuals involved in youth ministry in order to share programs and events as need warrants.
• There has been collaboration among cluster youth groups with an increase in the number of participants.
• Music groups from the parish programs have given joint performances.
• St. John the Evangelist has invited youth from the whole cluster to their events.
• A focus on this goal has encouraged member parishes to expand their own programs for youth and cluster youth programs have gotten stronger.

Goal #3 - Promote an evangelization program directed toward inactive Catholics:

• All parishes in the cluster have offered programs on evangelization such as Alpha, Disciples in Mission, Heart to Heart, bible study groups etc. and Archdiocesan resources have been utilized in formulating programs. Holy Trinity representatives felt that having the support of the other parishes facilitated them in offering Alpha and Disciples in Mission.
• This goal has been a focal point for several parishes especially in light of what has occurred during the past year.
• By focusing on this goal, it has prompted member parishes to renew their efforts to contact inactive parishioners.
• A cluster representative has been appointed to the Evangelization Commission.

Goal #4 - Provide religious education for adults:

• Members parishes advertise cluster programs and invite neighboring parishes to attend their own programs.
• The Adult Formation Committee conducted a successful Day of Spiritual Renewal in 1999.
• Because individual parishes are doing a good job of providing quality programs for adult faith development, it is difficult to get cluster participation in such programs.

Goal #5 - Nourish spiritual needs of the parish family life:

• It was felt that this goal should be left to the Individual parishes which already provide programs for all segments of the parish including married, single, divorced, etc. Many of these programs tie in with Archdiocesan programs.
• Parishes already encourage family prayer, devotions, participation in liturgy and the sacramental life. Parishes and parishioners participate in Archdiocesan vocation programs such as Philadelphia: Priest Call.
  
  

Actions that still need to be taken include:

• The five goals have not been met completely and would require ongoing cooperation by members of the Cluster Implementation Committee or some sort of planning committee (it may not be necessary for all four parishes to be involved in every proposed activity).
• A cluster retreat and evening of reflection have not yet been held, as previously suggested. A cluster media center was considered.
• We will always need training for liturgical and non-liturgical ministries
• In a changing society plans need to be modified to meet new circumstances. Perhaps a new 3 year plan could be undertaken.
• More work needs to be done with youth ministry, faith formation, and services to home bound seniors and sick or infirm parish members
• Excellent opportunities are available in each parish; however, communication of these programs needs to be increased. continued communication and promotion of events that can be attend by all parishes. Continue publishing parish programs and events in the bulletins of each parish.
• It would be desirable to encourage grass-roots type system of communications, spiritual sharing and exchange of ideas between individual parishes/ministries.
• It is no accident that little progress has been made on Goal #3 (Evangelization) and Goal #5 (Spiritual Needs of Families). In a way the two goals are related to one another and must be given special attention. I feel that recommendations developed at the Archdiocesan Synod will be most helpful.

Obstacles, that have stood in the way of the implementation of the Cluster Pastoral Plan are:

• The size of the parish of Saint Andrew (43% of the cluster) requires that parish staff and parish volunteer focus on parish needs. Because of geographic location of the parishes, some parishioners chose not to participate in cluster events (Example - youth were satisfied with their local program).
• Obstacles included: lack of time, distance, competition from other programs (C.Y.O.), older people not driving at night, parishioners reluctant to travel to another parish for an event, size of our parishes; parishes are not part of the same public school; terribly busy parishioners; each parish has so many events and/or organizations available for parishioners to attend.
• Those in the youth program said that they felt that the children and parents did not want to travel to other parishes when they had programs available to them in their own parishes.
• The initial obstacle was one of understanding cluster dynamics. Time has resolved that issue. The role that Clusters are to have in the life of the Archdiocese should have been more specific and include a "time" element. The Cluster Implementation Committee, at its meeting on January 14, 2003, agreed that it did not receive sufficient guidelines and expectations, including a time element.
  
  

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 hold - implementation is complete, new data does not require a new cluster plan at this time.