ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

JANUARY 2000
(Media Release - 1/10/00)

The Plan for Cluster 32 has been accepted by Cardinal Bevilacqua. In a letter to Monsignor John Conway, Vicar for Philadelphia-South, dated December 10, 1999, the Archbishop encouraged implementation of the Plan and offered his observations. His comments included commendation on the Plan's emphasis on youth programs, social services, and evangelization. His Eminence endorsed the Plan's focus on a cluster-wide effort to promote vocations to the Priesthood and Religious life. Some of the actions of the Plan follow.

.Form an ad hoc committee to study the feasibility of hiring a youth coordinator for the Cluster.

• .Share parish facilities for youth programs.
• .Establish a coordinating committee to explore social service programs.
• .Parishes of the Cluster will commit to programs of evangelization that have been created by the Paulist Fathers and endorsed by the Archdiocese.
• .Centralize and rotate Cluster-wide religious education programs for adults.
• .Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish be reduced one priest.
• .Epiphany of Our Lord Parish be reduced one priest.
• .Pastors of the six parishes meet to make provisions to assist the two affected parishes, and to coordinate pastoral ministry in the Cluster.

• .Hold Cluster-wide vocation days/retreats.
• .Provide a family guide program to foster vocations.

• .Invite young people to share their time and talents in service to the parishes.

Cardinal Bevilacqua expressed his gratitude to all those who served on the Cluster Pastoral Planning Committee. A "Cluster Implementation Committee" now will be formed to monitor the implementation of the Plan.