CLUSTER 42
(St. Cecilia, St. Joseph, Our Lady of Consolation,
Our Lady of the Rosary, St. Stanislaus Kostka)
CLUSTER IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE MEETING
June 29,2000, 7:30 p.m., St. Cecilia School Cafeteria
COMMUNIQUE
The Cluster 42 Implementation Committee met on Thursday, June 29, 2000. A report was made by each Subcommittee chairperson, which included the charge of the Committee, its members, status ongoing projects and recommendations for the advancement of the goal.
Goal #1 - Provide support for the efforts of parents to teach their children the Catholic.
The report acknowledged the creation and ongoing success of Life Teen programs in both Our Lady of Consolation and Our Lady of the Rosary parishes which afford teens the opportunity to live, learn, promote and strengthen their Catholic faith.
Goal #2 - Provide support and education for increased evangelization efforts.
Channels of communication were identified as local media, Sunday church bulletins, school information packets, direct mailing and the Internets. They were identified as tools for providing support and education.
Goal #3- Develop opportunities, programs which the parishes and families could support and
participate in to encourage an increase in vocations.To date, the Cluster has distributed vocation prayer cards to parish families, conducted a Cluster-wide vocation prayer service. The Rosary Society has included a perpetual intention for priestly vocations and circulation of the "Vocation Icon" and prayer card to be used by families throughout the parishes of the Cluster.
Recommendation and approval was received to increase prayer for vocations through the intercession of Blessed Katherine Drexel. Prayer cards bearing the image of Blessed Katherine will be printed and on the reverse side a prayer for vocations to be distributed to all parish families in the Cluster. In addition, a Cluster wide pilgrimage to the shrine of Blessed Katherine on the occasion of her canonization to pray and petition for increased vocations.
Goal #4- Improve the level of community service for the Hispanic, elderly and needy population of the Cluster.
This subcommittee reported an increase in the Hispanic population within the Cluster. Prayer groups meet on a weekly basis and English as a second language are offered by the Comboni Missionary Sisters. The need for a Mission Church was presented. However, additional research and discussions must occur before a formal presentation could be made.
Goal #5 - Renew religious education and stewardship programs through inclusion of new
Parishioners.
The Committee was advised and encouraged to participate in the International Catholic Jubilee Stewardship Conference to be held in Arlington, Virginia, November 12-15, 2000. The Committee was informed that the Archdiocese through Jerry Botto, Office of Archdiocesan Stewardship Initiative could also offer assistance in developing a program. Two of the parishes in the Cluster provided positive feedback regarding stewardship programs, which were initiated in their parishes.
Goal #6 - Develop a plan for a new parish elementary school at Our Lady of Consolation Parish,
Parkesburg, and a new regional elementary school at Our Lady of the Rosary, Caln Township.Reports were provided to the Committee on each project. Our Lady of Consolation has received approval from the Office of Administration to proceed with a feasibility study and is reviewing proposals for selection of a vendor. The study at Our Lady of Consolation is expected to be completed by the end of September.
Our Lady of the Rosary is awaiting feedback as to whether requirements of the Township would be met on the proposed location prior to submission for approval to the Office of Administration.
A status report was provided on the proposed property to be used as an Archdiocesan cemetery on Route 82 North. A recent meeting between Township and Archdiocesan officials was unable to achieve resolution on outstanding issues which is delaying use of property as a cemetery. Recommendation was approved for development of a fact sheet, which would clarify questions currently raised by parishioners regarding the delays. The Committee offered its support to the Archdiocese at Township meetings by requesting parishioners who live in that Township to attend meetings where the Archdiocesan cemetery is an agenda item.
The next Cluster 42 Implementation Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 20, 2000 at 7:30 p.m. at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish Hall.