CLUSTER 42
(St. Cecilia, St. Joseph, Our Lady of Consolation,
Our Lady of the Rosary, St. Stanislaus Kostka)
CLUSTER IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE MEETING
September 20, 2000, 7:30 p.m., Our Lady of the Rosary
COMMUNIQUE
The Cluster 42 Implementation Committee met on September 20, 2000. A report was made by each Subcommittee chairperson, which provided the status of 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 faith.
The report acknowledged the 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.
In addition, adult bi-lingual bible study continues to be conducted in the Hispanic Community of the Cluster under the direction of the Hispanic Apostolate.
Goal #2 - Provide support and education for increased evangelization efforts.
Sub-Committee members have been recruited and their names submitted to the Vicar for Chester County.
Goal #3 - Address the Priest Projection report, which indicated a decline in the number of priests available for Parish work in the Cluster.
The Subcommittee reported that a prayer card, in conjunction with the commemoration of the canonization of St. Katherine Drexel, which included a prayer for vocations, was distributed to all families in the Cluster. In addition, a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Katherine Drexel with the celebration of the Mass, with an intention to pray for increased vocations was attended by 65 cluster parishioners.
More interaction between seminarians from St. Charles and various religious communities with teens in the Cluster was encouraged as a vehicle to introduce the youth to the religious life. The recommendation to recite a vocation prayer by the congregation at weekend and daily Mass was accepted and will be implemented.
Goal #4 - Improve the level of community service especially for the Hispanic, elderly and needy population of the Cluster.
The Subcommittee reported on the necessity for a census of Hispanic Catholics in the Coatesville, Downingtown and Parkesburg areas to determine the actual population. This will provide the Cluster Hispanic Aspotolate a better understanding of the needs of the Hispanic Catholic population in the Cluster. Once census is completed and reviewed, specific recommendations will be made.
Goal #5 - Renew religious education and stewardship programs through the inclusion of new parishioners.
Sub-committee membership has not been secured as each parish is in a different stage in its stewardship program. Cluster parish members, who attend stewardship workshops, will be used as a resource by Cluster parishes in the areas of stewardship.
Goal #6 - Develop a plan for a new parish elementary school at Our Lady of Consolation Parkesburg, and a new regional elementary school at Our Lady of the Rosary, Caln Township.
The four Coatesville parishes and Our Lady of Consolation Parish have each engaged the services of different architectural firms for the development of a proposed plan for each school project. Additionally, they have also engaged the services of consulting firms to conduct feasibility studies regarding the financial support for each project with an expected completion by the end of November.
The next Cluster 42 Implementation Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 15, 2000 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Joseph School Hall.