ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

Informal Evaluation by the Cluster Implementation Committee

Cluster 71

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:

Goal 1: Plan for a smooth transition to a cluster with fewer priests. Our cluster had 12 priests and had to be reduced to 8.

• Mother of Divine Providence and St. Philip Neri Parishes have been reduced to one priest each effective June, 2001. MDP and St. Philip Neri reduced their Sunday schedule by one Mass.
  
  
• St. Gertrude and St. Mary Parishes have been twinned in June, 2001. This means that they will share the same pastor.
  
  
• As of July 1^st, 2002, Our Mother of Sorrows Parish has been suppressed and the church has become a worship site of St. Augustine Parish. Most of their families have registered with St. Augustine Parish; some have joined other parishes in which they reside. The pastor of St. Augustine Parish is working carefully to integrate the former members of Our Mother of Sorrows into the Pastoral Council of St. Augustine's.
  
  
• Sacred Heart, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, St. Matthew and SS. Cosmas and Damian Parishes continue to be served by one priest each. Adjustments have been made to the Mass schedules of these parishes so that the priests can assist the other parishes when needed.
  
  
• The pastors have met several times to prepare a plan to accommodate each pastor's need for attendance at retreats, workshops, vacation, etc.
  
  
• With the assistance of the Archdiocesan Research and Planning Office all cluster parishes have been printing bulletin updates to help parishioner keep informed of changes in demographics and the number of priests available for parish ministry.

Goal 2: Promote development of lay leadership and stewardship

• Two Information Nights regarding Permanent Diaconate Programs have been held: one at St. Philip Neri Church and one at Mother of Divine Providence Church. A total of 11 men attended. Information Nights will be offered annually at various parishes.
  
  
• Further implementation of other objectives contained in this goal will be addressed by the Implementation Committee in the near future.
  
  

Goal 3: Enrich the faith experience of youth

• Three Focus groups consisting of representatives of each parish have been formed to develop cluster youth programs in the following age groups : Post Confirmation, High School, and Young Adults. Post confirmation and High school programs were thought to be best accomplished by two or three parishes working together.
  
  
• A cluster young adult groups has been formed and meets on a regular basis.
  
  
• A representative from the Archdiocesan Office for Youth and Young Adults gave the Implementation Committee an overview of the programs that are available through the Archdiocese. This office has pledged their assistance in the development of Cluster Youth Ministry.

Goal 4: Recognize uniqueness of geography, history, and ethnicity

• As called for in the Cluster Plan, the Pastors of the Cluster have been meeting to implement this goal and further discussions will be held in the future.
  
  
• A Cluster Calendar has been created. It was distributed to all the parishes for the Lenten season. It was decided that a calendar would be generated for the Advent and Lenten seasons.
  
  

Goal 5: Develop and maintain a web site for cluster and parish communications.

• Two parishioners from the cluster and two businessmen in the computer field have developed a web site for Cluster 71. The web site includes information regarding the cluster as well as links to the Vatican, the Archdiocese and individual parish web sites. The web site address is www.cluster71.org.
  
  

Actions that still need to be taken include:

• Twinning Evaluation needs to be completed.

• Need for continued dialogue regarding elementary school planning.
  
  

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

• The wide expanse of geography - many feel the cluster is too spread out.

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 continue - implementation is not complete, new data does not indicate a need for revised cluster plan but further work is required on the current plan.

It was noted:

· New demographics will happen all the time.

· Some goals have been completed but others have not

· Majority of the goals are on a Continuing Basis