ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

January 2001

CLUSTER 72 IMPLEMENTATION UPDATE

MONTGOMERY COUNTY VICARIATE

Over the past year, the Cluster 72 Implementation Committee (consisting of the pastors and two lay representatives from each parish) has met four times with Monsignor John Marine, the last gathering being on November 6, 2000. Various subcommittees have met periodically during this period as well.

The purpose of these meetings is to affect the implementation of the Cluster Plan (as approved by Cardinal Bevilacqua in January of 1998). The Goals of the Plan are as follows:

• Develop programs of Evangelization targeting nonparticipating Catholics;
• Develop a plan to best utilize the limited number of clergy, both priests and permanent deacons;
• Develop a plan to integrate youth and their families in the total life of the parish;
• Develop a plan to educate laity for the purpose of becoming more informed participants and church leaders in order to revitalize and enhance faith, stewardship, and Catholic-Christian family-centered values.
  
  

The following work has been undertaken since November 1999:

• In response to Goal 1: The Cluster Evangelization Committee has met monthly over the past year to undertake Cluster-wide projects and to strengthen individual parish efforts of evangelization. In Advent of 1999 and again in November of 2000, the "Come Home" series was offered on the successive Sunday evenings, extending a comfortable invitation to those who felt alienated from the Church for whatever reasons. Those who responded spoke favorably about the opportunity provided them. A number of parishes in the Cluster continue with follow-up endeavors such as the "Landings" program or other similar undertakings.
  
  
• In response to Goal 2: Parishes in the Cluster have joined into groups to celebrate Advent and Lenten Penance service. This maximizes the availability to the limited number of clergy by avoiding repetitious services in individual parishes. Reconciliation 2000 services were held jointly by the Cluster parishes at Visitation B.V.M., St. Titus and St. Paul churches.

In order to inform the faithful concerning the role and ministry of permanent deacons in the various parishes of the Cluster and the Archdiocese, informative and easy to read bulletin inserts are being formulated for all the parishes in the Cluster.

• In response to Goal 3: St. Titus, Holy Saviour, Epiphany and St. Patrick parishes will continue to work in combination with a shared, paid Youth Minister. The remaining parishes of the Cluster will determine their own approach to youth ministry independent of each other.

Holy Saviour, St. Paul and St. Patrick parishes in combination are formulating a program of religious education for junior high C.C.D. with special emphasis on post Confirmation education. A break from the traditional classroom setting, service and formation will be stressed. This program will be held at one of the three parishes each year in rotation; faculty will be supplied by all three parishes.

• In response to Goal 4: While recognizing that there can be no substitute for more formal training such as that provided by the Archdiocese (either at the Seminary or at its satellite locations), the Cluster is considering the formation of a program of training in ministries suggested as needed (on the parish surveys undertaken during the Cluster Planning process). This is not an adult education program for the Cluster in general, but rather an aid to the parishes to train lay ministers to meet needs as they exist in the parishes (such as the preparation of catechists, training in Bereavement Ministry and the formation of Pre Cana Teams, etc.)

Last Spring, the Cluster offered its third annual Liturgy Workshop. Over 350 persons attended representing all the phases of liturgical life in the parishes. Catechists also were encouraged to attend to assist them in the preparation of school liturgies. The next Workshop will be held on March 10^th, at Holy Saviour.

Parishioners with questions regarding Cluster Planning are encouraged to call the Archdiocesan Cluster Planning Hotline or to visit the official Web site of the Archdiocese at www.archphila.org.