CLUSTER
7 4
PASTORAL PLANNING IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE
UPDATE
March 2001
Communiqué No. 5
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COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Rev. Msgr. John C. Marine,
Vicar for Montgomery County
Chairman
Holy Martyrs, Oreland
Rev. Michael Ryan
James McGinley
Denise McKelvie
Presentation BVM, Cheltenham
Rev. William Harrison
Bill Duncan
Margie Stein
St. Genevieve, Flourtown
Rev. Robert Carroll
Rev. Mr. Joseph Manson
Elizabeth Gavula
St. James, Elkins Park
Rev. Raymond Himsworth
Barbara Schmidt
Charles Young
St. Joseph, Cheltenham
Rev. William Harrison
Rose Theresa Gonzalez
Alex Knab
Seven Dolors, Wyndmoor
Rev. Robert Carroll
Jim Hoyer
Bernard McLafferty, Esq.
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Parishioners with questions regarding Cluster 74 Pastoral Planning are invited to
contact their parish representatives listed above.
Information may also be found on the Archdiocesan website at www.archphila.org/cluster/c74/.
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Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua
approved the Cluster 74 Pastoral Plan in 1998 and the work of implementing the plan is underway. The Cluster 74
Pastoral Plan Implementation Committee was formed in January 1999 and consists of two representatives from each
of the Cluster parishes, plus each of the pastors of the Cluster parishes.
The committee is charged with the responsibility
of implementing the Cluster Plan and meets regularly to track the achievement of plan goals and to give direction
and/or assistance to subcommittees carrying out the Cluster Plan goals. Periodic updates will be presented to parishioners
regarding the ongoing work of implementing the Cluster Plan.
Please keep these goals in your prayers.
Goal 1: Strengthen religious
educational opportunities on all levels
Objective 1 - Post Confirmation
The Cluster Subcommittee on Post-Confirmation Religious
Education examined over a 13-month period the needs of youth to have opportunities to continue their religious
education and spiritual growth and to expand their roles as part of our religious communities.
They proposed hiring a person part-time as
a facilitator/coordinator of the entire youth ministry in place in the cluster parishes; a recommendation that
is now being widely emulated.
Father Carl Janicki from St. Genevieve, Ms. Barbara
Schmidt from St. James and Mr. Frank Farrell from Presentation B.V.M. were selected to be on the search committee.
The search yielded two very qualified candidates.
After interviewing the candidates, the cluster
pastors made the decision
to hire Ms. Portia Tatlonghari.
Her tentative start date is April 1, 2001.
It is hoped that April through June can be
preparation time for programs and plans that will start in September.
Please join with us in congratulating Ms.
Tatlonghari on her selection and keep her in your prayers for her success in this most important endeavor.
Objective 2 - Educational
needs of adults
The Cluster Subcommittee for
Adult Religious Education worked with a diocesan representative in developing an assessment questionnaire that
was used for a random phone survey of adults in the cluster parishes to determine the educational needs of adults.
The results of the phone survey were inconclusive,
so the committee is looking at other means of obtaining this information.
They obtained the document, "Our
Hearts
Were Burning Within Us: A Pastoral Plan for Adult Faith Formation in the United States", produced
by the US Catholic Bishops, and will work with it during Lent.
The subcommittee is still actively seeking your opinions
on what you feel is needed in adult faith formation educational programs.
Your input is vital to the success of this
goal. Please
submit you comments and suggestions to your pastor or parish representative as soon as possible.
All responses are valuable and appreciated.
Goal 2: Make our worship vibrant and inspiring
A cluster Subcommittee on the
Liturgy is being formed under the chairmanship of Rev. Michael Ryan, the pastor of Holy Martyrs parish, in order
to foster spiritual renewal among our cluster parishioners.
The subcommittee will identify and develop
educational and spiritual formation opportunities for liturgical ministers and other interested parishioners.
Presentation B.V.M. Parish,
which is also currently forming a Liturgy Committee, recently hosted a very informative evening on the topic of
the Sacred Liturgy.
About 50 people attended
the talk given by Rev. Edward Windhaus, pastor of St. Titus Parish of Norristown, Pa.
Goal
3: Formulate ways to effectively utilize the five priests that are projected for the cluster
Support continues to be provided
to the pastors who are responsible for two parishes (twinned parishes), namely, Rev. William Harrison, pastor of
St. Joseph and Presentation B.V.M. parishes, and Rev. Robert Carroll, pastor of St. Genevieve and Seven Dolors
parishes.
The cluster plan calls for evaluation of the experience
of twinning. At
the end of the two-year period (June 2002), it will be determined whether the twinning arrangements should continue
or another alternative is considered.
Goal 4: Evangelize both active
and inactive Catholics by developing a joyful and supportive community that fosters deeper spirituality
The Archdiocese has made available
to parishes, as a participation option, the program "Disciples in Mission Evangelization".
Presentation B.V.M., St. Joseph, St. Genevieve
and Seven Dolors parishes are participating in this program.
Other cluster parishes may participate in
the future.
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