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Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Cluster 76 Pastoral Planning Implementation Committee
Communique No. 1, October 2001
Cluster 76 Implementation Committee of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has met
for six (6) times since the approval of the Cluster Pastoral Plan by Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua in April 2000.
Cluster Pastoral Planning is a prayerful, reflective process which addresses the changing needs of the Church in
our cluster, including schools, clergy, and Catholic population.
Cluster 76's Implementation Committee consists of two (2) representatives from
each of the Cluster parishes plus the pastors of the Cluster parishes, and is moderated by Rev. Msgr. John C. Marine,
Vicar for Montgomery County. Cluster 76's Implementation Committee meets regularly to track achievement of plan
goals and to give direction and/or assistance to subcommittees carrying out the Cluster Plan goals, actions, and
objectives.
The following work has been undertaken between June 2000 and September 2001.
Goal # 1 To provide adequate facilities for all parishes in the Cluster.
- The Archdiocese has purchased a tract of land in Limerick Township for the eventual construction of a school
& parish center for St. Clare Parish ( with future plans to build a church).
- The boundaries of St. Clare, St. Eleanor, St. Mary, & Sacred Heart Parishes are redefined.
- St. Clare initiated a Feasibility Study to assess the degree of support for a Capital Building campaign. The
results of the study revealed that St. Clare is not in a position to support such a financial responsibility at
this time.
- The current Sacred Heart Area Consolidated school is scheduled to be disestablished in June 2002, and will
become the parish School solely for Sacred Heart Parish. The Cluster pastors will continue to accommodate the needs
of St. Clare elementary school children as their space permits.
- St. Clare Parish has entered into a three-year lease (with an option for two more years) for a professional
building less than ¼ mile from their present church. It consists of about 8,000 square feet and will be
used as a Parish Center. It will support all the parish religious education programs such as CCD, RCIA and the
beginning of a Catholic Elementary School in the future. In addition, it will be used for the Elizabeth Ministry,
Moms & Tots, Youth Group, & Ladies of St. Clare association as well as other parish groups.
Goal # 2 To establish a training program for all lay ministers in the Cluster.
- A subcommittee was formed to review the existing Cluster parish training programs. This process revealed that
many of the parishes do not have guidelines for all their lay ministries.
-The subcommittee determined that the lay ministry training should encompass not just the mechanical & technical
aspects of the ministries, but also the spiritual enrichment of those who volunteer for these ministries.
- A set of detailed guidelines was obtained from another parish & it was determined that compiling a set of
similar procedures would facilitate a cluster wide training program.
- The Liturgical Ministries coordinator for Cluster 72 was contacted in order to obtain information concerning
a workshop format for training and enrichment. He responded with suggestions & recommendations on how to proceed
with a ministry "enrichment/training" workshop.
- The subcommittee is working on the aspects of the proposed workshop. A local high school was contacted and
is willing to host the workshop planned for some time in the spring of 2002.
Goal # 3 To bring back nonparticipating parishioners.
-Discussions were held concerning each parish's approach to this goal. Some of the cluster parishes have addressed
this subject through Goal #4 with "outreach programs." Some parishes have not been able to implement
any specific programs. A subcommittee for this goal will hopefully be established in the near future.
Goal #4 To establish outreach programs to benefit Cluster parishes.
-A subcommittee was formed to review the outreach programs currently being offered by the cluster parishes.
Individual programs were identified for each parish and specific activities were defined.
-The programs are currently being summarized into a "parish organization directory" for Cluster 76
parishes. The directory will be distributed to all parishioners of Cluster 76 after the contents are finalized.
It is planned that this directory should be updated and distributed at least annually. Each parish will assign
a contact person to coordinate the directory contents.
-The subcommittee working on this goal is still exploring possible outreach programs that may be offered on
a Cluster level.
Goal # 5 To seek sufficient priests to meet the needs of the people.
-This goal has not been discussed in any detail and a subcommittee is not yet established. However, materials
distributed by the Archdiocese for the Archdiocesan Vocation Program entitled, "Philadelphia: Priest Call,"
have been handed out in the churches and posters are displayed.
Volunteers to assist with the implementation of any aspect of the Cluster Plan
are always welcome.
Further information regarding the Implementation of the Cluster Plan can be obtained
by contacting your Pastor, or Cluster Implementation Committee Representative or
accessing the Archdiocesan website archphila.org and clicking on Pastoral
Planning -- Cluster Pastoral Planning.
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