ARTICLES

Pastoral planning has grass roots emphasis

By Steve Neill
Of The Catholic Virginian

Getting ideas from the grass roots and clearing up any misconceptions certainly seemed the goal of the diocese’s Central Vicariate meeting as members of the vicariate’s parishes came together to provide input for a five-year Pastoral Plan.

Joan Kennedy, a member of the diocese’s Pastoral Planning Commission, told the approximately 270 people gathered Nov. 3 at St. Michael Church in Glen Allen that the diocese had a compelling reason for the process. The diocese expects to have 18 to 22 fewer priests over the next five years as the Catholic population continues to increase.

“We need to plan pro-actively and comprehensively,” she said, “instead of waiting until our backs are against the wall.”

Ms. Kennedy, a member of Immaculate Conception parish in Hampton, said that every parish will probably eventually be in some kind of sharing relationship with some other parish, but this did not mean that all parishes will be sharing a priest.

She issued a challenge that those present “look at things in a different way than we have in the past.”

“In this planning process, we need to stretch,” Ms. Kennedy said.

Participants in the Central Vicariate meeting met in small local planning area groups which had a facilitator to list strengths in their own parish and find areas which they felt needed strengthening. People worked hard and felt the process was helpful.

“The group was incredibly enthusiastic about the process,” said Patty Huffman, one of the facilitators. She added that the group she facilitated was enthusiastic about working together with the smaller parishes.

“When you get past the initial fear which comes from change, we’ll all benefit because there are a number of common resources we can tap into,” said Jamie Sherry, a member of St. Benedict parish in Richmond.

“Liturgical style, culture and ethnic differences will complement parishes and make us stronger,” said someone from Local Planning Area 11.

Mary Ann Allen, of St. Elizabeth parish in Richmond, felt that many parish representatives seemed to have a common thread about keeping youth and young adults in the Church.

“Too many young people are being lost to other Christian traditions because parishes are not able to offer programs that challenge them,” she said. “Here is a perfect example of where a sharing of resources among parishes could make a difference.”

“I think it was encouraging that so many people wanted to be there,” said Frank Squillace, of Incarnation parish, Charlottesville, who served as a facilitator of a local planning group of Richmond area parishes.

“It was also good to know that a lot of parishes are already working together,” he added.

The next step in the Pastoral Planning process will be going through written comments made by the facilitators at the three separate vicariate meetings. The Pastoral Planning Commission met Nov. 8 in Richmond to review statements made at the Western Vicariate meeting Sept. 29 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Salem.

“Once the Pastoral Planning Commission reviews everything from the three different vicariate meetings, we’ll keep it very raw so it will be in the context how the people expressed their views,” explained Beth Neu, director of the Office of Pastoral Planning.

The five-year Pastoral Plan for the diocese, once approved by Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo upon the recommendation he receives, will begin in January 2009.

“All three of the meetings were very positive,” Mrs. Neu said. “I truly felt the Spirit of God at the meetings.

“Some people discovered that there was more sharing already going on between parishes than they had realized.”

The dialogue from the meetings emphasized that changes which were to come needed to be done with prayer and God’s vision.

“We recognize God is in charge,” said Chuck Wilucz of St. Ann parish, Colonial Heights. “That sums it all up.”

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