Where do things stand with All Things New?
Last week Friday, the priests of the Archdiocese were presented with the various models for the fifteen planning areas of our Archdiocese. (If you would like to see the planning areas, they are up on the Archdiocesan website.) If you are hoping for me to share any information on what was shared, you can stop reading this right here. I am not being coy. There aren’t any huge secrets I am holding. I do not know what parishes will be closing and what parishes will be consolidating. (Really, I don’t.) The simple fact is that ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HAS BEEN DECIDED. It would be wildly irresponsible to share any of this information at this time, because these are just preliminary drafts. What really happens in May and beyond might be totally different.
Nevertheless, in the next couple of weeks much of this information will become available. So now, the conversation begins.
Next month, all the pastors, associates, deacons and the parishioners involved with All Things New will meet in their particular planning areas to discuss the various models (and possibly add some new ideas). After that, in October and November EVERY parish will have two listening sessions to both share information and get feedback. Those should be some lively and fascinating discussions. They will have trained moderators who will present information and guide the process. Hopefully people will be prepared not only to share what they would like to see in their area, but what is best overall for the entire Archdiocese.
Obviously, this whole process is extremely complex. I compared it to a Rubik’s Cube. You do something over on this side and the other side needs to shift. It is multi- faceted. Some churches may remain open without a resident pastor. Some different models of parish may be implemented. One of the big things that will have to be figured out and discussed is the issue of grade schools in the Archdiocese. To be honest, that goes way beyond my pay grade. As I have mentioned in the past, I am cautiously optimistic about what will happen around here. Please do not conclude that I know what will exactly happen here at Holy. I don’t. But I do know the goodness and vitality we have here. I do know the strength of this community.
The most positive aspect of all of this is that it is demanding from us a deliberate and thoughtful examination of what a parish is all about and what our Catholic faith is all about. It has challenged the notion that parishes are insular, parochial places. It is no longer US vs. THEM. Rather we are called to be looking outward, sharing our faith with a world that seems a bit lost, unfocused and despairing, and our resources and blessings with those less fortunate. Holy has always been very strong with the latter part of that outreach with our Vincent de Paul group, our Haiti committee, our Stephen Ministry and the good work our children do in school and our adults do in the Women’s and Men’s Clubs. At this particular moment we are called to reflect on the reason why we reach out to those in need, namely, our relation- ship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is our love of God that calls us to go out in turn and love our neighbor.
And that’s what All Things New is all about. It is less about closing parishes, and more about opening our hearts.
Father Kevin