Delaware County parishes 'twin' their religious ed programs

CLUSTER EFFORT

Children from two Delaware County parishes begin a new experiment in religious education this month when Sacred Heart/St.Philip Neri Parish in Stamford and Most Precious Blood/St.Theresa Parish in South Kortright combined their programs to serve children from nursery through high school.

According to Donna Donaldson, religious education director, the program covers between 170 to 200 students from six public school districts.

The idea for combining the two programs developed through cluster meetings, according to Rev. John Burns, pastor of Most Precious Blood/St. Theresa's.

"It grew out of clustering, while looking at our strengths and weaknesses," he said, adding that the combined program's benefit for the South Kortright parish is that children will be provided with a stronger program.

Recruiting

In the past, the parish had small numbers of students enrolled in religious education and had a difficult time recruiting teachers, Father Burns said.

The new program has 14 catechists for the nursery through grade six program, and 10 volunteers working with high school students. There are approximately 20 students per class.

Rev. Joseph Cebula, pastor of Sacred Heart/St. Philip Neri, echoed that thought: "In the past, there have been problems staffing the programs. Instead of staffing two programs, two parishes are working together on one program. It's a tad easier to do."

Changes

While students from the Stamford parish will be educated in their home parish, there will be changes for them as well, according to Mrs. Donaldson:

* The new program incorporate a service component at all levels;

* There is a new youth ministry program; and

* The program will be held at both the parish hall, as well as a local nursing home.

Youth ministry

The new youth ministry program is being facilitated by adult volunteers as well as recently confirmed youth. Sessions will take place at both locations.

Father Cebula said the youth ministry program is important because it is a part of parish life that needs attention. While he is looking forward to the program, he has realistic expectations.

"We'll do things in little steps," he said. "We'll build on what we've done in the past. We're not expecting to have a model youth ministry program by June."

Hectic lives

Father Cebula said the difficulty is keeping up with the young people's lives.

"Kids have hectic lives. We want to plug in without it being a burden for them. We'll see what happens. There is a lot going on in their lives."

Sports are an important part of community life in Stamford. Many youths participate in soccer and basketball. In recent years, the community has had championship girls basketball and soccer teams. While those activities are important parts of the young people's lives, faith development is important as well, Father Cebula said. "Often with young people, there is a diminishing relationship with the Church. I'd like to see this not happen."

Challenge

Both pastors recognize transportation as being another challenge facing the program. The Stamford parish where classes will be held is eight miles from the South Kortright parish. For some families, the distance will be even greater.

"The biggest challenge is getting kids there," Father Burns said, noting that families will have to evaluate their priorities. "Some people will drive to go shopping or to games but not to religious education."

Father Cebula stated, "The distance is not extreme. They do it for shopping; they can do it for religious education."

Hopes for sharing

Father Cebula hopes that the sharing of resources between the two parishes may unconsciously impart another lesson for students.

"Maybe they'll see people coming together to work, and maybe down the road it will mean something for the children," he said.

That lesson is beneficial to the parishes working together, as well as for others in the Albany Diocese, he said.

"It's a good thing," he noted. "It's a logical use of resources, and it will show that you can do things together as a parish without problems. This will spread to other areas of parish life."

Father Cebula's hopes for the new combined program are no different from his hopes prior to the merger: "I hope children are receiving appropriate religious instruction and are living their faith, with examples like mom and dad living out their faith."

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