Different styles Parish leadership involves priests, nuns and laity

Collaboration among clergy, staff and parishioners helps make St. James Church in Albany unique, says Rev. Dominic Ingemie, pastor.

"There are a lot of people who like to be actively involved," he explained.

That's probably because volunteers at the parish find that they are welcomed, said George Abatto, a trustee and active parish volunteer, who added that the parish leadership makes it easy for parishioners to be involved.

"Father Ingemie sets the tone," he said. "He allows laypeople to very involved in the parish."

Involvement

Catholics like Mr. Abatto remember a time when laypeople weren't encouraged to be involved in parish leadership. But as soon as the Second Vatican Council of the 1960s opened the doors to lay involvement, he became a lector.

After becoming a parishioner at St. James 25 years ago, Mr. Abatto added other duties. Over the years, he has served on the parish's school board, parish council, renovation committee and bazaar committee. He now chairs the prayer and worship committee.

"I have seen the old way when the priests didn't want laypeople to do anything," he said. "I like this way much better."

Many hands

According to Sister Mary Ellen Holohan, SNJM, pastoral associate for pastoral care, the parishioners are willing to take on many tasks. They bring communion to the homebound, staff the parish food pantry, operate a clothing program and serve as community organizers working with the local neighborhood association.

"People really believe they are called to serve," Sister Mary Ellen said, adding that they have taken to heart Matthew 25:34-40, in which Jesus calls people to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, comfort the ill and visit those in prison.

According to Father Ingemie, approximately 300 parishioners are active in various ministries. Many of them are retired and are "using their senior years to reach out," said Sister Mary Ellen.

In touch

With the large number of volunteers, communication is important. "As a staff, we work collaboratively and have frequent staff meetings," Father Ingemie said. "We're extremely fortunate that we have exceptional people on staff."

Ideas for parish programs can come from anyone. Parishioners, he said, either present their ideas to parish council members or to staff. Having so many people involved in parish life is beneficial, Father Ingemie said.

"Through collaborative ministry, you can touch many people," he explained. "If there were one person doing the ministry, you're not going to touch a lot of people."

Sharing resources

Collaboration is also important, but in a different way, at the North Country cluster, which consists of Blessed Sacrament in Hague, St. John's in Chestertown and St. James in North Creek. The collaboration among those Warren County parishes involves sharing resources, including staff: Rev. George Fleming, administrator, and Sister Francesca Husselbeck, RSM, pastoral associate. In addition, the parishes have a common a youth minister, Sunday bulletin and phone system. They will eventually have a cluster council.

This is a necessity financially, Sister Fran said, because staffing each of the three parishes separately would be difficult. Parishioners realize that and appreciate the cluster's team leadership model.

"Some of our parishioners are so grateful that they have this model," she said. "They're grateful that we're trying to find a solution."

Efficiency

By sharing administrative tasks, Sister Fran said, Father Fleming is freed from being a traveling priest.

"The advantage [of this model] for the priest is that he is not the priest on horseback riding into town," she said. "For the people, it gives them a priest who is a part of community life. And it's nice for me to be a part of all three communities."

According to Father Fleming, the team leadership approach allows the Diocese to better meet the needs of its northernmost members.

"There is a sense that, between the two of us, we can respond to the needs," he said. "It allows us to do more and to be more aware."

Doubling up

With two people in leadership, the parish benefits from the gifts each one possesses. Father Fleming explained that if the three parishes were being served by one individual, they would experience only that person's strengths and weaknesses. With two people in leadership, their weaknesses can be downplayed and strengths magnified.

For example, Father Fleming said, he is not great at recruiting volunteers, but "Sister Fran is good at nurturing and recruiting volunteers. She has a real knack for it."

For parishioners who have been at the three parishes since this shared leadership model began in the 1990s, there is a good understanding of how it works, Sister Fran said. However, the parishes constantly have new members since people from the New York City area often retire and move to their summer homes up north.

"There is education that needs to be done," she said. "Sometimes, people think only the priest should be there. It's sometimes difficult. I tell them that he loves to be a part of people's lives, but he can't be in two places at once. We are both present to parishioners at different times."

(10-11-01)