Pastoral planning now part of Diocese

Pastoral planning is far from over in the Albany Diocese.

That is the message that Sister Kathleen Turley, RSM, chancellor for planning and pastoral services for the Albany Diocese, hopes to send to parishes as the formal part of the pastoral planning process comes to a close.

Several steps have been taken to wrap up the multi-phase process begun more than two years ago to examine the future of the Church in the Diocese:

* Bishop Howard J. Hubbard has written to each parish cluster, responding to their cluster plans by affirming their work and giving suggestions for the future;

* Each cluster has been asked to begin an "implementation group" to continue to develop their cluster plans. Some parishes are keeping the same cluster teams; others have elected new groups to plan for their futures;

* Each of those implementation teams has appointed a contact person to the diocesan Office of Pastoral Planning and will send quarterly reports to the Diocese on their cluster's progress; and

* The diocesan Strategic Planning process is helping diocesan departments to meet needs (including leadership training and adult faith formation) surfaced by parishes during pastoral planning.

An example occurred at St. Joseph's parish in Dolgeville recently when its pastor, Rev. Anthony Curran, was transferred. Since there was no one to replace him, St. Joseph's cluster plan went into effect and it began to share a pastor with a fellow cluster parish, St. John the Baptist in Newport.

"So, in some cases, plans will be put into effect relatively quickly," Sister Kathleen said.

Cluster plans are also being examined in several parishes as a result of the Augustinian order's recent announcement that it would be withdrawing priests from five parishes in the Diocese.

"We're looking at the plans in terms of how these positions will be filled," said Sister Kathleen.

Implementation

The new implementation teams begun in clusters are expected to examine issues that some clusters did not address in their cluster plans, including staffing and the alternative use of the buildings and facilities in their clusters.

Meanwhile, Jay Feeney, diocesan chancellor for finance and administration, has begun a database to examine parish finances, so that parishes can receive help from the Diocese in remaining "vital and viable."

With all of the work presently being done on the diocesan and parish level, Sister Kathleen stressed that pastoral planning will continue, on a less formal level.

She applauded some of the efforts already being made by clusters to work together. For example, Christ Sun of Justice, Sacred Heart, St. Francis de Sales, St. Paul the Apostle and St. William in Troy have begun a cluster adult education/faith formation program, as well as a bereavement support group offering "hope, understanding, friendship and support."

Moving cautiously

For those concerned that the Bishop's recommendations at the close of the pastoral planning process would mean major changes in their parishes, Sister Kathleen said, "Talking about the decreasing numbers of resources and looking at a parish community, there are a number of ways we can go," including a parish life director, a full-time resident priest, and so on.

"To determine which option we use, we look at the criteria for vital and viable parishes," she said. "The closing of a parish is the last option we entertain. We are looking at the preservation of vital and viable parishes."

Participation by the laity in parish life is one step to a vital parish, she added: "All of us are responsible for the mission of the Church through Baptism."

(10-10-96) [[In-content Ad]]