Stamford parish seeks person for unique role

Sacred Heart Church in Stamford plans to fill its new, full-time position of pastoral associate for faith formation and parish life this spring.

This person will coordinate religious education and assist with promoting parish life at Sacred Heart; its mission, St. Philip Neri in Grand Gorge; and Most Precious Blood of Jesus Church in South Kortright.

Wide coverage

"This is an opportunity to develop and increase parish ministry in a formal way," he said. "Volunteers are fine, but sometimes it's good to have a full-time position."

The need for a pastoral associate for faith formation and parish life arose when Donna Donaldson, Sacred Heart's religious ed coordinator for the past 10 years, informed the parish last year that she would be resigning this spring.

Father Cebula also assumed the pastoral responsibilities at Most Precious Blood last year following the transfer of its pastor, Rev. John Burns, increasing the number of parishioners and widening the area to be served.

New goals

In terms of faith formation, this pastoral associate will direct a program for youth in preschool to grade 12, coordinate sacramental preparation programs and celebrations, recruit and supervise catechists, and continue the development of comprehensive youth ministry.

The new pastoral associate also will coordinate and direct the pastoral life of the parish community. "We need to develop outreach and a continual relationship with people coming to the parish and folks who are inactive," Father Cebula said. "We need to let people know we remember them, and they're part of the parish."

Among the responsibilities related to parish life are: working with Father Cebula to provide pastoral care and presence to the entire parish community, developing outreach to active and inactive parishioners, supporting ministries and training volunteers in the parish community, and helping parishioners understand their baptismal call to ministry.

E pluribus unum

"If all this person does for two or three years is talk with people, get a feel of who they are and worked off that information, that would be a good thing," he said.

The parish community, located 70 miles from Albany, also ministers to teens and adults at such local agencies as Phoenix House, Allen Youth Center and the Youth Leadership Academy; the new pastoral associate's ministry would include these places.

New approach

"We just have to accept that ministries are being done by laypeople," Father Cebula said. "If your parish is great, it's because everybody's doing their part."

(Resumes for the position of pastoral associate for faith formation and parish life are being accepted through March 1; for more information, call Father Cebula at 607-652-7170.)

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