Symposium examined changes in dioceses

Better training, support systems and more lay leadership are crucial for priests and parish life directors who cover more than one parish, according to five representatives from the Albany Diocese who attended a recent symposium.

The gathering of leaders from 20 U.S. dioceses was held Feb. 7-9 in Chicago, with the theme of "multiple parish pastoring." In attendance from the Albany Diocese were:

* Sister Kathleen Turley, RSM, diocesan chancellor for planning and pastoral services;

* Rev. Kofi Amissah, pastor of Sacred Heart parish in Albany and St. Joan of Arc in Menands, and head of the Black Apostolate;

* Sister Rita Duggan, CSJ, administrator of Sacred Heart and St. William's in Troy;

* Rev. George Fleming, pastor of St. Bonaventure's in Speigletown (and previously pastor of a three-parish "North Country cluster"); and

* Rev. Christopher Welch, pastor of St. Joseph's in Greenwich and Notre Dame-Visitation in Schuylerville.

Many hats

Participants learned that between 50 and 60 percent of parishes in the U.S. currently share a pastor, but less than 10 percent of dioceses provide training for priests or PLDs who take on several parishes.

"Many people engaged in this work felt there was not enough diocesan support for them. I think that's true here," Sister Kathleen told The Evangelist.

She said the Diocese should sponsor "in-services" where multiple-parish pastors and PLDs learn skills for working effectively with several parish communities.

Supports

Symposium organizers cited the need for self-care, time management, personnel management, decision-making and volunteer recruitment by parish leaders.

"Support systems are needed for people that are stretched to the limit," Father Fleming affirmed.

In his experience as pastor of Blessed Sacrament parish in Hague, St. John the Baptist in Chestertown and St. James in North Creek, he said, "I was fortunate to get that [support]. People were very patient with my being spread in different directions."

The diocesan representatives heard firsthand accounts of parish leaders who, in some areas of the country, are being asked to cover as many as seven parishes. (The Albany Diocese has a three-parish limit for pastors and PLDs.)

"The priests talked a lot about, when they have to travel [to several parishes], [not having] time to be a part of the community," Sister Rita recalled. "It lessens their impact."

What to do

A list of "best practices" that emerged from the symposium focused on lay leadership and collaboration among parishes sharing a pastor.

Parishes were advised to combine faith formation and youth ministry programs, offer events that parishioners from all the churches can attend, standardize accounting and record-keeping procedures among the parishes, publish one bulletin for all of them, and so on.

"We've done some of that here," Sister Kathleen said, noting that many parishes that share a pastor now share business managers, religious ed directors and other staff, as well.

Father Fleming compared parishes sharing a pastor to towns with volunteer fire departments: In order to provide needed services, people have to step up and take on responsibilities themselves.

He said it's important to "take advantage of the gifts of the people, so they don't feel shortchanged" when a pastor can't cover all ministries himself.

Ahead of curve

The Albany representatives said they were pleased to see that the Diocese seems ahead of the curve on planning for the future.

However, said Sister Kathleen, covering several parishes can be "a lot of work and sometimes lonely," so the Diocese is always looking for input on better ways to use resources and support parish leaders.

"It's a comfort to know that we're not in it by ourselves," Sister Rita stated. "We can learn from parishes all over the country. This is our Church, and we have a hand in forming its future."

(Of the Albany Diocese's 168 parishes, 45 currently share a pastor; another 25 are led by a parish life director. More and more parish leaders are not "hims": Sister Rita observed that she was pleased to see many more women at this symposium than at past conferences, pointing to the fact that an increasing number of women are leading parishes.)

(2/23/06) [[In-content Ad]]