CALLED
TO BE CHURCH
As
the Pastoral Planning Process continues, Committees of our Local Planning Group
are formulating recommendations
that will
ultimately be forwarded to Bishop Hubbard for His consideration. At this time these committees are
considering
a variety
of options – NO final decisions have been made.
In
order to maintain an open, transparent and inclusive process we continue to ask
for input from all parishioners. A
variety
of
methods will be used and we encourage you to take advantage of these
opportunities to share your insights.
PERSONAL CONTACTS
Leadership Committee
Father Becker holytrinity@nycap.rr.com 237-2373
Deacon Gerry Matthews 237-4708
Deacon Al Schrempf 237-2373
Administration and Finance Committee
Tony Urban (Co-Chair)** aurban@nycap.rr.com
Paul Quinlan ** quinlapy@aol.com 237-0995
Brian Lewis blewis@hesc.com
Prayer and Worship
Barbara Hildreth (Chair) barbarahildreth@hotmail.com
Deb Czmyr
** czmyrcoh@aol.com
Sr. Joanne St.Hilaire ** jlsthilaire@csjalbany.org
Life-Long Faith Formation
Karen Beattie (Chair) karenbeattie989@hotmail.com 237-2373
Denise Miller mmiller309@aol.com 664-2302
Donna Foley foldsw3@yahoo.com 237-5274
Outreach/Service
John Burke (Chair)** John.E.Burke@ATT.net 233-0221
Caroline Guresz cguresz@nycap.rr.com 237-1095
**Designates Core Team Member
The meeting of the Cohoes-Waterford Planning Group listened to the
reports of the subcommittees that were formed
at the
first meeting of 2008 held on January 8th. Members of the planning group divided into
the following subgroups:
Administration and Finance Committee; Prayer and Worship Committee;
Faith Formation Committee; and Service
Committee. This evening each subcommittee reported to
the entire group and fielded questions. At this stage each
committee offered
recommendations only. Further study is
ongoing and may lead to other options. All other committees
were
asked to review the various models presented by the Administration and Finance
Committee in their deliberations
before
making any future recommendations.
ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE COMMITTEE SUBCOMMITTEE
REPORT
This committee met three times.
So far they have gathered the following information:
Total income of each
parish Current operating expenses
Total assets versus liabilities Total Diocesan and Other
Debts
Information still needed: consolidated engineering reports from the
diocese for all buildings in order to determine long
term
viability of existing structures in the Cohoes-Waterford Planning Group. For planning purposes, the committee
is
assuming that all structures are sound.
In 2015 (if not before), there will be three priests available in this
Planning Group. (Please note: This
does not mean
three
full-time priests. It may be a
combination of full-time and retired priests.)
Since a priests is limited to celebrating
three
masses over a weekend, nine weekend masses will be available for worship in
Cohoes-Waterford.
Using the above information, the committee has looked at nine possible
parish configuration and worship models, ranging
from a
four-parish/four-worship site model to a one-parish/four-worship site model,
plus seven other combinations. After
much
discussion, figuring in building maintenance and energy costs, the
Administration and Finance Committee has
reached
the consensus that the four-parish/four-worship site model is the most viable “starting
point” for 2009. This
would
include Holy Trinity, St. Mary in
would
have the “least initial impact” on the people.
Another important consideration not mentioned in the fact-finding list
is the cost of the necessary education and outreach
work, the
“work of the Church” that Christ called us to do. To carry out the work of Church while
maintaining four
buildings
is costly and will be a drain on other programs.
Again, through consensus, our committee feels that due to future financial
needs, Mass attendance, and demographic
trends,
the LPG will continue to evolve through linkage, merger, and closure into a
three-parish/three-worship site model,
or
perhaps even a two-parish/three worship site model. We do not see any model with less than three
worship sites as a
viable
option at this time; therefore, before 2015, the Committee consensus is that it
will be necessary to move into a
three
parish/three worship site model.
Other committees were asked to review the various models in their
deliberations before making further recommendations.
FAITH FORMATION
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT
The Faith Formation Subcommittee met in January and developed six Faith
formation models for pre-K through High
School. Although terminology and specifics varied to
a small extent, the models emphasized the need for one Faith
Formation
program that would transcend the
boundaries of communities and parishes. Staffing, detailed program
descriptions,
and materials will be further investigated and developed.
It was unanimously agreed that the program must adhere to the
guidelines set forth by the diocesan Office of
Evangelization and Catechesis. The director
would be certified and all catechists would possess at least basic
certification and be involved in ongoing formation.
Each staff member and volunteer would be in compliance
with the
diocesan dictates for Virtus Training and Background
Checks. For 2008—2009 the communities of
It was recommended that Jeanne Schrempf,
Diocesan Director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis be
invited
to a future meeting of the subcommittee.
During future meetings we will be discussing how we need to connect
worship to our Faith Formation classes and
link or
form our parish identity to our children attending classes. Our expectation is that children will be
attending
Liturgy at their own parishes. How to
accomplish this will be the topic of the next meeting.
OUTREACH/SERVICE SUBCOMMITTEE
Services Provided to the Community at Large
Food pantry
located at St. Mary’s,
St. Mary’s
serves
bill. St. Mary’s also gives out certificates to
local markets for people to buy perishables.
The pantry is funded
by
donations of food and money from parishioners and school children.
Holy Trinity’s
Food Pantry is funded by parishioners.
People donate food in basket provided in church,
and
the committee tends the food pantry.
Needs are posted in the Sunday bulletin.
St. Michael’s and St. Bernards’s
Parish
collect for this pantry. St.
Bernard’s also gives to
to
Co-Cap in downtown
The Committee
feels that the food collection at all churches could be a year-round joint
effort as opposed to
only
certain times of the year.
Joseph’s House
Dinners:
St. Bernard’s
and Holy Trinity prepare and serve dinners at Joseph’s House. The volunteers also dine with
the
residents. We feel that we would like to
do this on a monthly basis with different volunteers from each parish
working
under one or two coordinators. We would
be helping the community at large as well as saving Joseph’s
House some money and
giving the chef a day off every month.
Health—Outreach:
We discussed
the Health Cabinet, which is a joint effort by
the
Outreach program that Holy Trinity has begun.
The committee will have further discussion on the Health
Cabinet,
Parish Nurse, and Outreach which can serve all parishes and even the community
at large. This is an
instance
where all parishes could work together to avoid duplication of services.
The Pastoral Outreach
Subcommittee discussed the various groups (committees, organizations, students)
who are
providing
services within each parish. The consensus
is that having parishes working together would be more
efficient
in terms of time and cost and beneficial to the combined parishes and community
at large. Because most
of
the work is done by volunteers, the cost is minimal at this time.
PRAYER
AND WORSHIP SUBCOMMITTEE:
The subcommittee
discussed the various kinds of liturgical services, celebrations, and programs
related to the liturgical
year
that will enhance the faith and worship of the people. This principle from the Diocesan Manual
guided the
discussion: “Effective parish prayer and worship give
evidence of implementation of
draw
all members of the parish community into the ministry of worship with the presider enabling the ministry of the total
community.” The committee generated a list of services
and programs to be offered in the parishes, many of which are
offered
now. Those held as most important are
well-planned weekend liturgies, sacraments celebrated during liturgies,
special
programs of reflection or retreat during Advent and Lent, and a variety of Holy
Week services. Music and décor
(flowers,
symbolic objects, banners, etc.) need to be planned to
enhance worship. The subcommittee will
continue to
study
these needs in terms of finances, demographics, the number of weekend Masses
offered, and configurations before
making
any recommendations.