Embracing the Change in Parish Staffing

1
Embracing the Change in Parish Staffing

• Moving from Problem to Possibility

2
AGENDA

• Welcome and Introductions
• Prayer
• Presentation
• Discussion
• Reporting
• Closing Prayer

3
Welcome
4
Prayer
5
Moving from Problem to Possibility

• Real change isnt motivated by
• either crisis or fear. The best
• inspiration comes from leaders who
• can create compelling and positive
• visions of the future.

6
Moving from Problem to Possibility

• Share a story with the person next
• to you of a time when someone
• took a difficult situation and made
• it into something positivethey took
• a lemon and made it into lemonade.

7
Once we face the realities

• we can begin to envision the possibilities

8
PresentationFewer Priests

• As of 2005 there were 299 diocesan priests
  serving 233 parishes
• 29 priests are under the age of 40
• Current projections estimate there will be 238
  priests by 2015, slightly more than the current
  number of parishes in the Diocese
• Further projections show 151 priests by 2030
• The number of Catholics in the area has remained
  fairly constant over the recent years

9
Priest Projection 2005 2030Diocesan Priests
Available for Active Service Under Age 70
Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
10
PresentationOther Realities

• Priests are not often brought from other
  countries (1)
• Very few priests are working in diocesan offices
  (2)
• Other denominations including those with female
  and/or married clergy are having the same or
  greater difficulty with a shortage of clergy
  (3)

11
PresentationOther RealitiesMore People in
Ministry

• The Permanent Diaconate was reinstated after the
  Second Vatican Council
• National research has uncovered a dramatic
  increase and development in lay ministry
• Parishes in our Diocese have embraced both of
  these changes, engaging many new faces in parish
  ministry

12
PresentationOther Ministers and their Ministries

• Deacon
• Ordained Minister
• Threefold ministry Word, Sacrament, Charity
• Presides at baptisms, weddings and funerals
• Often plays a role in other areas of ministry

13
PresentationOther Ministers and their Ministries

• Lay Ecclesial Minister(1)
• Parish Life Coordinator(2)
• Religious Education(3)
• Liturgy and Music(4)
• Youth(5)
• Other(6)

14
PresentationOther Ministers and their Ministries

• Business Manager
• a more recently developed role
• assists the pastor in handling parish finances
• oversees the maintenance of buildings and grounds
• responsible for parish recordkeeping
• manages parish communications
• supervises office activity

15
Discussion

• What did you find most striking or new from
  this presentation?

16
Discussion

• Complete the Working Through Change worksheet
• Be open to what you may learn about yourself in
  this exercise
• Share the most interesting insight from this
  worksheet

17
Discussion

• Dialogue on the Opportunities
• Where is the Spirit leading us?

18
Reporting

• Summarize Table Discussions,
• sharing the most significant insights

19
Take Home!

• Take home the Educational Documents that are part
  of the Parish Staffing Series.
• Use the Going Deeper Questions to help you
  reflect on the learning in each one.
• Share one or two things you learned with someone
  you talk with in the next few days.

20
Closing PrayerGracious God,We are your people,
embraced by your love throughout all time.As a
community of faith, joined together in the
Catholic Diocese of Cleveland,We ask you to fill
us with new life.Liberate us from all that keeps
us from you. Heal us from every form of sin
and violence.Reconcile us so that enemies become
friends.Transform us to live your Word more
profoundly. Open us to appreciate your presence
in all ages, faiths and cultures.Awaken us to
the sacred nurture our relationships.Enliven
our parishes in the celebration and sharing of
gifts.Enable us to recreate our world and
restore justice. Fill us with joy to celebrate
the fullness of life. Empower us to be a
community of love, growing in your likeness.
Amen!