HARFORD CATHOLIC ASSEMBLY

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HARFORD CATHOLIC ASSEMBLY
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Context

• Why have we embarked on this planning process?
• CARA Report 1999 gave us good data
• Decrease in Numbers of available clergy
• Fewer Lay Ecclesial Ministers
• Increasing ministerial needs of people

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Priests Available for Active Service 1999-2015
AssumptionsThere will be five ordinations each
year until 2015Retirement age is 70Source
CARA Study -- December 1999
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WHERE ARE WE NOW?

• Harford Catholic Assembly in place
• Information shared, discussed, reflected on,
  actions suggested.

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HARFORD CATHOLIC ASSEMBLY

• What drives our efforts?
• Our desire to shape the future
• Our commitment to good ministry
• Our desire to share responsibility
• Our love for Faith, Church, Catholicism

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KEY QUESTIONS

• What areas of faith life shall be the focus of
  our planning?
• How will we staff parishes?
• How will we decide a preferred future and still
  be rooted in reality?
• How Visionary can we be?

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MORE QUESTIONS

• How will we insure good pastoral care?
• How will we sustain lay ecclesial ministry?
• How will we educate on the current and future
  realities?
• How can we build energy and faith?

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HCA STEERING COMMITTEE

• Listened to the Assembly
• Gathered data
• Asked questions
• Reviewed all the material
• Developed five key areas for planning
• Developed a process to address the key areas.

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KEY FOCUS AREAS FOR PLANNING

• 1. Priest Allocation
• 2. Professional Ministry Development
• 3. Life-long Formation
• 4. Management Efficiencies
• 5. Faith and Justice

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PRIEST ALLOCATIONIN HARFORD REGION

• Criteria for assigning?
• Who will be affected?
• Impact?
• Mass schedules?
• Reconciliation schedules?
• Assisting clergy?
• Other?

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PROFESSION MINISTRY DEVELOPMENT

• Identification and recruitment?
• Sponsorship?
• Education and formation?
• Funding?
• Utilization?
• Ministry specialties?
• Other?

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LIFE-LONG FORMATION

• Regional Programs?
• Joint Religious Education?
• Regional Spiritual opportunities?
• Joint seasonal celebrations?
• Other?

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MANAGEMENT EFFICIENCIES

• Shared facilities
• management?
• Regional database?
• Joint operations?
• Shared facilities usage?
• Other?

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FAITH AND JUSTICE

• Identification of regional concerns?
• Organizing at regional level?
• Collaborative efforts?
• Education for Justice and Faith?
• Advocacy?
• Other?

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KEY QUESTIONS

• Are these areas the right ones?
• Are there additional areas we should address?
• 3. Will these focus areas lead us to be the
  Church we want to be in the future?

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A WAY TO PROCEED

• The Harford Catholic Assembly will be the primary
  consulting group for future direction and
  initiatives in each area of planning.

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• How it works
• The members of the HCA will commit to a process
  of
• Education
• Reflection
• Conversation leading to
• Action

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A WAY TO PROCEED - CONTINUED

• HCA members will read and reflect on preparation
  materials for each assembly.
• HCA members will engage their parish pastoral
  council on the topic for greater insight.
• HCA members will attend the assembly having read,
  reflected and discussed important information.
• HCA members will recommend one or more courses of
  action.

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A WAY TO PROCEED CONTINUED

• Regional Presbyterate (Pastors, PLD) will take
  the recommendations of HCA and make final
  decisions.
• Persons or groups will be asked to advance the
  directions that come from the HCA and Regional
  Presbyterate.

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HCA CONSULTATION SESSIONS

• May 5, 2008 Priest Allocation
• Sept. 9, 2008 Professional
• Ministry Development
• Nov. 18, 2008 Life-long
• Formation
• ? ?, 2009 Management
• Efficiencies
• ? ? 2009 Faith and Justice

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NEXT STEPS

• Approval of the five focus areas
• Approval of the HCA as primary consulting body.
• Approval of Regional Pastors and PLD as final
  clearing house for recommended actions.
• 4. Willingness of HCA members to remain through
  2009.

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THE TASK BEFORE US

• You have a prophetic vision which is altogether
  reliable. Keep your eyes fixed on it as you
  would on a lamp shining in a dark place until the
  first rays of dawn appear and the morning star
  rises in your hearts.
• 2 Peter 119

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