CHOOSING A PREFERRED FUTURE
FOR THE CHURCH IN THE HARFORD REGION
Looking at Alternate Staffing Models in Light of Current Realities

• About two years ago the eleven Catholic parishes of the Harford Region began a process of pastoral planning. The ten pastors and one pastoral life director (Prince of Peace Parish in Edgewood does not have a resident priest) decided that it was important to plan, and to do so as an entire region.
• The reality we face is that there are no longer enough priests to staff every parish in the Archdiocese. About eight parishes have pastoral life directors instead of priest pastors.

• The ten pastors and pastoral life director (PLD) met for a day of reflection. We shared and prayed about:

                What has been our best experience of priesthood and ministry?
                When have we felt most engaged?
                How do we face growing demands and at times fewer resources?
                How do our faith and spirituality help?
                How do we see the current reality of the Church?
                What action do we need to take?

• This day helped us all form a stronger bond.

• The pastors, PLD, and the pastoral staffs of all eleven parishes now gathered. We shared and reflected on many of the issues and questions that had been discussed and prayed about at the meeting the previous June.  Our primary concern was:  What is the legacy we want to pass on to future generations?
• It was decided to form what we call the Harford Catholic Assembly.  In the Assembly each parish is represented by: the pastor or PLD, the pastoral staff and several lay representatives designated by the parish pastoral council. Also, this entire process is being facilitated by Sr. Connie Gilder, Assistant to Bishop Mitch Rozanski, Vicar for our area of the Archdiocese.

• The HCA, seventy members strong, had its first meeting.  We took some time identifying the strengths of all eleven parishes. It was clear each parish is strong in its Catholicism and in the ministry and services it provides.
• Each parish has unique gifts to offer.  However, we discovered eight strengths common to all; liturgical life and music ministry, welcoming communities, outreach programs, volunteerism, faith formation, leadership pride, ownership by parishioners, and financial generosity.

• The HCA considered some of the data supplied to the Archdiocese by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) back in 1999.  Eight years ago there were 201 active Archdiocesan Priests. The report projected this:  by 2010, 155 active priests, by 2015, only 143.
• To date, the CARA report has been amazingly accurate. At this time (2008), there are fewer than 170 active Archdiocesan priests.
• The Assembly also considered a report, approved by Cardinal Keeler in 2003, called "The Hope That Lies Before Us."  The report recommends strategies for meeting the shortage of priests, such as pastoral planning efforts, including our own efforts in the HCA. It also contains strategies for recruiting vocations to the priesthood.

• There are now fifteen active Archdiocesan priests in the Harford Region. It is projected that by 2010 there will be eleven, and by 2015, eight.
• The HCA looked at various models for staffing parishes. The point was to immerse each Assembly member in the importance of thinking seriously about how to make use of fewer priests.

• This was a kind of in-service meeting for the HCA led by Mr. James DeBoy, former Director of Religious Education for the Archdiocese. He focused on the proper understanding of lay eccesial (church) ministry and on the recruiting and training of such lay ministers, professional and volunteer.

• Our fifth meeting of the HCA was crucial and significant.  Five focus areas were selected for pastoral planning:  Priest Allocation, Professional Church Ministry, Life-Long Formation, Management Efficiencies, and Faith and Justice.
• The eleven parishes (HCA) will do joint planning in all five focus areas one at a time, beginning with Allocation of Priests. The pastors and PLD were asked to present a recommendation on this first area on May 5, the next meeting of the Assembly.

• In early March the pastors and PLD met and agreed upon a direction for staffing our parishes and allocating available priests. Each pastor or PLD was to present that proposal to our parish pastoral council in April, and bring that consensus of thinking to the HCA in May for acceptance and/or modification.
• Ultimately the recommendation will be forwarded to Bishop Rozanski and, finally, Archbishop O'Brien for consideration and approval.
• In future meetings the HCA will develop a direction in the remaining focus areas, one at a time.

• Read the parish bulletin
• Check the parish web site regularly to learn what's taking place.
• Listen for announcements and presentations at Sunday Mass.
• Watch for updates in the HCA.
• Call a parish pastoral council representative or your pastor or PLD to express your view.