Holy Family News

The official assignment of Fr. Stiles into retirement and me into pastoring three churches came a little earlier than we expected. It arrived in time for the entire picnic season of THE cluster.
During that time, the cluster staff has met several times; job descriptions have been reworked; and office space has been designated. Holy Family will be site of our joint offices, with limited pastoral and administrative presence at St. Therese and St. Elizabeth. The age of the buildings and their construction makes Holy Family the natural choice.
We are currently awaiting a new voice-data system for the connection of our sites within one framework. Along with that upgrade, new computers for all departments will soon be coming. I hope that there is enough spare office equipment and furniture to defray the cost of buying new. Each piece that is available will be noted as being on long-term loan to the cluster offices. As I mentioned last week in church, we were fortunate to get a startup grant from the Archdiocesan to cover these costs.
In addition to the staff meetings, we have held one tri-parish council / leadership meeting to surface a schedule both for individual councils to meet and for us to meet quarterly with all three groups. On Monday, August 17, those involved in fund-raising efforts at each parish met to set up schedules that will allow us to avoid unnecessary conflicts in dates for our events. Our picnic schedules already take into account each other’s event. Some competition is inevitable: there are only so many Fridays in Lent for fish fries and each parish has established their clientele (many of whom make the circuit from one place to another throughout Lent).
As a consequence of the church’s needed oversight for the protection of children, I have been reviewing the compliance records of each parish, noting that there is some catching up to do for everyone’s protection, both adult volunteers and children. A letter will be going out to all who are missing either attendance at the Safe Child workshop or other parts in the Archdiocesan policy.
I have begun recruiting within each parish for volunteers to serve on the finance council of that parish. Finance councils are mandated by church law, while pastoral councils are encouraged.
I have become aware of some of the implications of the job of pastoring in this place at this time. I am less than five years away from retirement and, to be honest, I did not have to fight off competition to get this job. One of our key goals has to be making each parish grow in stewardship and in participation in the life of the church, the Eucharist. Second to this, and a consequence of this, is the goal of making these clustered parishes an attractive choice for the next pastor. As we grow in attendance, participation, and support, I am convinced that you and I together can do this. And I know with prayer and sacrifice and good will we will do this.

2009 Golf Scramble