Envisioning Ministry for the Future

What is meant by "Envisioning Ministry for the Future"? Bishop Wuerl in his pastoral letter of September 3, 2004 has called each of the 215 parishes in the diocese to "envision ministry for the future." (To view this letter in its entirety, click here.) The first step in responding to the bishop's call involves a diocesan-wide, parish-based consultation. This consultation asks parishes to consider how ministry will be provided with fewer priests.

How did this idea on envisioning ministry originate? The bishop's call came from the requests of pastors at deanery meetings as well as studies that show the declining number of priests available for parish ministry in the future.

What is the goal of the consultation for envisioning ministry? The goal is to make people aware of the need to provide pastoral care in perhaps new and different ways in light of the declining number of priests available for parish ministry. The consultation invites parishes to consider ways to increase participation and collaboration among the faithful and to involve neighboring parishes in a common effort to provide pastoral services. The consulation should result in a commitment to a specific plan of pastoral action in response to the challenges created by the declining number of priests.

Through the Envisioning Ministry process begun in 2004, the parishes and deaneries across the Diocese of Pittsburgh have been actively working to find ways to meet pastoral needs with fewer priests. One option that has been approved for a pilot program is the Parish Life Collaborator. The following is a brief definition of a Parish Life Collaborator.

What is a Parish Life Collaborator?
A Parish Life Collaborator is a deacon or lay ecclesial minister appointed by the diocesan bishop to participate in the pastoral care of the parish. The Code of Canon Law permits such an appointment when a diocesan bishop does not have sufficient priests to provide a pastor or an administrator for every parish. Parish Life Collaborators are a response to an extraordinary and specific need as determined by a diocesan bishop. If that need changes, a diocese will no longer include this ministry.

Are Parish Life Collaborators new in the life of the church?
The 1983 Code of Canon Law provided for the position of Parish Life Collaborator. Parish Life Collaborators have been functioning in the United States and in other countries around the world. It is estimated that there are about 700 Parish Life Collaborators working in parishes in the United States.

Why is the Diocese of Pittsburgh initiating this ministry?
Our local church has been experiencing a steady decline in the number of active priests available for parish ministry. Two dozen priests presently serve as pastors for two or more parishes. Within the next five years the number of active priests will be less than the number of parishes in our diocese. The ministry of the Parish Life Collaborator enables the diocesan bishop to provide pastoral care for all the faithful.

Can anyone be a Parish Life Collaborator?
No, there are particular criteria which must be met. Parish Life Collaborators must be practicing Catholics of high moral repute, who have proven pastoral and administrative skills demonstrated in at least five years of pastoral experience working in the Catholic Church. They must also have a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) or a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in theology, or its equivalent, and be willing to accept the authority of a diocesan bishop. Parish Life Collaborators must maintain the highest standards in personal, theological and professional competencies required by the Church.

What does a Parish Life Collaborator do?
A Parish Life Collaborator oversees the overall day-to-day pastoral care and administration of the parish. This includes oversight of the implementation of religious education in the parish and ensures that sacramental catechesis and evangelization efforts are appropriately coordinated. The Parish Life Collaborator plans and coordinates liturgical celebrations throughout the church year, and also oversees the administration of the parish, including everything from the buildings and budget, to parish personnel and staffing. The Parish Life Collaborator will carry out all administrative functions in the parish necessary for its effective running.

What is a Priest Director?
A Priest Director is appointed by the diocesan bishop to work with the Parish Life Collaborator. The Priest Director ensures the authentic teaching of the Faith, the pastoral care of souls, and that sacramental ministry reserved only to a priest is provided for the faithful. The Priest Director may be any priest who possesses the faculties of the diocese. While the Parish Life Collaborator is assigned by the bishop to be the administrative leader in the parish, The Parish Life Collaborator must keep the Priest Director fully informed about all activities and concerns in the parish.

Who provides for sacramental ministry in a parish led by a Parish Life Collaborator?
The Parish Life Collaborator will work closely with the Clergy Office and the local cluster to ensure that priests are regularly available for the celebration of Mass and the sacraments. Ordinarily one priest will regularly provide sacramental ministry so as to build fraternal bonds with the people.

Will the Parish Life collaborator only be assigned to minister in a small or rural parish?
The Parish Life Collaborator participates in the pastoral care of souls and can be assigned to any parish, large or small, urban, suburban or rural, depending on the needs of the local church.

Does the Parish Life Collaborator receive a salary?
Yes. The parish to which the Parish Life Collaborator is assigned is responsible for all salary and benefits.

The Pastors and parish representatives from the neighboring parishes "cluster" of St. Paul Cathedral, St. Rosalia, St. Stephen, St. Regis, and the Latino Community met on February 10 and February 24, 2005 to address the impact that the declining number of priests will have on pastoral ministry.

The "Envisioning Ministry" process was begun by Bishop Wuerl through his pastoral letter of September 3, 2004 in which he states: "It is necessary to discuss how qualified and effective pastoral ministry can continue... with fewer priests today than we had two decades ago and, therefore with greater demands and responsibility placed on them." Parishes throughout the Diocese have met to consider their individual issues and possible plans to address this challenge.

The recommendations from each of our parish level discussions were shared at these "cluster" meetings to consider ways that our neighboring parishes might work together in providing quality ministry with fewer priests available to each parish. Our cluster of parishes agreed on several possible actions. They include:

• Working together to share or combine programs and ministries such as youth ministry, sacramental preparation, and educational formation programs;
• Planning for Mass scheduling across the worship sites within the cluster;
• Planning for an increased use of qualified laypersons in the administrative responsibilities of the parishes, and
• Pursuing additional deacons or pastoral associates to support our cluster parishes.

The discussions emphasized that the unique aspects of each parish population, such as our schools, Latino community, university students, and elderly members must continue to be recognized and addressed. In addition to the options listed here, we have encouraged the Diocese to make parish ministry the priority when assigning available priests. We also asked that other options for ministry, that may be available in the future, be open for exploration.

The cluster representatives stressed the importance of continuing our efforts to inform and involve all members of our parish communities in understanding and addressing the changes that will come about throughout the Diocese as fewer priests are available.

These recommendations will be combined with the other cluster reports representing the 17 parishes in our deanery and forwarded to the Diocese in early March. We will continue to keep you informed about this process through the bulletin and other special events.