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One of the purposes of the area faith community model is to provide quality ministry throughout the diocese. Quality ministry can become a reality if parishes prayerfully and reflectively assess their ministries on a regular basis, determining: what is done well, what needs improvement, and what may need to be initiated or revised. These elements and ministries will serve as a guide and criteria for goal setting when beginning the area faith community process.

THE AREA FAITH Community MODEL

The new model will reconfigure many of the present parishes and small parishes into “area faith communities.”

An AREA FAITH COMMUNITY is comprised of two or more parishes and small parishes and entrusted to the care of pastoral leaders, involving or requiring increasing levels of collaboration.

There can be different ways of sharing authority and collaborating on ministries. For example, one can be shepherded by a pastor who works with a staff that directs the area faith community ministries. Another example is an area faith community guided by a group of pastoral leaders, each appointed to a specific parish but exercising shared authority and collaborating on pastoral ministries.

PROFILE OF THE AREA FAITH COMMUNITY

1. Membership: Members of each faith community remain members of one of the collaborating parishes or small parishes where they are registered. They may attend Mass at any parish and make their envelope contributions in any church’s collection.

2. Pastoral Leadership: There may be one pastor or a team of pastoral leaders who have been appointed by the bishop.

3. Civil Corporation: Each parish, small parish or oratory retains its separate civil corporation. All financial assets and liabilities remain separate. They are administered by the pastor/pastoral administrator.

4. Trustees and Corporate Board: Each parish or small parish has its own trustees and corporate board made up of the Bishop, Vicar General, Pastor/Pastoral Administrator and the two lay trustees.

5. Parish Administrative Council: Each parish or small parish has an Administrative Council, understood in church law as the Finance Council. The Administrative Council is accountable to and advisory to the pastor/pastoral administrator. The Administrative Council will meet regularly (see Administrative Council Guidelines on pp. 32 and 33).

6. Area Pastoral Council: Pastoral planning for area ministries will be conducted collaboratively by the Area Pastoral Council. The Council should consist of the area pastoral leaders and representatives from each of the parishes or small parishes. The Area Pastoral Council will meet regularly (see Area Pastoral Council Guidelines on page 28 and following).

7. Proportionate Assessment: The Area Pastoral Council will determine a proportionate assessment for each parish or small parish to provide revenues for shared expenses such as personnel, ministries, programs and resources which are necessary for effective pastoral ministry in the area (see Area Assessment Guidelines on page 27).

8. Area Committees: Committees of the Area Pastoral Council report to that group. They should be comprised of representatives from each parish or small parish. The committees will meet regularly (see Area Pastoral Council Committees on page 31 and following).

9. Cemeteries: Parish or small parish cemetery committees report to the respective Administrative Council. (For guidelines on cemeteries in oratories, see page 20.)

10. Other Parish Organizations: Organizations such as the Council of Catholic Women should determine whether to meet individually or as an area group.

11. Sunday Liturgies: The pastor/pastoral leaders will determine the daily, weekly and seasonal Sunday liturgy schedules in consultation with the Area Worship Committee and the Area Pastoral Council.

12. Shared Liturgical Celebrations: If possible, Holy Days, the Triduum, and other special celebrations and rituals should be held at a common location or locations. Provided that there is adequate seating capacity, these celebrations may be rotated.

13. Area Faith Community Bulletin: The area fluith community is encouraged to publish a common bulletin. Individual parish or small parish information or flyers can be added or inserted.

14. Name of Area Faith Community: A name for the area faith community may be considered and determined in consultation with the Bishop. The name may be considered at the conclusion of the area faith community planning process, usually completed after two years, and after reviewing the suggestions for names provided by the Committee on Parishes.

15. Other Ministerial Personnel: Any new or existing staff positions, such as Director of Religious Education, Youth Minister, Business Manager, etc., should be evaluated to determine how these specialized ministers may become involved in the area ministries.

16. Ministries: Each area faith community should assess how the Mission of the diocesan Church is being witnessed to and whether a full range of quality ministerial activity is available to the area. The diocesan mission statement, diocesan priorities and goals, and the “Ministries” section in this Plan (pages 9 and 10) should provide the basis for this assessment.

17. Change of Classification or Allocation: Any change of classification or allocation of pastoral leaders will be determined by the bishop in consultation with pastoral leaders and the Committee on Parishes.

Bringing parishes together in the four essential elements:

Word, Worship, Service, and Stewardship