Getting Closer to Phase 1

During Phase 0, the time before our Families of Parishes are implemented on July 1, we have been encouraged to pray, learn, and prepare. Change is rarely easy, and the transitions we anticipate with the implementation of the Families of Parishes are no exception. We will look back at where our parishes have been and anticipate the newness of life and faith that is possible in the future; we may grieve as we let go of familiar routines and find hope in joining with others who share our Catholic faith. It is not only in Phase 0 that we should pray, learn, and prepare, however. Let us adopt these actions throughout the coming months and years as we form faith communities that are truly beacons of light.

The photo above is from the recent Lenten retreat days for parish leaders. Thank you to all who worked to coordinate the days and to all who attended.

One of the upcoming changes everyone is talking about is the transition of pastors on July 1. Some pastors will remain in the parish(es) they have led, most with new parishes coming together as a Family. Other pastors will be moving to new areas in the Archdiocese. New resources are now ready to support you in this time of pastor transition, including:

A guide for the installation of a new pastor
A model for developing shared expense agreements
Parish information forms for sharing essential information

Most people actually want change, especially if it’s an outcome they desire. But few people enjoy the process of making that change. Managing transition is difficult under the best of circumstances, and calls for – among other gifts – leadership. Parish leaders are called to help our Families of Parishes during the upcoming pastoral planning process, beginning with the transition surrounding a new pastor.

Newly available on the Phase 0 website is also a great video on managing transition by Pat Lencioni, a nationally recognized expert on leading organizational change, and a key member of the Amazing Parish movement. Now that spring is here, set aside a few minutes to check out this video and reflect upon how we can all best manage transition. Let’s pray together for the grace of the Holy Spirit – the gift of the Risen Christ – to lead us in building Families of Parishes truly ready for mission, not just maintenance.

As the two parishes of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and Sts. Peter and Paul, completed our final merger into Our Lady of the Valley last July, I would like to share some thoughts on showing ‘hospitality’ towards each other during the process. First, some history. If we want to go waaay back, Sts. Peter and Paul was established as the "German Church" and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart was the "Irish Church" in the mid-1800’s. And the two DID NOT mix!    Not for 150 years. Our sports teams were arch-rivals, city councilmen were on opposite sides of debates, and heaven forbid if young love sprouted between an Irish Catholic and a German!

Then, in 2010 we began sharing a pastor. Very slowly, the people of each parish began to tolerate the others being around.   But, if you went to the opposite church for Mass on a Sunday, you better be darn sure your envelope was being put in right basket!

Now, here we are. One parish, one big happy family… right? Not yet. We are getting there, and to be honest there have been quite a few bumps in the road, lots of growing pains, and I fear the grief is just on the horizon as the final Mass at the OLSH campus happens in mid-May.   But we have worked hard to get to where we are. Eighteen months before the merger, a Futures Committee was established comprised of 6 members of each parish. From that committee came twelve ‘merger subcommittees’, everything from History/Archiving, to Communications, to Technology. The work these committees did over the 18 months was imperative to the success of the merger, but something even more important happened. People got to know one another. We talked about the sense of loss that we were feeling, but we also brainstormed what it would be like to build a brand-new parish from the ground up! The sense of excitement grew stronger than the sense of loss. Everyone from teens to our homebound gave input as to what they dreamt a new Catholic parish could be, and should be.

Getting ready to write this article, I had to do some asking around because quite honestly, all I saw most days were the ‘bumps’, not the hospitality. Sally Dietrich, a member of OLSH since 1975 and part-time staff member, told me this. "Working on the subcommittee really helped me get to know some people from SsPP. As I reflected on ‘losing’ my parish, I realized it was the community that I was going to miss the most. Now, when I go to Mass I see new faces and realize that our community is just getting bigger."

On July 1st, the day we became "Our Lady of the Valley," we had an evening Mass followed by a wine and cheese reception. There were hugs and a few tears, but mostly there were smiles as we realized the importance of the moment. I don’t know that ‘hospitality’ is the right word, or if that’s what’s needed.    Hospitality infers that there is a host and a guest, or a welcomer and a stranger. It’s not like the parishioners of one parish said, ‘move over, make room for the new people!’.   I think it’s kindness. We need to show kindness. The growing pains will be real, after all, we ARE growing! Whether our church building stays open, or we go a mile down the road, the community will be the same – just broader. Everyone will share in the loss and the grief. Our God will be the same God. Be kind to one another.

Join other parish leaders – clergy and staff – to get warmed up for pastoral planning. We’ll check in on how Phase 0 is going, provide an orientation to the Pastoral Planning Pathway and the online platform for planning resources, and make sure key leaders are up to speed before Phase 1. We’ll also focus on the importance of good leadership in the pastoral planning process and developing essential leadership skills. It will also be a great opportunity to meet parish leaders from other Families.