Evaluation of Cluster Model

March 4, 2020
 
Dear Parishioners:
 
When Bishop Malone promulgated the document, Telling Anew the Story of Jesus, in response to the recommendations by the Evangelization Task Force, it included four basic cluster models for consideration. After a prayerful collaborative planning process that was to involve parishioners, staff, pastoral councils, pastors and the diocese, each cluster was to recommend which administrative model was preferred for structuring itself.
 
The initial recommendation for our cluster was to maintain separate canonical parishes with a centralized Team and Councils.  This model was adjusted in 2013 with the merger of St. John the Evangelist and Holy Cross parishes.  Recognizing much has changed between the adoption of the original model, the adjusted model in 2013 and the present, last year the Finance Councils began asking questions if the initial model was still the best one to carry out the mission of evangelization in our cluster.  After several joint meetings with the three Finance Councils that included consultations with representatives from two other clusters, the Finance Councils recommended that the discussion to review the model for the cluster continue.
 
Earlier this year, the Pastoral Council met with the three Finance Councils to continue the discussion.  Subsequent to that meeting, the Pastoral Council met three additional times. Last Sunday the Pastoral Council recommended that we become one canonical parish with three churches (worship sites).
 
Thus, after full and extensive consultation with all three Finance Councils, the Pastoral Council and Father John Skehan, the next step in the process is to present this model to you for any clarifications and questions.  Next Sunday, March 15, there will be information sessions at each church facilitated by Father Skehan who served as Director of the Office of Parish Planning, Chair of the Evangelization Task Force and who personally experienced this process in a previous assignment.  The times and places of the information sessions are:
 
            2:00 pm at St. Bartholomew
            4:00 pm at St. Maximilian Kolbe
            6:00 pm at St. John/Holy Cross
 
You may attend any of the three information sessions. Pick a time that fits your schedule.  If you have never read the document, Telling Anew the Story of Jesus, it may be helpful for you to read it before the information sessions on Sunday.  The document can be found at portlanddiocese.org/telling-anew-the-story-of-jesus
 
Sincerely,
Msgr. Paul F. Stefanko