Up to the House of the Lord

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March 2011

 

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 Living And Proclaiming the Good News:

A Pastoral Plan for the Catholic Diocese of Memphis in Tennessee

 

C. “Communal witness to the gospel ”

“I am the vine, you are the branches.  Whoever remains in me a I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.”

John 15:5

 

Vision Statement: Though we represent a relatively small percentage of the population of West Tennessee, or Mission Statement calls upon the Catholic Church to impact our society through communal witness to the gospel.  In the Diocese of Memphis in Tennessee, our most visible witness can be found in the parishes and other institutions - which represent the sacrifices of generations of the faithful-have a long and rich history, longer than that of the diocese itself.  Yet our witness is not to the past but to the future.  We must consider whether the existing parishes and institutions continue to effectively serve the needs of the diocese or whether there are opportunities for restructuring to make our witness more effective.  Toward that end, each parish and ministry of the diocese must conduct its own evaluation, looking specifically at areas where cooperation with others is possible, and developing its own pastoral plan for ministry in the future. We must be committed to being  examples of stewardship and treat with dignity all employees, volunteers, parishioners and those whom we serve.  To the representatives have hurt in the past, and ensure that none are harmed in the future.  In all thins, Jesus Christ must be our center and our source.

 

Objective C1: Each department and ministry of the diocese and each parish and mission will develop one, three and five year pastoral plans in accordance with the guidelines established by the bishop’s Pastoral Planning Committee.  To assist parishes in this process, the Diocese will publish standards for measuring parish life and viability. 

 

Objective C2: Each parish will implement the diocesan stewardship model- “Stewardship: Away of Life.”

 

Objective C3: The Diocese will be a model of stewardship, improving its management and efficiency.  In particular, the Diocese will implement a performance appraisal system for employees, will conduct a comprehensive review of its salary and benefit structure, and will establish a central procurement department by December 31, 2011.  The diocese commits to prudent management of resources by establishing the goal of total dept reduction of 25% by June 30, 2014, and an additional 15% by June 30, 2016.

 

Objective C4: The Diocese will review, up-date and re-issue policies regarding Parish Finance Councils, and Parish Pastoral Councils and thereafter each parish will establish and operate both a Finance Council and a Pastoral Council in accordance with those policies.

 

Objective C5: The Diocese will establish uniform procedures for parishes, ministries and other institutions to request diocesan financial subsidies on an annual basis.  “Automatic” subsidies-such as the high school assessment-will be discontinues

 

(third in a series)

 

Living And Proclaiming the Good News:

A Pastoral Plan for the Catholic Diocese of Memphis in Tennessee

 

D. “Charity and service to all ”

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me…Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”

Matthew 25: 35-36, 40

 

Vision Statement: Our Mission Statement calls the people of the Diocese of Memphis in Tennessee to live and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ through charity and service to all.  We live out this mission through a variety of social ministries and programs undertaken directly by the diocese, through the efforts of affiliated Catholic groups, and through many active programs in our parishes. Our strategic initiative calls upon all Catholics in the Diocese of Memphis to collaborate with governmental programs, private foundations, ecumenical charitable organizations and with one another to broaden the scope of our services to those in need and to involve more and more of our people in these efforts.  In particular, our outreach must extend beyond midtown Memphis to each and every corner of the diocese, to families, both large and small.  Our witness is needed among the poor, among the homeless, among immigrant populations (documented and undocumented, who are all God’s children), among those struggling with physical and emotional difficulties, among those whose right-to-life is challenged by our society, and among those who mourn the loss of loved ones (especially those who are laid to rest in Catholic cemeteries).  We accomplish this mission by being creative and effective stewards of our resources so as to positively impact our entire community-adhering to own our direct every charitable program ourselves.

 

Objective D1: Catholic Charities of West Tennessee, Inc., the parishes and missions of the Diocese, and the various Catholic organizations, entities and groups involved with charitable endeavors will collaborate to broaden the charitable services offered by the Catholic Church to very corner of the Diocese, to every worshipping community, and to every ethnic and language group.

 

Objective D2: The Diocese will work to increase the visibility and diversity of its charitable endeavors, especially those of Catholic charities of West Tennessee, Inc., so as to increase the number of volunteers, broaden the base of financial support, explore partnerships with non-Catholic charitable organizations, and-most importantly-to be of better service to those in need.

 

Objective D3: The Diocese will explore new and creative ways to influence our society on the central issue of the dignity of the human person and the sanctity of every human life.  Ever program of the Diocese will affirm human dignity and the Diocese must direct the resources necessary to continue its witness on behalf of those most vulnerable.

 

Objective D4: The Diocese will support those who are grieving, will encourage the faithful to entrust the remains of their love ones to Catholic cemeteries, and will work to ensure the long-term financial viability of our cemeteries.

 

 

This week I am returning to my regular column format after four weeks presenting the new Pastoral Plan for the Diocese of Memphis.  It is important this plan becomes familiar to all members of the Diocese.  It is our future as the local church.  In the months ahead our parish Pastoral Council will review the document for its application at St. Augustine.  If you would like a copy of the whole plan contact the parish office.

*****

Last Friday morning (3/11) our parish facility was the victim of vandalism and theft. Some as yet unknown person(s) tore apart the two air-conditioning units for the gym and one for the school and stole the motors.  The damage was discovered when our maintenance workers came in that morning.  The police were called and a crime investigation was conducted.  The investigating officer told us there have been numerous such incidents at churches in the area in the past few months.  The motors are stripped for the copper.  So for about $60-70 worth of copper pieces of equipment worth several thousand dollars each were destroyed.  Our property insurance will cover the replacement costs after the amount of the deductible.  The new units will be encased in wrought iron grating and connected to the security alarm system.

 

We will continue to take all reasonable steps to protect our property and especially our members and guests.  At the same time we must recognize we are located in a poor and crime-marked neighborhood.  We cannot wall ourselves off from that reality.  Rather, these incidents can be a challenge for St. Augustine to be involved, with other churches and organizations, in much needed efforts to improve the neighborhood.  That is a conversation we need to start.

*****

By now many of you have received a letter from Bishop Steib regarding the 2011 Bishop’s Annual Appeal.  He outlines the many ministries of the Diocese supported by the Appeal.  We are part of a larger Church doing some wonderful things in west Tennessee.  The commitment weekend will be April 2-3.

 

Start reflecting now how you cannot be less than generous to this appeal.

 

Meanwhile, have a wonderful and blessed week.

 

Fr. Bob

 

Peace,

March 20th

 

Last Sunday I accompanied the Youth Group to a viewing of the film The Grace Card.  This film was inspired and written in Memphis and then filmed here.  So you see many familiar scenes around town and a few in our group recognized neighbors or co-workers as extras in the film. Afterwards we enjoyed pizza and discussed some of the themes in this spiritual/religious drama.  One of the two lead characters is a man who has suffered a tragic hurt years earlier but has been unable to forgive the offender.  This inability to forgive makes him a bitter and angry man who negatively affects all around him --- relationship with his family, co-workers, job performance. He is a man angry at life and increasingly in his own prison of isolation until the grace of forgiveness breaks in and sets him free.  Is there a hurt I still need to forgive, or forgive completely, so I can be free of negativity, bitterness, or anger in my life?

 

The gospel this Sunday is the Woman at the Well.  She too has a past of hurting herself by entering into repeated bad relationships.  She cannot forgive herself so her life continues to be a vain search for truth and meaning – the water of the well is the symbol of this.  Her encounter with Jesus finally enables her to face up to her past, forgive herself, and start a new life.  What part of my sinful past do I need to admit and forgive myself for so I can move forward?

 

At the school mass on Wednesday I discussed with the children how sometimes it is very hard to forgive someone who has hurt us deeply.  Then we looked at the cross and saw Jesus, who did nothing wrong in his life, yet is hurt by all the sins of humanity. But, starting with the good thief, Jesus forgives all.  With Jesus’ forgiveness of our wrongs we can start to forgive those who have wronged us.  What is the hardest wrong Jesus has already forgiven me?  What is the hardest wrong I still need to forgive?

 

Forgiveness is the first part of reconciliation with another person.  However, sometimes it is not possible to reconcile with another person.  The person has died or having contact with the person will make the situation worse for the two primary parties or innocent third parties.

 

But we still must forgive and be open to reconciliation if possible in the future.  After I have forgiven do I ask God for the grace of reconciliation?

 

Some thoughts on forgiveness in this season of Lent.

 

Fr. Bob

 

Peace,

March 27th