Columns
The Diocese of Camden has embarked on a spiritual journey unmatched in U.S. history. From the Diocesan “Speak Up” sessions with the bishop and his staff, to regional, deanery and diocesan meetings, the People of God in South Jersey had the opportunity to be involved in this historical process. How refreshing and genuine! Was the process perfect? No. Is the process essential and necessary? Absolutely, yes.
A good shepherd prepares his sheep for what is coming. He reads the portents and acts upon them deliberately and confidently, trusting in God’s grace to guide him. In his human weakness, he will make mistakes, but he will learn from them to teach again, renewed and holy.
Within our diocese, these portents have been identified, and with God’s help, we have arrived at a prayerful plan of action. Due to the ebb and flow of population densities, numerous small parishes too close together to grow, and our failure to provide future priestly vocations, we are compelled to restructure.
1. People move, and as a result the parishes must change.
2. The Diocesan Priest Personnel Board must work with the resources that presently exist, and knowing the number of priests available in the years to come, needs to prepare now.
3. Priestly Vocations: Have we done enough to foster vocations to the priesthood? That is the question of the century. We must put aside our selfishness and illuminate our young men to the path of service to Christ.
Some people, even some Catholics, think that many priests have received “pink slips.” How untrue. All priests will remain priests and will minister as priests. Some may not remain administrators, but that is a good thing. Some men are excellent priests but poor administrators; not every priest is called to be an administrator.
Lay ministry does not mean the replacement of priests and deacons. It means turning over all the unnecessary work pastors and administrators are doing and allowing clerics to be clerics. Lay ministry will enable all clerics to serve the People of God in the way they were ordained to do, and the laity assume their rightful place in other aspects of parish life. “No one puts new wine in old wineskins….” Lay ministry does not mean we diminish the role of holy orders but we focus on its major calling.
I do see one drawback to this restructuring, and that is the fact that we are not restructuring our mindset. Our concept of bishop, priest and deacon is limited to an outdated 1950 “Going My Way” view, putting us in time warp. The clergy has always and will always rely on the time, talent and treasure of the laity. We must let clerics do what clerics should do, administer the sacraments; and let lay leaders “administrate” our parishes.
Some people, even some Catholics, are fearful of mega-churches. But, when we see our brothers and sisters of other Christian denominations celebrate “amass” in prayer and worship and yet maintain a close knit community, then our fear should go by the wayside. The problem with many Catholics is that they have become very good functionaries. They “do” the right thing and don’t want to be bother “being” good people. They run out of church at Communion time and rush to get to their cars so they can cut out early, or they leave at the very last moment, and then our parking lots become worse than gladiator movies. Most Catholics want to do their own thing and be left alone (just give me what I want, especially a sacrament, then leave me alone). Most Catholics are very poor givers to the parish, diocese and church, both financially and ministerially. This phenomenon has been going on long before the abuse scandal and long before Bishop Galante’s arrival. They have now become great excuses — the scapegoats, if you will.
As the People of God living in the Diocese of Camden, we must ask ourselves some serious questions and be honest with the responses. Can we continue to stretch our clergy’s work load beyond human limits? Can we restructure parishes to empower lay leaders to assist clerics in their ministry? Can we be active and positive in our understanding of what must happen, or remain selfish and try to keep the “old wine” and not have any wine skins to put it in? In the last three months, throughout the country, many dioceses have been doing the same thing. Last week one diocese announced the closing of 14 parishes and the merging of two parishes. Under the plan of the Diocese of Camden, no parishes will close; they will stand alone, merge or cluster. Merging and clustering parishes can be a positive thing, sharing resources and personnel to better serve our people. This is a great reason to restructure, and to do it now while we have the personnel to do it the right way.
Obviously, I believe strongly in this restructuring. This is an exciting time in our church. I hope and pray that each Catholic will be the best Catholic that he or she can be — serving God and our neighbor.
Father Joseph R. Ferrara is pastor, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Parish, Berlin.
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