The Diocesan Guidelines for membership of the Pastoral Planning Team:
This group is selected with significant functions that span at least two years. The team consists of leaders from the councils already functioning within the parish. These include the Pastoral Council, the Lay Trustees, the Finance Council, and other parishioners selected for their competence and ability to commit to the two-year process.
The Process allows for up to 20 to 25 members, but for ease in management and resources I relegated no more than 7 members from various parish committees. The following are the names of the people I chose and the criteria I used in order to make this a cohesive and effective group to work with:
Jim Pennestri – Former State Director for Aging in the state of New Jersey. Jim is well versed in demographics and new housing projects throughout the greater Pennsauken area and has expertise in Finance and economic shifts within the Camden and Cherry Hill boundaries. Jim has some great insights on Senior Citizen demographics and the paradigm shift in the empty-nester Syndrome.
George Tutwiler – Parish Business Administrator and Chief Finance Officer. George has been a parishioner at St. Stephen for well over 27 years and has been on every major parish committee and function. He knows the pulse of the parish and has many reliable resources outside the parish boundaries. George is well known for his expertise in facility condition and management as well as safety and security codes throughout the greater Pennsauken area.
Jack Heinenger – Jack has been a part of this process since the very beginning. He
co-facilitated our initial Parish Planning “town” meeting and is professionally known for his facilitating skills and counseling expertise. I needed someone on the board who was versed in communication skills and group integrity.
Denise Caruso – Denise is well known throughout the area for her pastoral professionalism in bereavement and keen business skills as well as her demographic and intercultural awareness. She has demonstrated a well-grounded sensitivity for the Hispanic and Asian Communities in the Greater Pennsauken area which will be instrumental in our analysis and focus of pastoral priorities and resources. Her expertise will become essential as we attempt to incorporate these communities into our pastoral environment as well as a regional bereavement facility and follow-up for our Senior citizens.
Rick Taylor – Rick has been a parishioner at St. Stephen for well over seven years and has been an effective leader both in parish committees and various leadership roles throughout the greater community of Pennsauken. Rick is also well versed in administrative positions within the public school system and effectively integrates various resources from within the public sector and how it affects our parochial
position within the larger community of Pennsauken.
Craig Otto – Craig has served as Chairperson St. Stephen Pastoral Council for three years and is a very active member of our parish both in ministry and in various
administrative positions. He also brings with him a valuable sensitivity to pastoral planning and theological insights which bears heavily on issues of justice and cultural diversity…essential to our “cluster model” of parish reconfiguration. He is also adept
at consolidating demographic statistics so the committee can easily interpret data which is fundamental to making recommendations to the Diocese.
Tery Mattera – Tery was chosen as Committee chairperson for our planning team
because of her keen organizational skills, facilitator at meetings, bridges the gap between school and parish and is heavily involved in both. Tery has been a parishioner for over 11 years. She brings with her knowledge and sensitivity of school and parish and is a team player and collaborator. A crucial element to this entire process is for the chairperson to be keenly aware of the talents each person brings to the table and utilizes them to their
fullest potential. Tery’s ongoing knowledge of both school and parish brings with it insights and recommendations essential to the process.
Over the past few months, St. Stephen’s pastoral planning committee has been working together to study demographics, Mass attendance, housing trends, financial reports and other matters for our parish and other parishes in the region to help us prepare for this exciting time of change in our Church.
Remember the rainy, miserable night in December 2005 that we came together to express our concerns to the Bishop. Many talked about the shortage of priests, the need for young adults to become more involved in the Church, more classes to explore our faith, the need for better liturgies and the involvement of lay personnel in our ministries. Bishop Galante heard us and realized some changes needed to take place in our parishes and schools so we could grow into a “more dynamic community of faith, hope and love.” Out of the many speak-up sessions he held, six pastoral priorities were identified.
In early January, we met with representatives from every parish in the diocese to hear Bishop Galante’s vision for the future and to begin the process of implementing the changes that will be needed to support the six pastoral priorities. Our pastoral planning team will be involved in a series of meetings between now and May 2007 at which time recommendations will be made to the diocese. We will be working together and with other teams to see how this change can be done.
In every respect, the committee will be as forthright as possible to keep everyone informed and inviting further consultation whenever possible. Check the bulletin board in the back of Church and watch for additional reporting in the weekly bulletin. (Keeping everyone informed is very important, especially in light of the fact that, unfortunately, the media has not been reporting the full or even accurate facts.)
Above all, please pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit throughout the entire process.