Catholic Trends
February Catholic Trends

Parishes and regions in the Diocese of New Ulm are reviewing and discussing the Plan for Parishes 2002 - 2007, already in its sixth draft. As this round of consultation nears completion and further revisions are made, it is becoming clearer that the key to understanding the Plan can be found in the "area parish or parishes" model.

What is an area parish or parishes? Like the Plan, the definition will be shaped by the people in the diocese. As presently understood, an "area parish or parishes" is made up of three or more parishes that are near to each other. There are two types of this model. An "area parish" (singular) is shepherded by a pastor who recruits and works with a staff to direct the area ministries. "Area parishes" (plural) are guided by a group or team of pastoral leaders, each appointed to a specific parish or mission, but exercising shared authority and collaborating on pastoral ministries. Both types call for greater levels of collaboration among pastoral leaders, parish staffs and parishioners. In the western part of the Diocese, five parishes in Swift County have functioned for over twenty years as the Catholic Area Parishes. Parishes in the New Ulm area have recently initiated a pilot process in the eastern part of the Diocese.

Why was this model proposed? The Diocese of New Ulm is made up of 15 counties. There are 82 parishes and missions, and over 70,000 Catholics. When the data for these parishes is analyzed, there are several interesting observations which can be made.

- More than one-half of the diocesan population is located in the 13 largest parishes. Their membership is greater than the combined membership of the other 69 parishes. - More than one-half of all parishes and missions (47) have fewer than 600 members. - More than one-quarter of all parishes and missions (24) have fewer than 300 members. - With the number of active priests in the year 2007 projected to be 44, this means that there would be a priest-to-people ratio of one priest for every 1600 people in the Diocese.

The area parish or parishes model seems to be able to serve two significant purposes. First, it will provide long-term stability for the projected demographic, parish membership, and priest personnel changes in the years ahead. The Diocese would be composed of 18 to 21 "area parish or parishes." Second, all parishes and missions in the Diocese will be able to share in a full-range of pastoral services and programs. Pastoral leaders and parishes will share resources, services, ministries and programs, to the extent that this is possible, for the benefit of the entire area.

How will this affect my parish or mission? Membership will remain with a particular parish or mission. People may attend Mass at any area location and even place their envelopes in one anotherıs collections. Each parish retains its legal corporation, corporate board, Finance Council and financial assets. There may be one pastor for a team of pastoral leaders who have been appointed by the Bishop to serve the parishes.

For the coordination of pastoral ministries, there will be one Area Pastoral Council and Area Committees. Each parish or mission will have representation on these bodies which should meet monthly. Many programs and activities of parishes will be coordinated and worked on collaboratively. There could be a common bulletin, common celebrations, and the sharing of resources and facilities. The costs of these pastoral services and programs will be shared through an assessment, based on a formula agreed upon by the partner parishes and shaped by the experience of areas already employing such assessments.

When could this take effect? Because the commitment to work together must be freely chosen, the Plan begins to take effect when parishes identify who they want to partner with and initiate a dialogue. Parishes in the Diocese of New Ulm have a long history of working together, whether in clusters or in cooperative parish projects. There have been comments suggesting that "this area model isnıt much different than what we are already doing." While the "area parish or parishes" model is consistent with the long history of clustering in the Diocese, it calls parishes and missions to greater levels of working together and a deeper appreciation of church membership.

The area parish or parishes model is rooted in a profound understanding and experience of what Church means. Jesus prayed in the Gospel of John "that all may be one." As Catholics, membership in the Church means belonging to a universal or worldwide community not just a particular site. All parishioners are charged with building up the Church. This is why Catholics are invited to join in the missionary activity throughout the world. But that sense of mission needs to be lived out right here in southwestern Minnesota. Parishes are not established to compete with one another but to serve. The process of changing minds and hearts to new understandings will take much longer than getting parish leadership to work closely together and modifying some organizational practices.

What are the next steps for the Plan? Regional pastoral leaders are meeting with Bishop Nienstedt in January and February to discuss their responses to the Plan and to make suggestions for "area parish or parishes" partners in the region. After this round of consultation is completed, further revisions will be made to the Plan and another round of consultations will be held with parish leadership representatives in May. Articles will continue to appear in future issues of The Prairie Catholic until a final Plan is recommended by the Priestsı Council and Diocesan Pastoral Council and approved by Bishop Nienstedt. The approved Plan will be published in its entirety in The Prairie Catholic.

Mark Kemmeter is Coordinator of Staff for the Diocese of New Ulm