Why I would get fired in the parish of the future
I’d give the pastor more time off. Not exactly vacation days, but days away. At least two contiguous days (in addition to his day off) to work on his homily, the question of the week, and the pastor’s letter in the bulletin.
I’d ask the director of religious education and the school principal to work a lot more. Catechesis would happen year-round in the parish and school community. Instead of a week or two of “down time,” Christmas and Easter would be the busiest times of the year for catechetical ministers.
I’d change the receptionist’s schedule. Sunday would be a work day, and she’d be available to answer the phone, welcome new parishioner sign-ups, and direct people to the activities taking place on the parish campus. She would also be on hand for major liturgies in the parish, even if they happen at night or on the weekend. I’d also move her office. At least during the liturgies, the “front desk” would be right inside the main doors of the church.
I’d make the ushers networkers instead of seat-finders. Going to church on Sunday would be less like going to a play and more like a huge family reunion. No one seats you at a family reunion. Everyone greets you and introduces you to folks you haven’t met yet.
I’d stop charging for sacraments. I understand the budget implications. I understand many folks “use” the parish services without contributing on Sunday. But I don’t understand how we can say sacraments are a free gift of grace, and it will cost you $60 to have your baby baptized or $200 to get married.
I would make the director of the catechumenate the highest paid member of the staff. I’d do a national search and find the very best leader available. She would hire and manage the director of religious education, the school principal, and the director of liturgy. All catechetical and liturgical ministries of the parish would be oriented toward evangelization and catechesis.
I would end second collections, including those for the annual contribution to the diocesan structures. I would work with the parish council to devise a stewardship plan that includes all the charitable contributions to needs outside the parish.
I would ask everyone—pastor, staff, volunteer ministers, catechumens, the parish as a whole—to each have a set of goals for their ministry. I would ask them to devise a method for reaching their goals and a method for talking to each other about their progress on their goals.
I told you I’d get fired. Or maybe never hired in the first place. This vision of parish is, perhaps, too idealistic. Maybe it’s too threatening to some of the parish “pillars.” It could be too edgy for some communities.
It probably wouldn’t work in your parish because of your unique circumstances. It might not work in the neighboring parish either. The pastor probably would never go for it, not to mention the bishop. And who is going to fund all these grand ideas?
I guess that’s all true. But before I’m shown the door, I have to tell you the first thing I would implement in any given parish. I would declare a permanent, parish-wide ban on the sentence, “We’ve never done it that way before.” I would replace it with this sentence, which would be memorized by every child, confirmation candidate, and catechumen in the parish: “For human beings it is impossible, but not for god. All things are possible for God” (Mk 10:27).
[To read a spirited(!) reply to this post, click here.]Labels: Editor Notes, TodaysParishMinister
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8 posted by Ideas for the Whole Community at 11:50 AM
8 Comments:
(This reply came by e-mail from Sister Charlene Ozanick.)
Dear Mr. Wagner,
I read your editorial and if you had intended this to be a “tongue-in-cheek” article, you were very successful. You got my attention!
However, if this was a serious article. I believe your experience is woefully inadequate to even make such suggestions.
Firstly, I do agree with you about “charging for sacraments.” This can often be a scandal to people—and it is unjust to say the least. And I do agree with you about the second collection. Parishioners are numb with double collections already—your suggestion here is excellent.
Ushers—don’t you know that they all go to the hidden “Ushers’ school?” Networkers—go ahead, Mr. Wagner—I would like to see you try that with ushers at your parish. We have “Greeters” who do what you are asking for. Ushers are there to
Help late comers to find a seat—so that they can collect themselves before Liturgy begins. We don’t have the Word of God being processed formally down the back-yard during family reunions! There is a difference. And with the Holy Father’s new directives, Liturgy will be even more formal—not the informality of a family reunion!
Receptionists working all those hours—good luck in hiring anybody with such a schedule as you are proposing.
Besides, a lot of those activities that you suggest are handled on parish web sites, over e-mail, and over the phone, during the week. They are at my parish—if folks want to get a hold of us—they can and do.
“Receptionists’ desk inside the vestibule of the church on Sundays”—yeah, right!
If people are dealing with some sensitive business—they don’t want their “business” in such a public place as the vestibule of the church—would you like that?
You stated that you would ask the director of religious education and the school principal to work a lot more, “instead of a week or two of “down time,” Christmas and Easter would be the busiest time of the year for catechetical ministers.” How much more busyness can humans possibly handle? Are YOU working at Twenty-third Publications during the holiday/holy days of Christmas and Easter? What about your family and your time with them? Or don’t they matter? Just “work.”
Parish personnel have lives just as you do. And so do the parishioners! This is time to be
with family—not attending another scheduled event—in already over-loaded holy seasons.
But, my next question to you is about school principals. Have you ever shadowed a Catholic school principal for even one week? Have you shadowed a Catholic school principal in a regional Catholic school setting? Or a Catholic high school principal?
Are you aware of how hard, hard, hard, they already work? Do you even have a clue? Are you aware that certification to be a Principal is acquired from the state—and secular subjects are also taught in schools? And that principals’ responsibilities extend
far, far beyond what a director of the catechumenate could possibly handle. Are you aware that in some dioceses the teachers are unionized?
Would a Director of the Catechumenate deal with school boards, PTA’s, class supervision, dealing with publicity and media,
overseeing the purchase of text books, etc.
Are you aware that Catholic school principals are also responsible for heading fund-raising?
And that task along goes far beyond what school boards, pastoral councils (even regional ones) are able to handle? And that’s just for starters!
And Directors of Religious Formation—I guess you think that they and the catechists are all robots. They all are in the
closet at the catechetical centers or in parish centers and don’t have any life outside of catechesis — therefore they need to be busier than they are. Is that it? Have you ever spent time with a busy director of religious formation—actually seeing what all they do? You would be lying on the floor—exhausted.
Mr. Wagner, I was a Catholic school teacher, and principal in a Catholic School, I am currently both Pastoral Associate/ and
Director of Religious Formation — believe me — the catechists that I have worked with over the years in different dioceses and parishes are already as dedicated as they can be. But please remember that most of them are married, have families who have lives and their their own schedules. Some catechists’ have elderly parents—and have their needs to care for.
Catechists have homes and full time jobs, too. Yet you think that they should be even busier than they are around the holy days.
That they are going to neglect their families around the holidays to be doing more at the parish than they already do.
Mr. Wagner, there will be a snowy cold day in Hell before that happens—and this is not a negative.
Married people exchange vows with each other—not to parish ministries, not to the parish church—their first responsibility is to each other—to their families.
Those of us in religious vows—are told by our religious superiors—not to be so busy as to neglect our religious community life—and our own spiritual growth. As dedicated as we are—ministry comes second -- behind our religious community and our spiritual lives with the Lord—and that means monthly days of reflection, time to do spiritual reading, daily times for community
prayer. AND rest time, not decreasing the little bit of time that we already have.
You stated that Sunday should be a work day! It already is for many of us—we work twelve months a year—with barely a week or two off. We do have vacation-bible school in the summer for children. And we meet and play for the up-coming year.
But for God’s sake—we need time to re-group, too! And so do our children and their parents! And that is why the Lord gave us the few precious weeks that we have in the summer. Time to go on vacation, time to rest soul, mind and body! Not more time to run ourselves ragged. Even the Lord took his Apostles off to rest!
And what ever made you think that some of us don’t have goals—that we pray over, and strive to meet each and every day, month and year—to grow and improve.
Your article made me angry and I felt insulted! Anyone who makes such suggestions as you did should take the time to walk a mile or two in the shoes of a Catholic school principal, a director of religious education, or a secretary / receptionist, way before they publish such statements as you have made.
In the several parishes that I am well acquainted with—the Pastoral Associate or the DRE-- IS the Director of the Catechumenate.
Most parishes don’t have the financial means to have a separate person ministering in this capacity—and if you are very, very, lucky, you might
Have someone to assist you. But I know of at least twenty parishes where there is ONE person—and only one— who ministers to the catechumens/candidates in their
entry to full communion in the Catholic Church—the Pastoral Associate or the DRE.
And that is in addition to: Visiting the sick with Communion in hospitals, nursing homes, the homebound, conducting Funeral Vigils, planning funeral liturgies, leading
Closing prayers on the day of burial and gravesite prayers, working in bereavement sessions, directing groups in Senior Adult/Health ministry, in taking teen-agers on week-ends of retreat, directing food collection for parish food banks, directing the Caring-tree gift collections at Christmas-time, directing youth in the Nativity-productions, planning the visit of St. Nicholas to the parish children, planning intergenerational workshops for sacramental preparation for the children, baptismal preparation training for expectant parents, marriage formation direction, planning Advent and Lenten Adult series (often doing the scripts for these), directing regular religious formation for children, and teens, training the catechists, training and directing the Living Stations of the Cross, composing liturgies for Tenebrae, evenings of recollection for the parish, directing pilgrimages---and the duties are not completed with this listing—a few more pages are needed to do this!
I would suggest, sir, that you get your head out of the clouds and begin to realize just how hard-working and dedicated parish and school personnel are, and what their duties actually are—and I believe you owe them an apology, too. From what you wrote one would think that you never worked in a real, live parish a day in your life. Maybe you never did—otherwise such nonsense would not be appearing in a national publication.
Sincerely,
Sister Charlene Ozanick
Pastoral Associate/DRE
To: All the parishioners of churches facing closure in next five years
Dearest Parishioners:
As an alternative to the closing of your parish church because of a lack of ordained celibate male priests,
we offer the following:
With prayer and in humility, nominate from among your ranks a team of people—single or married, male or female—
with the following skills, talents, interests, and aspirations: Administration, Finance and Accounting, Spirituality, Adult Education, Youth Ministry and Education, Management, Music, Liturgy, Facility Management, and Caregiving and Counseling.
Those you select may or may not be presently employed by your parish.
We know there are many
amongst your number
that have earned advanced degrees
in their fields—including Religion—and
benefited from many years of outstanding
experience and we encourage you to count them among your nominees.
Once you have nominated
your parish team,
we offer to train them
to be Your Leaders of Your Local Church. Furthermore, in order that you have full access to the Sacraments, we will prepare your team to Celebrate
all the needed Sacraments with you.
We will also train them to celebrate the Sacred Liturgy with you.
After all, the True Tradition of Our Church is that the pastoral leader(s) came from and was given authorty by THE COMMUNITY TO BE SERVED.
Pray and call on the Holy Spirit to help you find the talent, skills, interest, and
dedication
needed to lead your parish;
we vow to help those you choose
lead your parish and
to keep it from closing.
In view of your Faith,
this is the least we can do;
and it is as Jesus did and
would have us do.
With Love and Appreciation,
Your enlightened Hierarchy and Pope
John Chuchman
A model mission statement for a parish; already in use by one:
St. XXXX is a joyful Christian community
which celebrates the loving Word of God
in worship and in action.
We transcend traditional boundaries and draw those
who seek spiritual growth and social justice.
We welcome diverse ideas and encourage reflection
on the message of the Gospel.
We are committed to the equality
of all our members and strive to ensure
their full participation
through liturgy, education, and service.
By these means we seek to empower all
who come to grow in wisdom and bring to reality
the promise of Christ.
love,
John
(Via e-mail)
I think your ideas for the parish of the future are right on, especially the one about not charging for the sacraments.
One thing I would add, which is also covered in "Idols and Icons" by Diana Macalintal, is too use more of the old songs. Many of the members of our congregation are converts and do not know the ones we sing or the ones in Latin. You can really hear them sing when it is Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art and others.
I also don't understand the trend back to Latin Gregorian Chants, which killed the choirs before. The same thing will happen if it continues.
Another item is why we don't itemize the income and outgo of the parish. There would be so much more if people knew how and why their money was being spent. I know you are giving to God, but God is not the person who counts the money or spends the money.
Thanks for listening.
Georgia MacLean
This comment has been removed by the author.
(More by e-mail.)
I have read a lot of your articles in the past, but, I felt I had to comment on this one. Your article "From the Editor" in April/May Today's Parish "Why I would get fired in the parish of the future." and I agree with you on almost all of the points you listed. I showed it to two people I work with and we all agreed on what you stated. Working as a secretary in a parish and doing ministries in my own parish where I live, I come across a lot of what you said.
At my parish we run the RCIA and Bible Study all year long and people on the outside think we are crazy.
I belong to the Diocesan Committee for Adult Formation and maybe a some point I will help make a difference. But Nick, keep up the good work because you are the voice for all of us.
Geri Odierna
(More from e-mail)
I just got down in my stack to my new Today's Parish Minister. Yes, yes, and yes!
Just to let you know how much movement some of us are trying to make:
1. No, the pastor doesn't get that kind of time off--however, pastoral staff regularly contributes to the reflections on the Sunday readings (Monday mornings at liturgy planning team: myself, the two priests, the director of music and two volunteers (environment and RCIA). I provide a monthly brochure which includes questions of the week available to all in the information rack at church, ministry leaders, etc.-- all have an opportunity to contribute to that product. I am simply the collator most months.
2. Office hours are M-Th 8 am to 9 pm; Sa 9:00 am to 5:00 pm; Su 8:00 am to 2:00 pm.
3. Year-round: we are making headway. The catechumenate is year-round, we offer summer Jr High RE and Confirmation sessions.
4. We are blessed with a large staff of very talented people. The immediate needs and priorities of our respective trees can cloud the forest on the horizon at times. However, do find ways to work together.
For example, the liturgy director, confirmation coordinator and I collaborated on a rite at this Sunday evening liturgy (our teen mass) where the elect have a Scrutiny and the confirmation candidates are recognized for entering into their final phase of preparation. We found common ground--and ran with it!
5. We have annual evaluation meetings--as staff and then one-on-one with pastor. We have gotten better about goal-setting as well as post mortem. We have a pastoral plan, put forth by a committee of parishioners in concert with the pastoral council, to which we all are accountable.
So yes--you might be hired--on a probation status ;-)!
Keep up the good work--we really appreciate this magazine.
Katherine Coolidge
Director of Evangelization
St. John Fisher Church
Rancho Palos Verdes, California
(Via e-mail)
I received my copy of Today's Parish Minister! Thank you.
I especially want to congratulate you for your editorial on the "Pairsh of the Future" especially for your singling out:
1) More time off for pastors -- like two days, but not Saturday nor Sunday.
2) Religious Ed and school principals should work more....certainly 11 months a year would be great.
3) Stop charging for sacraments-- AMEN! Stupid! I hated seeing the charges for a weekday Mass on a sacristry door when I was a new priest in the New York suburbs. I was scandalized then and I am now.
4) Director of the catechumenate: A very interesting structure! You would coordinate catechetics and liturgies for evangelization.
A different idea: Back in the late 1960s the Archdiocese of Detroit, under Deardon aided by an PhD from the Michigan University School of Business, re-organized the diocesan offices. Parish related offices were divided into four Departments: Worship, Administration (Stewardship). Education, and Christian Service...AND earch parish council was to have four commissions,corresponding to the four parish Departments.
5) Have a set of goals....Amen.
Take care, and Have a Blessed Easter!
Francis Kelly Scheets, OSC
Crosier Community of Phoenix
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