Living Stones

Bishop announces plans for restructuring of Asbury Park area parishes

After more than two years of study and collaboration by the Catholic community in and around Asbury Park, it was announced by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M. that two parish mergers will take place effective July 1, 2012. St. Peter Claver Parish, Asbury Park, will be merged into Holy Spirit Parish, Asbury Park, and Our Lady of Providence Parish, Neptune, will be merged into Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Asbury Park.

 The remaining two parishes, Holy Spirit and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, will be twinned under the leadership of one pastor, Divine Word Father Miguel Virella, also effective July 1, 2012. A transition team representing both parishes will be formed to examine and make recommendations on all areas of parish life.

The restructuring is not expected to affect the parish school for Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

The decision, which was announced in a letter that was read to all four parish communities the weekend of January 1, was based on restructuring recommendations presented to Bishop O’Connell Sept. 20 by Asbury Park area pastors, priests and parish leaders, and followed consultation with the Diocesan Curia and Presbyteral Council.

The recommendations culminated a lengthy process of research, evaluation and dialogue which focused on meet­ing the challenges of changing demographics and dwindling pastoral and financial resources. These factors, primary among them the inadequacy of aging church structures, necessitated the twinning in 2005 of St. Peter Claver Parish with Holy Spirit Parish, and the clustering in 2007 of the par­ishes of Our Lady of Providence, St. Peter Claver and Holy Spirit.

This newest restructuring respects the long standing history of the Catholic Church in Asbury Park of embracing a rich diversity of cultural and faith traditions, while ensuring the most fruitful means of spreading the Gospel and meeting the needs of those within the community.  The histories of these four parishes, span­ning as many as 130 years, are defined by their welcome of the immigrant populations they serve and the ability to thrive in changing times.

From its very beginnings in 1880, Holy Spirit Parish ministered to Irish, German and Italian immigrants, and is now a place of welcome for mem­bers of the Haitian and Hispanic communities. Founded in 1905, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish was first home to recent immigrants from Italy and continues to be a parish that is open to a diverse community of people. St. Peter Claver Parish was established to serve African-American Catholics, and Our Lady of Providence Parish has been a spiritual home for the Hispanic Catholic community.

 In announcing the restructuring plan, Bishop O’Connell expressed his appreciation to Father Virella, Trinitarian Father Charles Flood, and the late Father William McLaughlin, former pastor of Holy Spirit Parish, “for the leadership they have shown throughout this study.” The bishop indicated that Father Flood will remain pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel until June 30, 2012, and Father Virella will remain pastor of Our Lady of Providence Parish and temporary administrator of St. Peter Claver Parish and Holy Spirit Parish until June 30, 2012.

 Following the merger, Holy Spirit Parish will continue its ministry to Haitian Catholics and will move forward with a plan to build St. Peter Claver Center on the former St. Peter Claver church property. The cen­ter, which will continue the charism of Jesuit missionary St. Peter Claver, is a move toward consolidation and coordination of outreach efforts to the poor, needy and marginalized. The new facility, located in an area provid­ing the greatest impact, will advance Catholic social teaching and ministry in Asbury Park.

 In recognition of the continued growth of the Hispanic Catholic community, Our Lady of Providence Parish, as part of the newly merged parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, will worship in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church and will continue to worship and minister in Holy Spirit Church where it has been located since 2006 when its own facilities were found to be structurally unsound. Additional worship services will be established in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church as needed.

 In addition, under the leadership of Father Virella, the parish communi­ties of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Holy Spirit will work collaboratively to develop a longer-range plan to bring both parish­es into one community. The plan must be presented to Bishop O’Connell by Dec. 1, 2013.

Acknowledging the challenge before them, Bishop O’Connell said, “Change is never easy because these decisions touch people at a very sa­cred and sensitive place; namely, their love for their parish. These changes will certainly require all of us to work together in a spirit of faith to develop and implement plans for becoming parishes that welcome and draw people into an ever deeper relationship with Christ through worship, education and service. I ask that you join together with optimism and confidence, trusting in the presence of Christ who is always with us, so that our Catho­lic life in Asbury Park will be vibrant well into the future.”

 

IPC Presents Recommendations to Bishop O'Connell

On September 20, 2011, after 10 months of study and consultation, the priests and parishioners who served on the Interparish Pastoral Commission (IPC) have presented their recommendations to the Most Reverend David M. O'Connell, C.M., Bishop of Trenton.  The IPC recommends the following parish configurations for the four existing parishes of Holy Spirit Church, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, St. Peter Claver Church, Asbury Park and Our Lady of Providence Church, Neptune, in order of preference:

1.  Principal Parish and Mission

...that the four parishes be consolidated into two, Holy Spirit and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, according to a "main parish and mission" model.  The parishes of St. Peter Claver and Our Lady of Providence would be incorporated into the main parish and its mission.  No consensus was reached about which parish would be the main and which would be the mission.  Our hope would be to avoid a greater/lesser situation by keeping both sites as full-service as is practical.  One pastor and one pastoral team would serve both the main parish and the mission.  The model provides maximum flexibility regarding shared and distinct ministries.

2.  Twinning

---that St. Peter Claver Parish and Our Lady of Providence Parish be incorporated into Holy Spirit Parish; and that Holy Spirit Parish and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish be twinned under the leadership of one pastor.  These twinned parishes would remain administratively distinct from one another, maintain separate finance and pastoral councils, but cooperate pastorally in every way that would be appropriate.

3.  Merging

...that the four parishes be merged into one new parish with two church buildings.  The new parish would have one pastor and pastoral team; one administrative structure; one finance council and one pastoral council that are representative of the various cultural communities.  Liturgy, Religious Education, and Outreach would be organized to best serve parishioners, with some ministries being combined over time and some remaining distinct to meet the unique needs and preserve the cultural traditions of each community.

All of the above recommendations presume the following with regard to:

Staffing

• The Pastoral team assigned to the parish(es) will include priests who speak English, Spanish, and Creole.
• The Pastor and Pastoral team will be able to transcend special interests for the benefit of the whole church, respect and preserve the traditions of each cultural group, and serve and lead the parish(es) to serve all.
• Decisions regarding the remainder of the Pastorall team (non-clergy) and parish staffing will be made after the Pastor is named, in consultation with a transition commitee.

Constituent Ministries

• Ministry to Black, Haitian, and Hispanic Catholics will remain part of any parish configuration.
• Our Lady of Mount Carmel School is considered by all to be an important part of the Church's ministry in the area.  Decisions about the continued viability of the school will be made by the Pastor with guidance from the diocesan Department of Catholic Schools.

Facilities

• Holy Spirit Church and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church will remain worship sites and the buildings will retain their names.  Mass schedules will be determined after the Pastor is named, in consultation with a transition committee.
• The preparations to construct and operate the St. Peter Claver Center will stay on track and be supported by all the parishes regardless of configuration.
• There is the intention to identify a room or building in the new configuration that is in frequent use by Hispanic Catholics to carry the name of Our Lady of Providence or some derivative of that name.

Finances

• The model chosen will improve the financial stability of the parish(es), enable the parish(es) to reduce costs, redirect funds toward ministry, keep current with all responsibilities, and build responsible reserves toward maintenance and unforeseeable expenses in the future.


Terry A. Ginther, Executive Director for Pastoral Life and Mission, Diocese of Trenton

New study finds bigger, more multicultural Catholic Parishes

"In the last decade, the numbers of Catholic priests and Catholic parishes have declined in number, but the scale of parish life in the United States has expanded along with the nation’s growing Catholic population. Bigger parishes, more Masses, and ministries in languages other than English are becoming the norm."

Released last week, The Changing Face of U.S. Catholic Parishes is the first report from an ongoing landmark study of parish life by the Emerging Models of Pastoral Leadership project.  Featuring research done by the Center for Applied Research on the Apostolate (CARA), this report details the findings from the first phase of the study, a 2010 national survey of pastors and other parish leaders at 846 randomly selected U.S. parishes.

To read the report follow this link: 

http://cara.georgetown.edu/NewsandPress/PressReleases/PR071511.pdf

Interparish Pastoral Commission narrows focus for restructuring options

After months of study and dialogue on the canonical options for parish restructuring, the Interparish Pastoral Commission in the Asbury Park Area has narrowed its focus down to three options.  These options are being considered as the IPC creates its recommendations for Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.

Principal Parish and Mission – One “full-service” parish and a second site with a “limited” schedule of worship and activity providing outreach to a population that is remote or too small for self-sufficiency. 

• Members of the IPC favor this model because they see it as the best way to strengthen collaboration between already existing communities without losing the unique styles or identities of each. It offers potential for growth, greater financial stability, and better usage of existing facilities.

Twinning – Two or more parishes share a pastor, but remain distinct in other aspects. 

• Twinning may foster greater collaboration between the parishes, but the census, sacramental records, finances, and most pastoral activity remain separate.  The IPC recognizes a greater need for personnel in this model and feels there would be less flexibility for facility usage. 

Merger – Two different parish entities become one single entity with a unified and singular identity.  The unique characteristics of each parish coming into the merger are incorporated into the new community and serve to form the identity of the merged parish.

• The IPC has acknowledged that this option will represent the greatest change for the communities involved, in that the various distinct, unique parishes will cease to exist, and a new single entity will be created.  The IPC has emphasized, with some concern, that merger would require the greatest commitment to cooperate with one another, and to integrate the unique qualities of the merging parishes into the new faith community that will be formed.

 

Asbury Park parishes face change with trust in God

Among all the lessons that Scripture offers us, perhaps none is more consistent than the need to embrace change.

With God, change is not just a fact of life, it is a tool in Divine Hands. Just look at Noah, Abraham, Moses, Mary and Joseph, and the Apostles. God entered their lives and asked each of them to let go of what was so they could embrace what would be, through the power of God’s Spirit.

Without their willingness to put their faith in God, the world would certainly look different today. What if Noah laughed himself silly at God’s request to build the ark? Or if Abraham planted his feet firmly on the land he already owned, refusing to leave all he had worked for just because of God’s whim?

Imagine if Moses let his insecurities rule the day and prevent him from going to Pharaoh and demanding the release of the Hebrew people? What if Moses had given in to the people’s grumbling about the hard life of the Exodus and let them go back to Egypt to live in persecution?

And then there is Mary, our Blessed Virgin. Where would we be if, in her fear, she said no to the Angel Gabriel? Or if Joseph took advantage of his right to divorce her because of her pregnancy, rather than accept this unexpected change in plans?

And the 12 ordinary men who were the Apostles – what changes did they embrace in their lives in order to accept the invitation of Jesus to “come and see?”  Leaving behind family and friends and livelihood wasn’t the only new path they needed to walk. The most significant change, and one that Jesus requires of each of us, is a change of heart and mind.  This change must be a profound one, made with a deep understanding of how individual lives and the whole People of God will be transformed by living in Christ and walking with God in a new way.

St. Paul says it beautifully in his letter to the Corinthian community:  So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come (2 Cor. 5:5:17).

In all circumstances of change, we can take comfort in knowing that God continues to use each of us and every situation to bring about His Kingdom. The pivotal factor in God’s work is our response.

We can see this dynamic so clearly in the courageous way in which the parish communities in the Asbury Park area are working toward a new way of being Church together.  Rather than avoiding change, they are pursuing collaboration and sharing facilities.  Yes, they are even preparing recommendations for restructuring their parishes; all with a spirit of trust and generosity. 

Like Abraham, they are willing to leave behind what is comfortable and familiar.  Like Moses, they are facing their fears with honesty and a sense of God’s benevolent care.  Like Mary, they are saying “yes” despite not being able to see all that lies ahead.  The pastors and parishioners of the Asbury Park Parishes are trusting that, despite the challenges, God will show them the way.

Living the Paschal Mystery: The Ultimate Leap of Faith

The disciples of Jesus reveled in all of the attention “their rabbi” was receiving.  Wherever he went throngs of people assembled just to get a glimpse of the Holy One.  Their entry into Jerusalem with him was a sort of vindication for some of the suspicion which had been visited up them and especially their rabbi in towns and villages where they responded to the real needs of people.  Then came the ultimate betrayal from one among their own company.  What followed was passion and death a real sense of defeat from that moment of triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  Then there was that empty tomb that somehow seemed to give credence to all of the naysayers.  All seemed to be in a downward spiral:  fear and cynicism were on the rise, joy and hope seemed diminished.

 

Living the Paschal Mystery is to fully embrace all of these elements.  To walk with Jesus is to acknowledge that there is questioning, suspicion, triumph, betrayal, judgment, injustice, death, sorrow, uncertainty, hope and joy.  When things are not going our way or when we seem to be in a state of paradigm paralysis or decline it is very easy for us to lose our way.  Confusion, blame and cynicism are often time exhibited when focus is lost.  The Catholic Christian is not shielded from such desperation. We are constantly challenged to bring our faith, what we believe, into the public square of our families, work places, civic communities and even our ecclesial communities.  When we encounter the empty tombs in our own life do we simply throw up our hands in desperation?

 

The empty tomb is the portal through which we must go in order to experience the recognition of the Lord in our journey as church.  Like the disciples on the way to Emmaus we encounter the Lord in simple ways throughout our own lives and in the most profound way each and every time we come together to celebrate the Eucharist.  Through this experience of the Risen Lord we are strengthened in our faith and nourished to continue the journey of building God’s Kingdom in our midst avoiding the easy path of desperate behavior in the blame game.  Sometimes this means strengthening that which we are already doing so that those who follow us will receive wonderful ways of sharing and celebrating faith.  Other times we are challenged to be open to assessing what we are doing, what is working, what is no longer effective and how we need to restructure in order to continue to support our mission of building God’s Kingdom in our midst.   

 

The Road to Emmaus is a powerful image of how even the most faith-filled among us can miss the point.  God knows our imperfections.  God knows our hearts.  That is why the celebration of Paschal Joy continues for 50 days until the Solemnity of Pentecost.  This outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles then and upon us now is how we, though imperfect and sometimes unsure, receive the Paraclete to guide us on our way.  It is the Paraclete, that personal presence of God’s Spirit, who gently and powerfully rests upon us helping us to see in all that is around us the goodness of God and the triumph of life and hope over cynicism and despair.  During this great season of paschal joy may we re-commit ourselves to an openness that enables us to grow as instruments of God’s grace throughout our discipleship journey. 

 

 

Reverend Fr. Jeffrey E. Lee, MDiv, MA, ThM, a priest of the Diocese of Trenton, currently serves as the Pastor of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Trenton

 and as  Chair of the Diocesan Commission for Expansion & Restructuring in the Department of Pastoral Planning.

Faith and humility calm the swelling sea of change

When my second son began preschool, an experience relished by his five brothers, his reaction was less than enthusiastic. As we approached the brightly painted door that led to his classroom, I felt myself being pulled backward by the pressure of his tiny hand tugging on mine.

Looking down I saw the big brown eyes welling up with tears, a look of fear crossing his flushed face. A kindly, gray-haired lady came out and wrapped her arm around his shoulder, ushering him in to join the other children. As he turned to look at me with wide doe-eyes, I was sure the lump in my throat would choke me. I waited for the inevitable with baited breath.

“MOMEEE!” came the blood-curdling scream. It wasn’t so much the word as the impassioned, gut-wrenching way in which it was delivered that pierced my guilty-mother heart as I tore myself away, leaving him there in the obviously adequate care of his new teacher.

New beginnings were not his cup of tea.

And so it is for many of us, even as adults. New beginnings, while often exciting and challenging, also signify endings. With each new beginning we are called to give up the security and comfortableness of old ways to move forward into the unknown. Even routine, boring or painful daily experiences may be difficult to relinquish because they have become an anchor holding us in place.

New beginnings require a trust in the Lord and acknowledgement that he is the author of both beginnings and endings. Moving forward is sure to be difficult without the hand of the Lord to lead us.

Talking to a young man who wished to follow Jesus, but only after he had returned home to say good-bye to his family, Jesus explained the importance of letting go of the past: “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Jesus was not saying, as many believe, that the past is something that should be forgotten or ignored, but rather, that when the time comes for a decision to be made for the future, the past must take its place as the port from which one sails.

This is particularly relevant in a time of reconfiguration of parishes and schools—painful, but responsible decisions ensuring that future generations may effectively continue the mission to serve God and each other.

To continue to look back may prevent us from making what one Bible commentary refers to as an “instant decision of purpose” – the kind we must make when God calls us to something new and, often, something frightening.

My experience with decisions of “purpose” have taught me a lesson I continue to value today—when the challenges of any new beginning bring cries for help, we should remember the words of Jesus as he rebuked the storm, saying, “Quiet! Be still!” and his remonstration of the Apostles, of whom he asked, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?”

I have learned, also, that with prayer, and an attitude of “not my will but Yours,” the sometimes stormy sea of change will be navigated with surety through faith in God and dependence on the Holy Spirit.

Speaking of new beginnings, I wonder how Noah would have done in pre-school?

 

“Then David said to his son, Solomon. ‘Be firm and steadfast. Go to work without fear or discouragement, for the Lord, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or abandon you before you have completed all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.’”  1 Chronicles 28:20

 

 

 

 

Discovery & Transparency: Marks of Parish Consultation

The discovery, which is an integral part of any consultation process, is partially about who we are and how we gather, pray, teach and serve.  This was the task before the members of the Interparish Pastoral Commission engaged in the Asbury Park Area Parish Study Consultation during the initial months.  The discovery process, however, continues on to examine how we and the world around us are changing.  This makes transparency one of the keys to the whole consultation. 

Bringing the pastors together is the first step.  Making the time for them to see and reflect on the Catholic Church in terms broader than a single parish can be challenging, but it is essential.  It is on the leadership of these pastors that the success or failure of any consultation rests.  They are the “shepherds of the sheep”.  They are the leaders within their respective parish communities and in the larger civic community.  They call together other parish leaders to help in the ministry of forming a community of people gathered around the faithful celebration of the Eucharist.  Through their efforts education, pastoral care, community building and outreach begin to take root and blossom.  The stories of a rich and colorful past often spring forth like spring blossoms.  Larger-than-life figures of priests, religious sisters and brothers, prominent parishioners, and newcomers searching for a place to share their Catholic faith and grow in their Christian Discipleship begin to create a garden of memory.  It is this appreciation for what has been, a clarified collective memory rooted in the faith experience of generations, which provides the basis for the first stage of the consultation.

Transparency, however, is not limited to the recollection of the past.  It is also the responsible sharing of present realities, data and information.  The universal church offers options for parish leaders to consider in making restructuring recommendations to the diocesan bishop.  These “canonical options” are to be considered in light of the present circumstances with an eye toward the future.  Parish membership, sacramental activity, and church attendance are reviewed for the past 20 years or so.  These numbers provide some objective data that shapes the conversation about what our parish might look like as we move forward.  The other objective data that is to be shared openly with all of the stakeholders is the financial data: operating revenue and expenses; financial assets such as savings or investments; financial liabilities such as outstanding loans, unpaid premiums (medical, pension, property & liability insurances, etc…) and unpaid bills.  Sharing this objective data empowers parishioners to grasp the challenges and the opportunities that are present and, as responsible stewards, to make realistic recommendations to the diocesan bishop about the future.

The Diocese of Trenton continues to assist parishes in their planning efforts.  A frank and honest understanding of the signs of the times must shape these plans in a deliberate and respectful way.  Transparency helps us to confront our shortcomings without judgment and to advance our successes in service of the common good.  Parish Restructuring is one way in which a diocesan bishop can provide for the future of the church in a given or particular area within the local church of the diocese.  The Asbury Park Parish Study Consultations continue the work of envisioning the future of a Catholic Community in this historic Monmouth County town and its neighbors.  Formal recommendations are expected to be presented to the Most Reverend Bishop of Trenton in September 2011.

Reverend Fr. Jeffrey E. Lee, MDiv, MA, ThM, a priest of the Diocese of Trenton, currently serves as the Pastor of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Trenton

 and as  Chair of the Diocesan Commission for Expansion & Restructuring in the Department of Pastoral Planning.

Coming Together in Faith

Asbury Park is a city with a great many issues. Our young adult population is in disarray. We have too much overcrowded and expensive housing. And, our educational system cannot handle the load. At the same time, our city should be very proud and  grateful to the churches of the city for the wonderful witness they have given of the faith that they hold. Not only have they helped build the moral fiber a community needs to discipline itself, but many have intensive out reach programs for their neighbors. As I learned of the decision of the Trinitarian Order not to renew its commitment to Mt. Carmel Parish after 2012, I began thinking about this tremendous affect our churches have in the community. In the case of the Catholic Church and its witness, for example, we certainly could start with a parish like Mt. Carmel. From its very beginnings as a church of the poor, Italian immigrant population up to today, its has been a strong Christian witness in a community of great need. Mt. Carmel school is a great example. Even though it has been a difficult struggle, it continues its educational mission now primarily to Haitian, AfroAmerican, and Hispanic neighbors. Yes, times have changed, but our Catholic witness is now even more important to our community. The question remaines how to adapt our Church to changes that demand new and creative energies  while we rely on our unique past to guide us.

Over six years ago, our bishop asked the parishes of our area to engage in a process which would produce a plan by which we could meet the challenges of the future. There were some immediate issues to deal with. Three of the parishes, Holy Spirit, Our Lady of Providence, and St. Peter Claver each had separate but demanding problems. We found that the only solution for meeting those challenges was to come together at Holy Spirit as a central location for our  worship and programs. Each parish continued to exist and we learned to share space and time for all of our activities. It was our hope that in the future each parish would develop some kind of center to preserve its unique mission. Although this plan helped solve some immediate problems, we realized a more comprehensive process would need to include Mt. Carmel. Thus, last year we renewed our process and ,with Mt. Carmel included, the pastors met regularly with the Restructuring Commission of the Diocese. In September, we called together a large gathering of over 200 members from all the parishes consisting of staff and regular volunteers to talk about the future of the Catholic Church in our area. Ms Terry Ginther of the pastoral center of the Diocese, gave a presentation explaining what has happened in the various attempts at consolidation of parishes in the Diocese. After that gathering, the pastors chose 5 members from their parish councils to form an inter parish council which would  meet once a month in order to eventually produce a consensus regarding consolidation. Once this plan is produced, it will be offered to the parishes to discuss, amend, and approve before sending it to the Diocesan Commission on Restructuring. We are at the point now of choosing the best of several options available for us regarding the juridical alignment of our parishes. Those options are available for review to anyone from the pastor of each parish. Whichever option seems best to us will need to do two things: preserve the unique heritage of each Catholic community and continue to offer a unified witness of the Gospel from our common tradition. After we establish a realignment of the parishes, we will continue to develop a pastoral plan to address the needs of our Church and our community. We hope all of our Catholic family will participate as much as possible in this process and help “renew the world” in love and compassion.

Fr. Bill McLaughlin,  Holy Spirit and St. Peter Claver Parishes

We are CATECHIZED…are We EVANGELIZED?

Perhaps one of the emerging challenges of being Catholic in the New Millennium is not only how we are evangelizing outside the fold, but also inside the fold.  A major concern of the late Pope John Paul II was the New Evangelization of the Church.  Pairing this pastoral concern to the Jubilee Year 2000 events served up a hearty stew of social and phenomenological proportions not witnessed since the calling of the Second Vatican Council.  The shift from catechizing to evangelizing does not seem like a “big deal” at first glance.  However, the future of our church to continue as a credible partner in global matters depends not only on how much “we know” but also, and maybe more importantly, how fervent “we believe”.

 

Surfing the net recently I stumbled through excerpts of text from a speech given by His Excellency, The Most Reverend Diarmuid Martin, Metropolitan Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland.  Speaking candidly about the current abuse scandal facing the Catholic Church in Ireland, the Archbishop is quick to reference the fact of Ireland’s long standing tradition of catechesis and school education.  However, he continues by questioning whether or not this catechesis is truly complete when there are serious questions about evangelization.  To know the faith is indeed important.  To be informed in matters of our faith and believe is an essential component along the path of discipleship.  Reason without faith might trick us into believing that we can be Catholic Christians outside of the sacramental life of the Church.  Clearly, this is a real challenge facing pastoral ministers in the new millennium in every part of the globe.

 

Knowing that it is good to do this or that or the other in response to God’s revelation in our lives is a wonderful way to put feet on our faith.  Linking our daily choices, our stewardship and our tasks to what we believe is often the missing link.  As people of the Eucharist all that we are or hope to become must be rooted in God’s revelation, our desire to learn and our willingness to walk the path of conversion.  Our regular experience of Jesus present in the Eucharist helps us to move from being filled with knowledge (catechized) to becoming more and more disciples (evangelized) for mission and ministry in our Catholic Church.

 

 

Reverend Fr. Jeffrey E. Lee, MDiv, MA, ThM, a priest of the Diocese of Trenton,

currently serves as the Pastor of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Trenton and as

 Chair of the Diocesan Commission for Expansion & Restructuring in the Department of Pastoral Planning.