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Section III – Cluster Conversations, Assessments, Suggestions, & Response

ARCHDIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY IN KANSASTOPEKA REGION

TOPEKA EAST CLUSTER

CLUSTER EVALUATION OF CRITERIA FOR PLANNINGIn Preparation for Making a Suggestion for a Future Model or

Models

To work as a cluster you will need:

1. Each Parish’s Long Form, Short Form, or Combo Form Evaluation of the Criteria for planning (at least one copy so a representative can speak from it.)

2. Each Parish’s Data Verification Form (one copy for each member of the Cluster Team)3. Each Parish’s “Parish Summary” (one copy for each member of the Cluster Team)4. One copy of this document for each member of the Cluster Team.

Please use the pages which follow to:

1. Gather in prayer, reflection, and faith sharing using one of the readings which will be proclaimed at next Sunday’s liturgy.

2. Evaluate your cluster’s experience of the criteria related to: Conversion - Sacramental Life of the Parish Evangelization – Go and Make Disciples Catholic Education in all its Forms Serving Those in Need – Justice, Advocacy, Prolife and Outreach Stewardship - Effective Administration

3. Plan for a cooperative opportunity with your cluster parishes by suggesting a parish model or models for your future.

This work will be the basis for your suggestion to be developed for the Regional Planning Commission.

Name of your parish________________________________ City______________________

Name of your cluster parish: ____St. Aloysius____________ City Meriden__________

Name of your cluster parish: __St. Theresa_______________ City _Perry_______________

Name of your cluster parish: __St. Dominic_______________ City Holton______________

Name of your cluster parish: __St. Francis Xavier__________ City Mayetta_____________

Name of your cluster parish: _________________________ City______________________



CLUSTERPLANNING

CONVERSION - SACRAMENTAL LIFE OF THE PARISH

Name of Cluster Parishes

Parish: __St. Aloysius__________________ City ____Meriden________________

Parish: __St. Theresa___________________ City ____Perry__________________

Parish: __St. Dominic___________________ City ____Holton________________

Parish: __St. Francis Xavier______________ City ____Mayetta_______________

Parish: _____________________________ City___________________________

Parish: _____________________________ City___________________________


CLUSTERPLANNING

CONVERSION - SACRAMENTAL LIFE OF THE PARISHCurrent Reality

1. Discuss among the cluster parishes the present activity, strengths, and concerns related to Criteria # 1, 2, 3, 5 and 5 of Sacramental Life of the Parish which each parish evaluated. Significant discussion points included:

a. Each of the parishes has good, solid liturgies. They are meaningful and prayerful with good participation. The reverence and meaningfulness of the celebration of funerals was a specific strength expressed.

b. The parishes recognized the need for communal Anointing of the Sick periodically so that we are ministering to the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of our parishioners.

c. There is a need for more education in many areas of sacramental ministry. Specifically, more education on the Sacrament of Reconciliation and liturgical ministries.

2. What key thoughts occurred to you from looking at the present reality?

a. There is a need for more involvement by parents and better education for parents in the sacramental preparation of their children. There also needs to be better promotion of RCIA and evangelization to our people about inviting interested non-Catholics to come into the faith.

b. More opportunities for education about the sacraments and the faith would help the people to continue to develop a deeper spirituality.

c. Better promotion of regional and parish retreats, workshops, etc. will provide more opportunities for parishioners to grow in their faith.

3. What are the planning implications based on the information from the Data Verification material and each parish’s Parish Summary for Sacramental Life of the Parish?

a. More collaboration will help the parishes to provide more experiences that could not be accomplished as individual parishes.

b. Better interaction between the cluster parishes will mean that there will need to be better communication of events, retreats and educational opportunities available at the parishes.

c. Sharing of resources and facilities provides diversity and options that have not previously been available for individual parishes.


Preferred Future

1. What are some ideas we might explore together to enhance our experience of Sacramental Life of the Parish as a cluster?

a. Offering sacramental ministry renewal and workshops as a cluster to help provide additional education about ministries

b. Each parish will prepare an inventory of their faith education resources to be shared among the clusters in the broader region.

c. A joint Confirmation retreat for the teens preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation hosted on a rotating location each year.

2. What are some hoped for results?

a. Hosting programs as a cluster and bringing in speakers as a cluster will allow a sharing of the costs as well as have attendance that would make the event practical.

b. Joint Confirmation retreats will provide a deeper experience for the teens in their preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation.

c. Sharing of resources and facilities reduces unnecessary financial expenditures and duplication of materials and offer a wider range of education opportunities.



CLUSTERPLANNING

EVANGELIZATION – GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES






Parish: _____________________________ City___________________________


CLUSTERPLANNING

EVANGELIZATION – GO AND MAKE DISCIPLESCurrent Reality

1. Discuss among the cluster parishes the present activity, strengths, and concerns related to Criteria # 6, 7and 8 Evangelization which each parish evaluated.Significant discussion points included:

a. All parishes are friendly and family orientated with youth programs.

b. Parishioners volunteer at various places such as the Crisis Pregnancy Center, God’s Storehouse, Mary’s Choice, serving meals at homeless shelter, etc.

c. There is some participation in Ecumenical Services.

d. We meet and greet people at the entrance of church; however we need to do more to welcome newcomers and reach out to those who are currently not active in the faith.

e. We all need a better understanding of evangelization. We need more participation by parishioners in programs that are offered (faith sharing, adult education)


a. We need an Evangelization committee for support and education of evangelization.

b. We need a welcoming committee to reach newcomers and non-practicing Catholics.

c. At St. Dominic we need someone who speaks Spanish to welcome some in our community who do not yet speak much English.

d. Explain to people how to register at a parish.

e. Some parents do not expect their children to go to church after they have received the Sacrament of Confirmation.

3. What are the planning implications based on the information from the Data Verification material and each parish’s Parish Summary related to Evangelization as a cluster?

a. We need to plan for education of all parishioners regarding evangelization.

b. We need to improve out-reach to newcomers and to all who feel alienated (widowed, divorced, etc.)


Preferred Future

1. What are some ideas we might explore together to enhance our sense of welcoming and Evangelization as a cluster?

a. Form an Evangelization Committee

b. Form Welcoming Committee at each Parish

c. Get the word out about the Archdiocesan Website on Evangelization.


a. Better understanding of Evangelization

b. Parishioners will be better informed regarding Catholic education opportunities.



CLUSTERPLANNING

CATHOLIC EDUCATION IN ALL ITS FORMS






Parish: _____________________________ City___________________________

Parish: _____________________________ City___________________________


CLUSTERPLANNINGCATHOLIC EDUCATION IN ALL ITS FORMS

Current Reality1. Discuss among the cluster parishes the present activity, strengths, and concerns related to

Criteria 9, 10, 11 and 12Catholic Education in all its Forms (including vocation awareness) which each parish evaluated. Significant discussion points included:

a. All parishes seem to have strong youth programs (PK-Confirmation) and programs are similar in length and curriculum used. All also would like to increase and strengthen the HS-Adult programs available in their parish.

b. There is a common need and desire for more Teachers training.

c. There is a common need and desire for more adult and young adult (High School & College) Faith formation/education opportunities along with more awareness of what is already available at the parish, cluster and regional level.

d. All parishes seemed to fall short in the Vocation awareness education. There is a need for more encouragement and education of vocations at all levels from religious life to lay ministries.


a. Encouraging more participation at all levels is needed and may take personal invitation.

b. Communication to parishioners of available opportunities is key but sometimes lacking. Exploring the use of varying types of communication is needed. (Announcements, Bulletins along with email, texting, & web pages etc…).

c. Involving more young adults encourages continued involvement in the church and provides for growth in our Parishes along with strengthening faith of parishioners.

3. What are the planning implications based on the information from the Data Verification material and each parish’s Parish Summary for Catholic Education in all its Forms as a cluster?

a. Because the parishes are smaller in size the class sizes vary from year to year within each parish. The clusters, linked parishes, and individual parish can evaluate and collaborate when appropriate at all levels of education youth –adult.

b. Look at possibilities to work together for large trips like NCYC, out of town speakers, retreats, mission etc... To share in cost and transportation.


c. Combine for teacher training and/or teacher retreats and other religious development. Evaluate possibilities to add combined retreats for youth.

Preferred Future

1. What are some ideas we might explore together to enhance our Catholic Education?

a. Cluster teacher training and/or retreats with possible leadership and assistance from the Archdiocese. This would allow teachers the ability to share ideas and experiences between parishes allowing for growth and learning.

b. Cluster and/or linked Parish combined youth/adult retreats and trips when appropriate. Shared speakers on vocations and other faith formation topics.

c. Better Cluster Communication, Link parishes electronically to make information on educational opportunities easily available to parishioners. Include regional opportunities also.

d. Start a Media Library for sharing of educational materials, involve the DRE’s and others helping with education programs to be involved so they are aware of the resources available and can pass information on to the Parish.

e. Due to the distance between Parishes in our cluster we look to collaborate more between linked Parishes with cluster collaboration less frequently. Regional opportunities with Topeka Parishes should be shared and examined also as some of our cluster parishes are closer in travel time to the Topeka Parishes than they are to each other.


a. Better communication will encourage more participation and awareness of what is available at Parish, Cluster and regional level. More awareness is hoped to help maintain a stronger interest in lifetime learning of our Faith at all ages.

b. Shared resources will provide more opportunities for individual, groups, and parishes for educational programs along with savings in cost at a parish level.

c. Stronger High School- Adult Programs.

d. More Vocation Awareness



CLUSTERPLANNING

SERVING THOSE IN NEED – JUSTICE, ADVOCACY, PROLIFE AND OUTREACH






Parish: _____________________________ City___________________________

Parish: _____________________________ City___________________________


CLUSTER PLANNING

SERVING THOSE IN NEED – JUSTICE, ADVOCACY, PROLIFE AND OUTREACH

Current Reality

1. Discuss among the cluster parishes the present activity, strengths, and concerns related to Criteria #13, 14, and 15 serving those in Need which each parish has evaluated. Be sure to discuss each criterion: Justice, Advocacy, Prolife and Outreach.

Significant discussion points included:

a. There are many “active” programs in cluster parishes

b. Effective accomplishments by small portion of parishioners.

c. Better awareness is needed of current activities.


a. Impressive programming already exists.

b. Common success and needs shared by cluster parishes.

c. Need for more involvement which encourages promotion (personal contact with people)

3. What are the planning implications based on the information from the Data Verification material for criteria # 13, 14, and 15 under Serving Those in Need as a cluster?

a. Better promotion of events and needs and encourage stewardship.

b. Better awareness of all programs offered.

c. Encourage more involvement, especially youth after confirmation.

d. Our Catholicism needs to be more evangelical (more people bringing Gospel to the people)


Preferred Future

1. What are some ideas we might explore together to enhance our efforts dealing with serving the needs of others issues related to our cluster?a. Increase partnership with Catholic Charities.

b. Re-evaluate needs of local community.

c. Reaching non-practicing members with personal contact, letters, home visits, etc...

2. What are some hoped for results? a. More involvement under concept of Stewardship, using our gifts and talents from

God for the building of the Body of Christ, the Church.

b. Help to those with needs in local community.

c. Return of non-practicing parishioners.



CLUSTERPLANNING

STEWARDSHIP - EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION






Parish: _____________________________ City___________________________

Parish: _____________________________ City___________________________

Parish: _____________________________ City___________________________


CLUSTER PLANNING

STEWARDSHIP - EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION

Current Reality

4. Discuss among the cluster parishes the present activity, strengths, and concerns related to Criteria # 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21the leadership and pastoral aspects of Stewardship and Effective Administration which each parish has evaluated. Be sure to discuss each criterion: staff and council leadership; working with other parishes; adequate staff; support for the archdiocesan and universal Church.

Significant discussion points included:

a. More programs for special family groups- divorced, single parents, etc...

b. Increase collaboration between clergy & laity around mission.

c. Having shared paid positions in linked parishes(secretary, bookkeeper, DRE)


a. Stewardship Committee could share leadership for developing programs for special groups.

b. Challenge: Driving distances to various parishes. IDEA: Stewardship Committee could share responsibility for inviting people to new programs & help organize carpools.

c. Communicate regionally thru Facebook (Regional FB group?) & on our websites.

d. We found we could all steal some good ideas from each other.

e. We haven’t communicated this process to our parishioners.

6. What are the planning implications based on the information from the Data Verification material for criteria 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and21 under Stewardship - Effective Administration as a cluster?

a. Each parish is stable financially.


b. We have lots of families with young children.

c. Only about half of the parishioners on our attendance rolls attend Mass regularly at our Parishes.

Preferred Future

3. What are some ideas we might explore together to enhance our efforts dealing with leadership and the pastoral issues related to our cluster?a. Plan some regional training opportunities- for religious education teachers, musicians,

and parish & finance councils.

b. Be intentional about addressing the challenge of distances between parishes & broadly inviting other parishes to events.

c. Increase shared communication in bulletins, regional FB?, & websites.

d. Regularly schedule (once per quarter?) meeting of Parish & finance councils of the cluster parishes to share ideas & schedule events together.

4. What are some hoped for results? a. Better communication & increased participation in individual parishes & our cluster

group parishes.

b. Diocese will provide training support for all our ministries as a cluster group.

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