Garfield Parishes "Renewed" Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick accepted a Parish Renewal Plan presented on Friday by the four Parishes of Garfield. The proposal outlines a plan for full Catholic Ministry in Garfield. Most Holy Name, Our Lady of Mount Virgin, Our Lady of Sorrows, and Saint Stanislaus Kostka submitted a final plan for Parish Renewal and have moved into the implementation phase of the process. Archbishop McCarrick accepted the plan and thanked the parish communities of Garfield on behalf of the Archdiocese. "I am delighted that you actually did dedicate yourselves fully to developing a ministerial plan and fiscal model that will in the very near future provide for vibrant and complete church life in Garfield and well into the next millennium." The planning process began two years ago when each of the four pastors, Frs. Benedict Militello, John Gurski, Edward Szpiech, and Paul Bochicchio, nominated twelve lay people from each of their parishes to study the ministry of the individual parishes and in the cluster of Garfield parishes. Once Archbishop McCarrick officially appointed the group, they began to examine the finances, ministerial outreaches, physical facilities and personnel of the four parishes. Vicar General for the Apostolates for the Archdiocese, Msgr. Joseph Slinger, said the success of the Parish Renewal process is dependant upon stewardship. "Stewardship is the recognition that all we have are gifts from God to be used to provide for our own real needs and for the development of our community life," he said. "Stewardship helps us to examine the best way to use the time, talent and treasure that we can share in and with our community. When people share their time and talent, ministry can flourish." Under the plan the four Garfield parishes will increase or share common social concern programs, Hispanic Ministry, RCIA programs, retreats, prayer groups, vocation awareness programs, and novenas. The plan also calls for development of a city-wide Youth Ministry Program and a Ministry Board made up of pastors and laity. A youth minister will be hired to serve the four parishes. Archbishop McCarrick suggested Garfield "develop a proposal for Youth Ministry as a catechetical program." Msgr. Slinger explained that under the plan the center for Hispanic Outreach and Ministry will be located at Most Holy Name Church and that a Spanish-speaking priest is already assigned there. According to census information, the Hispanic community is most heavily represented in that area and it is the only church in Garfield that does not currently serve a particular language or cultural group. Msgr. Slinger points out that the Garfield parishes can call on the expertise of Archdiocesan Center staff to assist in the implementation of the plan. "For example, Joseph Nehila, our Secretary for Temporal Administration will work with the parishes to establish a viable financial plan." He added, "John Minieri, our Director of Plant Services, will also work with the Ministry Board to determine what buildings are needed for ongoing ministry and how to best utilize and maintain plant facilities." The Parish Renewal Process is a response to the Tenth Synod of the Archdiocese. In 1994 Archbishop McCarrick announced the recommendations of the Synod. They are, in order: the development of lay leadership, lifelong religious education and formation, building parish community, a caring church, parish youth ministers, marriage preparation and support, ministers of evangelization, deeper knowledge of Catholic faith by youth, advocacy for social justice, welcome and outreach, financial support for youth and young adult ministry, Church as witness, positive public and parish media, information and education, support groups, social needs identification in local areas, education for peace and justice, and parish accessibility and welcoming. In his response to the Synod, the Archbishop also called for enhanced social ministries and for the development and support of vocations and mission committees in every parish. All the structures and ministries implied in the Synod recommendations and the Archbishop's response to the Synod should be part of Catholic parish life throughout the Archdiocese. Several other Deaneries and groups of parishes are at various stages of instituting the parish renewal process. Eventually all parishes in the Archdiocese will participate in the process.
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