{ title: 'Courier-Journal. (Rochester, N.Y.) 1968-current, May 05, 1988, Page 1, Image 1', download_links: [ { link: 'http://www.loc.gov/rss/ndnp/ndnp.xml', label: 'application/rss+xml', meta: 'News about NYS Historic Newspapers - RSS Feed', }, { link: '/lccn/np00020004/1988-05-05/ed-1/seq-1/png/', label: 'image/png', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/np00020004/1988-05-05/ed-1/seq-1.pdf', label: 'application/pdf', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/np00020004/1988-05-05/ed-1/seq-1/ocr.xml', label: 'application/xml', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/np00020004/1988-05-05/ed-1/seq-1/ocr.txt', label: 'text/plain', meta: '', }, ] }
Image provided by: Rochester Regional Library Council
fciSS-ate-v: SPWMBmii i«-u --I..JW. - . • WffXyvff^p^yffy?!!?!^^^^!^?^!!^!^ 1 ^^ l*f Stadium showdowns CofdinQiMoon6yoftd BishopKe^wrtey wort league contests ot 5fi^ Stadium lost weetertd seatas &» stage this iiiiiiiiiiSiiiiiyjiiiitiiiii^^ boseboB >ow<«i ftogd <2. - 4 s - »t inspires new By Lee Strong By the year 2000, the number of active pri- ests in the Diocese of Rochester will have declined to nearly half the current number. If trends, in the numbers of retirements, deaths and ordinations continue, fewer than 100 priests will be available to fill the 144 pastorates currently filled by diocesan priests — potentially producing more than 40 pastor- less parishes. ^ , The diocese could look at this growing shortage as a crisis — a time to close parishes and reduce services. Instead, it has chosen to look at the situa- tion as an opportunity to grow and change. This attitude is exemplified by several dioce- san initiatives. On Tuesday, May 10, the diocese will con- duct a ministry .day for parish personnel in which two featured speakers -r- Sister Martha Ann M(^uui^^^9^ton^aa , miiiistrator inruiaiMni^^ pastor ofla lti-parish cluster in inner-city Gr0ss< : situation in the Ko^es>:df??&c^elter.- Tfip&iy: was^dj^igj|ed tb^iomote awaieness and discussion of thi sit- uation amppg parish staffs, and to encourage their input in developing solutions for the dicfcfSfc . the Priests' Council, meanwhile, has en- gaged in ongoing discussion of a tentative job description for the pastoral administrator — a religious brother or sister, deacon or lay per- son., The description is currently being evalu- ated?^ the Development of Ministers and Emplc^^ Gpmmittee of the Personnel Com- mi^i^|ii;;v'.':;.;.•.,-.'' \yipat Wre mwng into is a new model of t^^^h^^cpli^^iJudith Kollar, director orthe|diocesan Department of Continuing Education. \I believe this is the beginning of a longjprocess of dialogue, consultation and prepangtion for ensuring the pastoral cane of - Kollar, whoorganized the ministry day, said the diocese's ongoing analyst oftiwnjuture of thepai^ahdofp^ an attempt to deal with the reality of declin- ing numbers of priests. \We're not in a crisis situation yet?' she not- ed. \We have the leisure to explore options. We're setting up our ambulance before we have the accident!' ? The declining numbers of priests also is lead- ing to a new. understanding of the priesthood, the laity and parish leaderslup, Kollar said. \We are a eucharistic people; the priest is es- sentiair she noted. But, at the same time* she said, people must begin to understand \that the experience of the past will not be able to be met in the future!' Members of the diocese have already gained a glimpse of that future through various tem- porary and permanent staffing initiatives. In the fall of 1986, for example, Sister Rita He- berle, RSM, was appointed temporary pastoral administrator at Immaculate-Heart of Mary Church in Painted Post while the, pastor, fa- ther Walter Wainwright, was on sabbatical. Similarly, Sister Julia Norton, RSM, served; as the. temporary administrator at Our Ladj^pf Maal^ittel-irom^fflSioer^J&&£4lK:' 1987, while Father Jim Hewes was on sab- batical. , ,: .;. *-.;. 6 ; #^.:. - Although both appointments ,were lem- porai^ they providemodels for what may be- come permanent, situations in the future. Both sisters-had the theological training, experience in parish work, and the proven administrative; counseling and leadership skills thafcarecalled for in the proposed criteria SOT pastoral ad- ministrators. Likewise, both had to rely on priests from outside\ ^he jiarish to 'perform sacramental functions, under the proposed criteria' a \priest moderator\ living outside the parish will fulfill that role — possibly in several parishes. Sister Heberle had served as pastoral assis- tant in the Painted Post parish for three years before becoming administrator. Thus, the parishioners knew her beforehand, affording her a certain degree of trust and confidence. Nevertheless, parishioners did have to make some adjustments — even if only temporari- ly. Although a priest visited the parishto ful- fill sacramental functions, the parish had to function without the constant presence of a ffl HIKE FOR THE HOMELESS - Dan Deckmen, 10, gets a gcK*Huc* loss from erwther waMtathon participant, Otis; the seeing-eye dog owned by Dan's grsmfcnother. Bet- -_' ty Schrhitty Otis earned nearly $350 in pledges for Dmitri House's He^ for^Home- less, Saturday, Apr! 30. Nearly 150 participants combined to raise $13,000 through the 10-kilometer hike. ! priest. Sister Heberle speculated that if such ap- pointments, become permanent structures, parishioners will need a new understanding of the role priests will play. \The people are go- ing to have to be educated to understand that there are functions that our rJttdon do how- that are not necessarily thmgs pfieste have to|: do!' she said. \That's already bemg;pltrven in parishes with pastoral assistants?^.,/'- Another model for futW parish structures w Priest shortage may after role of permanent?deacons Wm<*fi4 &v---^&-.~--?<r-•••••,'-••:. ; Around the Diocese. Calendar Classifieds Columnists..... Echo ... Editorial & Opinion. lV&tUIV&*...... ..••••••••< Local News Obituaries Sports World & Nation.... Page 2 Page 10 Page 17 Pages 14-15 Page 11 Rage 18 Pages 4, 20 Page 3 Page 17 Pages 12-13 Pages 5-9 ,fi>j,.4^^^;a-^«A^^^>^W(Wyfealv;Y. a$j£j> •\ :W \V When theperrnanent diaco^te\vas restored m flw ^ocese 6f^^ shortage of priests was stUI;aaominous<doud ontfieiijori^s^. .•-' '.• •~^- s -' j^'f - - Npw> as faa^l0aM-^wtiK'\)^gba:0f0 the impact .-Of^^tf^j|igy^^y''yo^p»,' they are seekmg|in^&v£ibrnis ofps^ral leadership. -^ft->....,;. ; ; : -'*%, -.-,,*-*•£•. ' Deacons are tine?0f^'d^|^ice^i|^^|^jto.; fill the void. In addition to OT which they haw topically performed on a part- time, volunteer basis, some deacons are serv- ing as full-time paid, pastoral assistants or re- ligious educators. And as diocesan officials prepare for the day when the fust non-priest is appointed as pastoral administrator, perma- nent deacons are among those being consid- ered for the job. <s \Deacons are very well prepared for that be- cause of their varied background of family, in- dustry and a solid training for ministry?' said William Maune, associate director for the di- ocesan Permanent Diaconate. 'Maune cautioned, however, that deacons should not be considered as the only, or even >'* y »l person does not. have to be ordained to be pastoral.\ As the-diocesjf s 67 permanent deacons pre- pared to celebrate theirprogram's 10th anniver- sary, some 4 questioned whether the need to comrjerisate||r?a lack c<f priests is distorting the role they|i|^jprdairied to fill. Whenftb^jfepna|^^ restored,jts func- tion —-asjmOT|:eMy^huicb — was envi- sroned asoi^of service^the poor, the sick, Aelolg^»\ OfflciaJIy,, deacons are asked to minister eight to 10 hours per week. But realistically, mimstry^rtas become the equivalent of a sec- ond job for many.,: ; ; As priests Mve;bj^me fewer in number, deacons' Hturg^rrJesr^ steadily increased. A parish de^rinrwconunonly serves at all of his parish's weekend liturgies. Deacons may also be expected to attend weeknigHt parish meetings and evbnts in addition to such tradi- tional service roles as visiting hospitals, prisons and nursing homes.- At the sam^j time, Maune observed, the workplaceuincre^tsing its demands on em- ployeesbeybirf:the4jg*ourweek^ numbers of women enter the workforce, dea ^«%0BM|^i1ftfj«r^ home. \You're on a treadBuil — working all day, and then going wceknrghtt ind weekends^' Maune said. \I'm concerned for the long haul about burnout and family crises!' One means of easing the tension is to make . ministry a full-time occupation — an avenue that is attracting permanent deacons faster than organizers of the program originally an- ticipated. •' Some deacons, including Maune, have cho- sen early retirement fj^tJieirca^ in busi- ness and industiy Worder to:^ to parish and diocesan- assianments. Others r combine part-time jobs with pakl ministry po-.. sitions to make ends meet. : Maune believes that deacons' experience in | the workplace may help them avoid the pitfalls • of burnout and overcommitment to-which! many priests have fallen victim. \We have learned to delegate to others without abdicat- ing lesponsirjilityT Maune said. \Many rjriests have never been trained in good administra- tion and in how to delegate. We ordain thein and people kind of expect tliey can do all of •• that!' .-\:• '• ;';' : ^^ mm :MM •Sli
