Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
Archdiocesan Pastoral Council
MINUTES
April 22, 2006
The Griffin Center, Portland

Present: Archbishop John G. Vlazny, Fr. Dennis O’Donovan, and Members: Clint Bentz, Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers, Thom Faller, B.J. Finleybranch, Michelle Forster, Sr. Ruth Frank, Fr. Don Gutmann, Bruce Heldt, Eloisa Hernandez, Ray Houghton, F.J. Maloney, Eleanor Myers, Rick Nelson, Diane Peterson, Pat Ridenour, and Fr. Dick Rossman

           Staff Present: Todd Cooper and Fr. Chuck Lienert

Not Present: Jesus Bojorges, Mother Francine Cardew (E), Francisco Peña, & Deacon An Vu (E)
 

The twenty-first meeting of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council (APC) was called to order at 10:05am by the council chair, F.J. Maloney.  Eleanor Myers led the opening prayer.

The minutes from the February 4, 2006 meeting of the APC were approved with the following correction on page four, paragraph one:  “Eight or nine” men participated in the Archbishop’s Annual Priesthood Discernment Retreat.

The meeting agenda was approved with the addition of the following item: Salem Area Prison Ministry.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT

        FJ Maloney reported.  The APC Executive Committee met to plan the agenda.  There was agreement that with regard to the bankruptcy, constructive discussions would focus on pastoral issues to move beyond bankruptcy.  “Beyond Bankruptcy” as a theme could incorporate any number of pastoral matters, including stewardship.
        The chairperson for the Queen of Peace, Salem, advisory council wrote a letter to FJ as the chair of the APC.  The letter detailed concerns about prison ministry in the Salem area.  The primary concern stated in the letter was that the burden for funding the prison ministry was falling on two or three parishes.  The retirement of a Catholic priest who had been employed by the state has sharpened the issue.  Queen of Peace is asking the APC about possibilities for a more stable source of funding for prison ministry in the Salem area, which serves a statewide population.

SALEM AREA PRISON MINISTRY

        Council member Ray Houghton has done ministry at the downtown Portland jail.  Much of the money to support that ministry came from the county.  Prison ministry needs to be volunteer-based with some funding provided.
        Council member Rick Nelson has participated in prison ministry in Grants Pass, where there is two prisons.  The ministry is all volunteer-based.  There is a high turnover rate and only a budget of $300.  Paulist National Ministry offers support by providing resources, including bibles.
        It was suggested that the Catholic people of Salem should put pressure on the superintendent of the State Prison system to hire another Catholic chaplain.  Not an insignificant percentage of prison inmates are Catholic.  Queen of Peace has a political voice.  The Religious Liberty Restoration Act is in place and can be used to put pressure on the State.

        Eloisa Hernandez noted that Deacon Mendez also spends time doing ministry in the prisons in Salem.

        A Catholic presence is what is needed and that does not have to come primarily from a priest.  It can come from a deacon or religious.
        Unfortunately, prison/jail ministry is not a strength of the archdiocese.

        At the city metro level, there is not much support for even a non-denominational ministerial presence.

        The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RILUPA) requires that state prisons reasonably accommodate prisoners’ religious needs.

        If the APC gets involved in prison ministry as a pastoral priority, it should do so in a comprehensive way.  For example, on the archdiocesan level, training could be provided for prison ministry volunteers.  In this specific case, it seems that vicariate cooperation on the local level could tackle the issue successfully.

        Deacon Harold sits on a board with the person who oversees the prisons.  He will check to find out what the situation is regarding the Catholic chaplain position.

        FJ will draft a letter and send it in response to Queen of Peace.

BANKRUPTCY UPDATE

        Fr. Dennis O’Donovan reported.  APC members received an advanced copy of a letter addressing the bankruptcy that will be sent out on Monday.  The letter is from the archbishop and resulted in large part from the expressed desire of the APC for a communication about the bankruptcy at the Annual Vicariate Meetings of Pastoral Councils (see ATTACHMENT A).  This letter can be used by the APC vicariate representatives at those meetings.  It addresses the property litigation, the issue of unresolved claims, insurance litigation, the plan of reorganization and budget cuts.  It was felt that the best way to get the word out about the bankruptcy is a letter like this.  On December 30, 2005, the judge issued an opinion that the parishes and schools have no separate legal existence from the archdiocese and that parish properties were considered to be part of the estate.  This opinion has been appealed by the archdiocese as well as by the committee of parishes.  The issue of exercise of religious freedom has not been ruled upon.  Nor has the availability of the perpetual endowment fund for claims been ruled upon.

         We are looking for a number – an amount.  Once the pot is determined, others will decide how to divvy it up.  One challenging issue has been determining how to place a value on future claims.  Another difficult issue is that there is a group of claims that are believed to be fraudulent.

        The judge made a recent determination that if a case is seeking punitive damages, it must be heard in Federal court, otherwise, it will be heard in State court.  In either case – settlement or no, it is costly.  Attorneys’ fees are extensive.  The archdiocese already cut $1.3 million and 25 jobs two years ago and now we are looking at another $1 million in cuts.  As much as we can cut programs, we will save jobs.  There will be a special session of the Presbyteral Council this Thursday afternoon to seek the input of the priests on the needed cuts.
         On a positive note, there has been movement from the insurance companies and there is almost a settlement with four companies.
 The goal in the proceedings is to respect civil law and operate under our Church law as well.  Protection of assets is important and so borrowing is where we want to go.

         There are currently 115-120 unresolved claims.  140+ claims have been settled. In one particular set of claims, the State of Oregon also feels the claims have no merit.

         No plan will be approved that the archdiocese cannot afford.  Any plan will require sacrifice.  We will have to start operating as a smaller diocese. Healing, where possible, is still a priority.  Protection of children is still a priority.

         The Archdiocesan Loan & Investment Program (ALIP) fund is still operating within certain parameters.

         What does the bankruptcy mean for the parish?  Should I keep giving at the same level?  We are all being sued.  In all likelihood, parish assessments will go up.  Catholic Appeal money will be safe.

         While recovery of victims will be the priority, what help is planned for parishioners and others who have been victimized?

         Is it true that some parishes would suffer more from a higher assessment?  Yes, especially some smaller parishes, and the diocese is looking at how to address that issue.

ANNUAL VICARIATE MEETING OF PASTORAL COUNCILS (AVMPC)

 Todd Cooper reported.  The sample agenda for the meetings was reviewed.  The concept of sharing best practices can be placed in a broader context.  With fewer central services, parishes must rely upon each other to help compensate.  Sharing best practices is a way that this can happen.  Parishes can use each other as resources for initiatives that are successful and energizing.  The best practices sharing at the Annual Vicariate Meetings should center on the three top pastoral priorities.  Each parish should share its best practices related to Faith Formation at All Levels, Youth & Young Adult Ministry, and Multicultural Ministry.  If there are other best practices outside of these three areas that parishes would like to share, these will probably arise naturally, however, the focus should be on the three pastoral priorities.  It is hoped that each parish will bring a written report, but in the event that that does not happen, the APC reps should take good notes and perhaps provide sheets to be filled-out at the meeting itself.  Meetings should be designed in such a way as to get the info desired at the meeting itself.  The goal of the best practices sharing is to encourage parishes to work together cooperatively – sharing resources and collaborating.  There are many issues and challenges faced by parishes that can be better addressed when working together.  The vicariate structure is in place to aid in that process.
 Todd will send a digital copy of the implementation strategies related to the pastoral priorities so that vicariates can be made aware of the work that the APC has been doing.

 Discussion of the bankruptcy at the AVMPC should be constructive.  Moving “beyond bankruptcy” should be the focus.  Regardless of finances, our relationship with God remains intact and the work of the Church continues.  Now is the time to refocus our efforts in building God’s kingdom.  The idea of best practices sharing overlaps with this positive, “moving forward” approach.  With regard to the bankruptcy, the APC Vicariate Reps should not place themselves in a position of trying to give answers to questions, but of listening to parishes’ concerns about the bankruptcy and taking these back to the council and the archbishop.
 

LUNCH  12pm to 1pm
 


PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE

         Dr. Chuck Bentz, who was recently elected as the president of Physicians for Compassionate Care (PCC), gave a report to the council on physician assisted suicide.  The role of the Physician is “Do no harm.”  Assisted suicide, which was legally approved in 1994, creates a breach of trust between doctor and patient.  Now, vulnerable people in Oregon are put at risk (and people are most vulnerable at the time of death).  One of my own patients was prescribed a lethal prescription by another physician despite my outright disapproval.  When I refused to co-sign the order, the physician simply found someone else who would – and this was one of my patients.  I had no recourse.  A short time later, my patient was dead.

        The initial and worthy response on the part of those opposed to assisted suicide was to work to improve end of life care.  Vast strides have been made in the area of palliative care in Oregon in the last decade.  Now, there is great end of life care throughout the state, especially at Providence.  Opponents to assisted suicide are now taking a new approach to fighting the practice of assisted suicide.

        With regard to the assisted suicide (death with dignity) law, what many Oregonians understand to be the law, with proper safeguards and accountability is not what the law actually requires.  Assisted suicide is one of the few medical procedures where there is no malpractice – neither civil nor criminal, and much is not being reported.  Even death certificates do not show when a death was an assisted suicide.  Reporting of physician assisted suicide is not mandatory.  This is not right.

        Oregon leads the nation in elderly suicide.  Why do we have assisted suicide here? Many can picture the little old lady in agony at the end of life.  We say “I want to go out under my own terms.”  We share a mentality that “there are lots of fates worse than death.”  Some doctors reach a point where, since there is nothing else to do medically, they want to give a lethal prescription.  It becomes a technological imperative.
Dr. Bentz provided handouts for the council on Physician Assisted Suicide, including a position paper.  There are two opposing views that should be taken into account.  The first is the approach of treating the underlying issues when someone is suicidal.  The second is to treat by lethal prescription.

        There is a difference between assisted suicide and euthanasia.  In assisted suicide, the doctor writes the order of a lethal prescription and the patient administers it.  In euthanasia, the doctor actually administers the lethal dose himself.

        Catholic health care is doing great end of life care, but the physicians are not opposing assisted suicide.  I have come today to ask the archdiocese to address this issue by increasing awareness, mobilizing the people, and getting the priests to talk about it.
Physician assisted suicide is a horrible practice – and it is happening in our diocese.  My patients are dying.  What am I personally doing?  I am trying to instill in my patients the understanding that they are valuable as persons and they have dignity as human beings.  I am beginning to make house calls to impress upon patients that they are important and that I hold them in high regard.

        Physicians for Compassionate Care (PCC) is working to make its organization a little more compassionate.  We want to give physicians the tools and skill sets they need to help patients, especially in end of life care.  Reverence is the best approach.  That is my pledge to my own patients.  It took my own patient being killed before I was called to action.  I hope it is not soon a parishioner or family member.
Doctors are not trained in palliative care in medical school.  This needs to happen.

Q & A

 How do we attack this issue?  If it was an issue in schools, it would seem that we would focus on the faculty.  Since it is an issue in hospitals, the focus should be on physicians.  The policies in Catholic hospitals are opposed, but the physicians are not.  This is a control issue for life.  The minds and hearts of Catholic people need to be changed with regard to assisted suicide.  At the parish level, we need to help people understand better the dignity of the human person and the sanctity of human life - and how intimately these are connected to life issues – from abortion to the death penalty to assisted suicide.

 Where do physicians stand?  There seems to be a fairly casual attitude.  We are the only state in the nation with this law.  We have perhaps been relying too much on federal efforts to bail us out of the assisted suicide mess.  With the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Gonzales vs. Oregon, that is not going to happen.

ARCHBISHOP’S REPORT

Chrism Mass & Holy Week

 We recently celebrated a great Chrism Mass and a wonderful Holy Week, with 1000 people joining the Church at the Easter Vigil.  In the diocese, we are excellent with RCIA, but we should also focus on the continuing formation of converts even after Easter.  Mystagogia is the official name for this continuing formation.  We lose many converts in the first few years.  There is no continuing formation after being received into the Church.

Priest Assignments

 It is that time of year again for new priest assignments.  The diocesan policy for priests is a six year term at a parish that is renewable for six years, for a maximum of twelve years (unless a priest is over 65 when the term is up).  The priest personnel board helps the archbishop decide where priests should be assigned.  In making assignments, it is not always a perfect fit – for priest or parish.  There are only 12-15 associate pastors.  Associates serve three year terms if possible.
Deacons’ Gathering
 The annual assembly with the archbishop was at the Grotto this year with the deacons and their wives.  There are about forty deacons, with another twenty in formation.

Archbishop’s Appeal

 We are already at 95% of our $3.15 million goal.  It has been another successful appeal.

Consistory Pilgrimage

 The archbishop led a pilgrimage to Rome in March when Archbishop Levada was elevated to the rank of Cardinal.  It was a wonderful pilgrimage and included a penance service, the consistory itself when the new cardinals were created, a reception at the North American College, a splendid dinner, the Mass of the Rings, and a titular church Mass at Santa Maria in Domnica.  Levada is now a Cardinal deacon.  It was good to see the pope, who is fitting into his job well.  He is a brilliant person and great preacher.  He is truly being his own man.

Vocations

 Six new candidates for the seminary have been accepted.  Eleven to twelve new seminarians are expected in the fall.  Quo Vadis Days in the summer brings the thought of priesthood into the minds and hearts of middle & high school aged boys.

Bankruptcy

 Budget cuts are impending.

Upcoming Events

 After Easter is confirmation season.  Adult Confirmation is coming on Friday, May 19 (eighty were confirmed last year).  Transitional Diaconate ordinations are on May 20.  Priesthood ordinations are on June 10.  Both ordinations are at the Cathedral.  There will be five new priests for assignments.  May 22 is the Mass for Deceased Clergy, hosted by St. John Fisher Parish.  The 71st Annual Seminary Tea is this Wednesday.  It is a fundraiser for seminary funds.

Pastoral Priorities Implementation Update

 Todd Cooper gave the update & distributed a handout (See ATTACHMENT B).  With regard to Faith Formation at All Levels, retreat resource information is being gathered to be posted on the website along with what is currently there.  In addition, for Multicultural Ministry, teams of people from several of the major ethnic groups in the archdiocese will be formed to gather information and resources to create multicultural web pages for the archdiocese.  The initial cultural groups that will be featured include Hispanics, Vietnamese, African Americans, Koreans, Filipinos, Italians, and Eastern Europeans.

ARCHDIOCESAN PASTORAL ASSEMBLY

 Todd Cooper reported.  The dates for the next pastoral assembly are November 10 & 11, 2006.  The Annual Vicariate Meetings of Pastoral Councils will provide important groundwork for the assembly.  The purpose of the assembly is to provide a diocesan-wide forum for pastoral planning and to elect new members to the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council.  Several current and former APC members and at least one parish pastoral council chairperson have volunteered to join the planning committee for the APA.  A dynamic keynote speaker needs to be identified, as does a theme for the gathering.
 After brief discussion, the consensus of the council was that the theme of the assembly should deal with hope – Our Mission in Hope, Hope for the Future, Charting the Future in Challenging Times, or something along those lines.  It was agreed that a positive focus was needed, especially in the midst of the bankruptcy.  Suggestions for a keynote speaker included Matthew Clark, who has spoken on being the best you can be – being agents of hope.  Another suggestion included former Portlander Alejandro Aguilera-Titus, who currently works for the USCCB and always delivers a positive Catholic message.
 Regarding the process at the assembly, the major strategy is to assist each other in our work of evangelization.  Most of the discussions should be in small groups.  How do we increase our networking and collaboration?  How do we network and collaborate on an ongoing basis?    Talk about best practices and model how to make this an institutionalized practice.  The best of the best practices will be presented at the assembly.  Perhaps one example in each area of the pastoral priorities.  This should help to generate enthusiasm.  Group discussions should be facilitated.  Working more collaboratively and sharing resources is the goal.
 The APA planning committee will be formed and work will be done in the coming months.  A progress report will be given at the next APC meeting on September 30, 2006.

The meeting concluded with a prayer led by B.J. Finleybranch.

NEXT MEETING:  Saturday, September 30, 2006
                                   from 10am to 3pm
                                               at TBA
 

This letter was printed on Archdiocesan letterhead.    Office of the Archbishop

                                                                                                                                                                                April 21, 2006

Dear Friends in Christ,

The first Letter of Peter encourages us to “be ready always to give a reason for the hope that is in you." (1 Peter 3:15) As the Catholic community in Western Oregon gathered to celebrate the Easter mysteries, we discovered anew the reason for the hope and the faith that I see in the faithful of this Archdiocese. Despite ongoing litigation and uncertainty, people continue to be led to the Church; young men are being educated for the priesthood; the Gospel is being preached; the sacraments are being celebrated; our children are being educated; and, the vulnerable are being assisted. This is the reality that provides a larger context for the information I want to share with you at this time.

When I last wrote to you in early January, the Bankruptcy Court had just issued significant rulings. Much has happened since then and I want to keep you up to date on where we are in the Chapter 11 proceedings.

Property litigation. The Archdiocese has appealed the Bankruptcy Court’s December rulings; the parishes, parishioners and schools have also appealed. The appeal will be briefed, and argued sometime this fall. You may recall that the court ruled that parishes have no separate legal existence – that they are merely part of the Archdiocese – and thus parish real estate belongs to the Archdiocese. The court also ruled (using nine parishes and one high school as test properties) that, under bankruptcy law, the interests of those parishes/school in their real property could be eliminated and that those properties are potentially available to pay creditors of the Archdiocese.

The court did not rule that any specific assets are available to pay claims; only that certain real property is potentially available. Issues of charitable trust, donor intent and other restrictions on the use of parish and school property remain to be determined. The court later suggested in another ruling that no parish or school property would be considered available to pay claims until after all relevant issues have been decided and appeals finally resolved.

Another motion is pending to determine whether the Perpetual Endowment Fund, a charitable trust established in 1981 by Archbishop Cornelius Power, is an asset of the Archdiocese available to pay claims. The Archdiocese contends that it is not; that its use is otherwise restricted by the Declaration of Trust establishing the fund. The court will rule on this issue within the next few months.

Mediation of the property case. Even while the appeal on property rulings and other matters are pending, we continue to mediate the property case to try to reach a settlement acceptable to all concerned. The Archdiocese is working closely and cooperatively with representatives of the parishes and parishioners to achieve a feasible resolution of the property litigation. The support of parishes and parishioners will be critical in these efforts.
 

Tort claims. To complete a plan of reorganization and close the Chapter 11 case, the Archdiocese has requested the court to estimate the value of pending unresolved claims. This will allow us to proceed more expeditiously towards confirmation of our plan of reorganization. The methodology for estimating claims will be determined by the court within the next month or so.

Insurance litigation. The Archdiocese also remains heavily involved in litigation with insurance companies. We have produced hundreds of thousands of documents to insurers and many depositions have been taken. Presently, we are negotiating with several insurance companies and hope to reach settlements with them in the near future.

Plan of reorganization. The Archdiocese filed its plan of reorganization in November 2005. After reviewing objections to this plan, we modified it to address the concerns expressed. The Tort Claimants Committee also filed a plan which it is modifying. The Archdiocese objected to this plan as totally lacking in feasibility in that it intended to use assets to pay claims (including parish and school property) that the court had not yet determined were property of the estate. Both plans will come before the court again next month. In the meantime, the Finance Council and the College of Consultors are considering issues related to funding our plan of reorganization.

Budget cuts. Regardless of what may happen in the bankruptcy case in the coming weeks, we face serious cash flow problems. We will need to cut approximately $1 million in services to the parishes and schools from the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center for the 2006-2007 fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2006. I am concerned about the effect of these cuts, not only on those whose jobs will be affected, but also on all those who depend on services and programs that may no longer be available. No decisions have yet been made as to how the cost savings will be accomplished. I will be meeting with the Presbyteral Council and College of Consultors to hear their thoughts and priorities for services that should continue to be provided by the Pastoral Center and those that we may need to forego and rely on the parishes to provide.

Through all of these challenges, I am encouraged by your faith and your support and the graces our loving Lord continues to shower on us. I count on your prayers and support. Only your generosity will allow us to continue many of the ministries of the Church of Western Oregon.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

 (Signed: +John G. Vlazny)

Most Rev. John G. Vlazny
Archbishop of Portland in Oregon
 
 

FAITH FORMATION AT ALL LEVELS
Pastoral Priority Number One

Pastoral Plan:

I.  FAITH FORMATION AT ALL LEVELS
        • Eucharist-centered
        • Personal Encounter with Christ

        Catholics of all age groups are hungry for their faith.  They are seeking a deeper relationship with God and a better understanding of their Catholic faith.  It is the aim of the Church to help foster and fulfill these desires and to walk with all baptized believers on the path to holiness.
By its very nature, faith formation involves the whole person.  Learning about the Catholic faith without having experienced the love of God cannot constitute true faith formation.  Likewise, an experience of God’s love without a corresponding knowledge of Jesus Christ and his Church is incomplete.  Faith formation engages both the head and the heart.  Growing intellectual knowledge of the faith coupled with a deepening experiential knowing of the person of Jesus Christ comprise a genuine faith formation.

        The Eucharist is the “source and summit” of our faith.  Faith formation should therefore be centered on the Eucharist.  Ways must be found to lead adults, youth, and children consistently and creatively to an ever deeper personal encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.  It is not enough to live our faith one hour per week on a Sunday.  We are called to be a holy people.  It is the grace of the Eucharist that empowers us to live the faith in our daily lives.
 

APC Implementation Strategies:

Faith Formation at All Levels

        1. Focus on the Sunday Eucharist as the primary means of faith formation at all levels.  Encourage “teaching homilies” on specific Sundays (e.g. teach about the Eucharist on the feast of Corpus Christi, or about the sacrament of reconciliation on a Sunday in Lent).  Provide resources for and encourage pastors to explain certain parts of the Mass during the liturgy or to offer “teaching Masses” that help the faithful better understand the celebration.

        2. Provide resources for and encourage parishes to form or continue small faith-sharing groups (similar to Disciples in Mission groups) that are centered on the Eucharist.

        3. Encourage and assist parishes in the promotion of spending personal time with Jesus in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament outside of Mass.  Provide such opportunities at the parish & vicariate level.  Encourage the establishment of perpetual adoration chapels where possible.

        4. Provide resources for and encourage parishes to offer retreats that are centered on encountering Christ.  Identify priests, deacons and lay people who are qualified to lead retreats (e.g. Fr. Chun).  Provide a list of retreat centers; include inexpensive options.
 

Cabinet Recommendations:

At their annual retreat in September of 2005, cabinet members were asked by Archbishop Vlazny to reflect upon and discuss the Pastoral Priority Implementation Strategies developed by the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council.  The cabinet members made some recommendations to the bishop about how the strategies could be implemented.

        1. Sr. Jeremy Gallet will be asked to form a committee including a priest and others to look at the strategy of using teaching homilies on specific Sundays.
        2. Tom Gornick will look into materials that might be used for small faith sharing groups each Lent.
        3. The archbishop will encourage adoration prayer before the Blessed Sacrament in parishes.
        4. Todd Cooper will be asked to put together a list of resources for retreats both within parishes and at retreat centers.
 
 

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YOUTH & YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY
Pastoral Priority Number Two

Pastoral Plan:

II.  YOUTH & YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY
    • Help young adults develop a mature faith
    • Recruit, train, and pay qualified coordinators of youth ministry
    • Help youth remain connected to Church as they transition to young adulthood

        Youth and young adults together represent the largest single age grouping of Catholics. The Church has a special concern for these younger generations.  Youth and young adults deserve the opportunity to experience a vibrant and meaningful faith so that their lives are rich and full of hope.  When youth catch on fire with their faith, they provide a profound energy and inspiring presence that is a leaven for the entire community.  When young adults become actively involved in parish ministries, they become building blocks for the future of the Church.

        One of the primary goals of youth ministry is to create and maintain strong ties between young people and the Church, providing a firm foundation to which they can return and upon which they can rely during the challenging years leading to adulthood.  Popular culture often presents, as values, attitudes and behaviors that run contrary to Gospel living.  Catholic youth and young adults need support from friends and from the Church in order to live their lives as Christ is calling them to live it – as faithful followers of the Gospel.

        Youth and young adult ministry is seen as a major component of faith formation at all levels. One of the fruits of successful youth and young adult ministry will be an increase of vocations.  With help from their families and guided by the wisdom of the Church, youth and young adults will grow strong in their faith and become a sure source of hope for all.
 

APC Implementation Strategies:

Youth & Young Adult Ministry

        1. Promote and support Theology on Tap as a faith formation program for young adults.  Add leadership training and weekend retreats that integrate peace and justice work with faith formation.
        2. Promote Life Teen as an option for parish youth ministry programs where adequate resources exist.
        3. Promote fun faith programs like the Leap of Faith ropes course to bring youth together.
        4. Investigate the recruitment of Religious men & women as resources for YYA ministry.
        5. Create a one-year YYA awareness campaign outlining “The Risk of our Catholic Youth at the Crossroads.”  Encourage parental involvement in faith formation of their children.
        6. Research possibility of long term endowment to fund salaried Youth Training Director assigned to geographical areas of highest priority.
        7. Establish parish visitation & training program through the YYA Ministry Office in 2006.
        8. Add reporting of YYA ministry parish metrics to Archdiocesan Annual Report.
        9. Add a faith formation element to CYO sports events.
 

Cabinet Recommendations:

        1 – 5.  The Youth & Young Adult Ministry staff has already begun to implement the first five
strategies.  The office will be asked to make sure this continues.
        6. This recommendation will be reviewed once the archdiocese emerges from bankruptcy.
        7. Youth ministry staff will be encouraged to continue visiting parishes, especially those where there are no youth ministers.  The aim is to encourage parishes to work cooperatively to provide youth ministry.
        8. Fr. Pat Brennan and Mary Jo Tully will work to develop a parish profile form that could be used every two years to report on the pastoral initiatives, including youth ministry.  This will serve as a tool to measure how parishes are responding to this priority.
        9. The archbishop will contact CYO to see about strengthening faith formation elements at CYO sports events.
 
 

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MULTICULTURAL MINISTRY
Pastoral Priority Number Three

Pastoral Plan:

III.  MULTI-CULTURAL MINISTRY
    • What we can become together
    • Develop multi-cultural leadership
 

The APC and Archbishop Vlazny recognize that the face of the Catholic community in western Oregon has been changing rapidly with the addition of people from many different cultures – particularly the Spanish speaking cultures.  As a result, we face an important and timely opportunity, not only to meet pastoral needs, but especially to embrace the diverse gifts and spiritual heritages brought to us by peoples of different languages, cultures and regions.

As a community of believers, we must develop a vision of what we can become together.  Surely, we will become a greater reflection of God’s love in the world if we share our gifts and our lives with one another.  Rather than viewing each other as strangers, we wish to see each other as friends and companions on the journey of faith.  In order to achieve this goal, we must learn about each other, spend time together, pray and worship together, take meals, celebrate, work, and live out our one Catholic faith together.  We must share our art, our customs, our music, our food, and our devotions for the mutual enrichment of one another.  As well, we must share our hearts, our dreams, our talents, and even our brokenness with one another.

Multi-cultural ministry is a vital part of the future of the Church.  Only through cooperation and genuine, concerted effort amongst the many cultural groups within the archdiocese can we meet and minister to the spiritual needs of the Church as a whole.  Reaching out to each other will sometimes be a difficult challenge, but just imagine what we can become together!

APC Implementation Strategies:

Multicultural Ministry

        1. Hold a conference or symposium to define the vision of multicultural ministry in the archdiocese.  Gather representatives from the different ethnic groups and consultative bodies in the diocese and invite a qualified speaker to facilitate the process.
        2. Establish a website that will serve as a multicultural resource, especially for pastoral ministers.  Include info on each ethnic group and its respective feast days, devotions, traditions, images and history.  Include links to other resource sites.  Designate someone to monitor and update the site.  Site should be offered in different languages.  A committee should be formed to help develop the site and determine what info should be included.
        3. The Pastoral Center should be a model of multicultural ministry.  Priority should be given to hiring bi-lingual employees at the archdiocese, especially in pastoral ministry positions.
        4. Provide language opportunities for English and non-English speakers.  Offer language classes for pastoral ministers where they serve. Encourage lay parishioners to teach English as a second language (ESL) at parishes.
        5. Identify, encourage and seek the help of the leaders in different cultural groups within parishes.
        6. Through the Justice & Peace Office and Catholic Charities, create awareness in our faith communities of the plight of fellow Catholics who are immigrants and are impoverished.  Arrange forums where people can share their stories.    Supply info on current legislation and its impact on people.
 

Cabinet Recommendations:

    1. The cabinet will look toward the idea of holding a conference or symposium about multicultural ministry in the near future
    2. Todd Cooper and Bud Bunce will be asked to work on the website that could serve as a multicultural resource for pastors and pastoral ministers.
    3. The Pastoral Center will continue looking for employees from diverse cultural backgrounds
    4. Raul Velazquez and Leda Saenz will be asked to look into opportunities for both Spanish and English language study
    5. In identifying multicultural leaders, focus should be on Hispanics, Vietnamese, African Americans, Koreans, Filipinos, Italians and Eastern Europeans
    6. The Justice and Peace Office and Catholic Charities can assist parishes in becoming more aware of the plight of the poor.  St. Andrew’s Parish could also serve as a resource in sharing how it has implemented this priority.  Parish twinning should be seriously considered where parishes with many resources could share with a poorer partner.
 
 

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