Can we really link/cluster/merge parishes successfully? “Don’t take our priest!” is a sentiment often heard in elevated tones. That’s why our parish deemed attending the Racine Consultation presented by the North American Forum on the Catechumenate this past August as essential.
Pastoral ministers from around the country gathered to share a variety of experiences, identify emerging best practices, and develop strategies for more effective implementation of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults in the challenging pastoral circumstances that come with linking, clustering or merging parish communities. The August gathering was one of two Consultations on the RCIA in multiple parishes. The information gathered from these two Consultations will serve as the primary building blocks for the forthcoming institute on the RCIA in multiple parishes.
During the two-day Consultation, two key issues emerged. The first was letting people experience and work through a grieving process. Loss of the familiarity of parish life can easily (or frequently) manifest itself emotionally like the loss of a cherished loved one. Parishioners in the context of clustering need time to heal - more than simply needing time to adjust. As a practical matter, they need time to express thoughts and feelings, time to let go, time to experience the transition within. They need permission to mourn.
The second issue was that the process of linking/clustering/merging itself takes time and is therefore often done best over an extended period. It’s a process that ought not be rushed or hurried. It was recognized that it may take three to five years to successfully link/cluster/merge an RCIA process. There are many factors to consider: geographic distance, cultural differences, the RCIA director, and the temperament and style of the pastor. Each plays a role in how the RCIA will be expressed and experienced in a multi-parish setting.
The information shared during the Consultation was provided by those in the trenches - those who are already ministering within this new dynamic. They testified firsthand to the life giving and difficult experiences, to times of hope and times of sorrow and pain. Some ministers had ended up leaving their parish community, while others were able to continue. Some clustering of parishes were good matches, while others simply did not work. It was interesting to learn how commonplace linking/clustering/merging has become nationwide.
We were asked to read Pastoring Multiple Parishes, by Mark Mogilka and Kate Wiskus before attending the Consultation. This turned out to be a treasure for me. This volume is a wealth of information, guidance and best practices. A thrill for me personally was the unexpected “insider’s access” to author Mark Mogilka. Mr. Mogilka was my “chauffeur” from the ferry in Milwaukee to Racine. During the ride, I was able to speak with him about several aspects of his book which had caught my attention. These included the need to let people express their grief bolstered by leadership’s critical role in helping these individuals and families navigate the anger of loss.
Can we really link/cluster/merge parishes successfully? Can we share a priest? Can we re-think when and where Mass and church rituals will be conducted? Yes - knowing that change takes time, the grieving process takes time, and leadership skills are key to the process. “Change challenges us. The apostles understood this. Account after account in the Acts of the Apostles describes the challenges the disciples and the new communities of Christians faced in the wake of the resurrection and Pentecost. We do well to understand that change dares us to anticipate those challenges and to charitably move forward together in building up the Body of Christ” (Pastoring Multiple Parishes, 13).
Beth Dake is the Director of Faith Formation for St. Philip Neri in Reed City and St. Anne in Paris. When the transition in pastoral assignment occurs for the parishes in Evart and Marion, these parishes will be clustered with St. Philip Neri. At the time of that clustering, St. Anne will become a seasonal chapel.
