|
Key Points of A Vision of Parish Leadership |
|
|
|
In the 23 years that Monsignor Connolly has served our community as
Pastor, Holy Family has been witness to the changing paradigm of parish
leadership in the Church. Traditionally, the role of Pastor has
combined both ministerial and managerial duties. As the Church faces an
expanding shortage of priests, laypersons are assuming leadership roles
in both areas. In various pastoral letters, Cardinal Roger Mahony
invites us to support a new vision for the Church that embraces lay
leadership and allows the priest to emphasize the primary role of
ministerial priesthood. A Vision for Parish Leadership is Holy Family’s response to this invitation.
We are all part of the discussion about the future of our parish, and
we are all entitled to an understanding of the progression of events
that brings us here today. Listed below are some key points you should
know:
- The Cardinal has invited an extensive and comprehensive study of models of future leadership.
- In
August 2005, a Parish Leadership Planning Committee was established to
research new leadership models and to determine, in cooperation with
the Archdiocese, an appropriate structure for Holy Family Church.
- As
a result of this study, we have determined that the Parish Life
Director model is best suited to the future of Holy Family Church
leadership.
- The Parish Life Director is a layperson with advanced academic preparation and ministry experience appointed by the Cardinal to lead the parish.
- The
position of Parish Life Director is not new. Other parishes have
adopted this model, and the concept is supported by canon law.
|
- The Parish Life Director oversees all parish activities and collaborates with the Priest Minister on spiritual and liturgical matters.
- The
Pastor will transition to the role of Priest Minister and will work
with any other priest(s) affiliated with the parish to carry out the
pastoral, liturgical and sacramental life of the parish.
- We
are guided by a process, established by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles,
to transition the leadership of a parish to a Parish Life Director.
Bishop Gabino Zavala supports our decision to move in this direction.
- A
committee is in place to manage the leadership transition and to inform
the community by addressing questions and distributing information.
|
|
