The Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. Diarmuid Martin, has launched a pilot project for the establishment within the Archdiocese of Pastoral Areas served by a single pastoral team.A number of parishes in a particular area will work together more effectively for the mission of the Church.
Archbishop Martin had announced the project at the recent ordination of three new priests for the Archdiocese.
The model will be based on the concept of Team Ministry” envisaged by Canon 517 § 1 of the Code of Canon Law, by which the pastoral care of a number of parishes is entrusted to a team of priests, working with deacons, religious and lay people.
Each Parish will retain its own identify and each will have its own Parish Pastoral Council and Finance Committee at least one resident priest and a Rector Ecclesia, a specific priest who will have responsibility for the management of the individual parish Church.
Overall responsibility and pastoral planning will, however, be shared by common counsel (c. 543 2º) and according to a plan determined by the members of the team (c. 543 § 1).
Overall responsibility and pastoral planning will, however, be shared by common counsel (c. 543 2º) and according to a plan determined by the members of the team (c. 543 § 1).
The work of each team will be coordinated by a priest Moderator. His role will be one of primus inter pares, since each of the Team Members has an equal responsibility within the entire pastoral area.
Each of the priest members of the team will celebrate Mass in each of the parish Churches and is bound to fulfill the duties and obligations of a Parish Priest referred to in cc. 528-530, 543.
In addition, each Priest is also responsible to the Archbishop and to the faithful of the Parishes.
Each of the priest members of the team will celebrate Mass in each of the parish Churches and is bound to fulfill the duties and obligations of a Parish Priest referred to in cc. 528-530, 543.
In addition, each Priest is also responsible to the Archbishop and to the faithful of the Parishes.
The model is both as an incentive for new initiatives of pastoral care and evangelization and a support to priests.
It does not envisage lessening in any way the necessary role of Parish Pastoral Councils or other groups of lay collaboration.
Team Ministry is a support structure aimed at fostering creativity and new initiatives in the service of evangelization and of supporting a variety of ministries in an area wider than an individual parish.
Certain administrative services can be carried on more efficiently by lay people on a broader scale.
It will also allow for the expansion of specific ministries - such as youth ministry - in the pastoral area which it would be difficult for an individual parish to sustain.
It does not envisage lessening in any way the necessary role of Parish Pastoral Councils or other groups of lay collaboration.
Team Ministry is a support structure aimed at fostering creativity and new initiatives in the service of evangelization and of supporting a variety of ministries in an area wider than an individual parish.
Certain administrative services can be carried on more efficiently by lay people on a broader scale.
It will also allow for the expansion of specific ministries - such as youth ministry - in the pastoral area which it would be difficult for an individual parish to sustain.
It is proposed initially to establish such Pastoral Areas comprising of the parishes:
1. Crumlin, Mourne Road and Clogher Road
2. Rolestown, Garristown and the Naul
3. Balinteer, Meadowbrook and Dundrum
4. Rathfarnham, Churchtown and Ballyroan
The initiative will begin in September. Archbishop Martin will be meeting the new teams in the coming weeks, together with the Parish Pastoral Council and the Finance Committees of each parish.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce