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"Action Plan"
Return to
"Action Plan"Dear Brothers and Sisters,
One year ago you
were asked to join in reflection and discussion of the draft
Implementation Plan based on the pastoral statement: The Church
in the City. The Plan was intended to serve as a broad framework
to guide our efforts as the Church over the next several years.
We were invited as a diocesan community to imitate Jesus in His
concern for the city as we begin the work of rebuilding our
cities as places where people can dwell in life-giving
relationships with God and with one another. Today we wish to
thank all those who have responded to that invitation and to
share the specific action plan crafted as a result of your input.
Parish communities throughout the eight counties of the diocese, our educational institutions, religious congregations, district gatherings, consultation groups, interfaith ministerial associations, civic and business groups have come together to discuss The Church in the City. In all, several thousand people from throughout the eight county area have been involved in the consultations. Many of you have sent written responses. Others have expressed observations and recommendations verbally. Hopefully you will find these reflected in the ongoing action plan.
IN YOUR RESPONSES WE HEAR:
an appreciation that The Church in the City is a call to conversion, a call to live out the gospel in every aspect of our lives. We believe this conversion experience in our individual and family lives will lead to reflecting upon decisions, choices and actions in a more faith-filled way. Our prayer and reflection on The Church in the City seem to have helped us to understand more fully what it means to be a Catholic Christian people living in society today, integrating our faith into our everyday living. Many have said that if we could all live this way faithfully, there would be no need for a plan or for any further discussion of The Church in the City. We would know ourselves to be one people, one Church, one city of God.
an awareness that we are called to be one people, one Church, one city. We do not wish to allow geographic, economic, social, racial, or ethnic differences to separate us.For so long the wedge of racial prejudice and misunderstanding has caused pain and separation among us. We are coming to realize more fully the gift of our diversity. There seems to be a growing desire to come to know one another, to be enriched by one another, to work towards removing the artificial barriers which often separate us. A common thread among the responses: our God calls us to unity and oneness not alienation and separation.
an eager response to our invitation to share in the giftedness of every person. Our relationships with one another are based on mutuality and respect. We all have gifts: the gift of who we are personally, the gift of our cultural and ethnic background and experience, the gift of our time, talent and treasure. Our faith calls us to be good stewards who share these gifts generously and freely. Perhaps, as never before, we are becoming aware of our interdependence. What affects one of us personally or what affects one area of our diocese- violence, overpopulation, poverty, shifting population, loss of farmlands really affects all of us.
a great sense of excitement about forming new partnerships rooted in the vision and spirit of The Church in the City people-to-people experiences celebrating mutual respect, the giftedness of our diversity, and the wonder of our unity. These partnerships seem to begin in simple ways: a suburban parish sharing in outreach at a hunger center; the work of a St. Vincent de Paul Society; the invitation of one pastor to another; youth groups meeting together. These moments can be the seeds of deepening relationships that foster mutual sharing of time and talent and bring forth creative, compassionate responses and actions. These relationships can also lead to new models for the future ministry and staffing of parishes and for interfaith cooperation. Requests from parishes, schools and church institutions have openly said, Tell us how to go about forming a partnership.
a willingness to share ideas to encourage, support and make known the many efforts and movements already in place. It seems that people are becoming more aware that our challenges and concerns are the same in many areas of the diocese. Any suggestion or project developed in one area can serve as a springboard for further discussion and action elsewhere. We realize our need to tell the good news of what is already happening good dedicated people reaching out to one another, others living with deep faith, courage, and hope despite very real adversity and injustice. We also need to face honestly and painfully the effects of greed, violence, injustice, poverty, homelessness, unemployment and underemployment, drugs and racism. These affect all of us who live in our society especially our families, our children, and those who are most vulnerable. As Church we have the responsibility to confront these injustices within our institutions and within ourselves.
a genuine concern for the education of all children whether they attend public, private or parochial schools. There have been efforts to create and deepen partnerships between schools and communities and to increase awareness of the need to strongly support a good education for every child of every community. We need to continue and expand upon these efforts
a deep desire on the part of many to build and rebuild the rich urban areas of our diocese. A number of our parish communities are involved in housing development, gardening projects, clean-up efforts, educational and job-training projects, neighborhood redevelopment and community organizing. These build up not only spaces and relationships, but lives. We have heard in the comments of those involved in such projects the seeds of deeper understanding, a spirituality of place, a sense of belonging to a community, a sense of rootedness.
a challenge to do our part to ensure balance in public policy so that the needs of cities and inner ring suburbs are given as much support as the development of new suburbs. Groups and parishes are beginning to look at demography, power structure, sprawl and land use, transportation and commercial developments. People are exploring ways to be involved in planning the future of our region.
concern for the rural areas of our diocese. The continuing shifts of population within our region cause the rural sections of the diocese genuine fear for the future of the agricultural and nursery land of our area, for the animals, trees, and water supplies. As citizens of one city we raise concern over the concreting of the farmlands in Medina, Wayne, Ashland, Lorain, Geauga, Summit and Lake counties? Questions are being asked about how we, as people of one region, are being good stewards in the use of these God given resources.
some of our suburban areas are experiencing significant change. In areas of major inmigration, there is no infrastructure to support the growth and little participation or input on the part of those most greatly affected. In other suburbs we are beginning to see the outmigration of population repeating a pattern familiar to the urban areas of our diocese. Will we allow that outmigration to leave further abandonment in its wake? Will we repeat our mistakes of the past?
that our Diocese covers a region that is diverse but one in many ways. We are one in our vision to be a Celebrating, Evangelizing, Caring, Teaching and Participating people. Whether a person lives in Ashland or Madison, in Elyria or Montrose, in Cleveland, Akron or Burton, there is a sense that we have a great deal in common. Our local issues may sound different, but they are often inter-related. As members of a diocesan-wide family, we bring a broader perspective and insight to discussions and concerns throughout our region.
Your responses, resulting from the prayer and discussion taking place in our various communities over the last several months, have helped in formulating a do-able plan for the future. You have asked that the plan:
In response we provide the following action plan for the 1996-97 year with the understanding that regular updates will be provided. We invite and appreciate your continued input and suggestions.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Anthony M. Pilla,
Bishop of Cleveland, and
The Church in the City Task Force
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