A Transitional Pastoral Council has been working since July. Its
primary task is to form a permanent Pastoral Council for our Faith
Community by January 2011. The discernment process will begin in
September. Their secondary task is to assist in discerning some
immediate issue regarding the transitions. This has been most helpful.
The council was formed by the two previous parish councils who discerned
who should be approached. The council currently has three members from
each parish. They have helped formulate the following principles of
transitions.
Principles of Transition
1. We trust that the Holy Spirit will work through all of us to
build a vibrant faith community that transcends even the greatest vision
we could hold at this time.
2. We commit ourselves to the development of a transition process
keeping in mind the requirements and needs of all the faithful in each
parish, the Pastoral Plan of the Diocese and the decision of Bishop
Fabbro in Parish Reorganization.
3. We approach dialogue reverencing each parish as equal partners
in the building of our faith community.
4. We trust God will enable us to realize the common good.
5. We will approach the changes/challenges as opportunities as we
co-create a new reality.
6. We commit ourselves to meaningful dialogue with all the faith
community shareholders.
Transitional Finance Council
The two previous finance councils have been combined into one finance
committee representing both parishes. Eventually they will settle into
periodic meetings to review our finances. For now they are charged with
defining how each parish will contribute to the shared expenses based on
parish size. Each parishes portion will be reviewed annually in
January.
Administrative Team
Our secretaries have finished the initial process of review all the
administrative task they do and reviewing how some of these tasks could
be shared. While we are still growing into this; the two main
portfolios have been defined. Pam Robinson will be our faith
community's financial secretary while Mary Ann Bancroft will focus on
sacramental records. Laurie McCormick will produce the bulletin for our
faith community while Sheila Ramus will remain with us until next year
to help with the transition.