Tuesday, June 27, 2006
ARE YOU READY FOR THE CLUSTER PARISH ?
Continuing with the theme Lee proposed in his article on Opus Dei, namely that the diocesan structure has been intentionally permitted to disintegrate...
I visited the Cleveland Diocese website this morning and checked into the Vibrant Parish Life portion of the website. There for all to see is a reference to "cluster partners."
The Subcommittee to Discern Proposals for Cluster Partners should be doing Steps 2 and 3 in the 8-Step Guide...This will lead into the next step of proposing possible cluster partners.
What is a "cluster"? No one has mentioned a "cluster" in my parish, though there has been talk of parishes cooperating in using resources. Apparently other dioceses are further along in this process, whatever it is.
The Voice of Braintree Catholic Cluster
offers something of an explanation.
Who we are
Voice of Braintree Catholic Cluster is an affiliate of Voice of The Faithful founded in Wellesley, MA. We are working with our pastors in the Braintree cluster to constructively respond to the crisis in the church and help our catholic community heal and move forward.
Voice of the Faithful reincarnates into the Parish Cluster. Swell.
The website indicates Father Bill Clark, S.J. will be speaking to the Voice of Braintree Catholic Cluster. Fr. Clark is on the faculty of the College of the Holy Cross, a Jesuit school. He has published a book titled A VOICE OF THEIR OWN: THE AUTHORITY OF THE LOCAL PARISH.
Father William A. Clark, S.J. examines community, intimacy, and authority at three parishes, and claims that a fundamental aspect of ecclesial authority resides in the local community. He incorporates theological challenges and supports for this view in the work of Karl Rahner, Joseph Ratzinger, and Walter Kasper, and concludes that a deeper appreciation for the practical authority of local communities can help ground a much-needed renewal of the church’s self-understanding.
Does this sound like what a parish should be about? I don't see any sacraments in that description. I do see some liberal theologians.
The Archdiocese of Detroit has "Cluster Guidelines" on its website. There you can read a "Definition of a Clustered Parish":
A clustered parish has a priest as its pastor, however the priest may live at another location and be pastor of more than one community. The communities each have a Parish Pastoral Council, and may or may not have geographical boundaries. (See Canons 516, 517, 518, 536, 905)
So the parish priest is about to be turned into an anachronism, while the "Parish communities will become more life giving and self-sustaining." I'll bet the deacons will take on a more prominent role in these clustered parishes. I'll bet they will come to look almost like the priest--only the married priest.
The one time I attended a Eucharistic service when no priest was available for Mass, the deacon looked very much like a priest, and the service looked very much like a Mass. Only the consecration was omitted. If we don't see it consecrated can we assume that the consecration was valid? Will this ultimately lead to the termination of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass?
What was it that Lee was saying about the destruction of the diocesan structure? Looks like the process is right on schedule. And has Benedict's blessing??
Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!
