News

Faith Alive taps support for working together

By Heather Chrudimsky
Compass Correspondent

Related articles: from Sept. 15, 2006 issue: • Faith Alive calls for more education, ministry collaboration     Green Bay parishes and schools would work together more     Sidebar: Faith Alive Feedback     Sidebar: Parishes in the Faith Alive Project from Mar. 17, 2006 issue: • Cooperation plan work begins     Parishes, schools, diocesan agencies join in the effort from Feb. 3, 2006 issue: • Life after GRACE: Work starts soon     Work will begin on finding ways to cooperate on efforts     Sidebar: Bishop outlines future actions • Positive reaction greets decision     Bishop heartened by the sheer number who got     involved in discussion from Jan. 27, 2006 issue (article posted 1/30/2006): • Unified Green Bay school system plan delayed     No schools to close for 2006-07 unless parishes ask from Jan. 6, 2006 issue: • GRACE comments from individuals, parishes compiled     Process continues this week from Dec. 9, 2005 issue: • Bridging the Gap by Bishop David Zubik --     Bridging the Gap: G-R-A-C-E     This is a time for exploration and for collaboration from Nov. 25, 2005 issue: • Plan released for unified Green Bay system     Proposal would close three schools, consolidate two     and form one K-8 school system     Sidebar: Green Bay school proposal     Sidebar: Schedule for action from Nov. 4, 2005 issue: • Release delayed on school planning report     Proposal for consolidating the Green Bay area schools     into a system due after Thanksgiving from Sept. 2, 2005 issue: • GRACE subcommittees form     Proposed plan for a unified Green Bay Catholic school     system continues to advance from July 8, 2005 issue: • Unified Green Bay Catholic school system under study     No decisions have been made from June 24, 2005 issue: • Groups ponder schools' future     Proposal considers ways to guarantee the financial     solvency of Catholic schools

After holding listening sessions in May, releasing preliminary Faith Alive recommendations last week and scheduling more listening sessions in October, the Green Bay Diocese is positive a day school system and collaboration on parish ministries can become a reality.

Collaboration came up as a needed priority from parish leaders who participated in the spring listening sessions, said Mark Mogilka, diocesan director of Stewardship and Pastoral Services and overseer of diocesan parish and school planning.

"There is no specific plan or response yet," Mogilka said. "It was mentioned several times at each of the sessions. How parishes might respond - by working together would have to be worked out."

Devin Shanley, youth minister at St. Agnes Parish, Green Bay, said the "Faith Alive project could be an excellent first step in sharing the strengths of day school, night school (religious education programs), youth ministries, parish pastoral ministries, and countless other Catholic ministries happening through out this area."

"I support all of Catholic education and evangelization. I think that we as a church need to do all that we can to spread our faith," Shanley said. "One of the main ways we do that, especially in this area, is through Catholic day schools. The day school can be a unique opportunity for communities to gather together and learn about our faith and the Catholic lifestyle in a real and dynamic way."

Maureen Gallagher, a consultant with The Reid Group, a Seattle-based consulting firm the diocese hired to head up the Faith Alive project, said strong collaborative Catholic day schools exist when pastors, principals and parents work together and continually ask questions.

"The listening sessions helped flush out where people were, and what they see as the future," Gallagher said.

Mogilka called the listening sessions "a great opportunity for parish leaders to meet with leaders from neighboring parishes, consider possibilities, learn from the experience of others, and get a greater sense of church beyond what happens just in my parish."

Shanley said he participated in the listening sessions because not enough is being done to work together and share strength as a church. "There were some good ideas thrown around, but there was also a fair amount of negative thoughts and comments," he said. "Some were hurt by the school closings, some were distrustful about the proceedings and some did not necessarily know what was going on or how to contribute."

Becky Kaye, president of Holy Cross Parish Board of Christian Education, Bay Settlement, has two children - one of whom is attending a Catholic school. She participated in the listening sessions and is positive about the future of Catholic day schools in the Green Bay Metro area.

"I had participated in the GRACE process, I am interested in the new process and want to take advantage of the opportunity to participate," Kaye said.

At the listening sessions, participants - most of whom had never met with people from neighboring parishes - showed a willingness to explore inter-parish collaboration.

"What I liked most about the sessions was the mixture of people and perspectives around the room," Shanley said. "I believe that the meeting I was at was a diverse group with a wide range of experiences and ministries within the church."

"We believe that what we can do together is always greater than what we can do individually," Mogilka said. "This applies to parishes as well as individuals. By providing an opportunity to meet with other leaders from neighboring parishes - the possibilities for what we can do collaboratively instead of just as individual parishes begin to be unlocked."

Kaye said that while "Catholic day school is what had brought me in to participate, I enjoyed hearing the broader perspective and came to realize that the scope is much larger than just the day school."

There was support for Catholic day schools, especially if they can be structured so they do not drain parish resources away from other essential parish ministries.

In the preliminary 57-page Faith Alive report released last week, The Reid Group said the diocese should create a Green Bay Area Catholic School System for the 2007-08 school year, have a need-based financial aid formula so that anyone can attend Catholic schools and develop a response to the needs of immigrant children. The recommendations suggest that all Green Bay area parishes contribute to the schools - with no parish giving more than 30% of its budget.

"It is no secret that we as a church are living in a time where multiple generations are in need of continuing catechesis and evangelization," Shanley said. "As a result I often come across parents who fear they cannot pass along the faith to their children because the parents themselves don't know their faith well enough.

"Catholic day schools are part of the answer to this problem, but they are not a silver bullet," Shanley said. "My fear about Catholic day schools and the Faith Alive project is that they will distract us from other good programs and efforts needed to bring the faith to so many men and women who are not affiliated with school, or unfortunately now, the Catholic Church."

Kaye agreed that change is needed to be able to continue to provide children with a faith-based education.

"I like that they are taking the time to come up with a thoughtful plan, yet are continuing to move forward with change," Kaye said. "From what I understand, the plan is to hire an administrator and then the new leadership can participate in developing the details of the system. I think that is a great idea."

Shanley said he has mixed feelings on the listening sessions and the direction the diocese is going with Faith Alive.

"I believe the meetings opened the door to real collaboration between parishes to help sustain a strong Catholic presence and voice in our area," Shanley said. "This is a high point from my experiences in this program and it something I hope in for our future. On the other hand I am also disappointed in some of the progress of the Faith Alive project. I sometimes fear that the focus of this program is not necessarily keeping our faith alive, but rather our schools alive."

Kaye said she is thankful for the opportunity to participate in the listening sessions.

"I was a bit skeptical at first of the listening session. It was difficult to tell when you left if your concerns were going to be acknowledged," Kaye said. "However, I have briefly reviewed the Faith Alive preliminary report on the diocesan website and was pleased to see that the input was in fact digested and considered."

The preliminary report from The Reid Group is available by clicking on the Faith Alive icon on the diocesan website, www.gbdioc.org. Mogilka said written responses are encouraged. Parish leaders will meet again in listening sessions Oct. 11-13 to discuss the report.