News

Bishop: New vision of shared parish ministry

December 5, 2006

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

	Related articles: from Dec. 8, 2006 issue: • Priests promise to collaborate     Bp. Zubik will meet next week with     parish leaders on Faith Alive Project • Other articles on Faith Alive, GRACE

When I met with the Green Bay area priests on Friday, December 1, we discussed the final report and recommendations from our consultants on the Faith Alive Project. The final report is now available to the public online at www.gbdioc.org. What came out of the meeting with the priests is a new and exciting shared vision for collaborative ministry in the Green Bay area. They pledged their support for this new dimension of ministry inclusive of the concept of a Green Bay Metro Catholic School System, which affirms the rich diversity and traditions of each of the 23 Green Bay area parishes. It also recognizes that since 1831, when St. John the Evangelist Parish was founded, the ministry provided by the Catholic parishes in the Metro Green Bay area has been both vibrant and beneficial.

My meeting with the priests marked the first of three important consultations. While the priests affirmed this broad new vision, they also recognized that the specific recommendations of the consultants' report need to be tailored by parish leadership to better fit this new vision. This process will continue on Thursday, December 14, when I will meet with all the staffs together with lay leadership (Chairs of Pastoral Councils, Finance Councils, Boards of Education, principals, directors of religious education, pastoral associates, youth ministers, business managers, etc., as well as Trustees) of each of the 23 parishes together with the priests of the Metro Green Bay area.

As you read the document, the consultants' recommendations, realize that it is just that, the consultants' recommendations. It is not my final decision. Once again, it is not my final decision. The particulars of the report will be reviewed during my consultation with the priests and invited parish leaders on December 14 and with the pastors' consultation with their parishioners.

When thinking of this new vision of collaborative ministry, I am reminded of St. Paul's letter to the Corinthians. In it, he describes our relationship with Christ as analogous to the human body. Though made of many parts, the body is one. As with the Church, we are many parts, but we are all one body. That's why it's important to have the full support of the pastors in collaborating to better serve the people of this area. St. Paul also acknowledges that there are many gifts within the body, but one Spirit of God that permeates the working of the whole. As a first step in the process, the pastors agreed that their parishes would work with one another in regional clusters.

In addition to clustering, there was strong support among the pastors for metro area collaboration in youth ministry, young adult ministry, ministry to our immigrant brothers and sisters, education, liturgy, outreach, pastoral care, peace and justice, and stewardship.

In conclusion, I want to emphasize that this vision of collaborative ministry has just begun. It is my firm hope that we all engage in a grass roots effort to identify needs, develop solutions and implement ministries. Much like our faith, the parishes of the Metro Green Bay area will change and grow in the years to come, and do so together as one body of Christ, as one Church.

Grateful for our belief that "Nothing is Impossible with God," I am

Your brother in Christ,

Most Reverend David A. Zubik
Bishop of Green Bay