During Jubilee Year 2000, the Community of St. Malachi and St. Malachi Parish made the commitment to “look to the future” together. The two Councils established a joint Community-Parish steering committee to guide the process. All members of the Parish and the Community were invited to participate in providing direction for the future.

The chosen process, “appreciative inquiry,” was not a simple survey, but an in-depth qualitative inquiry. The Committee conducted three sessions of Interviews: 101 Community, 56 Parish, 34 Junior and Senior High School from the invited total membership of the Community and the Parish. Compared to the Diocese’s experience in other parishes, St. Malachi had significantly above-average participation; the overall response coverage was very high.

The Steering Committee condensed the interviews into 21 pages of detailed summaries in eight topic areas. The Council Presidents distributed those to Councils, Ministries, and Staff so they could be familiar with them. The full interview transcripts are also available for review by Councilors, task groups, Parish or Community members, or anyone interested.

The Committee then distilled these “Proposed Directional Statements” and presented them to the Councils of St. Malachi Parish and the Community of St. Malachi on 21 January 2001 at a joint meeting of both Councils. The Steering Committee facilitators helped Council Presidents lead the Councilors in reviewing the Statements.

The Council of the Community of St. Malachi overwhelmingly accepted these “Directional Statements” on 6 February. The St. Malachi Parish Council unanimously accepted these Statements on 7 February.

The Councils now invite all Members of both the Community and the Parish:
To become familiar with the Directional Statements.
To pray for the Spirit’s continued inspiration in our process.
To step forward, if inclined, to help in developing concrete, practicable ways to convert possibilities into plans and bring them to fruition.

 

The Councils authorized five joint committees to develop action plans during the next few years to implement that "future". Committees will address Parish and Community Journeying Side-by-Side, Hospitality, Liturgy, Social Action, Spiritual Growth. If you are interested in serving, contact the office, Gary Pritts (Community of St. Malachi President), or Thomas Kastelic (St. Malachi Parish Council President).

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We are two distinct congregations, St. Malachi Parish and the Community of St. Malachi; yet we see our need to fully know one another and be present to one another. By learning about and sharing the gifts we each have, we can enrich each other in our ministries. In the past, members from both Community and Parish have benefited from participating in liturgies, projects, and programs sponsored by either. Through planning for the future together we can enhance the benefit by working together as we have in:

1. Listening to one another – member to member within each respective faith community and between the two communities.

2. Beginning to know each other – “I’ve been a parishioner here for 40 years. I have never spoken to a Community member until today’s interview. She was a real nice person. We should do this again.”

3. Growing as we share and build on our strengths.

4. Journeying together in His Way while respecting our own uniqueness.

We possess common gifts that we may build on:

1. Some similar values included in Mission goals.

2. Non-territorial membership and diverse membership.

3. Committed to Gospel values.

4. CSM and Parish mutually inspired by the other’s concern for the poor.

5. “This was place to integrate the Gospel and social/political views – recognition of the homeless problem. An activist Catholic element was identified here. Not just a place to be married and buried but one to grow in a Catholic experience.”

Yet, we acknowledge the uniqueness of each:

Community of St. Malachi

Lay-directed, personal parish

Leadership stimulus to Parish and continuing appreciation of reforms of Vatican II

Financial help to Parish

Everyone is expected to do something and contribute to ministries.

Strong liturgies with music and good participation – “the music and homilies left me with the feeling of having celebrated God.”

St. Malachi Parish

An anchor out of Irish Tradition –
“St. Malachi is an anchor like a loving parent”

Financially responsible for the church’s buildings and grounds

Faithful to the area, the people, the Liturgy

Stable, with gift of history, longevity, tradition, and deep faith

“St. Malachi is a Beacon of Light.”

 

1. Prayerful and Formational Activities

a. Joint Retreats for youth and adults

b. Selective shared Liturgies

c. Bible study, prayer groups, lecture series and adult education programs together

2. Social Activities

a. Meal, potlucks, picnic, social meetings, Coffee Hours, Dances, Fundraisers; Make times to share with each other

3. Efforts Toward Improved Communication

a. Sharing news for respective newsletters/bulletins, occasional joint newsletter

b. Continue to listen to one another

4. Joint Planning and Committee Work

a. Possible co-committees for Social Action or Spiritual Growth, other

b. Share and set some goals together

c. Representative of CSM on Parish council and vice versa

d. Joint meetings of council presidents or committees

5. Ministries

a. Representatives might meet with each other

b. Understand and respect the mission and appreciate the uniqueness of each

c. Start committees that could work together on various projects;
i.e.: donate hours together at St. Malachi Center

( Revised 5 Statement ) Compiled by M. Gibbons with R. Rocco

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Liturgy: The Center of Our Lives.

We cherish good liturgy in the spirit of Vatican II, which calls each of us to full participation. Liturgy is the well from which we find nourishment to live our daily lives. It is the base from which we learn, use, and develop our talents in ministry.

“We are the Body of Christ” is lived here and celebrated in Liturgy that celebrates our Oneness with God. We are nourished in the Liturgy at St. Malachi by

¨ homilies

¨ music

¨ participation of the people.

1. Welcome and Hospitality

a. Welcome all persons
Introduce each other before Liturgy
Ushers greet arrivals

b. Enhance diversity of the people
Invite new people, especially neighborhood persons
Invite others of different faiths and cultures

2. Fuller Participation

a. Invite and encourage more lay participation in liturgy and its planning

b. Encourage singing
Rehearse and introduce hymns before liturgy

c. Invite others to preach (in line with Diocesan norms)

d. Use inclusive language

e. Include congregation’s petitions

f. Plan retreats or seasonal liturgies for the Parish and Community

g. Liturgy Committee invite persons to perform specific roles in liturgy

3. Education

a. Educate regarding parts of Liturgy

b. Announce the meaning of symbolic gifts presented

c. Continue Vatican II reforms

4. Children’s Participation

a. Involve older and younger children in specific liturgical roles
Children’s Choir
Children’s Liturgy

( Liturgy Statement[2] ) Compiled by L. Keim and R. Rocco

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From greeting everyone at the door to being a place people go out of their way to come to – we constantly seek ways to be present with each other. We are a place where anyone can feel included and at home with family.

1. The St. Malachi spirit of welcome is expressed:

a. At Liturgy by being welcomed, being asked to participate, hugs at the sign of peace, bringing up gifts, carrying banners

b. While serving/participating on council, choir, AIDS awareness day, Welcome Series, Monday Night Meal

c. Support during illness, being invited to coffee hour

1. Know one another by name,
bring people together, identify leaders, greeters at all doors

2. Welcome new people,
be more inclusive/attentive to strangers, reach out to others, encourage registration, invite Monday Night Meal guests and neighborhood people to church

3. Create further welcoming
via small groups, faith sharing, prayer groups, “phone wheel”, social activities, potlucks and brunches

( Rejoice Jan 11 ) Compiled by R. Horning

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We have been inspired and changed by helping others, interacting with people who are poor and homeless, and witnessing others serve them. Our lives are touched by being present one person to another. This has happened through

Malachi Ministries: St. Malachi Center, Urban Community School, Malachi House,
The Back Door and Sunday Brunch ministries,
Monday Night Meals
Fr. Jim O’Donnell’s ministries
Our support of others: those on the margins, those who are sick, refugees, and those in small faith-sharing and prayer groups.

Expand our support for St. Malachi Center and its Malachi Mart.

Focus directly on the neighborhood’s immediate needs:
i.e.: jobs, housing, families, toilet facilities for homeless people, women’s programs, shelter provisions. This focus would include work with other neighborhood churches, inviting our residential neighbors to church, assessing health care, supporting beneficial legislation, interacting with our neighbors (listening to them and not just talking or serving), and publicizing our services.

Increase joint efforts with other parishes and churches,
especially with St. Patrick and the churches in Central West District. These would include prayer or worship services, retreats, pulpit exchanges, potlucks, concerts or music, and educational activities.

Interview our faith community neighbors:
directors of the Malachi Ministries (Center, House, School) and leaders in area churches, as well as those who participate in these Ministries’ activities and the Back Door and Monday Night Meal and West Side Catholic Center

Survey Community and Parish members
annually regarding Gifts to Share in ministry.

Establish various support groups
to meet the needs of our St. Malachi members.

( Reaching out Statement ) Compiled by R. Rocco with M. Englert

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We recognize our personal need for prayer, quiet refuge, praying together, and supporting each other. Out of prayer, our service comes forth. We value a warm spiritual climate to provide for participation and growth in Vatican II’s call for all to become holy.

In our experience at St. Malachi, we have been most supported in spiritual growth through:

1. Small groups for prayer, sharing, study and discussion – we are nourished by groups for faith sharing, Scripture study, book discussion, prayer meetings, 12 Step programs and other gatherings

2. Our celebration of the liturgy and sacraments – Sunday liturgy, Christmas and Holy Week, home liturgies – we are inspired by homilies and our participation as readers, Eucharistic ministers, planners, and members of the congregation

3. Retreats and educational programs, for both youth and adults

4. The spiritual support by our priests and pastoral ministers at our times of need – during illness, upon death of a loved one, during family crises, when grappling with addiction

1. More small group experiences with wider participation.
One size does not fit all, with some preferring small home meetings, youth prayer groups, Bible Study, bereavement groups, book discussion and special interest groups. We need to recognize that groups do not last forever, and that we sometimes need gentle prodding to get involved. Small groups of all kinds promote spiritual growth – councils, liturgy committee, etc. All of these groups can include faith sharing and reflection in their formats.

2. Continued emphasis on retreats.
Perhaps an annual retreat, perhaps a Cursillo-type weekend, and perhaps retreats for working people and single women. Youth retreats have been particularly powerful and should be continued. Adults can be encouraged to participate in these retreats.

3. Educational programs with inspiring speakers.
Recent inspiring programs included Edwina Gately’s appearance and the Vatican II Series. We should continue to offer and promote quality programs.

4. Continued youth ministry
and support for the faith formation of our young people through involvement with adult role models

5. Ministry and support to our members at our time of need
during illness, upon death of a loved one, during family crises, when grappling with addiction. We must take advantage of these moments of need, because at these moments we are most open to spiritual growth.

6. Becoming people of prayer
with time for solitude and contemplation.

( Spiritual Growth - Directional Statement rev.) Compiled by G. Pritts

Jesus, the Good Shepherd
ministers to the specific needs of His flock
bringing healing to the wounded through the wounded.

The Holy Spirit
calls us as a Eucharistic community
of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
to be a healing presence of Jesus,
to continue His shepherding ministry
begun in the “Old Angle” neighborhood in 1865,
to be a sign of hope and love to all we serve.

Founded In Faith

We proclaim and celebrate
in Sacrament and in our daily lives
the life, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

We strive to respond to the needs of
those who live in the parish neighborhood,
the members of our parish community, and
the wider community of Church and society
to the extent of our ability and resources.

Nurtured In Love

We seek to be the healing presence of Jesus
by inviting all persons into a welcoming community of faith.
We commit our faith community
to witness a particular concern for
the poor, especially the homeless and hungry,
the elderly and the young,
the sick and the dying,
the powerless and the alienated.

Continuing In Hope

We rely on the power of the Shepherding Christ
to direct and sustain our ministry,
calling forth the gifts of each person for the sake of the Kingdom,
building bridges of peace and concern
between persons and communities.

Jesus Christ has called us together as a Catholic Christian community in this particular place. Through the scripture, Christ has given us:

A pattern for our salvation;
A living witness of God’s love for us.

Our mission, therefore, is:

To worship God and celebrate Eucharist together;
To love others the way we are loved by God;
To take time to comfort God’s people;
To provide refuge;
To heal;
To console;
To give hope.

As a pilgrim church continuing the presence of Christ:

We recognize the need to nurture our own personal and spiritual growth;
We desire to take more seriously the impact of the gospel on our world;
We commit to becoming stronger witnesses to the love of God in Jesus, Who is our hope.

( Statements10206 )

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