 St. Malachi Parish:
Update on Vibrant Parish Life II
Proposed Cluster Partners
In the two weeks since the after-Mass parish meetings during the weekend of August 26-27, the Parish Leadership Team for the Vibrant Parish Life Clustering process has met. The task was to narrow down the six proposals we had previously created of cluster partners for St. Malachi to three and rank them 1-2-3. This update will present the three proposals and provide the rationale for each. .
In analyzing the various cluster possibilities, the Leadership Team determined that each of these proposals met (or were within the range of) the objective criteria offered by the diocesan Vibrant Parish Life Committee in terms of the number of households, sacramental ministry, geographic location and travel time between parishes. The analysis below focuses more on the relationships and possibilities which the cluster offers.
Proposed Cluster #1:
St. Malachi Parish, Community of St. Malachi, St. Patrick, St. Wendelin, St. Colman
Rationale for this Proposal: (Note that the number refers to the Objective/Subjective Criteria)
- Shared Mission/Workable Fit (#6)
St. Malachi Parish & Community, St. Patrick and St. Colman have a strong tradition of serving the needs of neighborhood people, especially those who are poor. There is a strong commitment to the social teaching of the church and social action. St. Wendelin has a tradition of serving the people of its neighborhood and has been involved in outreach and social action projects as well.
St. Malachi Parish & Community, St. Patrick, St. Wendelin & St. Colman have been active in the Central West District and District events, such as the District Open Houses, Choir Festival, Tenebrae and other prayer
services
- Existing Relationship (#9)
St. Malachi Parish & Community, St. Patrick and St. Colman have had a shared RCIA for 10+ years; St. Wendelin has participated when they have had RCIA candidates.
- Neighborhood Needs (#8)
St. Malachi Parish & Community, St. Patrick, St. Colman and St. Wendelin have a strong commitment to the city and a strong, established identity with local people. Coming together in a cluster would make possible a stronger, more coordinated approach to the needs of people on the Near West Side.
- Common History (#10)
St. Patrick, St. Malachi Parish and St. Colman are historically Irish parishes; both St. Malachi Parish and St. Colman are daughter parishes of St. Patrick.
St. Wendelin is a Slovak Parish, which values its Slovak heritage in the same way that St. Patrick and St. Colman value and celebrate their Irish heritage
Proposed Cluster #2:
St. Malachi Parish, Community of St. Malachi, St. Patrick, St. Wendelin
Rationale for this Proposal:
- Shared Mission/Workable Fit (#6)
There is a strong commitment to serving neighborhood people, especially the poor
(see above Proposed Cluster #1).
There is strong participation in the Central West District (see above Proposed Cluster #1)
- Existing Relationship (#9)
There is a shared RCIA. (see above Proposed Cluster #1)
St. Malachi, St. Patrick and St. Wendelin have a 30+ year relationship through their involvement with Urban Community School.
For more than 10 years, St. Malachi, St. Patrick and St. Wendelin have shared Communal Penance services during Advent and Lent.
St. Malachi and St. Patrick share a pastoral minister.
The music/liturgy ministers of St. Malachi &St. Wendelin have a strong working relationship
- Neighborhood Needs (#8)
Clustering would permit a stronger ability to address neighborhood needs in a more coordinated way. (see above Proposed Cluster #1)
- Common History (#10)
St. Malachi Parish is a daughter parish of St. Patrick.
Proposed Cluster #3: St. Malachi Parish, Community of St. Malachi, St. Patrick, St. John Cathedral
Rationale for this Proposal:
- Shared Mission/Workable Fit (#6)
St. Malachi Parish and Community, St. John Cathedral and, to some extent, St. Patrick are "destination parishes," with a significant number of members who live outside the immediate area, yet choose to belong.
- Neighborhood Needs (#8)
St. Malachi Parish and Community, St. John Cathedral and St. Patrick have a commitment to serving neighborhood needs, especially the poor. Currently, members of St. John Cathedral have a formal relationship with Cosgrove Center. In a cluster, there would be more opportunities to serve those in need.
Downtown and the Near West Side are undergoing significant redevelopment, with new housing and new residents. This cluster could provide an opportunity to reach out to the new residents of the area.
This cluster would literally "bridge" the east side-west side division that is so much a part of Cleveland history and popular attitude.
What You Can Do:
1. Pray about these proposals
2. Reflect on your experience(s) with these parishes and consider what will be the best "fit" for St. Malachi
3. Share your thoughts, ideas, feedback -- via email: malachirectory@catholic.org
and put "VPL clustering" on the memo line or go to the parish website (www.stmalachi.org/parish
) and click on the "Parish Clustering Forum" to add your comment" or speak with a member of the Leadership Team (Michael French, Andrew McLinden, Susan Brooks, Carolyn Meyer, Gregory Gacka, Arlene Corrigan, Kevin O'Donnell, William Graham, Mary Jane Treichel, Fr. Tony Schuerger).
4. The Parish Council is meeting on September 20 to give final approval to the Cluster Proposals of St. Malachi Parish.
All Parish Council meetings are open to all members of the parish.
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