Community Handbook, Part 3
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I. GUIDE TO LAY MINISTRIES
A. PHILOSOPHY OF MINISTRY
The call to ministry is rooted in Baptism. Ministry is
not the domain of the few, the privileged; it is the
call of every Christian. In Baptism and Confirmation,
each person receives the gift of the Holy Spirit.
There is a variety of gifts, but always the same spirit
There is a variety of ministries, but we serve the same
One. There is a variety of outcomes, but the same God
is working in all of them. To each person is given the
manifestation of the Spirit for the common good To one,
the Spirit gives wisdom in discourse, to another the word
of knowledge through the same Spirit Through the Spirit,
one person receives faith; through the same Spirit,
another is given the gift of healing; and still another
miraculous powers. Prophecy is given to one; to another
power to distinguish one spirit from another. One
receives the gift of tongues; an other the gift of
interpreting tongues. But it is one and the same Spirit
who produces all these gifts and distributes them as she
wills.
Corinthians 12: 4-11.
As lay persons, called and gifted, Community members
exercise their Baptismal call by participating in the
Community's ministries and through personal care and
service to one an other.
A commitment of service to others in deeply rooted in
the early documents of the Community of St. Malachi. In
1971 a
"Declaration of Position and Intent"
sent to Bishop
Issenman, the Community described itself as having
charisms
"that reflect the needs and attitudes of its members....
a willingness to be open to change. This openness
influences many aspects of our experiences as a
Community.... This experience occurs in our worship
within a spirit of involvement and responsiveness to
God and to each other.... as well as a second basic
characteristic of Christian love. This love is
extended to all and is a reflection of the presence
of all members by free choice."
As a response to the
spiritual gifts or charisms of the Community, the
Community identified action programs in the urban
community as a focus of the Community's role as a
non-territorial parish in the Diocese.
The Statement of Purpose adopted by the Community of
St. Malachi membership on April 18, 1972 also
expresses our call to ministry and service:
"....we wish through continuing formation and
involvement to express our commitment of love and
service to Jesus Christ and to the human community
to which we shall devote our time and energies."
With the Eucharistic liturgy as the core of its life,
the Community has throughout its history sought to
serve its own members and the wider community by
creating and supporting ministries and programs,
including the preparation and training of those who
participate. An understanding of the "shared
responsibility" focus of Vatican II as well as lay
leadership founded in sacramental life and Gospel
witness has been a foundation for these efforts and
the various ministries outlined in this handbook.
B. LITURGICAL MINISTRIES
Note: The following liturgical ministries are
coordinated by the Community Liturgy Committee. See
Community Roster for list of coordinators of specific
ministries.
1. Sacristan
Ensure that everything is in place for liturgical
celebration. The Sacristan is responsible for the
physical set-up of the sanctuary with the preparation
of the vessels and items used in the ser vice. They
prepare the list of ministers and announcements for
the service, and check the ministers in upon arrival.
They assist in maintaining a tranquil atmosphere in
the sacristy before and during the service. They
collaborate with the Hospitality Committee to
distribute and collect special programs and clean up
the church.
2. Lectors
Proclaim the Old and New Testament readings and offer
the Prayer of the Faithful. Each lector must attend a
training session, arranged by the Liturgy Committee.
Lectors are expected to prepare prayerfully for
proclaiming God's Word. In special instances,
other individuals can be designated to proclaim God's
Word.
3. Eucharistic Ministers:
Distribute Communion at Liturgy and take
Eucharist to the sick, homebound, hospitalized
and those in nursing homes.
Eligibility according to Diocesan guidelines:
1. Age - at least High School Senior
2. Practicing Catholic proposed by the Community
following Diocesan guidelines.
Participation in a Diocesan session is required
before becoming a Eucharistic Minister.
Persons interested in becoming a Eucharistic Minister
at Liturgy must contact the Pastor or the Church
Secretary to arrange for attendance at the Diocesan
training session.
On any Sunday, to bring the Eucharist to the sick,
homebound, hospitalized, or those in nursing homes:
contact the Sacristan. At other times, call the Church
office. A pyx and prayer booklet are available for this
purpose in the sacristy.
4. Music:
Is coordinated by the Music/Liturgy Director. The Music
Ministries include instrumentalists, cantors, and choir
members. They are trained and directed by the
Music/Liturgy Director and work in collaboration with
the Liturgy Committee. Rehearsals take place on a
regular basis.
All musicians and choir members must attend practice
sessions arranged by the Music/Liturgy Director.
5. Servers:
Assist at the Liturgy on Sundays, on special Community
liturgies, and on Holy Days. A person becomes eligible
to serve after receiving First Eucharist and
completing server training.
C. Hospitality:
Is coordinated by the Hospitality Committee.
Liturgical:
This ministry provides the "greeters" at our Church doors
and ushers at Liturgy. They distribute programs and clean
up the church after services.
Social:
They are responsible for setting up, hosting and cleaning
up for Coffee Hour and other designated social events.
There are usually two meetings each year, announced in
the Newsletter, to share knowledge, to discuss areas of
concern and to resolve problems and difficulties.
D. Christian Formation:
Is coordinated by the Christian Formation Committee and
the Director of Religious Education
(DRE). The DRE
provides immediate supervision, direction and guidance
for teacher and programs.
1. To be eligible for volunteer teaching, one should be a
member of the Community and in the process of being
certified by the Diocese or already certified. An effort
will be made to match volunteers with students and
activities that are appropriate to their gifts and
training.
2. The Community Director of Religious Education, in
coordination with the Christian
Formation Committee,
provides for training. Additional training, through the
Diocese, is available
at Community expense. All teachers are encouraged to
participate in the Diocesan training program either
before or during the school year.
3. Teacher volunteers teach a specific group of youth
approximately twice a month. They attend parent/teacher
meetings, communicate with parents, report periodically
to the Christian Formation Committee Chairperson, and
to the Director of Religious Education, and must submit
an end-of-year report.
4. Teachers, teacher aides, and others assisting in
Christian formation are expected to maintain
confidentiality with regard to personal and family
information shared by participants, except as otherwise
prescribed by law.
E. Monday Night Meal:
Is coordinated by a director and staff who coordinate
the cooks and volunteers. A meal is served every Monday
night including holidays in the church hall. Monday
Night Meal draws upon many dedicated volunteers who
perform specific tasks. All food is donated and cooks
rotate on a monthly basis. These cooks prepare the food
at home and bring it to the hall as scheduled. Menus are
published in the Community Newsletter each month. Those
working on Monday Night Meal set up the dining room,
serve the food, and clean up the kitchen and hall.
II. KEY DECISIONS AND ACTIVITIES
A. EARLY HISTORY
The Community of St. Malachi exists as a response to
Vatican
II. Beginning on December 3, 1967, a group of
people, many who had been involved with the Catholic
Conference of Laity, began to worship at the 11:00 AM
Sunday liturgy celebrated by Fr. Paul Hritz at St.
Malachi Church. From the beginning, the Eucharistic
liturgy has been the center of the Community's
spirituality and continuing existence.
One of the things that attracted people to the 11 AM
Mass at St. Malachi and the group who would become the
Community of St. Malachi was the desire for the renewal
and updating called for by Vatican II. In addition to
Fr. Hritz's weekly homilies, adult religious education
and formation programs were very significant in the
early days of the Community. Workshops, talks and
programs were publicized or offered to encourage
continued adult religious formation; especially
noteworthy was a Scripture series offered by Fr. Eugene
Laverdiere SSS in November, 1971.
In June, 1971, a small group of regular participants
decided to explore creating a fuller and more formal
relationship. The group began home meetings to discuss
and discern a future "new" church based on the spirit
of Vatican II. From these early meetings, lay leadership
was emphasized as was personal commitment to active
participation in the mission of the Church.
In August, 1971 "A Declaration of Position and Intent"
was sent to Bishop Clarence Issenman with 200 signatures
seeking diocesan approval as an experimental,
non-geographic parish. This led to a meeting with
Auxiliary Bishop William Cosgrove. A Charter for the
Community of St. Malachi was developed
and approved on April 18, 1972 at the Community's Annual
Meeting. Elections were held for at-large members of the
Steering Committee established by the Charter. On April
23, 1975, Bishop James Hickey granted the Community
provisional parish status for a three year period. On
May 13, 1980, the Community of St. Malachi was given
permanent status as a personal, non-territorial parish.
B. ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP COMMITMENT
The concept of personal parish was considered
experimental at that time. The Community Steering
Committee (Council) decided that it was important for
members to feel free to belong only as long as they
wished to be members. Part of the experimental nature
of the personal parish was the aspect that membership
was based solely on desire to be a member, not upon
other criteria. It was decided that the choice to
belong be an annual decision. Furthermore, membership
was an active involvement rather than a mere "coming
to church." Requiring an annual re-commitment
seemed to emphasize these aspects of membership in the
Community. On April 18, 1972, the charter was approved,
with the stipulation that membership be an annual
commitment.
C. MONDAY NIGHT MEAL
Originated in the summer of 1972 with 25 to 40 people
being served at St. John's Episcopal Church. It was
later moved to St. Malachi Parish Hall. As the numbers
of people increased every year, an overall coordinator
was designated in 1980.
In 1980, 125 to 150 persons were coming for the evening
meal. Monday Night Meal now serves approximately 300
to 500 meals per week, and 25,000 meals annually. This
ministry is also extended to residents of the Lake View
High Rise and Malachi House.
D. SOCIAL ACTION
The charter members, from the time of the Steering
Commit tee, intended to create a vital Christian presence,
and social action was a constitutive element from the
beginning. The committee that spoke to these areas was
SOCIAL ACTION, called SOCIAL CONCERNS IN 1975. It is
called SOCIAL ACTION now.
Ministry to the local neighborhood and the wider
community was a main focus. There were many expressions;
such as, distribution of shoes at Thanksgiving, baskets
at Easter, Monday Night Meal (1975), Neighborhood
Ministry, support of the United Farm Workers, and the
Bail Bond Project.
E. CHRISTIAN FORMATION OF CHILDREN
A Christian Formation program began in 1972. A Director
of Religious Education was hired to coordinate programs
for children and adults, because the Community was
interested in fostering programs for all age groups. By
1975 it became evident there was no statement on parental
responsibility. The Community decided that parental
responsibility was a key element. From then on it
focused on children and youth while supporting parents'
efforts with other activities.
F. CSM SANCTUARY MINISTRY
In 1985, the CSM began to explore the issue of
"sanctuary;" and in May, 1986, the Social Concerns
Committee voted to enter into a discernment process in a
joint effort with the Parish of St. Malachi. Nine
discernment sessions were planned and provided
information regarding major implications of a Sanctuary
Ministry including ethical, legal, and immigration
considerations.
Following that process, the CSM and parish membership
voted
separately to determine the degree of involvement, if
any, with the Sanctuary movement. As a result of the
CSM voting process, a Sanctuary Committee was formed in
commitment to this ministry. The parish voted to support
refugees in legal residence here.
The first refugee, "Pedro" from Guatemala, was served in
December, 1986, with a total of 13 refugees helped
through
1989.
G. ST. MALACHI CENTER
In 1984, St. Malachi purchased an old trucking depot
situated at the east end of the St. Malachi Church
property on Superior Viaduct. By the loving labor of
scores of volunteers, the building was transformed. The
Center was dedicated in 1985.
St. Malachi Center was established by the Parish and
Community of St. Malachi as a ministry directed
principally to people on the Near West Side of Cleveland.
The primary mission of the Center is to support
residents—especially, youth and women—in their efforts
at self development. The Center also hosts and sponsors
activities for church, community, and school groups.
H. CSM FUTURE PLANNING
At the May 1985 annual meeting, members of the Community
of St. Malachi endorsed an amendment to their charter
which expressed a permanent
commitment to continue
their worship and gospel service to others through
the facilities of St. Malachi Church.
Following that charter change, the Community of St.
Malachi recognized a need to plan for the future and
began developing goals and action steps to carry its
mission forward. The Community decided to concentrate
on the following
areas: communication, community-building,
coordination and consistency within itself, the
Cleveland Diocese, geographic neighborhood of St.
Malachi, the greater Church, youth, and those who
are not part of a formal church structure.
At each annual meeting, progress on goals and action
steps has been reported to the membership. Direction
is then given to the newly-elected Council, which works
to develop and implement activities related to
Community goals during its year of service.
In 1994, the Council did a Needs Assessment and
surveyed the Community at the Annual Meeting. From
this survey, Council developed a set of aims and goals
which it continues to implement.
The 1996-1997 Council is developing and implementing
a pastoral plan, continuing with the aims and goals of
the previous two years.
I. COMMUNITY SUPPORT ON FAITH & JUSTICE ISSUES
A. The Council Members affirmed and personally
supported the proposal to the Catholic Commission on
Community Action regarding registration and draft
issues.
B. The Community Council voted to support the Catholic
Community Action Commission resolution
on Central
America.
C. Council supported the Resurrection Parish for
FutureChurch in 1990. FutureChurch strives to maintain
the celebration of Eucharist by supporting
institutional changes including married and female
clergy.
D. The Community became a member of the St. Malachi
Ministries Advisory Council, an outgrowth of the
Transitional Committee for the selection of a new
pastor in 1993-1994. St. Malachi Ministries include
the Parish, the Community, Urban Community
School,
the St. Malachi Center, and Malachi
House.
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