 St. Malachi Parish: Update on Vibrant Parish Life II
Ideas for Cluster
Partners
Last week's bulletin insert summarized the work of the Parish Leadership Team
to date in reviewing the criteria for clustering and studying the potential of
various parishes as cluster partners.
Based on the ranking of the criteria described in last week's report and the
study of the various parishes, the team has narrowed potential cluster partners
to two groups of parishes. The first group, informally known as the "West
Cluster," includes the Community of St. Malachi, St. Colman, St. Patrick,
and St. Wendelin. The second group, informally known as the "East
Cluster," includes the Community of St. Malachi, the Cathedral of St. John
the Evangelist, and St. Peter. As part of the discussion, the Team has
"brainstormed" various combinations of parishes as cluster
possibilities. Please note that the Community of St. Malachi is listed in every
possible combination. The proposal for the Diocese requires that each parish
submit both 2-3 possible groups of parishes that the parish is willing to form a
cluster with and also the rationale(s) for each proposal.
The "brainstormed" combinations are listed below, along with some
of the rationale(s) created to date. Please note: 1) this report is being
printed before the meetings of the "east cluster" (August 17) and
"west cluster" (August 24) parish groups and so does not reflect
anything learned in those conversations; 2) the Parish Leadership Team has not
had the chance to further review the rationale(s); 3) the Parish Leadership Team
has chosen not to "narrow" the field until after receiving input from
parishioners.
The combinations have been "grouped" into 3 categories: "West
Cluster" combinations, "East Cluster" combinations and
"Mixed Cluster" combinations (i.e. parishes other than St. Malachi on
both sides of the Cuyahoga River). The rationales under each grouping is a
summary of significant points for the group, rather than each combination.
"West Cluster" Combinations:
1. St. Malachi Parish, Community of St. Malachi, St. Patrick, St. Wendelin,
St. Colman 2. St. Malachi Parish, Community of St. Malachi, St. Patrick, St.
Colman
Rationales: St. Malachi Parish & Community have long-standing
relationships with these parishes; we work together in the District; Sts.
Malachi, Patrick & Wendelin are connected through Urban Community School; we
are connected by geography; St. Malachi & St. Colman are "daughter
parishes of St. Patrick (common Irish heritage); all serve the needy; these
parishes fit the size/number objective criteria for clustering
"East Cluster" Combination:
3. St. Malachi Parish, Community of St. Malachi, St. John Cathedral, St.
Peter Rationales: St. Malachi Parish & Community are linked geographically
along the Detroit Superior corridor; each parish is a "destination"
parish (people are willing to travel & choose to come there); all are in the
downtown "area" and are experiencing redevelopment; these parishes fit
the size/number objective criteria for clustering
"Mixed Cluster" Combinations:
4. St. Malachi Parish, Community of St. Malachi, St. Patrick St. John
Cathedral, St. Peter 5. St. Malachi Parish, Community of St. Malachi, St.
Patrick, St. Wendelin, St. Peter
6. St. Malachi Parish, Community of St. Malachi, St. Patrick, St. Wendelin,
St. Colman, St. Peter Rationales: These parishes are linked geographically
through St. Malachi Parish & Community; these groupings combine the
"old" (parishes with which St. Malachi has an established history) and
"new" (parishes that create new possibilities); these parishes fit the
size/number objective criteria for clustering
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 (remembering that it may well be
different that what has been listed here)
3. Come to one of the meetings being held after Mass next weekend
(August 26
after Saturday 4:30 Mass in church, or Sunday August 27 after Sunday 9:30 Mass
at Coffee Hour, after Sunday 12:30 Mass in church)
4. If you cannot attend a meeting, share your thoughts, ideas, feedback via
email: malachirectory@catholic.org
and put "VPL clustering" on the
memo line 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).
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