Administrator’s Column, 04/05/2025

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

This past week we had two opportunities for parishioners to reflect on Discernment for Parish Leadership. This provided an opportunity to share with participants what discernment might look like as we surface parishioners to serve as leaders. Qualities for an effective leader were also shared as we move forward – together. I thank those who were able to join us as we begin our new chapter for St. Malachi and St. Patrick.

After 18 months of identifying needs (Recommendation Phase) and designing ways to address them (Implementation Phase), nearly 60 participants from both parishes have been designing a new infrastructure comprised of a joint Pastoral Council, a joint Finance Council, and 6 joint Commissions addressing important areas such as Worship, Faith Formation and Spiritual Life, Ministries of Charity and Catholic Social Teaching, Administration, Facilities, and Communications.

Each Commission will be comprised of many related committees now joined together as they carry out the important work within each respective area of pastoral life. We will also see the emergence of new committees joining a particular Commission as various needs have been identified throughout the process.

With all of this in mind, we need leaders! Leaders of Commissions, leaders of some of these new Committees, and leaders for Pastoral Council and Finance Council. We also will be looking for leaders to serve on many of these committees. In short, we need every parishioner to consider serving on these or in other areas of parish life.

Our hope is to begin the process for obtaining enough parishioners to serve on our Pastoral Council and Finance Council as well as providing each Commission with a Chairperson.

Please be sure to come to our April 23rd Parish Town Hall to learn more about each Council and Commission and to consider the possibility of serving as a member. No decisions that night… just another opportunity to learn more and to receive a special Leadership Discernment Form. The event will take place in the Saint Patrick Club Lower Hall from 6:00pm until 8:00pm.

Thanks for your continued prayers and for your openness to serve as one of our parish leaders.

Prayerfully yours in Christ,

Fr. Gurnick