Clustering Parish - St. Mary Chardon
Collaborating with St. Mary - Chardon
Letter from Bishop Lennon
The Cluster Plan with our partner, St. Mary Chardon, is already becoming an active entity. The following are examples of how we, as a parish, are beginning to collaborate with St. Mary's programs and ministries:
- The Pastoral Staffs of both parishes plan to meet periodically for fellowship, to further get to know one another and continue discussions of how to implement the cluster plan in the future.
- St. Mary's and St. Gabriel's Stewardship Committees met last Fall to get to know each other and share ideas. They plan to meet at least twice a year as well and collaborate on specific projects. They are working together to carry out a Gift Discernment Workshop at St. Mary, attend conferences together and look forward to ongoing education and formation of their committees.
- The RCIA groups at both parishes have agreed to collaborate when possible as well by referring candidates
to attend one another's classes when one or the other's schedules are more convenient for participants.
St. Mary’s candidates will also be joining in the upcoming retreat to be hosted at St. Gabriel in March.
- St. Gabriel's Fr. John Pfeifer and St. Mary Chardon's Fr. Tim Kalista collaborated for the first time to present a four-week adult confirmation class for participants from both parishes. These candidates will be confirmed with other ninth grade students or at the Cathedral with the Bishop.
- The Pre-Cana marriage preparation planning teams from both parishes have met to explore ways the groups can collaborate. They will send representatives to both of the group's Spring planning session to share ideas and help each other with their Spring Pre-Cana weekends.
Joint Evangelization Committee Formed
According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, "evangelization" means "bringing the Good News of Jesus into every human situation." Evangelization leads to conversion. As Catholics, we believe that conversion is an on-going process throughout our lives that brings us into closer union with God and the gospel message. Conversion is always the work of the Holy Spirit. But the Holy Spirit uses ordinary people and events to bring about conversion.
As part of the diocesan Cluster plan and a directive from Cleveland Bishop Richard Lennon, St. Gabriel parish has embarked on the formation of a new Evangelization Committee in partnership with St. Mary's Chardon. St. Gabriel parishioners serving on this committee include: Andy Zarlinsky, Deacon Bob Grgic, Dawn Perry, Les Ciancibello, Andrea McGovern, Bernie Dondero, Phyllis Coyle and Joanne Spiek.
The committee is in its formative stages and, in conjunction with their St. Mary's counterparts, members will first spend time studying, learning and growing in their understanding of what evangelization is according to the document of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops' "Go and Make Disciples" and Pope Paul VI's, Evangelii Nuntiandi, On Evangelization In the Modern World. They will then move on to specific action items to implement within our parish in regard to evangelization efforts.
Joint Baptismal Classes
In collaboration with our cluster parish, St. Mary Chardon, joint parish catechesis baptismal class will aternate between St. Gabriel and St. Mary. The time will be 7:30 pm on the 4th Thursday of odd months. March, July and November will be held in the Community Room of St. Gabriel and May, September and January will be held in a Meeting Room at St. Mary Chardon.
Please call and register at the location of your choice. All expecting parents are welcome.
St. Gabriel Parish Office - 440-352-8282
St. Mary Chardon Parish Office - 440-285-7051
2010
March 25 Community Room at St. Gabriel 7:30 pm
May 27 Meeting Room at St. Mary 7:30 pm
September 24 Community Room at St. Gabriel 7:30 pm
Joint Adult Confirmation Classes
In collaboration with our cluster parish, St. Mary Chardon, Adult Confirmation Classes will be held at St. Gabriel's from 1:30 - 4:00 pm Sunday's, October 4th through November 8th. Please call St. Mary's to register at 440-285-7051.
St. Gabriel Parish Office - 440-352-8282