Leaving Safe Harbours

Some Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is “Leaving Safe Harbours” all about?

A. 1. First, that within the diocese we have to face new realities as a Catholic community. As well as declining numbers of lay people, we have too few priests to service our many churches in the way we have been used to, and so we have to learn new dimensions of collaborative ministry between clergy and laity.
2. Secondly, one particular plan of response - let’s call it “LSH Plan A” - is being explored as a possible way forward.

Q2. Has the decision been taken to follow Plan A?

A. No. Consultations are continuing, not least on 8 June, at an open meeting for priests, and I July when about 150 representatives of all parts of the diocese will gather to give their views to the archbishop. Shortly after that the archbishop will make his decision - to go ahead with Plan A or to search for a different solution. What we cannot do is to hope that if we quietly do nothing the problem will go away.

Q3. What are the significant features of Plan A?

A. 1. It groups parishes together into “Pastoral Areas’ - typically eight parishes in an ‘Area” to which four priests would be assigned.

2. Each priest would have the title of Parish Priest to two of those parishes, but the four priests would work together as a team, celebrating Mass from time to time in each other’s churches, so that Catholics throughout the Pastoral Area would get to know all four of them.

3. Each Area would have a centralised team of lay employees consisting of at least a full- time Administrator and the equivalent of two full-time Pastoral Workers. These would operate in collaboration with both priests and deacons.

Q4. Why is that better than just letting each priest serve two parishes?

A. 1. Not all priests can manage - perhaps because of age or infirmity - to serve two parishes. A Team can use the different strengths of different priests for different purposes.

2. Priests need to relinquish as many administrative tasks as possible. Centralised professional administration would reduce duplication and be more economical.

3. In ten years’ time we can expect to have only three priests to assign to each Area. This is one way of looking a little further ahead.

Q5. Would that mean that parish volunteers would no longer be necessary?

A. Absolutely not. The primary task of the Pastoral Workers would be to encourage and co¬ordinate voluntary activity within each constituent parish - something which would enhance the service they are able to offer. Naturally, the greater the number of volunteers the less the burden on each individual.

Q6. What about Deacons?

A. Deacons, where available, would have a leading role to play among the volunteers of the Area. They would both in support parish ministry and developing wider evangelisation.

Q7. Parishes are different in many ways; does this plan ignore their differences?

A. No. Although the illustration used above is of eight parishes served by four priests the exact number of parishes and the exact number of priests would vary from Area to Area.

Q8. What about parishes that include Hospitals, Prisons and large Secondary Schools?

A. Where the appointment of a full-time chaplain is warranted to hospital or prison the priest so appointed would be extra to the quota for the Area, even if he were to live in one of the presbyteries. The Team of priests would be expected to enable such a chaplain to have proper time off in return for his relief for some of their duties. With regard to schools, most of our large High Schools now employ lay people to do chaplaincy work, who are able to call on local clergy for sacramental ministry.

Q9. If a Pastoral Area includes a parish served by priests who belong to a Religious Order are they included in the allocation of four priests?

A. A community of Religious Priests serving one particular parish would be counted as one priest for the purpose of these calculations. We hope, but cannot guarantee, to continue to be blessed by the presence of Religious Priests, who have always been generous in extending their services to other parishes in their neighbourhood.

Q10. Would a newly ordained priest be immediately assigned to one of these Teams?

A. A newly ordained priest would not immediately be named Parish Priest but would be supernumerary to the Team he joined. His first appointment would be dictated mainly by his own needs for induction and ongoing formation.

Q11. Would this mean wholesale movements of priests to suit the new plan?

A. No. Moves would continue to be made only when dictated by some particular reason, but if the plan is being implemented it would colour all future decisions.

Q12. Would the four priests of an Area be expected to live in the same house?

A. This would not be necessary; but if a particular Team thought it desirable and practical it could be possible.

Q13. Will parishioners be expected to move around eight different churches?

A. No. In principle parishioners remain attached to their present parishes; parish loyalties are important. But of course people are free, as at present, to make their own choices.

Q14. Will some churches be closed?

A. In LSH Plan A there is a recognition that the diocese has too many buildings and some would have to be taken out of use. It is very likely, therefore, that a particular Pastoral Area might in due time consider that its resources would be better devoted to personnel than to having a plurality of churches. But final decisions of this kind can only be taken by the diocesan Trustees.

Q15. Would one of the priests be named as Team Leader?

A. Yes, in much the same way as one priest is now named as Dean. But the emphasis on teamwork would give a new angle to this role. All the Team Leaders would meet regularly as a group with the archbishop - as the Deans do at present - for strategic planning and to share good practice.

Q16. Have the Pastoral Areas already been decided? How many would there be?

A. A preliminary plan has been circulated to the clergy, and has been redrafted in the light of their comments. At present 24 Pastoral Areas are envisaged. But no decisions have been taken.

Q17. If the Archbishop endorses this plan, when would it come into effect?

A. If the decision is taken to go forward with this plan the Archdiocesan Directory for 2007 would be designed around this concept, and it would be the official structure of the diocese from next year; but in reality different areas will progress at different speeds.

May 2006