2004 General Chapter

                                    Pastoral Ministry

"Work ceaselessly to care for the flock entrusted to you."  -- Blessed Basil Moreau

The two mission priorities of the Congregation of Holy Cross guide us in our approach to pastoral ministry.  Our option for the poor is expressed in providing direct services to people in need, in working with the poor and others for just structures, and in assisting those blessed with social status and material wealth to understand Catholic social teaching and the needs of the oppressed.  As educators in the faith, we proclaim the good news through preaching, programs of religious education and experiential learning.   We help people to understand and apply Catholic social teaching, both where it benefits them and where it challenges them.

"Holy Cross Priests, Brothers and Sisters serve the Church in many pastoral ministries, but prominently in the parish apostolate.  While fulfilling the diverse service parochial ministers are expected to provide, Holy Cross religious  emphasize and exhibit certain aspects of this ministry as characteristic of Holy Cross."  With this statement, the General Chapter of 1998 introduced a core set of characteristics with which Holy Cross pastoral ministers could identify.  Since 1998, reflection on our charism in meetings and in mission assessment has led to the articulation of additional characteristics of Holy Cross pastoral ministry.  We incorporate these further understandings into the 1998 characteristics and affirm the following as our ideals in Holy Cross pastoral ministry:

• a closeness to people's lives, their difficulties, joys and struggles; an openness to their culture and way of living;

• the witness of living, praying and sharing meals together in community; a spirit of hospitality and availability;

• a recognition of the equality of all persons; mutual respect and support for the roles of each;

• a spirit of collaboration with the laity in order to empower them, through spiritual and theological formation, to become active ministers of evangelization;

• a special sensitivity to the role of women in the Church and a disposition to collaboration with them, especially, when possible, with our sisters in Holy Cross;

• a preferential attention to the poor through direct service to immigrants and minorities, to the vulnerable, untouchable and abandoned;

• the education of parishioners to an active social justice ministry, working for structural change;

• the recognition, integration and celebration of diverse cultures within our parish communities and the broader Church; the fostering of an awareness of the international mission of Holy Cross;

• liturgical celebrations sensitive to the demands of inculturation, prepared with an awareness of the transforming power of liturgy in the life and faith of the People of God;

• a preference for work in dioceses where Holy Cross, with a spirit of initiative and innovation, can uniquely impact the life of the local Church;

• a spirit of collaboration with dioceses and with other faiths, civic organizations and all persons of good will in responding to the needs of the local Church;

• a participative and collaborative management style and a transparency in financial matters;

• a special preoccupation with the strengthening of family values and the education of the young; a commitment to Catholic schools, to the education of heart and mind; a culture of fostering vocations, inviting young people to answer the call to priesthood and religious life in Holy Cross; an openness to the formation and training our our young religious in our parishes.

While some of these characteristics have specific app0lication to parish ministry, we see most of them as relevant to our members serving in other pastoral contexts, such as in hospitals, counseling services and centers for street children.  Inspiring and challenging us, these Holy Cross characteristics are worthy of conti8nued reflection and can effectively be used as an aid to mission assessment.