PARISH MINISTRY IN THE HERITAGE OF HOLY CROSS

“Work ceaselessly to care for the flock entrusted to you.”

A Holy Cross Vision of Parish Ministry

Preamble

This “vision statement” speaks from the experience and ideals of Holy Cross religious involved in parish ministry. It does not attempt to say what a parish is or how the phenomenon of parish is developing. Neither does it present the view of a scout looking beyond the horizon on how Holy Cross might be shaping ministry in the future. This is simply an attempt to say who we are and what we try to do when Holy Cross accepts responsibility for a Catholic parish in the United States.

Holy Cross religious minister in the church and the world as “educators in the faith to those whose lot we share, supporting men and women of grace and goodwill everywhere in their efforts to form communities of the coming kingdom” (Constitution 2:12). We serve in parish ministry by sharing the life of the people, adapting ourselves to their language and cultures, so that together with them all may become a community of disciples of Jesus ministering tone another and to the world.

Following the vision of our founder, Basil Moreau, Holy Cross religious serve in a diocese, sharing in the pastoral mission of the bishop and a particular parish. We become part of a local Catholic church where, in mutuality with those who live there, we accept responsibility for the mission, planning and vitality of the community. The task is to find the means and methods through which mutual responsibility for the church can be accepted and expressed. Calling the gifts and talents of all members of the community into action is part of this work. The practice and goal is collegial ministry, which can provide a model of administration and collaboration for the church and for society.

The parish community is most visible in the celebration of Sunday Eucharist. The liturgy invites the active participation of all in the assembly and sends all into the world on mission. The parish community plans its liturgical celebrations and calls forth liturgical ministers and sees to their training. As homilists, we pledge ourselves to preparing of homilies which reflection ongoing prayer and learning and speaking to the community assembled for worship, as far as the Holy Spirit enables. We pledge also to help build communities of hospitality so that all who come to the assembly may find themselves welcomed and included.

To become communities in more than a liturgical sense, Holy Cross religious assist parishioners to gather for prayer, service and social functions. Through experiences of smaller communities, people of every age can minister to one another and be strengthened to reach beyond the familiar group. We value highly the formation of adults and young people which can be carried on in shared ministry, received and offered.

The parish community reaches out into the world through ministers of care and concern for individuals and groups, especially those who are poor or threatened with loss of human dignity. Along with others, Holy Cross religious speak of “a preferential option for the poor” and seek to live out that option in whatever way is needed. Beyond economic deprivation, the oppressions of sexism, racism, addictions, the abuse of persons, disregard for the natural environment and other misuses of power destroy human persons and their freedom.

We support, encourage and join those who work to overcome these evils. We commit ourselves to join with others to effect changes in systems and structures which cause oppression. As members of a religious congregation serving internationally, Holy Cross religious see these concerns beyond one nation’s boundaries.

Our service among the people of God is enabled and strengthened by our religious life in Holy Cross. We commit ourselves to be communities of prayer, human growth and service. We live what we call the parish community to become.

Those already in parish ministry encourage men in initial formation to consider serving with us. We expect that the administration of the Province will encourage and provide education and continuing formation for this ministry.

We expect that our ministry will be evaluated according to these standards which we set for ourselves, as well as those guidelines which are applicable to all parishes in the diocese.