By Mary Grieco
Catholic Herald correspondent

Task force formed to help parishes

RHINELANDER -- When significant changes are imminent in parishes, there are no blueprints or guidelines to help with the many decisions that must be made. Although there will never be a "one-size-fits-all" pattern for each individual situation, a Parishes in Transition Task Force has been meeting for several months to assemble resources for parishes who are undergoing change.

The group met in Rhinelander where now only one priest, Fr. John Gerritts, is available to serve both of the city's parishes, St. Joseph and Immaculate Conception. Gerritts also serves St. John Parish in Pelican Lake. While the parishes have begun to work together, there are still many decisions to be made about the future.

At a retreat attended by both parish councils last December, a presentation was made by Sr. Marla Lang, FSPA, about the challenges and blessings of change and how to meet the needs of the people during times of transition. Council member Marie Barfknecht offered to help pursue that area. "As I prayed about it, doors began to open," she said. The answer was to convene a task force to undertake the process.

It soon became evident that what the 10-member group was doing had value well beyond the local parishes. "The diocese as a whole has no program in place to help parishes in transition deal with the loss and pain of change," Barfknecht said. "Parishes are closing and clustering in many places besides our own. We wanted to make sure, if possible, that no one would be left behind."

Since in many ways parish transition can evoke emotions akin to those experienced in grieving a loss, she invited people with expertise in areas such as counseling, guidance and parish structure. Richard Lyons, Superior diocesan director of pastoral services, got involved, as did Lang. "It is a wide-ranging and ecumenical group with tremendous spiritual energy," Barfknecht said.

Task force members took responsibility for various aspects of the resource materials and, after much discussion and editing, their work has been assembled and will be available in binders under the title "The Journey Continues, Tools for Parishes in Transition."

The basis for much of the format and information is a book published in 1988, with a similar title ,to which Lang and several other parish directors from throughout the country contributed.

Parish change, Lang said. "is risking new ways of being, going beyond the comfort zone into something we haven't experienced. We are being challenged to walk the journey."

The materials guide parishioners through a process which includes remembering the past, grieving losses, letting go, solving problems and looking for hope and joy in the future. "Anger, fear and frustration are very much a part of that process," Barfknecht noted. "Everything from the past must be embraced before we can move into the future."

Recent town meetings have given the Rhinelander parishes an opportunity to come together and speak, and a parish survey offered parishioners an opportunity to voice their concerns and opinions. As their transition process continues, the materials assembled by the task force will be used as a resource.

Transition is not unique to Catholic parishes. Deb Emery, one of two non-Catholics on the task force, is participating in lay pastor training with the United Church of Christ. A licensed professional counselor, Emery said she hopes to work with parishes in the midst of transition, "which can often be troubled parishes," she noted. "Our (UCC) churches are suffering some of your same issues: not enough ordained clergy to take over, especially in rural churches."

Lyons pointed out that according to the New Springtime Plan of the Superior diocese, there will be a number of parishes in transition over the next few years. "We hope that the work of this task force and these materials will be of assistance in planning how to handle these transitions," he said.

"This is not, however, meant to be diocesan policy," Lyons added. "It is a collection of resources."

While attending a recent meeting of directors of pastoral services throughout Wisconsin, Lyons said, several expressed interest in the resource materials developed by the local task force. It is anticipated that "The Journey Continues, Tools for Parishes in Transition," which also includes prayer and ritual suggestions, will be available toward the end of this summer

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2004