NEWTOWN—Expanding youth ministries, sharing activity calendars and public processions of faith were some of the suggestions by parishioners at the first Diocese of Bridgeport regional collaboration meeting to help foster the renewal of the Church.
“All true renewal of the life of the Church begins with listening,” said Father Christopher Ford, Director of Vocations and Seminarians in the Diocese of Bridgeport, facilitating the meeting for Bishop Frank J. Caggiano, who was unable to attend.
“We have a responsibility and duty to listen to one another so we can find better ways to support one another for the renewal of the Church,” Father Ford said.
The first of nine regional deanery collaboration meetings this year was held at St. Rose of Lima Parish, which is a part of the Our Lady, Queen of Confessors Deanery encompassing parishes in Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield and Newtown. Meetings in the other deaneries in the diocese are scheduled in the upcoming months.
About 200 people attended the Saturday morning meeting where one of the goals is to cultivate conversations and collaborations among the parishes through parishioners sharing experiences, challenges and successes in creating a vibrant parish community.
“You have far more in common than you think,” said Father Ford. “The beauty of listening is that it fosters relationships,” he added, encouraging everyone in attendance to propose and pursue ideas during and after the meeting in the spirit of collaboration.
One of the concerns shared during the group discussion included how to keep the Church relevant to young people and make sure it is stronger in the future.
A young woman in attendance said, “We need to be seen for our love and bringing people together. We should show love first, I think that will bring people back to the Church.”
One mother also shared her thoughts on how effective youth ministries can be in contributing to young people continuing their faithful journey in the Church. She said two of her children were involved in youth groups and two were not. The two that were, continue to go to church.
There is a United Youth Ministry that includes youth from the parishes of St. Rose of Lima, St. Mary Parish in Bethel and St. Joseph Parish in Brookfield. It is an example, Father Ford said, of how parishes can collaborate and work together to provide services needed in the community that perhaps one parish alone may struggle to provide.
“They (youth) are looking for answers in the secular world, let’s be the answer,” said Renzo Ortega, Coordinator of the United High School Ministry.
Attendees acknowledged it is important to address the needs of the youth of the church but equally as important to meet the needs of the elderly. Sister Mary Ellen Genova, CSFN, who leads the Parish Outreach program at St. Rose of Lima, said they offer a Friendly Visitors program which connects parishioners who may be homebound with others who are able to visit. The program aims to connect parishioners over shared interests such as reading, sports or art.
It was also suggested that activity calendars be shared among the parishes so parishioners have more opportunities to grow in their faith as well as parishes can share the responsibility of hosting different series and events.
The choir director of St. Rose suggested choir members may be able to share their talents with other parishes when the need arises during busy times of the year.
Andrea Farley of St. Rose of Lima said more needs to be done to encourage a life of faith.
“I’m finding a lot of people think they don’t need God,” Farley said. “We can do more to reintroduce them to the Lord.”
Linda Moritz of St. Rose of Lima agreed.
“I would love to see more Eucharistic processions on public streets to show the community we are in love with Jesus and we are doing this for him,” Moritz said “You never know what impact it could have.”
There was a public procession of faith on Main Street in Danbury where 700 people marched from St. Peter Parish to St. Joseph Parish with the Blessed Sacrament on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi in June 2019.
Father Ford said future public processions of faith are planned throughout the diocese.
Acknowledging the good ideas and suggestions also came with the question of how to get young people to lead the efforts.
Father Ford said it’s important for all parishioners to feel they have a place in leading the community of which they are a part.
“I thought it was a good meeting,” said Joseph Kieras, a parishioner of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish since 1981. “People were really speaking from the heart. We need to have more of this for our parishes. We need to have a spirit of collaboration and conversations with other parishes and we need a revival of lay involvement.”
Father Ford thanked the attendees for coming and sharing their ideas. He encouraged many to continue the conversation.
“We will be there to support you and offer assistance,” he said.
By Kathy-Ann Gobin
