ARCHDIOCESE OF KINGSTON SYNOD 2008 THEME: THE WORD OF GOD IN THE LIFE AND MISSION OF THE CHURCH INJAMAICA

SYNOPSIS AND EVALUATION OF THE PARISH SYNOD REPORTS by FR. DONALD CHAMBERS

INTRODUCTION Aim of this Report: General Commentary on the Parish Synod Reports The presentation: Three parts = Part 1: Summary and Evaluation of section one = Part 2: Summary and Evaluation of section two = Part 3: Analysis of the questions and presentation of two models for consideration Number of parishes: 31 = Number of reports submitted: 24

ARCHDIOCESE OF KINGSTON SYNOD 2008

WHAT WAS OBSERVED IN THE PARISH REPORTS? = Catechesis = Evangelization

CATECHESIS TRADITIONAL APPROACHES INCLUDE: + Prayer meetings + Sunday School + Youth Programmes

CATECHESIS Innovative and Creative approaches + Adult catechesis + Website + Sunday Bulletin + News Letters + Pamphlets, DVDs, Periodicals etc + Vacation Bible School + Quiz

CATECHESIS + Est. catechetical teams + Appt. catechetical coordinators + Catechesis in schools + Vacation Bible school + Weekly message from Pastor + Training Catechists + Catechism for youth + Church History component of Catechesis +Catechism and Infant Baptism

EVANGELIZATION + Training evangelizers + Crusade + Greater Hospitality and fellowship + Evangelization and visitors to the Sunday Eucharist + Open air prayer meetings + Evangelization and Lapse Catholics + Developing Music Ministry for Evangelization + Est. evangelization committee

EVANGELIZATION Other creative methods + Mentorship programme + Home work programme + Appt. full time evangelists + Home visits + Hospital ministry + Marching Band + Health Clinics + Evanglization in Church Schools + Targeting lapse catholics + Evangelization component to Infant Baptism class + Evangelization component to youth programmes + Better use of technology such as telephone, internet, cell phones in evangelization efforts

CONCERNS AND CHALLENGES + Limited human and material resources to execute synod initiatives + Problem of aging communities + Socio-Economic challenges such as violence + Health problems of parishioners + Competing demands such as family life + Difficulty to bring on board parishioners re: evangelizations and catechesis

CHALLENGES AND CONCERNS + Lack of hospitality in communities + Low literacy of members + Migration of talented members + Multiple expectations and limited resources + Need for more training and recruitment of new catechists and evangelizers + Lack of confidence, shyness and reluctance of members + Competing demands

EVALUATION OF PARISH REPORTS - CONTENTS GENERALL OBSERVATIONS ON EVANGELIZATION AND CATECHETICAL PASTORAL ACTIVITIES + A PLETHORA OF ACTIVITIES + SOME TRADITIONAL, OTHERS INNOVATIVE + ATTEMPTS AT ADDRESSING REAL NEEDS OF PARISH AND SURROUNDING NEIGHBOURHOOD + SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT BY PASTORAL TEAMS AND PASTORS + OVERWHELMED BY NEEDS, SURROUNDING SITUATIONS AND LIMITED RESOURCES

EVALUATION METHODS What was noticeable about the parish reports?

EVALUATION: METHODS + Most parishes did not respond accurately to the proposed questions + Some parishes created their own questions and ignored synod questions + Some reports lack serious reflection - vague and broad ideas, not specifically related to their own context

EVALUATION - METHOD + Most reports reflect a plethora of pastoral activities without clear directions + Lack of collaborative reflections evidenced in some reports + Absence of data or information indicating growth within the parishes from

TO WHAT DOES THE QUALITY OF THE REPORTS POINT? + Insufficient understanding of the nature, role and objective of the questions + Limited use of systematic and structured planning of pastoral activities + Pastors and pastoral teams are overwhelmed by their contextual reality + Insufficient planning, execution and evaluation

+ Predominance of the Maintenance Model of pasturing + Parish perceive a disconnect between synod initiatives and their pastoral reality

RECOMMENDATIONS = Revisit the model of the Early Church and Gaudium et spes ( Constitution of the Church in the Modern World ) in order to understand the following; * Nature of the Church * Role of the Church * Relevance of the Church to particular contextual reality

RECOMMENDATIONS = Exploring the theme: Pastoral leadership in a society challenged by global and local forces = Exploring the theme: Pastoral leadership in a society challenged by global and local forces = Equipping pastors and pastoral teams with skills necessary for leadership – ability to manage, lead and inspire = Identifying a model parish and studying its pastoral approaches and methodology

RECOMMENDATIONS = Providing a framework for strategic and planning development for parishes. = Ensuring that the existing pastoral structure work towards providing greater support and collaboration for parishes = Utilize “State of Parish” to assist in measuring growth

CONCLUSION Let us recall the value and importance of reporting the saving works of the Risen Christ in our communities by referring to the Acts of the Apostles – The Council of Jerusalem

“The whole group was silent as they heard Barnabas and Paul report all the miracles and wonders that God had performed through them among the Gentiles” (Acts 15:12)