Vicariate studies developing

A "vicariate consciousness" is finally beginning to develop, as the local groupings of parishes complete plans for sharing resources, says Michael McCallion, director of the archdiocesan Office of Pastoral Resources.

Launched by Cardinal Adam Maida in the fall of 1995, the process took a while to get going. "What's new is that the plans are now coming in," McCallion says.

The Archdiocese of Detroit is divided into 26 vicariates, each with its own vicariate pastoral council. A realignment proposal announced in September seeks to reduce that to 16 vicariates (or perhaps a few more), but changes will not necessarily undo existing plans.

Vicariate representatives to the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council have been told plans can still substantially survive under the new set-up that emerges, even resource-sharing across vicariate boundaries.

Cardinal Maida's call for vicariate plans urged clergy and lay leadership to take a wider view of the local Church, exploring how multi-parish cooperation might enable smaller (perhaps poorer) parishes to take part in ministries once only possible at large (and often richer) parishes, and to find opportunities for cooperation that reduced the demands placed on the limited clergy resources.

Changes in the number of parishes and missions over the years – 334 in 1984, 309 in 1994 and 315 now – hardly tell the story. Behind those numbers is a more complex story of shrinking parish membership here and growing membership there, of surplus facilities here and lack of space there.

But not only were some parishes less than keen about sharing resources, some did not even send representatives to vicariate councils.

On the other hand, there were also pioneers. But the vicariates have more information to work with now, thanks to surveys conducted by McCallion's office. He says the most useful of the surveys is the one done to find out the priorities of the "people in the pews."

Conducted between 1998-2000, there were 94,428 responses and it came to be called the Catholic Survey, McCallion says.

The top priority that emerged was youth ministry, and that finding has resulted in some new initiatives. "A lot of parishes can't afford a youth minister, so they're trying to do youth ministry at the vicariate level," McCallion says.

Among most-valued parish priorities are strong religious education programs, helping the needy, strengthening programs for teens, and strengthening families.

A better allocation of resources is an important consideration today — and in the future — of the priesthood of the Archdiocese of Detroit, said Msgr. Michael LeFevre, director of the Office for Priestly Life and Ministry.

The Archdiocese of Detroit has almost 33 percent fewer priests today than it did 20 years ago. At that time, there were 1,021 priests (both diocesan and religious order clergy); In the priest allocation story: today, the number of priests in the archdiocese is 701, of those, 580 are active for assignment.

This year, the largest class of priests from Sacred Heart Seminary (Class of '60), with 17 graduates, is set to retire. In June, nine men are expected to be ordained, with three expected in 2005. So far, there are three candidates for ordination in 2006.

"It's my responsibility to challenge the process for allocating priests," Msgr. LeFevre said, rector of the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament. "Are we setting guys up to fail by putting them in assignments they can't do?"

If so, he said, then there must be structural changes to be sure both the priest and the people he serves is a successful match.

Msgr. LeFevre also works with the archdiocesan Department of Parish Life and Services, and its information of the ratios of priests per parishioner. "We're using that barometer to see what is healthy and unhealthy," Msgr. LeFevre said. "Part of my job is to know whether we are using that data, so that we don't put priests in places where they can't succeed."

He also focuses on the care of priests currently serving. "I think of how I can facilitate a healthier priesthood — how to be sure men are less stressed and ways that are healthy to help them relieve that stress."

One way to do so is through priestly retreats. "I make sure they attend the annual retreat, that they have a spiritual director and that they go on vacation – just to get out."

It's vital that priests, many of whom are overworked, take their day off as well, he said. When Msgr. LeFevre works with the newly ordained, he said he makes certain they set patterns early in their priesthood to take days off.

There still are many priests who don't do that, though. "They don't take vacation because they can't find coverage," Msgr. LeFevre said. "We've got to get better access to find coverage for them so the community can continue on."

The need for vocations will never go away, and as pastor, he makes sure he gets the word out. "We never stop encouraging vocations," he said. "In times where there is a dearth of priests, there is a tendency to panic. People think nobody wants to be a priest. But that's not true. At Sacred Heart (Major Seminary), there are lots of guys committed as ever to responding to God's call."