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The Genesis Vicariate's Together in Faith (TIF) Plan approved by Cardinal Maida included several goals, objectives or strategies to be met by certain deadlines.  Below is the Progress Reported by the Vicariate Pastoral Council in each area, and the Tracking Committee's Response and Recommendations.

1. By May 2006, submit plans for merging St. Louise with St. Cletus; and St. Dorothy, St. Leonard and Ascension, both mergers to be implemented upon the retirement, reassignment, or illness of one of the pastors.

Progress Reported:  St. Louise and St. Cletus have been discussing their merger for over a year and will put their plan into action when Fr. Briffa, pastor of St. Cletus retires in June 2007;  St. Dorothy, St. Leonard and Ascension are still discussing their plans and finalizing details because the pastor of St. Dorothy's is retiring in June 2007. 

Tracking Committee Response: The current clusterings/ mergings under way are going quite well and making "on the run" changes that seem to be better fits as time goes on.  The vicariate should submit an updated report on cluster and merger plans to the Tracking Committee.  Specifically:

• St. Louise/St. Cletus:  No plans have been submitted for the merge date soon approaching, i.e. June 2007.  Is there anything presently in writing showing the progress of the proposed merger plans?  Regional Auxiliary Bishop Boyea's recommendation is to request an administrator be assigned for two-three years to work with the parishes to develop a merger plan seems to make good sense since at the present there is no plan and/or documentation for a cluster/merger. 
• St. Dorothy/St. Leonard/Ascension:  No plan or documentation submitted.  Recommend that the VPC establish a subcommittee to work with parishes and the Department of Parish Life and Services to support this difficult process.

Update:  Ascension closed and merged with St. Clement.  St. Dorothy and St. Leonard merged into a new parish named St. Teresa of Avila, maintaining two sites.  St. Clement and St. Teresa of Avila are clustered and continue to collaborate.

 2. By May 2006 submit plans for clustering or merging Our Lady Queen of Heaven, St. Raymond and Our Lady of Good Counsel, to be implemented upon the retirement, reassignment, or illness of one of the pastors.

Progress Reported:  A copy of their plan was sent to the Tracking Committee in September 2006.  Regional Auxiliary Bishop Boyea reported that they have signed an agreement to cluster in such an event.

Tracking Committee Response:  No plans and/or documentation have been submitted including the above mentioned plan submitted to the Tracking Committee in September 2006.  In reviewing the dialogue between the vicariate and the TIF Coordinating committee and the lack of response in many if not most of the questions from the Coordinating Committee, the Tracking Committee requests that the Department of Parish Life and Services re-engage the dialogue with the leadership of these parishes and work at consensus and action plan.

 3. By May 2006 St. Ladislaus will clarify and submit the name of its merger partner.

Progress Reported:  St. Ladislaus has begun the merger process with Transfiguration and Our Lady, Help of Christians parishes. 

Tracking Committee Response:  No plan has been submitted, although Regional Auxiliary Bishop Boyea reported that St. Ladislaus is merging with Transfiguration.  Our Lady Help of Christians merged with Transfiguration.

Update:  St. Ladislaus and Transfiguration-Our Lady Help of Christians are clustered.

 4. By October 2006, the remaining parishes will identify and submit their cluster partners.

Progress Reported:  St. Florian and Our Lady Queen of Apostles parishes have not identified cluster partners.  Fr. Milosz of Our Lady Queen of Apostles is discussing this matter with his parish council but no suggestions have come forward.  There is no information from Fr. Tomasz about St. Florian.

Tracking Committee Response:  The AOD vicariate pastoral planning process requires that parishes identify cluster partners as a part of the vicariate(s) pastoral plan and therefore recommend that this not be left to the parishes by themselves but be the work of a subcommittee of the VPC.  There is a greater challenge with parishes who have not yet worked out their cluster partner.  The Tracking Committee encourages  these parishes to being by establishing an "association" with another parish of their choice to pursue how they might be able to share resources to each other's advantage and then move the process along from there to clustering etc.  These parishes should also work with the Department of Parish Life and Services for assistance and resources.

5. By October 2006 submit a comprehensive plan with action steps, lead person responsible, timelines and budgets for ministry to youth, young adults, senior citizens, recent immigrants, and a cohesive and unifying vision for embracing and building upon the rich ethnic and racial diversity of the vicariate.

Progress Reported:  These topics have been mentioned at Vicariate Clergy and VPC meetings, but nothing substantial has been suggested or discussed. 

Tracking Committee Response:  The change of vicar requires some time for adjustment.  The VPC is gaining strength and direction.  Very positive growth.  Ethnic diversity is very strong and at times becomes a major challenge.  The Tracking Committee recommends that all clergy, especially the pastors, be proactive and collaborate together to help bring about the important pastoral plan for the Genesis Vicariate.  Specifically:

• The Young Adult Pastoral Plan through the Offices for Campus and Young Adult Ministries is coming along in conjunction with the SERF Vicariate.  They will be presenting a plan to the vicars and respective VPC's in the next couple of months and should be ready to begin in 2007/2008.
• The Tracking Committee recommends again that the VPC establish subcommittees from the VPC and/or Vicariate Ministers' Associations to work together little by little, one by one, to advance the ministry that would better serve the people by being initiated and supported by the vicariate.

 6. By October 2006 submit a fundraising plan that will support the vicariate's pastoral goals and encourage parishioners both to understand and participate in stewardship activities.

Progress Reported:  We have not looked at this topic in any detail up to this point.

Tracking Committee Response:  Recommend again that the VPC establish subcommittees from the VPC and/or Vicariate Ministers' Associations to work together to develop these plans.

7. By December 2006 submit a comprehensive plan for the future of all vicariate Catholic Schools, using the SERF Vicariate model or another model with objective criteria, including financial support from all parishes.

Progress Reported:  This topic has been discussed briefly at a couple of meetings.  No firm plan has been formed. 

Tracking Committee Response:  The vicariate needs to examine how they will financially support their two schools, either with a program of supporting children who want to go to the schools or consideration of the Blue Water Vicariate financial support model. 

8. By January 2007 submit a comprehensive reorganization plan which will include recommendations about how all physical plants should be dealt with.

Progress Reported:  As the parishes discuss mergers, they are also reviewing cost of maintaining their buildings and how they can consolidate their programs, where the parish office should be, and worship spaces.  Bishop Boyea shared that this is really happening in the merger discussions.

Tracking Committee Response:  The Tracking Committee again recommends that the VPC establish subcommittees from the VPC and/or Vicariate Ministers' Association to work to develop these plans.  In the process, these Sub-Committees should tap the valuable AOD Central Offices resources, especially in this case the Departments of Parish Life and Services, and Finance and Administration.

Has your vicariate made any significant changes, amendments or additions to your TIF Plan since it was approved?  Please describe below, including rationale for change, timeline and projected outcomes.  Attach any detailed reports.

Vicariate Response:  No significant changes have been made.

Tracking Committee General Response:  The Tracking Committee strongly recommends the further development of the Vicariate Pastoral Council and the use of Sub-Committees to break up the work load and still gradually make progress.