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Introducing
Waterloo Pastoral Leaders
Waterloo Pastoral Leaders (WPL) consists of the pastors,
pastoral
associates, parish directors of faith formation, the directors
of adult formation and youth ministry for the Waterloo parishes,
the spiritual director at Columbus High School and the director
of education for Cedar Valley Catholic Schools.
The
group began meeting regularly in 2003 and now meets monthly
during the school year to discuss mutual concerns and to develop
collaborative policies and programs which address the needs of
the Catholic community in the city of Waterloo.
The
pastor, pastoral associate and director of faith formation from
St. Patrick Parish in Cedar Falls began meeting regularly with
Waterloo Pastoral Leaders in 2009.
In
2006 the Pastoral Leaders developed a vision statement and strategic goals which were endorsed by the pastoral councils of
the four parishes.
In
the vision statement, the Pastoral Leaders declared their
conviction that local parishes “must proactively plan our
ministries for the next decade and beyond in order more
faithfully to serve God’s people.”
“We
believe that we are confronted by a unique opportunity...to
re-envision ministries and services,...enabling us to creatively
transcend apparent negatives such as shrinking numbers and
ideological divisions,” the Leaders wrote.
In
their vision statement, the Pastoral Leaders recognized the
challenge of balancing various pastoral needs which sometimes
appear to be in tension with one another, including these:
•
the need to respond to the shortage of priests without
succumbing to a
crisis mentality’
•
the need to focus on spiritual needs while not neglecting
structures and
finances;
•
the need to serve active parishioners while reaching out to
those whose
participation is minimal;
•
the need to support Catholic schools while devoting adequate
resources
to other ministries which define a vibrant parish
community.
Among the challenges facing the local church, the Pastoral
Leaders noted in 2006, is the effort to balance “the need for
parish identity with the need for inter-parish collaboration.”
The
Pastoral Leaders are responsible for guiding adult faith
formation and youth ministry, two important ministries which the
Waterloo parishes share on a collaborative basis.
The
Leaders have recently encouraged and guided planning for
collaboration in other formation ministries and the creation of
the Waterloo Catholic Faith Formation Commission in the spring
of 2010.
In
the summer of 2010 the Pastoral Leaders turned their attention
to examining the role of Sunday liturgy in the life of the
Catholic community, and are currently exploring ways in which the
parishes can cooperate to help local Catholics appreciate the
role of the Mass as the “source and summit” of Catholic life.
• • •
Schedule of Current WPL Meetings
August 26,
2010 at St. Edward Parish (St. Matthew Room)
September 23, 2010 at Queen of Peace Parish (Scallon Hall)
October 28, 2010 at Sacred Heart Parish (Rectory Classroom)
December 2, 2010 at Blessed Sacrament Parish (Putz Hall)
January 27, 2011 at St. Patrick Parish (Deery Library)
February 24, 2011 at St.
Edward Parish (St. Matthew Room)
March 24, 2011 at Queen of Peace Parish (Scallon Hall)
April 28, 2011 at Sacred Heart Parish (Rectory Classroom)
May 26, 2011 at Blessed Sacrament Parish (Putz Hall)
• • •
Current Members of WPL
Representing Blessed Sacrament
Parish, Waterloo
Rev. Thomas McDermott, pastor
Barb Duggan, director of faith formation
Representing Queen of Peace Parish, Waterloo
Rev. Jose Luis Comparan, pastor
Rev. Mr. Rigoberto Real, Hispanic minister
Bev Byford, director of faith formation
Representing Sacred Heart Parish, Waterloo
Rev. Louis Jaeger, pastor
Nancy Rigel, pastoral associate
Pam Johnston, director of faith formation
Representing St. Edward Parish, Waterloo
Rev. Jerry Kopacek, pastor
Karol Rae Hoth, pastoral associate
Hazel Martin, director of faith formation
Representing the Catholic Parishes in Waterloo
Dave Cushing, director of adult faith formation
Representating Waterloo Catholic Youth Ministry
William Brandle, high school youth minister
Annie Zeets, middle school youth minister
Representing Cedar Valley Catholic Schools
Jeff Frost, director of education
James Larsen, spiritual director of Columbus High School
Representing St. Patrick Parish, Cedar Falls
Rev. Everett Hemann, pastor
Rev. Mr. Peter Loving, pastoral associate
Amy Hoyer, director of faith formation
• • •
More Information About WPL
Waterloo Pastoral Leaders/Vision
Statement
Adopted by the Waterloo Pastoral Leaders, February 2006.
Endorsed by the Pastoral Councils, Spring 2006.
Waterloo Pastoral Leaders/Goals and
Strategies
Adopted by the
Waterloo Pastoral Leaders,
February 2006.
Endorsed by the Pastoral Councils,
Spring 2006.
Timeline of
Collaborative Efforts Among the Waterloo Parishes
(1959-2010)
The Faith Formation
Commission and Parish Identity
A response to changing trends in
society and the Church
• • •
Posted 07.29.10 • Last Update: 07.12.11 |