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Article: Forging a common vision in Detroit: questioning power alignments, learning to see beyond our own turf changed the model at this parish.(PARISH LIFE)(Shaping Catholic Parishes: Pastoral Leaders in the 21st Century)(Excerpt)
- Article from:
- National Catholic Reporter
- Article date:
- July 24, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 National Catholic Reporter. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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There was no job description for the role of pastoral associate for Christian service when I took the job in 1986 at St. Robert Bellarmine Parish in Redford, Mich. It included grief ministry, Communion to the homebound, parish nurse, adult education, social teachings, outreach to the poor, funeral luncheons, going beyond parish borders, and everything else. I knew I couldn't do it alone or in isolation. I had to talk to the director of religious education, the principal of the school and the parish secretary, and anyone else who had a function within the church. The pastor was a wonderful man, but he hated meetings and small talk and engaged in an ongoing battle with the ...