The Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd Institute: Summer Session brought together parish employees and leaders from throughout the eight-county Diocese of Cleveland to develop and strengthen their pastoral and leadership skills. About 300 people attended sessions Aug. 5-8 at the Center for Pastoral Leadership.
Summer tracks included the St. Carlo Institute (youth ministry), Pastor’s Desktop (pastors/parish administrators/pastoral life leaders), St. Lawrence (deacons), St. Cecilia (music ministers), Parish Catechetical Leaders, St. Joseph the Worker (maintenance/facilities personnel) and Catholic Bridge Builders (parish administrative staff).
(See photo gallery above.)
Attendees could gather for daily Mass, prayer, keynote addresses, meals and social time and sessions geared toward their particular ministry.
Christy Cabiness, diocesan director of missionary discipleship, who helped organize the St. Joseph the Worker sessions, said when people think of ministry in their parishes, they don’t often think of those who maintain the facilities.
“Yet, these unsung heroes are the ones who make our grounds beautiful and the things we take for granted run smoothly. Their role is far beyond leaky faucets and loose lightbulbs. It is a sacred calling and ministry in its own right.” She said their day of retreat was a way to help uplift and revitalize those who serve parishes and schools. Father Fred Pausche, who retired recently as pastor of St. Gabriel Parish in Concord, led the program.
Those in the St. Cecilia track heard reflections from Mary Hrich, director of the diocesan Office for Worship and could attend sessions focusing on topics related to music ministry, including caring for voices, sound and technology, liturgy planning and tips for cantors and choirs.
Francine Costantini, diocesan director of youth ministry, said the St. Carlo Institute featured a number of sessions throughout the week to help those in youth ministry better serve younger people in the diocese.
The Pastor’s Desktop helped those charged with leading parishes to understand some of the technicalities involved in their role, including benefits and personnel issues.
Bridge Builders sessions examined topics like sacramental record retention and questions surrounding funeral planning. Often these are the first people the public encounters when calling a parish, so the goal was to provide them with the information they need.
On Aug. 5, all attendees were invited to hear Julianne Stanz, one of the keynote speakers, who invited them to focus on recognizing and improving their leadership skills. She said everyone has a unique set of skills and “We need all these gifts working together for the Church. We are people of the Word Incarnate.”
In his address to the St. Cecilia attendees that day, Jaime Cortez reminded them their ministry has many layers, including cultural hospitality.
Matt Jordan, vice president of academic affairs and a professor at Saint Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology, reminded attendees that there will be a gathering of the ministerium on Oct. 24, at which priests, consecrated religious and lay ministers of all kinds can attend a day of worship and workshops focusing on evangelization and service.