FOREWORD

Thank you for visiting our webpages which describe our working groups. The details of each group are available by clicking the left menu; we encourage you to look through the different groups to learn of the many different activities which are underway in the parish.

We are always looking for new members; if any group appeals to you please contact the people involved. They will welcome your call.

To view our Model of Parish click here

To view a Listing of all Working Groups click here



THE PAST

The Church of which we are part had its beginnings on the roads and hillsides where Jesus taught his apostles what he had in mind. After the initial shock of his death and when the reality of his Resurrection dawned they set about forming themselves into a supportive group of believers who gathered in one another's houses to share their memories of him, but more importantly to share his message and to break bread together.

The Second Vatican Council held in the early part of the 1960's began much of the change we as a Church have been dealing with in recent years. The implications of this very challenging Council for the local Church or parish as we know it have been very slow filtering down. It has however caused a re-evaluation of the role of both priest and laity necessating a change of mindset as to how we understand these roles.

The Council reminded the laity that we are called by virtue of our baptism to 'full and active participation' in Church worship, and as a consequence in Church and parish life as a whole. The response of the local Church to this call, as to many other directives of the Council, was slow in coming.

Since the early eighties there have been many efforts at parish renewal, each in its own way attempting to facilitate a sharing of power and responsibility in parish. Some parishes have been more successful than others. There are at present, parishes where the power still rests with the priest, while in others serious efforts are being made at collaboration between priest and people. Few have managed as yet to reach the ideal as proposed by Vatican 11.

BEARNA - OUR STORY

The journey undertaken in this parish was not that different to that going on in the country as a whole. The model of parish now in place began to emerge with the appointment of an tAthair Leon Ó Mórcháin, who along with people from the parish and inspired by the writing of people such as Fr. Enda Lyons, began to put in place a vision of parish that was consultative, participative and inclusive. This model we have continued to develop to the present day and find it most effective.

In Autumn 2002 a listening process was undertaken and a decision was made by the Pastoral Team that a lay person would be employed on a part time basis in the parish to help in the development of our model of collaborative ministry between priest and people.     The Parish Co-Ordinator works in conjunction with the full time Parish Co-Ordiinator (the Parish Priest) in supporting and developing the vision of parish under the direction of the Pastoral Team.  The two Parish Co-Ordinators play a vital role in supporting the work of the various parish working groups. 

However, the effectiveness of any parish model is dependent not only on the commitment of those actively involved in the making of decisions for parish, in the case of Bearna this being the Pastoral Team, it also needs the support of the parish as a whole. The parish ultimately belongs to you, the people.

Fathers John, Leo and Frankie

THE PASTORAL TEAM

Rooted in the life and message of Jesus the Pastoral Team seeks to promote and foster a vision of Christian community.

The thinking or philosophy that guides the Pastoral Team and the parish as a whole has developed over time and is being continually reviewed and updated. We are conscious that while the Pastoral Team carries out a Management role on behalf of the parish, it is a particular kind of management and while drawing from management practice we are aware that what we have here to do is to oversee and develop a parish rooted in Christian values.

The Pastoral Team along with the various working groups receives ongoing training to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to carry out their task effectively.

This Model ensures that the spiritual growth and development as well as the spiritual welfare of the Teams involved in the parish are given particular focus. The role of the priest as well as the role of laity is quite different in this model to that of the past and takes account of the change in our understanding of Church and in society as a whole. Participation in decision-making and inclusion are key values underpinning this approach. As the people of God we are accountable to each other and to the Lord.

The Pastoral Team is made up of local people who received, along with everyone else in the parish, a free and open invitation to become involved. Having served their time on one or other of the working groups they are nominated by their group to represent them on the Pastoral Team.

The Chairperson of each of the working groups, along with the priest makes up the Pastoral Team. The team meets every month and all decisions are reached by consensus. All working groups are accountable to the Pastoral Team and the Pastoral Team in turn is answerable to the people of the parish.

To view our Model of Parish click here

To view a Listing of all Working Groups click here

THE FUTURE

There is a growing acceptance in Church as well as in other voluntary organisations of the difficulty for people juggling the demands of family life, work and making their contribution to their local community. Few of us would argue with the need to make such a contribution. To continually leave it to the few is unfair.

One of the more recent changes that has given added momentum to lay involvement has been the decline in priestly vocations and while acknowledging the need, as well as the right, of laity to carry out their role as fully active members of Church, it took a crisis in priestly vocations to make it happen.

And yet, we are fortunate to have a vibrant community here in Bearna. We are blessed that so many people are willing to do the juggling involved in keeping everything going.

To continue the work being done and to remain loyal to the parish policy of sharing responsibility, of being inclusive and participative, we need not only your encouragement and support but your active involvement. The more labourers there are in the vineyard the less the burden on everyone.