DIOCESAN NEWS
03/06/09
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Natchez Holy Family trains new leaders

        NATCHEZ — Father John O’Halloran, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Natchez and St. Ann Parish in Fayette, recently hosted a Leadership Workshop for pastoral and financial council members and others interested in learning more about the roles of the pastor and parishioners.
        According to Valencia Hall, a pastoral council member, “This was an outstanding opportunity for open dialogue on our understanding of church of the past, present and future.”
        Father O’Halloran said, “I was encouraged by the enthusiasm of approximately 25 leaders who participated in a five-hour training program. The program, designed and led by Father David O’Connor, pastor of St. Mary Basilica and Assumption parishes, highlighted the shift in emphasis from church as an institution 30 years ago to church as a community of faith at the present time. The program also challenged the pastoral council and congregation members to active involvement in ministry.”
        Father O’Connor explained, “The purposes of the training program were to introduce participants to contemporary theological perspectives on church administration, to reflect on the pastoral needs of the congregation, to better understand the role of pastoral and finance councils, and to seek ways of utilizing the gifts and talents of the congregation in the work of the parish.”
        Charles Harris, one of the participants and a member of the Holy Family choir, said, “This program gave me new information on the different ways in which congregation members can have active roles in the life of their parish. I am amazed at the vast amount of information and new insights that I discovered, and I look forward to a new level of involvement in the leadership of the parish.”
        Sister Bernadette McNamara, one of the co-directors of Holy Family Early Learning Center, remarked, “This parish has a proud and rich history of 118 years, and many of the participants have drawn their faith roots and their educational foundation from the Holy Family Church and the school. I believe this program prepared the participants for fuller involvement in the life of the church and of the school.”
        Among the positive aspects of Holy Family Parish that were identified by the participants, are the parish’s music ministry, excellent restoration work on the physical plant, the dedication of the pastor and the women religious, a style of worship that is expressive of the Afro-American culture of the congregation, a strong core of dedicated parish members, and a welcoming and hospitable community.
        Parishioner Duncan Morgan said, “I have been actively involved in the parish all of my life. I have never seen the level of interest and apparent commitment by such a large number of parishioners. I am hopeful this dedication can be sustained and channeled to work for the benefit of the parish, of the wider community and of one another.”
        The participants were ready to name areas of improvement that included the following: religious education for all age groups, outreach to inactive and younger members, a new level of responsibility for all church members, more transparency and accountability in the management of the church’s finances, and a number of new committees to address parish needs and to utilize the talents of the members.
        Everett Sanders, attorney for the city of Natchez and a Holy Family parishioner, said, “This program helped me appreciate some of the substantive and structural changes that have occurred in the church since the Vatican council in the 1960s. It also helped me recognize the strengths of this parish as well as the challenges that confront us.”
        During the training program, three year goals were established. These included the parish members being theologically and biblically better informed, complete restoration of all the buildings, financial stability, a strong religious education program, the parishioners as a whole having a greater sense of ownership of their parish, and increased enrollment in the Early Learning Center.
        Many of the participants expressed thanks to Father O’Halloran for his initiative in re-activating the pastoral council. The council is seen as the principal advisory group for the pastor. It explores the pastoral needs of the parishioners, it strives to involve the talents of the congregation for the work of the parish, and it works through a number of committees and working groups.
        Wilbur Johnson Sr., said, “This training workshop demonstrated to me, how a knowledgeable and dedicated pastoral council and finance council can be great assets to our parish by exploring the needs of the parish and advising and assisting the pastor in working to fulfill those needs.”
        Participants decided the following working groups will be established: liturgy and spiritual life, buildings and grounds maintenance, social activities, evangelization, interfaith programs, and religious education. All these working groups are accountable to the pastoral council.

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