"State of the Parish" address
By Fr. Dan McKean
St. Patrick Parish, Brighton

The President "shall from time to time give to the Congress information on the State of the Union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient." - U. S. Constitution

Usually given in the month of January, the State of the Union Address is supposed to be a review of the health and challenges of our nation. The President usually covers such topics as the economy, national security, important legislation and hopefully the state of the moral fiber of the nation. While the President of the United States enjoys the privilege of television time to deliver his message, you and I must rely on my articles. I will also have to do this is a succession of articles, so you won’t want to miss my articles for a few weeks. It will come as no surprise to you that we have an abundance of blessings, and our share of challenges.

The official laws of the church as stated in The Code of Canon Law, provides a very detailed job description for pastors. Canon 519 reads: "The pastor is the proper pastor of the parish entrusted to him, exercising the pastoral care of the community committed to him under the authority of the diocesan bishop in whose ministry of Christ he has been called to share, so that for the same community he carries out the functions of teaching, sanctifying, and governing, also with the cooperation of other presbyters or deacons and with the assistance of lay members of the Christian faithful, according to the norms of law."

My high school English teacher would call that a "run-on" sentence, but any discussion of the state of a parish should begin with an understanding of what a parish is expected to be. Please take a moment to consider the following important points from Canon 519.

1. While each parish enjoys a certain autonomy, our ministry belongs, and is directed by Christ. We are part of a diocesan and universal Church.
2. The primary function of a parish falls within 3 categories – Teaching, sanctifying and governing. We are first a foremost an instrument of announcing the good news of Jesus Christ, handing on the treasures of our faith through teaching and instruction. We are in the business of bringing others to Christ and supporting one another as we live the Gospel. Third, and last on the list, is governing, or the administrative details.
3. The pastor, while having final responsibility and accountability, is not the only person who is responsible and accountable. He (I) does this with the cooperation and assistance of all of you. Each member needs to "step-up to the plate" spiritually and administratively.

Like the President of the United States, my primary job is to inform you, share with you a vision and call you to participation. I can do very little by myself, but together we make a parish viable. We do this through our parish commissions and organizations and the combined individual efforts of each member. A pastor who takes on the worries and burdens of a parish alone will soon perish. A pastor who enables, supports, delegates, affirms and challenges will create a parish. I would much rather be a parish than to perish!

Christmas was a great example of what it means for us to be parish! So many people worked so hard to make the Advent/Christmas season a time of teaching, sanctifying and governing. ... Next week, we begin where we should, with the state of our teaching and sanctifying works. Then the topic that we all know and love, the administrative challenges.