Report fits into 'Called' process

Christian service is a part of parish ministry

The release of "Poverty in the Diocese of Albany" is perfectly timed for this stage of the "Called to Be Church" process, according to John Manning, director of the diocesan Pastoral Planning Office.

Over the next few months, he explained, 39 local planning groups are heading into committee work that will lead to recommendations to Bishop Hubbard about the future of parishes.

One of those committees is charged with designing Christian service programs appropriate to parishes. The poverty report will be a helpful resource to those committees as they determine the needs in their communities and how parishes might address them, Mr. Manning said.

Catholic Charities will mail a copy of the report to each pastor, administrator and parish life director as well as to all the local planning group facilitators.

A cover letter from Sister Maureen Joyce, RSM, chief executive officer of Catholic Charities, will introduce the report and offer staff members as resources to groups interested in delving further into issues related to poverty as well as possible responses to those issues.

(01/31/08)