Opening prayer

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Opening prayer
Loving Lord, On this the feast of St. Teresa of
Avila, we gather to celebrate your presence among
us.
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• We thank you, Gracious God, for our faith,
• And for this place of worship and community
• Which has nourished many souls,
• And provided a source of nurturing faith
• For all who came seeking spiritual life.
• Many came with difficult questions and found no
  easy answers
• Yet, through patience and trust in You, and love
  for others, their dreams of a parish community
  were born.

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• May we remember those parish founders who
  have gone before us
• And through the fidelity of those who prayed
  here, and the generosity of those who have served
  here, we celebrate a history filled with faith.
• May we converge this evening filled with
  hope, knowing that the people of Our Lady of Good
  Counsel Parish believe in your constant presence,
  accept your grace, share your love, and celebrate
  your life with one another. Amen.

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• Parish Cluster Study
• Future of the Parish

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Southern Burlington Cluster Registered
HouseholdsRegistered Households
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Reasons for Cluster Study

• Collaborate with surrounding parishes facing
  shortage of priests
• Resolve issues of overcrowding and inadequate
  facilities.
• Recommendations needed!
• What should happen when only 4 pastors are
  available?
• What should happen when only 3 pastors are
  available?

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OLGC Two distinct but related problems

• Inadequate facilities
• Declining numbers of priests

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National Catholic Statistics
1965 - 2008 Priests 58,132 - 41,406
(-29) Catholics 46.6 million -
67.1 million (44)
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Projection by Trenton Dioceseof Active Priests
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OLGC Parishioners Priests

• 15,000 parishioners...and growing
• (10-15 households per month seek to
  register)
• TWO priestsat the moment!
• We cannot rely upon the service of retired
  priests forever
• We cannot presume that we will have TWO
  priests forever

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Inadequate Facilities

• 3000 people worship each weekend
• There are only 400 seats max in Main Church
  (308 comfortably)
• We also celebrate in the Crypt Chapel (200)
• the Gym (500)
• We celebrate 8 Masses and provide 2
  simulcasts
• 82 parking spaces
• Steep stairs, antiquated bathrooms, not
  handicapped- accessible
• We are a ...
• Mega-parish on a small church campus!

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Consequences

• Liturgies are not all that they should be
  or could be
• Parishioners expect and deserve quality
  Liturgies
• Everyone should have a seat at the Lords
  table

Liturgical/pastoral ministers are
stretched Insufficient volunteers for choir,
cantors, readers, Eucharistic ministers (need 60
for Masses) Insufficient space for meetings,
ministries and organizations
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Consequences
Expectations are high, people are angry and rude
when they dont get what they want! People
expect state of the art facilities that they are
disinterested in providing. The parish is not
experiencing the pastoral and liturgical life of
which it is capable.
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Consequences For Sacraments

• 1,500 in Religious Education program, the
  largest in the Diocese
• 468 students in OLGC school
• 11 First Communion Masses
• 3 Confirmation Ceremonies
• We cant fit all students, parents,
  grandparents in Church for these Masses

In 2010, there will be 220 Confirmands so only
ONE PARENT can attend with their child if we
celebrate here. Because of this, we have arranged
with St. Isaac Jogues to borrow their
church, which can hold up to 1,700 people.
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Has the Cluster Study solved our
problems? Insufficient space Dwindling
number of priests
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Cluster Study Consensus So Far

• Collaborate with surrounding parishes facing
  shortage of priests
• Study Recommendation
• 4 pastors in 5 parishes Queen of Peace and
  Christ the Redeemer merge
• 3 pastors in 4 parishes Queen of Peace and
  Christ the Redeemer one other parish merge
• Good Counsel Needs additional space.

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OLGC Two distinct but related problemsRemain

• Inadequate Facilities
• Declining numbers of priests

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• Consumer or Steward?
• A consumer demands, complains, expects
• (the customer is always right)
• A steward volunteers, creates, gives
• (time, talent, treasure)

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Where do we go from here?

• Your suggestions and ideas are urgently needed
• We cannot sustain our current church model
• This affects you, your children, grandchildren
  and future generations
• This presentation will be posted on our website,
  www.olgcnj.org
• Please share your ideas, comments, reflections,
  dreams by Nov. 1, 2009
• E-mail clusterstudy_at_olgcnj.org
• Or write to Father Damian McElroy, 42 W. Main
  St., Moorestown, NJ 08057

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OLGC Demographics

• Age Percent
• 18-25 2.56
• 26-39 9.67
• 40-55 41.68
• 56-69 22.56
• 70 23.52
• Nearly half of parishioners (46 percent) are over
  the age of 56.

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Imagine the Future

• Main church operates for weddings, funerals,
  special events
• New facility has plenty of parking, no need to
  arrive early to get a seat.
• Families can sit together comfortably, on padded
  seats, with no columns obstructing view.
• Climate is comfortable, staffing adequate
• Gathering space includes baptismal font, glass
  doors to vestibule where crying children can be
  comforted
• Adequate meeting space for groups and religious
  education classes

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