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Return to the New
Evangelization main page Carolyn Bloom, a
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, is the new director of the Office of
Support and Assistance Ministry for the Diocese of Portland. Ms.
Bloom has a private practice in Auburn and specializes in grief and
loss, domestic abuse, sexual abuse and trauma resolution. She is
contracting her services to the Diocese. In this role, Ms. Bloom will
be providing support to victims/survivors who seek healing due to
sexual abuse by clergy or other church representatives by: She can be reached
at 1-866-829-4437. |
Forward in Faith: A Message from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland ~ October 2004 Update on New Evangelization Planning Committee Progress The group commissioned by Bishop Malone to make recommendations on the future configuration of parishes in Maine has had four meetings so far, including two that covered a two-day period. The New Evangelization Planning Committee has been focusing on how the Diocese can best spread the Word of God given our resources, including priests, churches, trained pastoral ministers and the laity. The challenge for the committee is to concentrate on our evangelization mission, rather than our obstacles: the declining number of clergy, distance between parishes, and the human tendency to protect one’s own parish. The Committee, along with the Bishop, is committed to consulting with our priests and parishioners in order to obtain their views on how to approach our mission going forward. Therefore, the committee has agreed to identify parishes that would work together in small groups and to provide these groups with a process for them to determine necessary mission-based changes. This will encourage collaboration within the groups of parishes and allow consolidations and other parish changes to be determined on the local (group) level with approval of the Bishop. These changes may include mergers, sharing of clergy, changing mass times, and/or closing worship spaces. In order to accomplish this, the committee requested in August that Fr. John Skehan, Diocesan Planning Director and David Twomey, Diocese of Portland Chief Financial Officer develop a possible scenario of parishes that could work together. The committee reviewed the scenario in September and will offer this proposal to the Bishop along with an explanation of the committee’s rationale for why this plan, which emphasizes local involvement, could work to promote evangelization throughout the Diocese. The committee is scheduled to meet again in October and updates on their progress will be publicized.
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Your input is important As Sacred Heart / St. Dominic embarks with other parishes in the Diocese on this parish reorganization plan that emphasizes mission, the role of the laity and parish collaboration, your input is important. Use the suggestion box at the back of the church to give your input, or send a message to the Parish Office, by e-mail to tsacredh@maine.rr.com, or by regular mail to:
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