Deacon Michael Houghton at St . John Vianney Parish , July 2019 .
What lies ahead
Our move to Families will most certainly come with its fair share of challenges . To think otherwise would be overly optimistic .
Our priests who find themselves in an In Solidum Model will need to work out how to lead a group of parishes as a team , which is something they have never done before . The Moderator will need to find the balance of being first among equals while at the same time never dominating his brother priests .
We enter this process aware of these potential challenges and equipped with mitigation strategies . In order to help the priests of each Family discern how they will collectively pastor and support one another , they will mutually develop something called a Family Priests ’ Covenant . This Covenant will reflect their prayerful discernment about interpersonal communion and ministerial relationships among the priests of a Family .
Our deacons will be challenged to expand their ministries beyond their current parishes as they will now serve all of the parishes in their Families . This will be both exciting and taxing at times .
Our newly created director positions will need to work closely with their One Pastors or Moderators to clearly lay out the plans for becoming more missionary . There will no doubt be some disagreement over what it truly means for these positions to be empowered , but
this type of dialogue is becoming more critical as the number of priests declines . Indeed , some might say this dialogue is long overdue .
Prayer , relationship , and responsiveness
Our responses to the challenges we will face as we move into Families can be summarized in three focus areas : prayer , relationship , and responsiveness .
Prayer is first and foremost because we are called and directed by the Holy Spirit in all that we do , including in our efforts to be more missionary . If we try to go it alone , without substantial and honest prayer for his guidance , we will fail because we will be pursuing what we think rather than following the direction that he gives .
Relationships are critical because we need to accompany one another as we make these changes . We need honest and transparent relationships among the clergy in each Family , between clergy and laity within each Family , among the Family pastors and Family staff , and even between the curia and the Families . We are all in this together .
Responsiveness may seem an odd third item on our list , but it is something that underpins both prayer and relationships . When we hear the direction of the Holy Spirit in prayer , we must respond . To hear but not respond is perhaps worse than not praying at all .
And when we are in a relationship with another person , our responsiveness to their needs is a tangible demonstration of our care for them . Responsiveness is not only about taking action , but it is also about taking action in a timely way — about moving with a sense of urgency .
All things new
In the introduction to Unleash the Gospel , Archbishop Vigneron states the following : Jesus Christ makes all things new ! He himself is at work to renew his Church in the Archdiocese of Detroit . He is pouring out his Holy Spirit anew so that every member of the Church may be formed and sent forth as a joyful missionary disciple , so that the Gospel may be unleashed in southeast Michigan .
May we all embrace the renewal of our Church as we seek to unleash the Gospel through Families of Parishes .
Bishop Gerard Battersby was appointed auxiliary bishop of Detroit and regional moderator of the south region in 2016 and ordained as auxiliary bishop to Archbishop Allen Vigneron in 2017 .
Deacon Michael Houghton is director of missionary strategic plans for the Archdiocese of Detroit . He was ordained a deacon in 2012 and serves as deacon at St . John Vianney Parish in Shelby Township .
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