Progress on First Year Goals of the
Pastoral Plan of Action
By the National Black Catholic Congress
(Page 4 of 10)
Respondents mentioned several
types of resources that would help them accomplish this action step.
They asked for both academic and more broadly accessible background
materials. They could do more if there were greater awareness of Black
history, as well as if there were programs, incentives, and cross-parish
collaboration to encourage pastors to promote inculturation. Workshops,
especially for liturgists and choirs, and taking account of recent
liturgical reforms, would be helpful. Finally, some respondents
mentioned the need for easier access to materials and symbolic items;
that is, they seek funding, donated items, and more vendors of such
items.
Some ideas that emerged from
the surveys include: a Unity Candle that travels among parishes in a
diocese and a diocesan reward program to recognize best practices in
diversity. The Archdiocese of Denver provides models of action on this
step, which might be useful to others. Last year, the archdiocese
sponsored three multi-day conferences dedicated to African American
spirituality, stewardship, and/or liturgies in 2003.
Action Step 2: Initiate
parish-based Africentric, age appropriate Scripture study programs.
Compared to the first step, dioceses are reporting much more difficulty
in bringing Africentric themes into Scripture study. Respondents
frequently mentioned their difficulty in finding appropriate study
materials and trained catechists/leaders for an Africentric approach and
some sought greater coordination of this goal at the diocesan level. In
addition, respondents reported a challenge facing all
Catholics-awakening interest in Scripture study and developing study
programs targeted to youth and young adults. One respondent suggested
that a parish line item dedicated to youth and young adult Bible study
would help maintain focus on this goal. The Diocese of Baltimore
reported success with the "Keep on Teaching/Walk in the Light" program.
Action Step 3: Promote
and support those interested in Church ministry. A substantial
majority of survey respondents reported progress in encouraging more
African Americans to pursue vocations and lay ministry. Some of the
challenges reported range from parishioners who are too busy with the
stress and demands of their daily lives to have time to volunteer or to
enroll in training and certification programs to the opposite problem,
"burn-out" among the most active Catholics.
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