Task Force

The Task Force on the Future of Pastoral Care in the Faith Communities of the Diocese of London was established by Bishop Ronald Fabbro in November 2013. Made up of pastors, a pastoral minister, a permanent deacon, and representatives from St. Peter’s Seminary and the Institute of Ongoing Formation, a number of directors of diocesan offices and several parishioners from various parishes across the diocese, the Task Force was given two tasks to accomplish:

• to study and develop ways whereby all the parishes of the diocese can become more “mission-oriented”; that is to say, how to have our parishes move from being communities that are inward-looking, focused simply on maintaining the status quo, to being communities that reach out beyond themselves for the service of others, particularly the poor; with the goal of transforming the world.
• and secondly, the create models of parish that will provide for a steadily decreasing number of priest-leaders in our parishes and yet have those parishes remain vibrant and active in the work of proclaiming and living the gospel.

This was a very large and challenging mandate but one that also contained within it many possibilities to be creative and imaginative in the face of the reality of changing times. In many ways, the Task Force was acting on Bishop Fabbro’s commitment to look for new ways of doing things in order to build and strengthen our diocese.

In its work the Task Force was not operating in isolation but consulting and collaborating with those engaged in ministry in the parishes, as well as with lay leadership, such as members of Parish Pastoral Councils and Parish Finance Committees. And certainly, to the degree possible, the Task Force sought the input of parishioners, inviting them into the conversation about our future through dialogue in their local parish communities with their pastors, pastoral teams and others in leadership.

A significant part of the Task Force’s work was to develop ways to educate and form leaders and all the baptized for the future directions that are being prepared.

This, as already stated, is a big project that will require time and care in its implementation over the course of the next ten years.

• Rev. Dwayne Adam, V.G. Pastor, St. Joseph, River Canard
• Lynn Hillier
• Dr. Christian McConnell, Director, Institute of Ongoing Formation at St. Peter’s Seminary
• Leanne Moran, Sacred Heart, Sarnia
• Nelsonon Couto, Communications OfficerNels
• Michael O'Hare, Director of Human Resources
• Deacon Jim Panchaud
• Laura Reilly, Director of Lay Ecclesial MinistersLaur
• Rev. Mark Sargent, Coordinator of Priest Personnel
• David Savel, Financial Administrator of the Diocese of London
• Vince Taylor, Holy Family, London
• Chair, Rev. Paul Baillargeon Chancellor and Judicial Vicar
• Jonathan Azzopardi, St. Michael Parish, Leamington
• Rev. Michael Bechard, Director of Liturgy
• Judy Bertram, Pastoral Minister, Corpus Christi, Windsor
• Joe Bezzina, Director of Pastoral Services
• Vicki Braun, Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs, Delhi
• Rev. John Comiskey, Moderator of the Curia
• Dr. John Dool, St. Peter’s Seminary, London
• John Devet, St. Christopher, Forest
• Rev. Tom Ferrera Pastor, St. Mary, Tillsonburg

• Participating:
• Most Rev. Ronald Fabbro, C.S.B.
• Most Rev. Joseph Dabrowski, C.S.M.A.

Questions for Conversation 

The scripture passage from the Acts of the Apostles in Bishop Fabbro’s letter recalls for us life in the early Church. How does this example challenge me in how I live my life? What is the challenge for my parish community in this passage?

In the article “A Missionary Parish”, the last paragraph reads: “This missionary focus is already to be found in many ways and in many instances in our parishes.”

How is your parish already “mission-oriented”? What would need to change in your parish in order for “mission-driven” to be its main characteristic?

Where do you find hope for the future in the new model of Family of Parishes?

What feedback would you give to the Task Force concerning the new proposed model of parish?