NORTH OXFORD
CATHOLIC FAMILY OF PARISHES

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FAMILY OF PARISHES

FAMILY OF PARISHES

TRANSITION TEAM NEWS
- TRANSITION TEAM NEWS– STAFFING & FINANCES
  
  Jan 19 2023
  
  STAFFING
  The Transition Team has been briefed by the Staff Representative on current staffing throughout the Family and the staffing allocation going forward.
  ALL EXISTING STAFF MEMBERS WILL CONTINUE IN THEIR CURRENT POSITION AND ALL THREE PARISH OFFICES WILL REMAIN OPEN WITH THE PRESENT STAFF.
  Just as we share two priests for three parishes, some staffing resources will now be shared across the Family:
  EXISTING STAFF SHARING:
  
  PASTORAL MINISTER (Preparation for Baptisms, RCIA, understanding the faith)
  
  SACRAMENTAL MINISTER (Preparation for First Communion, First Reconciliation, Confirmation)
  
  OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR as it pertains to the Family (staffing concerns, records, new hires, retirees, provides information for/liaisons with Diocese, bookkeeping for items that span the Family)
  
  OTHER SHARED PERSONNEL:
  
  WEBSITE MANAGER (handles all website data and design for the Family, posts weekly updates, including bulletins and Facebook); paid on a monthly basis (cost to be shared by all three churches)
  
  TO BE HIRED:
  
  YOUTH MINISTER (Part-Time); facilitate/run programs and activities for our youth
  
  FINANCES
  With the sharing of resources, sharing of costs will need to be discussed.
  
  The three churches have been sharing clergy salary expenses since Feb. 2021 when Father Simard retired
  
  In July of 2022 (when our Family of Parishes was activated), all expenses regarding clergy (i.e. fuel and mileage, groceries, cell phones, misc. expenses, retreats, study days, etc.) are shared on a percentage basis based on a formula set by the Diocese (to be reviewed bi-annually)
  
  Each church is responsible for their own utilities and monthly expenses, including capital expenses
  
  Beginning this year, all common expenses to be shared will include:
  
  a portion of the salary for the Pastoral Ministers, Youth Minister, and Office Administrator (NOTE: these expenses will be determined based on the level of involvement each staff has with the other churches)
  
  purchases for the priest’s living quarters that are considered movable (i.e. washer, dryer, furniture, TV, etc.)
- FAMILY LOGO
  
  WE HAVE A FAMILY LOGO
  After much discussion and consideration, the Transition Team has decided on a logo for the North Oxford Catholic Family of Parishes. In our deliberations, we gravitated to a logo which would incorporate symbols of all three parishes:
  INTERTWINED to represent togetherness / unity / equality / cooperation / sharing / collaboration
  HEART - (Sacred Heart) – Also representing God’s love that we strive to share with others
  CROSS – (Holy Cross) - The cross identifies who we are. We are followers of Christ.
  TRIQUETRA – (Holy Trinity)- Triquetra is an ancient symbol of the Trinity, three in one, 3 parishes becoming one Family
  RED is the color of fire symbolizes the presence of the Holy Spirit
  GREEN – a colour used in Ordinary Time- a time set aside for reflecting on and celebrating our call to follow Jesus in discipleship and evangelize
  PURPLE- represents royalty, wisdom, peace, devotion
  Although our three parishes will become one Family, we will still keep our individuality and uniqueness.
- COUNTDOWN TO ACTIVATION
  On July 4^th our Family of Parishes will be activated. Your Transition Team has been working hard in preparation and will continue to finalize some things after the activation. In anticipation of the big date, we are sharing some highlights to keep you updated.
  
  FAMILY NAME: Following the policy of the Diocese that the name refers to the geographic region or area where the parishes in the family are situated; the team has come up with a name for our Family of Parishes - NORTH OXFORD CATHOLIC FAMILY OF PARISHES. We want to remind you that our “Family Group” will have this name BUT we will still keep our parish names.
  
  MASS SCHEDULE: In fairness to all, scheduling decisions required looking at the “group as a whole” and make sure that there was a variety of Mass times available to accommodate all parishioners’ schedules (throughout the Family, Masses are available Sat night, Sun morning and Sun night). People are invited to attend whichever of the three church’s Masses best suits their schedule. THE CURRENT MASS SCHEDULE WILL REMAIN THE SAME.
  
  PARISH OFFICES: Many Families have centralized and reduced their offices to one location. After much discussion, we came to consensus that to keep familiarity, accessibility and best serve parishioners, WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE 3 PARISH OFFICES.
  
  PRIEST ACCOMMODATIONS: Our 2 priests, Father Dariusz and Father Sebastian (moving here in July to replace Father Raj) will be living in the rectory at Holy Cross Church in Woodstock.
  
  FAMILY WEBSITE & FACEBOOK PAGE: We are finalizing all the details to have one website and Facebook page dedicated to information on all three parishes in the Family. The website will go online with our activation in July of this year (prior to its debut, you will be informed as to how to access it). Information from the existing websites will be migrated to the Family site and the current websites and Facebook pages will be de-activated when the new ones are up and running.
  
  ONE BULLETIN FORMAT: Given that Family events, celebrations and programs will be open to all, the Diocese recommends that we set up our bulletin to span the Family to keep everyone informed. In July you will see our new bulletin format.
  
  Becoming one Family is going to be exciting, challenging and rewarding. We know that for some, this journey may be difficult. Your prayers for a smooth transition are crucial. May the Holy Spirit continue to guide us all!
- WE HAVE A NAME
  
  Update May 8 2022
  
  WE HAVE A NAME FOR OUR FAMILY!
  
  One of the Transition Team’s initial tasks was to come up with a name for our Family. It is important to remember that our “family grouping” will be identified with its own name, HOWEVER, we will continue to keep the uniqueness and individuality of our parishes, INCLUDING OUR PARISH NAMES.
  Your Transition Team followed the guidelines and policies of the Diocese in choosing a name for our Family.
  
  The name cannot replicate the canonical title of any of the parishes in the family (e.g., the St. Peter Family of Parishes). Nor should it be a hyphenated name that groups the names of the parishes in the family (e.g., the St. Peter – Sacred Heart – St. Michael Family of Parishes).
  
  It is preferable that the name of the family not have a religious designation but, rather, refer to the geographic region or area where the parishes in the family are situated (e.g., the Chatham Family of Parishes, the Norfolk Family of Parishes, the West London Family of Parishes, etc.)
  
  After much discussion and thoughtful deliberation, the Team chose a name and submitted it to Bishop Fabbro for approval. After receiving approval, we can now announce that the name for our Family of Parishes is:
  “NORTH OXFORD CATHOLIC FAMILY OF PARISHES”
  The reasoning behind the choice is two-fold:
  1. It refers to the GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION (as per policy). The other parish in Oxford that is already familied into another group, is in the southern part of the County, our three parishes are located in the northern half of Oxford.
  2. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
  
  The first Catholic Church in Oxford County (St. Augustine) was built in 1838 in Beachville (which at that time was in North Oxford Township). St. Augustine was only the eighth Catholic Church built in what was then, the entire ‘Province of Upper Canada’.
  
  This Church served the faithful from the surrounding area including Woodstock, Ingersoll, the Townships of North Oxford, East Oxford, West Oxford, East Nissouri, East Zorra and Blandford, Blenheim. Our Family will include members from all these areas as our parishes include these same geographical boundaries.
  
  Together these Catholics shared one priest and worked together as one group building the Catholic faith in our area. This is similar to the FAMILY of PARISHES model we will become part of a larger faith family benefitting from, and working together, dedicated to advancing our mission, to share Christ with those around us, and grow our parishes!
- MEMBERS OF THE TRANSITION TEAM
  
  Clergy:
  Father Dariusz
  Father Raj
  Pastoral Team members:
  Rita Butler (Youth Minister)
  Margaret Olszewski (Pastoral Minister)
  Diane Reintjes ((Secretary/Bookkeeper)
  
  Parish Representatives:
  Miroslav Kumala- Holy Cross
  Czeslaw Kurpiel – Holy Cross
  Teresa Niewola- Holy Cross
  Theresa Wiatr- Holy Cross
  Tony Jaszczur - Holy Trinity
  Tim Trewin- Holy Trinity
  Mary Cooper- Sacred Heart
  Richard Resch- Sacred Heart
  Lois Turvey- Sacred Heart
  
  contact the Transition Team at
  [email protected]
- WHAT DOES A TRANSITION TEAM DO?
  
  This group will meet on a regular basis over the coming months. Depending on the requirements of each family of parishes the team generally will:
  
  Develop a comprehensive communication plan to keep parishioners of the Family of Parishes up to date on the progress
  
  Select a name for the Family of Parishes
  
  Create a logo, website and Facebook page for the Family of Parishes
  
  Develop a workable Mass time schedule
  
  Plan the sharing of liturgical ministries
  
  Define family staff needs and develop a personnel plan for their family
  
  Develop an inventory of facilities and resources
  
  Work out office location(s) and priest accommodations, (if applicable)
  
  Develop a Pastoral Plan
  
  Develop a preliminary financial plan.
  
  This group will eventually draft a document proposing structures for a new Family Pastoral Council, Family Finance Committee, define family staff needs, ministry needs and various options for the future.