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Toronto archdiocese reorganizes faith formation programs
June 1, 2009
TORONTO - Help for parishes is on its way as the archdiocese of Toronto reorganizes how it delivers faith formation programs.
Over the summer the archdiocesan curia will meld its Catholic Office of Religious Education and its Office of Lay Ministry, Chaplaincy, Parish Social Ministry and Stewardship into a single office to support parishes, Archbishop Thomas Collins announced May 25.
Over the summer the archdiocesan curia will meld its Catholic Office of Religious Education and its Office of Lay Ministry, Chaplaincy, Parish Social Ministry and Stewardship into a single office to support parishes, Archbishop Thomas Collins announced May 25.
The new single, restructured office will "better co-ordinate our efforts and deploy resources most effectively," said Collins in an e-mail to archdiocesan staff.
Office of Lay Ministry director Bill Targett will head up the new office. Former CORE director Sr. Caroline Altpeter will take on a new role as point person for the archdiocese of Toronto's relationship with area school boards, assisting Catholic boards with faith formation programs.
Though roles will change, no layoffs are envisioned, said Collins.
Changing the way the archdiocese supports parish programs will help parishes that often have only one priest and limited staff, said Targett.
"We want to make sure we're meeting needs, not simply offering programs," said Targett.
Targett plans to launch the first new programs from the as-yet-unnamed faith formation office by mid-October.
"We need to do what (parishes) tell us needs to be done," he told The Catholic Register. "I don't think we've been asking them how well we're meeting their needs. We have been perhaps telling them what we can offer them. We need to be asking them more, what do they need? We need to be hearing what parishioners are saying they need more of."
The new office will eventually have a new name as staff from CORE and the Office of Lay Ministry ease into new roles and a new focus on faith formation, said Targett.
Office of Lay Ministry director Bill Targett will head up the new office. Former CORE director Sr. Caroline Altpeter will take on a new role as point person for the archdiocese of Toronto's relationship with area school boards, assisting Catholic boards with faith formation programs.
Though roles will change, no layoffs are envisioned, said Collins.
Changing the way the archdiocese supports parish programs will help parishes that often have only one priest and limited staff, said Targett.
"We want to make sure we're meeting needs, not simply offering programs," said Targett.
Targett plans to launch the first new programs from the as-yet-unnamed faith formation office by mid-October.
"We need to do what (parishes) tell us needs to be done," he told The Catholic Register. "I don't think we've been asking them how well we're meeting their needs. We have been perhaps telling them what we can offer them. We need to be asking them more, what do they need? We need to be hearing what parishioners are saying they need more of."
The new office will eventually have a new name as staff from CORE and the Office of Lay Ministry ease into new roles and a new focus on faith formation, said Targett.