In a letter dated April 23, 1999, sent to Reverend Monsignor James T. McDonough, Regional Vicar for Chester County, Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, accepted the Cluster Pastoral Plan for Cluster 43, and commended the pastors and all who served on the Cluster Pastoral Planning Committee.

The four parishes of Cluster 43 are:

Saint Basil the Great Parish
Saint Joseph Parish
Saint Peter Parish
Saint Thomas More Parish

Cluster 43's plan centers on these objectives:

1) The Committee recommends the establishment of a new parish. A feasibility study will be conducted before any action is taken.

2) Increase involvement and training for Laity. This will be accomplished by identifying the needs of the parish and matching those needs with existing training programs for lay people so that the laity may take a more active role in their parishes.

3) Explore the development of evangelization activities. With weekend mass attendance currently between 30% and 40%, the Committee agreed a need exists to more fully involve current parishioners and to draw estranged Catholics back to the Church. This will be accomplished by promoting an inventory of programs and activities already available and by developing new programs or expanding existing programs.

4) Explore Catholic elementary education opportunities. This will be accomplished by conducting an inventory and assessing the current Catholic Elementary Education situation within the Cluster. Needs will be identified and a plan will be developed to address needs and opportunities. (Two parishes have elementary schools, St. Basil and St. Joseph. They both have waiting lists for grades K through three).

5) Promote vocations to the priesthood, permanent diaconate and religious life. This will be accomplished by creating a shared list of activities in our parishes and in the Archdiocese that promote vocations. Those activities will be communicated to the various organizations in the parishes so they can promote participation in these programs.

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Editor's Note: Media inquiries should be directed to Rev. Msgr. James T. McDonough at 610-995-9450.

Contact
Donna Crilley
Communications Assistant
215-587-3747