Link to
​Archdiocese of Chicago - What is Renew My Church

​   St. Bernardine and St. Luke Grouping - Renew My Church Update: March 12, 2021
 
Discernment Process
St. Bernardine and St. Luke Parishes engaged in the Renew My Church (RMC) review and
discernment process over the past few months. The Grouping Feedback and Discernment team
(GFDT), which was made up of members from each community, met to review and discern the
future parish structure for the area. Our deepest appreciation goes to the GFDT who prayerfully
discerned the parish grouping structure during this challenging time of the pandemic.
Based on their meetings and feedback gathered from the larger parish community, they submitted
feedback to the archdiocese. The Archdiocesan Standards and Recommendations Commission,
which includes representatives from across the Archdiocese of Chicago, reviewed the feedback and
other information, including financial summaries and parish trends.
Cardinal Cupich and Bishop Manz are grateful to Fr. Kuca, Fr. Szmyd and the Grouping Team who
gathered throughout the past few months, and all parishioners who offered feedback through the
recent discernment process.
 
Outcome
In the past few weeks, Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, the archdiocese’s auxiliary
bishops, and the archdiocese’s Presbyteral Council met to discuss the Commission’s
recommendation. Based upon those discussions and prayerful consideration, Cardinal Cupich made
the following decisions regarding the parish structure in the St. Bernardine and St. Luke grouping.

• Effective July 1, 2021, St. Bernardine and St. Luke will unite as one parish with two

           worship sites, a new name, one pastor and one pastoral team.
 
          o          Both St. Bernardine and St. Luke will continue to host a regular schedule of Masses
                      and the specific schedule will be determined by the pastor in consultation with parish
                      leadership.
          o          St. Luke will formally be designated the parish church where the united parish’s
                      sacramental records will be kept.
          o          Unless otherwise desired by the local community, the united parish’s name will be St. Luke and St.                              Bernardine Parish, in alignment with the grouping team’s preference for the new parish name to                                  reflect a combined name.
          o          There are no changes to St. Luke School.
          o          Fr. Stan Kuca will serve as pastor of the newly unified parish. The Archdiocese of Chicago’s Priests’                            Placement Board will work with the newly unified parish and Fr. Kuca to discern the best assignment                        of an associate pastor(s).
 
Additionally, the Commission recommends an annual review beginning in 2024 regarding the
sustainability of two campuses. This way the united parish can focus on unification for the
next three years, prior to the start of the annual review.
 
Parish Structure Rationale

• Uniting as one parish allows the two communities to bring together ministerial leadership and

           stewardship for administration, facilities, and most importantly evangelization. The St. Bernardine
           campus provides a large gathering space which can be used to enhance and expand ministry and outreach.

•  Moving forward with two campuses addresses concerns about demographic differences as well as the   psychological barrier posed by the 290 Expressway.
• The demographic differences between the two current parishes may provide strong enough

           reason to continue both sites permanently.

• A future review vs. immediate review allows the space for the communities to unite as one

           parish and then take a fresh look at the two campuses in the future.
 
Next steps

• The archdiocese’s Renew My Church Accompaniment Team will also work alongside the pastors to
  

           ensure that the faith communities and staff members are supported through this time of change.

• The newly-united parish community, will embark upon the next phase of renewal, focusing

           on strong evangelization to the world around us – particularly in Forest Park and River Forest.
           St. Vincent Ferrer Parish will also embark upon the next phase of renewal in the River Forest community.

• The renewal process calls us to become a stronger, more sustainable presence for the future

           capable of reaching more people in their work of making disciples of Jesus Christ, building
          communities with one another and inspiring witness in the world around us.

       5 Phases of Renew My Church grouping process based on lessons from other dioceses and
      AOC history
                                                                                             
                                                                                              FOCUS
Preparation                                                                        Ensuring parish leaders can begin a planning phase
                                                                                              spiritually prepared and confident in their abilities to
                                                                                              shepherd their people through a difficult change 
                                                                                              management process.

Discernment &                                                                 Ensuring significant local input and ownership exists
   Decisions                                                                        in a process that faces realities and reaches
                                                                                             appropriate decisions.

Transitions -                                                                    Supporting parishes through a difficult transition in a 
Accompaniment                                                             way that respects and values the past while instilling
**(We are here)**                                                            a spirit of hopefulness about the future.
                                                                                            We have begun the “Transitions and Accompaniment” phase in the RMC process.  “Supporting parishes through a difficult transition in a way that respects and values the past while instilling a spirit of hopefulness about the future”. LeRoy Chalmers, the facilitator in our RMC process, and the staff from St. Bernardine, met virtually on Thursday, April 8, to discuss this process. Carol Palmer, the Human Resources representative for our Vicariate, was also present. (Both LeRoy and Carol will meet with the staff of St. Luke on April 15).  The Operational Transition phase will include the following: streamlining financial operations, creating new leadership teams (Pastoral Council, Finance Council), and creating viable and sustainable facility plans. 
The first step, “Onboarding” will include the following:
 

• Operations Team begins their review
• Meet with both Outgoing and Incoming Pastors
• Hold intro meeting with all Pastors and staff
• Meet with Business Managers
• Meet with Ministry staff
• Conduct Operational Team Phase Diagnostic Assessment with Parishes
• Conduct initial facilities walk through

 
​
Transitions -                                                                    Providing on-the-ground operating support for
Operations                                                                       parishes and groupings transitioning to new models.

Building the                                                                     Support the grouping in developing collaborative
New Reality                                                                     pastoral plans to form vital parishes and make   
                                                                                            missionary disciples. 

​A Prayer For “Renew My Church”

Lord Jesus, you speak to us today, as you spoke to holy men and women who have gone before us. 
In every age and in our own time, you call to us and say: Renew My Church. Pour out the gift of your Holy Spirit upon us, and so enable us 
      to hear you clearly 
      to listen to each other attentively 
      to imagine our future boldly 
      to discern your direction wisely 
      to persevere in your holy will courageously 
      to stay together in charity 
      to surrender our own plans readily 
      to embrace the greater good 
      to hand on your gifts to future generations. 
May we remain in the holy company of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the apostles and all the saints.  May their example and presence inspire us with patient confidence in the work of your grace. 
We ask this of you who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen 

---