TOUCHSTONE VOLUME 27, NUMBER 1, WINTER 2018

CONTENTS: 1. Transition - A Pastor’s Life (Part 1), by Rev. Dennis G. Lewandowski 2. 2017 Hurricane Relief Priest Fund 3. National Diocesan Survey: Salary and Benefits for Priests and Lay Personnel 4. Transition - A Pastor’s Life (Part 2) 5. Talk to us - we want to hear from you 6. Registration is up for the 50th National Convocation of Priests

Father Dennis G. Lewandowski writes about transitions priests face, especially in terms of parishes adjusting to change, drawing on personal experience, with tips on giving the transition room to follow it’s healthy psychological course.

TRANSITION - A PASTOR’S LIFE (Part 1) Rev. Dennis G. Lewandowski

Seems like change is a timeless topic. Thousands of books on managing change have been published in the past three decades. However, not as many books have been published on how change affects our lives or, on how to understand the psychological implications of change. There is an interesting book,

“Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change,” by William Bridges. I believe this is a good read for anyone going through any kind of change. The author explains that change is situational and different from transition, which he describes as a “reorientation process.” People go through such a process when they are coming to terms with change. I will share some of my thoughts and experience with transitions later in this writing. Coincidently, during the week of September 22, 2017, the National Federation of Priests’ Councils (NFPC) referenced an essay by Fr. David Songy, OFM Cap, a clinical psychologist and the president of Saint Luke Institute. His essay was published earlier this year on the Our Sunday Visitor website. Fr. David shares insightful views on the three-phase psychological process of transition revealed in Bridges’ book. Though I will not get into the three-phase process of transition in detail, allow me to share my understanding of it through personal experience. I intend to tell you about my experiences with the

different phases of transition in part two of this essay. I am almost certain you will or have come across similar situations in your priesthood, so I hope that my story will provide you with some orientation to manage your own transitions. I think it is important for veteran pastors to find ways to share their experience with younger priests and particularly with newly appointed pastors. I recently celebrated the 32nd anniversary of my priesthood so reminiscing past experiences is unavoidable. Throughout my life as a priest I have lived through quite a few changes. I have served as the pastor of three very different parish communities. Each of these experiences has presented me with challenges and opportunities. In each case, there was a period of transition for me, for the parish staff, and for the community.

I have been asked many times why I became a priest; my answer is not what most people expect to hear. Yes, I was born and raised Catholic and attended Catholic school. My first thought about becoming a priest was when I was in third grade. However, it was not until later in my life, in my 30’s, that I acted on it. God had been with me always, so I decided to follow God and live my childhood dream.

I think it is important for veteran pastors to find ways to share their experience with

younger priests and particularly with newly appointed pastors.

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Becoming a priest – the start of a never-ending transition

Bridges explains in his book that all transitions start with an ‘Ending.’ I believe that becoming a priest is a perfect example of the ending phase referenced in

“Making the Most of Change.” I had completed my Theology studies at Catholic Theological Union and was presented with the opportunity to become a priest in the Diocese of Lansing, Michigan. This is where I was ordained in 1985. As much as I was eager to begin my priesthood, I had no idea how moving to an unfamiliar place, away from family and friends, would affect me, on top of the process of letting go of my old life and figuring out how to be a priest.

I realized many years later that though I had managed to serve the Diocese of Lansing as an associate pastor for five years, I had not actually processed the transition brought on by this significant change in my life. I served the Church in Lansing and would travel back and forth to Chicago as often as I could. In my mind, I had never moved from Chicago, it was just a very long commute. Though I had let go of my life as a lay person, I missed my family, my friends and the city where I had lived all my life. Five years later, I was fortunate to have been granted permission to move back to Chicago.

From associate to pastor

Upon my return to Chicagoland, I served the Diocese of Joliet for a couple of years as an associate pastor before being appointed pastor to my first parish: a small tight-knit faith community of about 200 families who were grieving the sudden death of their beloved founding pastor. They did not have a church building or worship space. Sunday Mass had been held in the gymnasium of a nearby school for the past ten years.

The bishop of Joliet who appointed me, tasked me with three goals: 1) align the parish with the diocese, 2) raise the number of parishioners, and 3) build a worship space for this parish in three years’ time. This was without a doubt a challenge and the start of a new transition, not only for me, but also for everyone involved.

Though the members of the community had bid farewell to their former pastor, they now needed to bid farewell to the way things had been done. Only then, could we move forward together to renew our parish. There was clearly an ending that we all had to process.

For me, it was the ending of my time as an associate pastor. I had to process this change quickly and assume my new role as the pastor of this community so I could help both staff and parishioners during their transition. It took a while but once we came together, we learned how to be a new faith community creating a new reality. This is what Bridges describes as the “Neutral Zone.”

The community grew to 500 families. The worship space was built by my third year there and on my fourth year, the bishop called me to start a new parish. So, my experience with a New Beginning was still to come.

I believe that assuming the responsibilities that come with a parish, leading God’s people as their pastor, connecting with parishioners in a profound and significant way from a sacramental viewpoint, and helping people build and strengthen their relationship with God, is a pastor’s job description. However, in my experience seminaries prepare men for priesthood, but it takes years of hands-on training to become a pastor.

(Part 2 of the essay continues on page 4)

...all transitions start with an ‘Ending.’

Though the members of the community had bid farewell to their former pastor,

they now needed to bid farewell to the way things had been done. Only then, could we move forward together to renew our parish.

...seminaries prepare men for priesthood, but it takes years of hands-on training

to become a pastor.

The National Diocesan Survey encompasses three previous studies: the National Diocesan Salary Survey and the National Church Employee Benefits Survey by NACPA, and The Laborer Is Worthy of His Hire by NFPC. The survey was conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) during the winter of 2017.

Both NACPA and NFPC are confident that the information in the survey is key to helping diocesan leaders provide a more equitable work environment for priest and lay personnel.

The data in this survey is organized by region, size of Catholic population in the arch/diocese, staff size of the arch/diocese, and the estimated operating budget of central offices, excluding Catholic Charities.

The survey is being sold as PDF, with an option to order a print copy. The survey is available through the Bookstore tab on the NFPC website (nfpc.org).

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NFPC has initiated a Hurricane Priest Relief Fund to support and encourage brother priests in the hurricane affected areas of Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. We have contacted all mainland dioceses affected in Texas and Florida, as well as each of the Puerto Rico and Virgin Island dioceses. Every dollar donated will go directly to the priests. The money is ear-marked specifically for priests who have lost items not covered under insurance. We hope to respond to any requests presented through their diocesan offices. As you may imagine, the island priests have little to no insurance, with severely limited incomes.

This is specifically a call to the priests of the country to give generously in support of brother priests. All laity and religious are welcome to contribute as well. Please consider how you can best support this endeavor. The priests living in these areas have been ministering to both physical and spiritual needs, many without care for their own personal needs. You will be sending them not only physical assistance, but also much needed emotional and spiritual encouragement and fraternity through your donation. To donate securely online, go to nfpc.org. If you prefer to donate by mail, make your check payable to “National Federation of Priests’ Councils” and designate it as a contribution to the 2017 Hurricane Priest Relief Fund in the memo portion of the check. Send the check to: NFPC, 333 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1114, Chicago, IL 60601. You may also contribute by calling us directly at 312-442-9700 or toll free, 1-888-271-6372. All donations to the 2017 Hurricane Priest Relief Fund are tax deductible. We, and your brother priests, thank you for your consideration.

2017 Hurricane Priest Relief Fund

National Diocesan Survey: Salary and Benefits for Priests and Lay Personnel

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TRANSITION - A PASTOR’S LIFE (Part 2)

Navigating the neutral zone Bridges describes the neutral zone as a time between the old identity and the new. It can stretch out for months, even years. “It is a time when there’s nothing to hold on to; it’s not easy to let go of one trapeze with the faith that a new one is on its way. A nowhere between to somewhere.”

This neutral zone was a time to be creative. Temporary systems had to be put in place to navigate this phase fruitfully. Twenty people came to our first meeting. We celebrated our first Mass in the gym of a nearby school on October 6, 2002, and the Dedication of the Church of Saint Francis Xavier in Joliet, Illinois, took place in August 2006.

Many of you may think that starting a new parish from scratch should be described as a new beginning, but when it comes to managing change, there is a difference between the two. One starts something after developing a plan with goals and dates whereas a “new beginning” only occurs when we have gone through the needed transition or reorientation process, and we are ready and comfortable with the new circumstance.

New beginnings need to be nurtured The final phase of a transition, according to Bridges, is not measured in dates. New beginnings take place only after people are ready to make an emotional commitment to see themselves as a new person, in a new place or in a new role. “Beginnings follow the timing of the mind and heart.”

All the changes I had previously experienced prepared me for my third parish assignment. I became the second pastor of my current parish in July 2009. Again, this change brought on an entirely new transition process, which started with an ending.

The founding pastor of this parish had been here for a little over ten years. So, I understood that the community was going through a tough transition, and I also understood their resistance to the new pastor. I concentrated on finding ways to help people move through their ending phase before we could get to the next phase. Treating the past with respect proved to be conducive to moving on to the neutral zone phase, which then took about three years. This was perhaps due to the size of the parish and to some of the changes I was making per the bishop’s request. It is natural for people to become divided between those who want to move change along and those who insist on doing things the old way. A pastor’s mind and heart must be ready to help everyone else in his new parish enter the new beginning phase. Communication is highly important in all phases of transition. When you listen to the concerns raised by parishioners and staff you are better equipped to provide solutions. However, if no one raises concerns, then you must be ready to be the one who brings them up, so you can work together on finding solutions to existing problems.

The people we minister to are dealing with constant change in their lives, and not many of them are aware that they need to make time to complete the transition process that comes with every change. As a pastor of 32 years, I now know that it takes years of hands-on training to learn how to be a pastor to God’s people in addition to dealing with non-stop change in our own lives. If you are a new pastor who would like a friendly ear, please feel free to contact me. Email: dlewandowski@thecsassociates.us

Father Dennis Lewandowski is a priest of the Diocese of Joliet, IL. Currently the pastor of a large corporate parish in Naperville, IL, he is known for facilitating a positive working environment and empowering others to grow. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Lewis University; a Master’s in Divinity from Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, and a Masters in Organizational Development from Loyola University Chicago.

“Beginnings follow the timing of the mind and heart.”

Communication is highly important in all phases of transition.

...it’s not easy to let go of one trapeze with the faith that a new one is on its way.

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We want to hear from you!

The National Federation of Priests’ Councils has been in the business of serving and supporting the U.S. presbyterate since 1968. Because of that, NFPC has connections. These connections offer a unique opportunity for all arch/dioceses across the U.S. Do you have a question? Maybe we can help find the answer. Example: A diocesan official sent an email to NFPC asking about a job description for a new ministry they were developing. NFPC Managing Director, Alan Szafraniec, started making phone calls. Within a couple of hours, he had connected with a diocese who had the exact ministry and a job description they were glad to share. Connection. Example:

Another diocese’s Chancellor emailed NFPC asking about written policies and procedures in the case of the unexpected death of a priest. We sent an email out to contacts in dioceses across the U.S. and within days had several helpful emails to

forward to the Chancellor, who was very pleased with the clear and helpful information. Connection.

Example: A priest with a laryngectomy contacted us to see if we knew of any other priests across the U.S. who had undergone the same procedure. He was looking for support from other priests who are laryngectomees to see how it has effected their preaching ministry, what adaptations to presiding have been helpful for them, what wisdom they might offer about continuing in public ministry. We reached out to our contacts and although the search this time was more extensive, we were able to help him contact another priest with a laryngectomy. Connection. If you were one of those who responded when we sent out requests, thank you - you are making a difference! NFPC is a national clearinghouse for information concerning arch/dioceses, speaker recommendations, research, and other topics. Keep us in mind next time you are looking for answers. Also, talk to us with input on the major issues affecting your ability to minister in the United States today. In the past, we’ve tackled the heavy lifting for such concerns as salary compensation, personnel boards, and due process. Today’s issues need defining, and your input is our best resource. Tell us how we can help, and we’ll get started. NFPC, connecting and supporting all Catholic priests serving in the U.S. Talk to us.

NFPC is a clearinghouse for questions on what is being done and where help can be found across the United States. NFPC has a significant list of contacts throughout arch/dioceses, the USCCB, and in many other U.S. Catholic organizations; we are a trusted source for dioceses exploring and pursuing new avenues of growth.

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333 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1114 Chicago, IL 60601-4001 312-442-9700 (Toll free 888-271-NFPC) Email: nfpc@nfpc.org www.nfpc.org

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