Church admins should listen to congregants

The June 21 letter “Church Leadership” is on the mark, painting the ongoing picture of the good, the bad and the potential of evil when parishes are part of a grouping that is more dictator-like than Christ-like.

St. Stephen Parish in Hazelwood has experienced numerous transitions over the last 10 years, but nothing close to those in the last 10 months. The consideration of parishioners and volunteers in ministries, as well as outreach to our parish and community, continues to deteriorate. Communication and inclusion seem to be the main obstacles in our Greenfield/Hazelwood/Oakland grouping. There is no doubt the grouping is favoring those least affected versus the newly arrived, elderly or the disadvantaged. Optimistically, the parochial vicars and deacon have been steadfast in their ministry to all.

Under this reorganization, the Latino community continues to fight for its voice within our church grouping, as mentioned in the May 23 letter “Church Should Focus on Retaining Catholic Latinos” and the July 8 letter “Catholics Need to Demand Change.” Concerns of further community disengagement have been expressed, but the Diocesan leadership has yet to involve the Latino community of faith leaders in significant decision-making processes. To date, agendas are limited to items considered — by the Diocese — “solvable” such as volunteer tasks versus concerns of Mass times, faith-formation class times/places and parish uniqueness.

The parishioners of St. Regis and the Latino community deserve better. The faithful congregation of St. Stephen and the people of Hazelwood deserve better. This is not the time to walk away from the love of Jesus in the Eucharist; people should be empowered by the Holy Spirit to lead prayer groups, Bible studies and family assemblies that nourish, evangelize and are inclusive, instead of fighting administrative decisions that are divisive.

Change can be good when paired with effective communication, dialogue, compromise and equity. If administration doesn’t appear to be willing to listen and compromise on the concerns of the congregations through intervention of leadership, then the only way to address the needs of the people (because we are the Body of Christ) is to become trailblazers like the saints and bring Jesus to the people.

ROSE VELGICH Hazelwood