West Hull Parishes Corpus Christi , St. Joseph's , St. Wilfrid's A TIME TO TALK TO LISTEN TO DO April 2002 Peter Corcoran S.M. Des Hanrahan S.M.  
Over the last 15 months or so, since we became members the parishes of Corpus Christi, St. Joseph and St Wilfrid, there has been great generosity from so many fellow parishioners in adapting to the various necessary changes that have, in effect, been forced upon us: changed times of Sunday masses; reduction of weekly masses; lack of a resident priest in Corpus Christi and St. Wilfrid’s. These changes were quite simply necessary and a natural result of a reduction of the manpower for the area. Nonetheless we thank you for your support.   COMMON TO ALL  
Other changes however have inevitably not taken place so quickly and it is these we would like to address in our forthcoming parish meetings. Although some are peculiar to each parish, it is fair to say that there are certain areas which are common to all three parishes.   TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE  
Despite not fully appreciating the implications of this approach and its ongoing teething troubles, we still do feel that it is the right option for our West Hull Parishes. The three parish communities have distinct identities, resulting from their history and their geographical place in the city. And we feel that they should continue to be nurtured and developed as distinct Eucharistic Communities, whilst maintaining links with each other. We likewise feel that our presence among you, for however long, is an opportunity to prepare for a new phase in the life of the church in this part of Hull. It seems unlikely that we will be replaced by more than one priest. By that time one would hope that each individual community would have reached a stage where it can be more or less self-supporting and responsible for its own existence and development. The implication of this obviously means we are looking to much more involvement from everyone.   AN EQUAL PARTNERSHIP  
As must be pretty obvious we believe quite strongly in this model. We believe that with fewer clergy it is necessary that more lay people take responsibility for the parish community they are part of. We believe that the priests and the laity need to be seen to be working in equal partnership, albeit enjoying different roles. We believe that we get the confidence to take responsibility by actually taking responsibility. Books are helpful, as are courses, but supported experience would seem to be the best way forward.   INDIVIDUAL GROWTH  
It is possibly fair to say that the model we have chosen makes for less immediate efficiency, less streamlining. But we do believe that it is a model which, while asking questions and presenting challenges, can make our parishes much stronger and more effective Christian communities. And also give each of us the opportunity to develop our own individual Christian vocation.   CHANGING PRIESTHOOD  
We hope we have been sufficiently sensitive to the fact that one of the obvious and most difficult challenges this model presents to so many is that of the role of the priest has changed quite dramatically. We are aware our view of priesthood is different from that of our predecessors in the three parishes. But we wonder whether, in what are so markedly changed circumstances, this approach may be the right one for us here and now.
  WORTH A THOUGHT  
It would be more than just an interesting exercise to honestly sit down and think, with the evidence we have, regarding ageing clergy and fewer priests, what the Church here in our West Hull will be like in say, ten or even, twenty years time? We feel that a simple exercise like this reminds us that we all have a real responsibility for the future church as well as for the present one.   SHARED PRIORITIES  
We hope that as many as possible will be able to get to the individual parish meetings to discuss what needs to be discussed. We would not see the meetings as necessarily all to do with decisions, though that will come into it. But also occasions for anybody to air their views in what we trust will be a sensitive and supportive situation.   TALK, LISTEN, DO  
We are in a time of change. We have talked a lot and listened a lot. Now is the time to talk more and listen to each othermore but essentially to do. These will be three important meetings which affect all of us. Please try to be present.