Seek the City workshop focuses on improving community service

A diverse assembly of parishioners from Baltimore and Maryland united at St. Matthew Catholic Church in Northwood Jan. 7 for the Seek the City Visioning Workshop to participate in shaping the future of the Catholic community.

The gathering of more than 140 commenced with Geraldine Byrd, director of community relations and external affairs for Seek the City, outlining a year-and-a-half exploration into understanding the community’s identity and nurturing a shared mission.

Auxiliary Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., urban vicar, led opening prayers and reflections, emphasizing a troubling statistic – a third of the parishes in the Archdiocese of Baltimore cater to just 5,000 people. He emphasized the need for immediate change with work that should have been addressed 30 to 50 years ago.

“We’re searching for a new way of life in the city, we need a new church, and we have to be Catholic in a different way,” Bishop Lewandowski said, encouraging boldness, courage and a focus on the future.

“We are planting the seeds here of the church for 2050 and beyond,” he added.

As part of this initiative, ongoing efforts were directed toward understanding the changing needs of parishes, ministries and institutions.

“When we listen to who we are as Catholics, that’s when we figure out who we are. We may have differences, but we are all bound on a common mission,” said Byrd, referring to the visioning process as the foundation for how they will draft the models.

During the workshop, attendees, organized into groups at 14 tables, participated in three engaging activities centered around discussions on improving the church’s community service.

Deacon Steven Rubio, from St. Ambrose in the Park Heights Community, underscored the significance of events such as these as opportunities to actively engage in the process and have your voice heard.

As part of the first activity, Deacon Rubio advocated for extensive community involvement, suggesting innovative approaches, such as repurposing an old school into a Head Start center.

“Seniors are only going to be around us for so long. Therefore, you must establish longevity, implementing programs or services that cater to individuals from cradle to grave,” he said.

The activities also involved mapping out ministries and determining meaningful locations for worship.

Ernestine Watkins, a parishioner of St. Peter Claver in West Baltimore who actively participates in all the Seek the City workshops with the intention of helping keep her parish and community informed, told the Catholic Review she hopes to witness tangible results and changes soon from the collective input provided in these meetings.

“I do, however, acknowledge the importance of seeing the impact in our engagement,” Watkins said.

Monsignor Richard Bozzelli, pastor of St. Bernardine, who helps steer the committee for the entire process, confirmed that they carefully review participants’ feedback.

He emphasized the commitment to grasp the priorities of the people, starting brainstorming sessions to uncover shared ideas and strategies.

Monsignor Bozzelli mentioned that the next step is to take all of this and develop a citywide vision for the church in Baltimore City, “to collaboratively assess how this is supported at the local level to ensure that the church on the larger scale addresses those needs.”

Email Adriana Montes at amontes@CatholicReview.org

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