Union Faith Community brings 4 parishes together

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
September 2, 2004

HARTLEY/PRIMGHAR/SANBORN/SUTHERLAND - The Union Faith Community comprised of four parishes in the Diocese of Sioux City has been working together as a cluster for about two years now under the direction of Father Paul McKane, the pastor of all four parishes.

The Union Faith Community consists of St. Joseph Parish in Hartley, St. Anthony Parish in Primghar, St. Cecilia Parish in Sanborn and Sacred Heart Parish in Sutherland. The parishes became a cluster in July of 2002.

"Since the word cluster has no spiritual meaning to it, we call it Union Faith Community," explained Father McKane. "There is a high degree of cooperation among the parishioners and a good spirit. We have a great deal in common."

The cluster has participated in a variety of activities together and supported each of the parishes in individual endeavors as well.

"The people accept it," said Father McKane. "I have been delighted at the growth I have seen in their attitudes towards working together."

The cluster shares in a talent show in which parishioners from each community participate in. Each parish has a parish dinner every year that people from all of the parishes attend.

"I think things are going well," said Terri Carnahan, Sacred Heart parishioner and cluster secretary. "We have our moments, our growing pains, but overall people have been most cooperative and willing to pitch in and help where and when needed."

There are two Masses celebrated by Father McKane at each of the parishes every week, one during the week and one over the weekend. According to Father McKane, the parishioners are good about attending Masses at the other parishes as well as at their own parish.

"They easily and readily attend each others Masses," said Father McKane. "When we have parish functions that are in common, such as dinners together or programs, there is great sharing. They are really good at supporting each other. That's driving sometimes 23 miles from Sanborn down to Sutherland."

Each year since the start of the cluster, they have had a unity celebration. The first year was at St. Joseph's in Hartley. This year's celebration was an outdoor picnic at St. Anthony's in Primghar.

"The turn out was very high from all four parishes and there was a wonderful spirit among the people," said Father McKane.

According to Father McKane, all of the parishes have a lot in common to begin with. They are able to bring their resources together, not only priest and secretary, but also music, teaching and working with youth.

"We all benefit," said Father McKane. "I think we have a first rate program for our youth here with activities planned. We wouldn't do it without drawing on people from all four parishes to help - adults and youth."

The religious education program is coordinated for all four parishes but broken into two programs at St. Joseph's and St. Anthony's. Teachers and parents from all four parishes help out with the classes.

All of the high school youth ministry programs are clustered together and coordinated by Kelly O'Brien. Throughout the year O'Brien plans different activities for the youth of the Union cluster.

Activities that the youth participate in on a yearly basis include a hayrack ride and bonfire, diocesan youth rally in Carroll, collecting food for the food pantry, Christmas caroling for shut-ins, Youth 2000, skiing, service projects, year-end dinner, mission trip to Mexico, Steubenville conference and Bible on the beach. These activities are above and beyond the usual monthly youth group meetings according to O'Brien.

"The meetings really are well attended," said O'Brien. "A lot of times it is different kids at different things, depending if they can get off work and come."

The youth group meetings for the next year will be held on Sunday nights in Sanborn. The other activities will move between the four different towns.

"I think we get along very well as a cluster," said Nancy Williams, DRE and parishioner at St. Joseph's in Hartley. "It is a good blending of the four parishes."

Another aspect that the four parishes share in is that there is one cluster pastoral council and one finance council for all four. Parishioners from each parish serve on the cluster council. The council elections for all four parishes and cluster councils are coming up.

"That's important," said Father McKane. "The decisions are made on those two councils. Almost all of our business is conducted at the cluster level. When decisions deal with their own building of the four different buildings, then they have a local parish council to deal with that."

Carnahan noted that she has finished putting together a Union Faith Community directory. She combined all four directories into one that will be a picture directory. Pictures are planned to be taken in November. She added that the directories would most likely be finished at the beginning of 2005.

The next planned cluster event is a canoe trip that is coming up soon and parishioners can find out more in the bulletin.