BishopAccountability.org
 
  Bishop Says Outreach Key to Church's Future

By Stefanie Matteson
Courier News [Metuchen NJ]
November 8, 2005

"Middle management" is how The Most Reverend Paul G. Bootkoski, the bishop of the Diocese of Metuchen, refers to himself.

And like any member of middle management, he must tread the narrow line between satisfying the dictates of corporate headquarters in Rome and growing his business, which in his case is a $12 million a year enterprise with 108 parishes, 46 Catholic schools and more than half a million parishioners in Central Jersey.

Bootkoski, 65, spoke with Courier News editors on Tuesday about the challenges facing the diocese and his vision for the future.

While other dioceses in the state are shrinking -- with church closings becoming a regular occurrence -- the diocese is growing. When it was established 25 years ago, it had 411,000 members; today it has 557,000 members in Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren counties representing about 42 percent of the population.

But the growth presents challenges, among them the lack of a sufficient number of priests; the need to establish new parishes in areas where the population is growing, such as Hunterdon County; the desire not to close churches in areas where congregations are shrinking; and the need to reach out to young people.

And, while he must accomplish all of the above while continuing to tread that narrow line, the task is one that the affable bishop -- ranked 20th on a list of the state's 100 most politically influential personalities -- appears to have more than enough vision and political savvy to handle.

While other bishops have turned to hardball legal tactics to deal with sexual abuse allegations, Bootkoski has reached out to victims and appointed members of a survivors' group to an advisory board that examines sex abuse claims.

While other bishops have denied the Eucharist to those who support stem-cell research or abortion rights, as in the case of former Gov. James E. McGreevey, Bootkoski says it is communicants who should decide if they are worthy.

Quoting Metuchen's first bishop, Theodore E. McCarrick, now a cardinal, Bootkoski said the altar rail should not be a battlefield.

While other bishops have put themselves in the middle of political debate on subjects such as abortion rights, Bootkoski says that voters "must form their consciences in light of the church teachings."

Like any successful manager, Bootkoski distills his approach down to one simple concept: evangelism. His approach is not to exclude, but to reach out, especially to those who feel estranged from the church.

As he said in a recent message to his flock, "There is much we must still do as instruments of the Lord's presence and peace in this portion of his vineyard."

In keeping with that goal, Bootkoski is taking the middle manager approach: holding a conference. In conjunction with the diocese's upcoming Silver Jubilee, or 25th anniversary, Bootkoski has convened the diocese's first synod, a convocation of priests, deacons, religious men and women and laity.

While the diocese has already taken steps to address some of its problems -- increasing the number of shared parishes and expanding its deacon program, for example -- the goal of the synod, which is Greek for "together" and "road or way," is to advise the bishop in setting goals.

The formal opening of the synod will take place Nov. 19, which marks the beginning of the diocese's anniversary year, and will conclude on Jan. 31, 2007, the 25th anniversary of the installation of the first Bishop of Metuchen and the formal launching of the diocese, which broke off from the Trenton Diocese.

During the next two years, parishioners will be asked for input during "Speak Up Sessions" and other events. A Synod Preparatory Commission made up of 20 people appointed by the bishop will oversee the synod's work.

When Bootkoski became the diocese's fourth bishop in 2002 after being auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark, he had no knowledge of the area that would become his vineyard. "The only thing I knew about the Metuchen diocese is that it was something you drove through on the way to the Jersey Shore," he said.

But he has since come to learn a lot about the territory, including how vital it is to the soul of a community to keep churches open, even when congregations -- and the number of priests available to serve them -- have dwindled. The number of men studying for the priesthood, for instance, is half of what it was a decade ago, Bootkoski said.

"It's my dream not to close any parishes," he said.

In pursuit of that dream, he plans to increase the number of shared parishes -- two parishes served by a single priest. He is also seeking out lay leaders, applicants for the position of ordained deacon and candidates for the priesthood, the latter by creating the position of vocation director.

"You've got to invite them," he said. "You can't just sit back and wait for someone to come along."

The four-year deacon training course has generated a lot of interest among parishioners, Bootkoski said. A recent introductory program attracted more than 80 men, of whom more than 40 applied, he said. Applicants have to be 35 years old, be married for at least 10 years and have their wives' consent, he said.

Single men may also participate, but must commit to celibacy.

When the diocese was founded 25 years ago, there were 50 deacons, compared with 120 active deacons now and another 24 due to be ordained in 2007. There also are 160 active priests. Deacons are active in 73 of the diocese's 108 parishes, according to the diocese's Web site, www.diometuchen.org.

"The numbers are almost equal," said diocese spokeswoman Joanne Ward, who also participated in the Courier News meeting.

Deacons can officiate at weddings and funerals but are prohibited from offering the Eucharist and officiating in certain other rituals, Bootkoski said.

A particular focus of the synod will be the challenge of attracting young people back to the church, Bootkoski said. The falling away of youth is a worry for him, he admitted. He said the diocese has created the position of director of youth ministries to encourage youths to return to basic values through the church.

"Sports, shopping, the computer are the religions today," he observed. "There's a lot of competition."

These goals are all in service of a larger mission, which for the church is a "leaven" for the spirit, Bootkoski said. Though proud, for instance, of the $900,000 parishioners raised for tsunami victims and the more than $1 million they raised for Katrina victims, he said they should be looking out for one another every day.

"Why does it have to take a tsunami or Katrina to respond?" he asked.

Bootkoski's hope is that the diocese will be holier when its next 25th anniversary comes around.

"Not in a soupy sense," he said. "But more compassionate and more loving."

 
 

Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.