GREETINGS,

Nearly 200 parishioners and guests from partner parishes - St. Leo the Great and St. Vincent de Paul - gathered together January 26th at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, for a Day of Discovery. Covering three hours, the morning began with Mass celebrated by Father Ray Chase, pastor of St. Vincent, and Father Bernie Carman, St. Leo's pastor, followed by fellowship and discussion.

Members then met in Laubacher Hall in small groups to engage in a series of conversations as they learned about each other. View the summary of the recurring themes below. The question initiating conversation was,

What has been your most

positive experience in your

church community?

What was heard about each parish ...

ST. LEO'S

Appreciate historical traditions within the Mass and community activities, such as adorations, patron saint Masses, Italian festivals, and neighborhood processions
Multiple references to lifelong parishioners
Appreciation of focused social ministries, such as lunch-making for Beans & Bread, Knights of Columbus winter coat drive, Daughters of Isabella, Sodality of Our Lady, St. Vincent Pallotti Society, and the Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners with Helping Up Mission in Baltimore City
Welcoming of families within the parish, including young children
The parish is a mix of neighborhood residents and commuters seeking a tie to family and/or Italian culture and heritage.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

Appreciation for inclusivity of brothers and sisters often excluded, such as the LGBTQ+ community, the homeless, and the mentally ill. (LGBTQ+ is the acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning; the “+” represents non-cisgender and non-straight identities not contained in the acronym.)
Highlighted social outreach programs, such as Friday dinners and The Resource Exchange, a program of the parish's Social Action Committee with the mission to assist people leaving homelessness turn empty rental units into a home by providing basic furniture and household items.
Full lay participation in Liturgy and parish life
Many references to feeling welcome at first visit, citing “Fr. Ray knows my name.”
Parishioners seek the Liturgy & social action and travel some distances to participate.

BOTH PARISHES

Many referenced the similarities between the two parishes: both strive to make their environments very welcoming, supporting, and inclusive. Both serve the local community, such as the poor and the homeless.
Multiple parishioners raised a concern that the two parishes seem to have very different views on what it means to be Catholic. One is more conservative; one more progressive ... with both being homes for parishioners precisely because of these leanings.
Parishioners indicated a range of exposure to the previous Seek the City efforts and expressed concern over the limited visibility, focus on geography, and general lack of trust with the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
Parishioners recognize the unique needs of their communities - with many similarities and differences. The consensus was that the people and the Archdiocese need to leverage the complementarity of the two communities.

Catholic Review story

Parishioners unite to chart course for St. Vincent de Paul, St. Leo ... St. Vincent de Paul parishioner Mike Jacko is leaning on an approach from St. Ignatius Loyola ... “We have to be open to the spirit and see where God is leading us."

Read story >>>

What's next?

The Interparish Committee is working to incorporate feedback and plan future activities between the parishes. They encourage parishioners to attend Mass and events at both parishes. The more we share liturgical and mission experiences, the more knowledgeable and prepared we will be to chart our future together.

St. Vincent's website >>>