Multi-cultural liturgies, adult education, Eucharistic adoration and gatherings for single Catholics have been some of the activities embraced by the Canarsie parishes that comprise Brooklyn East Cluster #4.

The cluster concept was part of the 2001 Holy Week celebration as the parishes got together for a Communal Penance Service at St. Jude's.  Over 200 penitents had their confessions heard individually by the six priests from the cluster parishes.

Other projects of the cluster have included:

• A week of Eucharistic Adoration organized in June 2000. It consisted of access to the Blessed Sacrament 24 hours a day for seven days. Each evening, a particular spiritual exercise was available such as the Rosary, Stations of the Cross and private confessions. A special gathering was held for the teens that ended with a pizza party.
  
• A series of lectures to meet the needs of adult education, which took place in October 2000. Topics included "Ecumenism," " Vatican II and the Laity" and " An Overview of the History of the Church." A second and third series were completed by May 2001 on insight into " Mary and the Saints" and "The Christian View of Marriage and Family Life."
  
• A multi-cultural celebration of the feast of the Epiphany held on Jan. 6, 2001 at Holy Family Church. Four hundred people participated in the liturgy, which included eight languages spoken in the area: English, Spanish, Italian, Creole, Tagalog, Ibu, Malaylam and Polish. The Mass was followed by an International Dessert Night in Holy Family's cafeteria.

Currently a food pantry and singles group are in the process of being formed and strengthened. The goal is to have a food pantry open at Our Lady of Miracles on Saturdays from 10 a.m. until noon. Seventy-five parishioners from the cluster have agreed to get involved and make this an effective, lay-run apostolate. A singles group for those in their 20's and early 30's meets at Holy Family Parish every fourth Sunday of the month. This group is open to new members and new ideas.

Future cluster goals include a Catechist Certification Program as a means of better preparing those who teach religious education. In the spring of 2002, Catholic teens hope to gather in Canarsie for a Youth Day.

"I am happy to be part of this cluster because it shows that if we are willing, cooperation, even though difficult, is possible," said Elizabeth Mathew, Director of Religious Education at Holy Family Parish.

Father James Hannan, parochial vicar at Our Lady of Miracles, said, "Notwithstanding the inherent challenges of clustering, the stops and starts, idealistic proposals, the demands on already busy schedules and keeping up with the ever-present parish ministries  it seems very important to pool our resources and our personnel to determine if we can' t coordinate many of our efforts to benefit all of the Catholics of Canarsie."

At St. Jude's, Father Michael Tedone, parochial vicar, summed up the Canarsie Cluster effort by saying, " It' s important for us to work together to serve our people. A lot of good has been done and can be done."

The facilitator for this cluster is Father Matteo Rizzo, pastor of St. Jude's. The advantages of clustering were recognized by the Canarsie parishes in 1996. Several times a year, the parish leadership teams would meet and discuss common concerns and approaches to the needs of local ministry.

After the Diocesan Synod proclaimed its findings in 1997, clustering evolved from a concept into a mandatory course of action.

The Canarsie Cluster responded with enthusiasm to the new agenda. First, meetings were held to decide what were the priorities for the three parishes. It was determined that the multi-cultural composition of the neighborhood had to be addressed. A need for adult formation and lay education was deemed critical. The poor and young Catholic singles were to be given special attention. 

From The Tablet, written by Jerry Cronin