My interest in the recently concluded World Series dropped drastically when the Cardinals didn’t go further than the wild card playoff. At this time, I’m only curious as to whether or not the National League would come out on top. I have to admit, though, that it’s more about which team I dislike the least. After all, it is the Braves and the Astros, and no self-respecting Cardinals fan can really root for either.
Why baseball? Because it is a game of throwing and catching. Sure, there is some hitting involved, but what I remember most about baseball growing up was the time I spent playing catch with my dad or one of my siblings. Batting complicated things because you needed a bigger space and usually a third person. With playing catch, just two people, usually having a conversation about whatever, could accomplish a great deal of the game. Yes, hitting and running bases is essential to the full game of baseball, but the first ball has to be thrown out and someone needs to be there to catch it  before things begin. That’s why baseball is a good thought experiment. A baseball game begins with a game of catch.
Recently I talked about how our formation in stewardship is going to ask all of us to account for the blessings of God and discern how we are to share them in love with others with a little more intention. Last week, I offered a particular opportunity of service in the Church in terms of a Worship Commission. We have had some good response so far and are well on our way toward reaffirming the ministers and ministries at the liturgy, especially in preparing the time and talent cards.
This week I want to inform every one of the plan to form an Administration Commission of the Parish Council. Our first step was simply to get a few interested individuals together and do a walk-through of our facilities. A sudden downpour cut short the process, but after an hour, we had only gone through half of the campus and came up with a two page list of items for attention. We are well on our way to providing some definite objects for an administration commission.
The next step is to get a team together, and that’s where we can bring in the baseball image and the basics of playing catch. One gets bored quickly, just throwing the ball up in the air and trying to catch it yourself. But just get a partner to play catch with and the hours can fly by as you get lost in the rhythm of the simple game.
So forming these parish leadership teams is a lot like playing catch. We are putting things out there and asking others to catch them and throw them back. Right now, as a new pastor, I am throwing out a lot of first pitches. Usually I try to make sure that someone is there to catch them before I toss the ball, but sometimes I might just have to make that wild throw from the outfield and just hope that by the time it gets into the infield, someone is there to catch it and relay it home. My last four months have been great. I am so pleased with the number of folks who are willing to step up and join the game. And I am amazed at the skills folks bring forth.
So, here is what we are going to do. We are getting together an administration team to manage our facilities and the systems that are required to make our campus inviting, safe, and secure. Some of the tasks can be accomplished in house as we identify the talents and resources that parishioners bring to the game, especially in regard to some of the simple maintenance issues that we have identified. Some of the objectives will need outside assistance and therefore require some management on our part to ensure that there is a person responsible for seeing the job completed.
Administration isn’t just about changing light bulbs and replacing gutters, although that is a regular and expected maintenance item that needs someone to take care of!  Part of the duties will be to attend to the systems and structures that are required for our parish. For example, human resource policies and employment law have developed considerably in recent times. Assisting the pastor in ensuring our parish and school staff and the volunteers are treated justly and that all procedures comply with best health and safety practices is crucial to being good stewards of our resources, the most important of which are our people.
One area of administration that gets more complicated all the time is that of information technology. Systems become more complex, security gets much more difficult to implement, and the means of communication multiply. A digital strategy is essential for our parish and we need to engage competent individuals to assist. We have been blessed through the  years with some knowledgeable parishioners who have shared their skills in this area. We include technology improvements in the budget each year. We do have to hire out or purchase what is needed, but we can always use more help in this area, especially in consultation to discern the best solutions for our needs.
Finally, it is essential that we develop a long-range plan for our facilities. I have been reading up on the past projects that improved our facility or took care of some much needed replacement or repair. There have been some initiatives that have explored some options to manage the restrictions of our small campus. There have been some short term solutions that have improved things. There have been some major remodeling or replacement  projects that have allowed us to continue to get the most out of what we have. The recent remodel of the church and replacement of the HVAC system has already made such a difference.
An effective Administration Commission that is structured to continue to operate through the years to provide the “institutional memory” for our facilities, projects, and ministries, will be a great benefit to plan for the next hundred years of faith. We need to assemble a good team that can handle all the different challenges that are thrown at us so our facility and procedures enhance  our mission to evangelize in word, sacrament, and charity rather than hinder it. A well-staffed commission will allow us to coordinate our improvement efforts more efficiently.
Next weekend, all parishioners will be provided with a time and talent card to assist in discerning how they can share God’s blessings with others. The card will have some specific ministries and volunteer opportunities that are organized by the primary commissions of the parish council:  administration, education, social concerns, and worship. You will have an opportunity to indicate your willingness to be called upon to assist the commissions in their work. Included though will be a very important invitation, that of serving as a core member of one of the commissions in a leadership capacity. In the meanwhile, if anyone is interested in serving on an administration commission, or just simply wants to talk more about our facilities needs, please don’t hesitate to contact me, monsignor.mak@miparish.org or call the parish office at 660-665-2466.