A young convert from the Lutheran Church, I hear the term ‘pastoral area’ being used by persons and also see it in print in the Catholic Standard. We had the process of ‘restructuring’ (even a year designated to such) and that took place ‘within the pastoral area’. Every year there are Palm Sunday and Corpus Christi processions whereby the churches within the ‘pastoral area’ are involved.

Because I do not keep old issues of the Standard (where I could’ve picked up more cases of the term being used), allow me, sir, to jump to the present—last week’s Standard: a meeting took place with church councils within the ‘pastoral area’. Also, Novenas is to begin shortly within the ‘pastoral area’. The Bishop also cited in a previous edition of the paper, to meet with ‘concerned individuals’ who may have ‘issues’ about the Church; and he will start meeting beginning with the ‘pastoral area’.

So my dear readers, there you had it. These are just a few instances where the phrase ‘pastoral area’ is used both by our Catholic media (newspaper) and the clergy. Could someone enlighten me, for the sake of discussion, what this term exactly means?

Furthermore, if it means what I think it means, then why is more focus supposedly being put on the business, running, administration, etc, of the churches within the ‘pastoral area’ and not outside the ‘pastoral area’? Where do New Amsterdam, Corentyne, West Berbice, Interior locations and Linden, among other zones fall in with respect to the ‘pastoral area’? If the term is a special one which refers to the group of Catholic Churches in very close proximity to the Cathedral and Bishops’ House, and thus a more serious approach is taken with respect to control, management and such, then who looks after the areas I mentioned above? Is this fair to the other faith communities?

Finally, the spate of correspondences in the national newspapers and also this one does not auger well for this diocese. They express views and supposed legitimate concerns about the Catholic Church in Guyana and should be addressed expeditiously by church hierarchy. One of the writers listed a plethora of concerns. I hope they all would be addressed. Church leaders must realize that dialogue among themselves is not enough. When all is said and done, the church leaders themselves are not ‘church’. If that were so, then Sunday Masses would be said for empty benches and pews.

I also hope that those who can raise issues and concerns have valid solutions with which to proceed. And I hope criticisms and concerns can be taken with the utmost constructivism by church leaders, like our bishop and priests.

From an observer’s standpoint, there are numerous matters which need to engage our church leaders in Guyana, and these can only be addressed through meaningful consultations. Problems will stack up on each other and become further aggravated if left in the cupboards.

I became Catholic because many of my concerns and views were not heard and were not taken into consideration. I was not given an ear, nor was there going to be any substantial change; that along with other reasons, I left. Please deal with these issues on a national church level before many do the same. We must at least be able to openly discuss the issues with the most sensible approaches and most valid and workable solutions.
LEON JAMESON SUSERAN