by Doug Cissel
I recently received a call from our key note speaker, Dr. Elinore Ford. Dr. Ford wanted some additional information about our group so that she could get a better understanding of who we really were. This started me thinking. Who are the members of CCFM and what do they really do? So, if you will indulge me, I would like to give my feeling of who I think you really are. CCFM Members are the people whose duty it is to assure that the day to day operation of the Church goes smoothly. They are the ones working behind the scene to make sure that the church owned properties are maintained in a safe and sound condition. They are the ones who start the process with purchasing the property; work with the parishes and their architect to assure that the doors open on time and that they continue to be open for ALL. But, for the most part their efforts go unrecognized.
Because of recent events in the Church, our members, as many employees of the Church, are down. Their staffs have been cut, they are being told to do more with less, facilities are being closed, etc. From conversations that I have with our members, I sometime wonder if they are being assured how important their jobs are to the Church. Do the superiors understand that you are as professional as any other member of the diocese? Well, if they do not, I do.
USCCB’s web page points out that the Church owned over 80,000 buildings. In 2003, 19,081 parishes in the 195 dioceses and eparchies (dioceses of the Eastern Catholic Church) of the United States serve the nation's 63.4 million Catholics. In 2002, 44 new parishes opened their doors to 63.4 million Catholics in the United States representing about 23% of the total U.S. population. We are the largest property owner in the world and YOU play a very large part in making “IT” work. If no one has told you recently, Thank You!
