Bridging the Gap resumes

By Ana Rodriguez Soto - The Archdiocese of Miami

MIAMI GARDENS | They work in rectories and schools, hiring personnel, raising funds, managing budgets, overseeing ministries. Often, they’re the faces people see when they first visit a church or school, although some work in the background.

To help them do their jobs better, a special day was created for them 10 years ago. Called Bridging the Gap, it’s akin to a professional day, a time for practical learning and — since they work for the Catholic Church — spiritual enrichment.

Not many dioceses have days like these, said Stephen Colella, cabinet secretary for Evangelization and Parish Life, whose office was involved in planning the day alongside the archdiocesan Office of Development.

Experts from the offices of Schools, Human Resources and Administration presented workshops on topics such as Strategies for Online Engagement; Fundraising 101; Alumni Associations and Engagement; Creating and Managing a Zero-based Budget; Strategies on Retaining Talent in Trying Times; and even Conflict Resolution.

Archdiocesan principals also held a meeting with Schools Superintendent Jim Rigg.

About 250 church and archdiocesan personnel took part in the day, which was held Oct. 11, 2022 at Msgr. Edward Pace High School in Miami Gardens. They came from all corners of the archdiocese, from north Broward to Key West.

“While we are here to learn, we are also here to build relationships with one another and realize we’re part of a larger archdiocese,” said Katie Blanco Bourdeau, cabinet secretary of Stewardship for the archdiocese, who launched the concept 10 years ago.

This is only the fifth Bridging the Gap, though, as it has not always been held annually, and the pandemic interfered as well. Blanco Bourdeau said it took about six months to plan this year’s gathering.

It’s called Bridging the Gap because it aims to “add and fill in a variety of the gaps we might be faced with in our daily work,” Colella said.

But the day began with an inspirational keynote by Joshua Danis, national director for Alpha USA. Participants also paused around midday to celebrate Mass with Archbishop Thomas Wenski.

According to its website, “Alpha offers content and guidance for churches, ministries, and individuals to create a space for honest and open conversations about life’s biggest questions,” notably the Christian faith.

The Evangelization Office is encouraging parishes to use Alpha’s resources.

But Danis warned that Alpha “is designed to fail unless God shows up.”

He told his listeners that evangelization “is more than just a one and done. But also not to make it so convoluted that we push the Gospel away.”

He stressed the need for listening and hospitality; for not getting bogged down in plans and processes but instead letting the Holy Spirit take the lead.

For example, he said, parish leaders should not focus so much on the number of ministries in their churches but on “empowering” parishioners to use the gifts God gave them, “even if we lose some ministries.”

“What is their passion?” Danis said. And leaders should ask themselves, “How can I participate in what the Holy Spirit is already doing?”

He noted that what attracts people to the faith is to “see our souls being redeemed and living the life of grace. The next most beautiful thing is seeing institutions that are being redeemed.”