A GUIDELINE FOR MUTUALLY REWARDING TWINNING RELATIONSHIPS

A GUIDELINE FOR MUTUALLY REWARDING TWINNING RELATIONSHIPS Building Friendships and Solidarity in Christ across Cultures Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Mission Office, 100 E. 8th Street, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45202 mission@catholiccincinnati.org 513-421-3131 ext 2630

Table of Contents What is a Twinning Relationship? pg. 1 Role of Mission Office in Twinning pg. 1 Why Twin? pg. 2 Key Principles in developing a joyful pg. 3 Twinning Relationship Suggested Action Steps in building a Twinning Relationship pg. 4 Twinning Cautions & Minimizing Obstacles pg. 5 Twinning With whom and where pg. 6 Definition of Solidarity pg. 6 Resources from Mission Office pg. 7 Mission Office Reminders pg. 8 (Twinning does not replace mission collection and MCP) Contact Information and About our Office pg. 9

What is a Twinning Relationship? It is an experiential learning process for the entire community to develop a Christ centered mission oriented parish. It is a coming together of a parish in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati with people in a home or foreign mission area of the world, in an active, mutual and on-going faith commitment. What does such a relationship accomplish for a parish? It binds people together spiritually, culturally, and in a mutual sharing of resources. What does such a relationship involve for a parish? It involves crossing over into other cultural, economic, political, linguistic, and religious environments. Role of Mission Office in Twinning Let your Friendly Mission Office be of service to you in the following ways: 1. Act as a resource and guide to find a Twinning Relationship fitted to your goals and needs. 2. Act as an educator to understanding many of the dynamics involved in beginning a Twinning Relationship. 3. Act as a clearing house for names, addresses, phone numbers, and other resources to enhance your twinning efforts. Page 1

Why Twin? Love your neighbor as yourself. Pope John Paul II has written, Sacred Scripture continually speaks to us of an active commitment to our neighbor and demands of us a shared responsibility for all of humanity. This duty is not limited to one s own family, nation or state, but extends progressively to all so no one can consider himself extraneous or indifferent to the lot of another member of the human family (Centesimus Annus CA, no. 51). Why twin? Because twinning 1. can be a joyfilled experience! They will know we are Christians by our Love! 2. provides spiritual enrichment through exposure to other cultures enabling us to appreciate more all of the cultural gifts, talents, and resources within the Body of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. 3. helps to expand the self-identity of a parish creating a larger consciousness and a greater compassion to move us to change unjust conditions i.e. emphasizing more the solidarity model and not just the charity model. 4. helps eliminate the grave sins of Racism, Sexism, Classicism, Paternalism, Materialism, Militarism, and Xenophobia; hopefully, the isms can be replaced with the fruits of the Holy Spirit such as increased justice, understanding, peace, joy, etc. 5. invites Vatican II understanding and ecclesiology of the church so twinning partners can take on empowering and inspiring roles of bringing the Good News to others. (The Catholic Social Teachings through programs such as Salt & Light and JustFaith are vehicles that bring greater understanding in helping solve the deeper causes of poverty, hunger, and exploitation locally and globally.) We are universal church members of God s family. In our own and other cultural relationships, mutuality, respect, and peace can be realized for ourselves, our families, our society, and our world through prayer and commitment to unity and solidarity. Just as healthy friendships or marriages can bring out the best of both partners, so can twinning with another culture. Page 2

Key Principles in Developing a Joyful Twinning Relationship 1. Prayer: a foundation principle that calls us to build a Twinning Relationship based on our Faith in God. This may involve daily prayer, bible study, prayer groups, prayer networks, retreats, days of reflection, and carefully planned liturgies, prayers of the faithful, etc. that build toward this relationship. 2. Communication: a crucial element between the Twinning partners that entails mutual listening, sharing, understanding, patience, and the learning of new means to express concerns, joys, faith and social life. Communication can make use of letters, videos, audio tapes, pictures, phone calls, e-mails, etc. 3. Cultural Sensitivity: an attitude and desire to learn from one another s faith, culture and daily experiences. Discernment of one another s gifts and values becomes a responsibility of each party in the relationship. An attitude of mutual equality is essential to the relationship (moving away from paternalism and dependency). 4. Involvement for Justice: as lives are shared and injustices surface, promotion of human dignity and equal rights becomes an essential element of the relationship. One is called to not only contribute resources (Charity model) but to work on issues that may involve more community and political activity (Solidarity model). 5. Broad based involvement: including the parish at large as through school participation, parish social action group, etc. and all ages. Ongoing mutual visits to each others communities are strongly encouraged. 6. Goal Formation: a) identification of needs in the context of spreading the gospel message and being in solidarity (compassion & commitment) with these needs b) planning strategies in how goals are to be met c) evaluation of desired outcomes 7. Assumption and Responsibility of Roles: strong leadership on the part of both parties to plan, activate, and promote creative ways to develop and sustain the relationship. 8. Parish Celebrations of the twinning relationship such as celebration of particular feast days, liturgically as during Lent, Easter or own created times. Page 3

Suggested Action Steps for Building a Twinning Relationship (Does not have to be done in this sequence) 1. Contact the Mission Office for information and assistance with regard to starting a twinning relationship and the selection of a twinning partner which ordinarily involves an Archdiocesan Missioner. 2. Develop an interested and committed group who is willing to take on the leadership role as liaison between the pastor, parish organizations, parishioners, and partners in mission (2-3 year initiation commitment is suggested). 3. Organize a meeting between the pastor, parish council, and leadership groups within the parish to discuss the feasibility and details of the twinning relationship. 4. To prepare for the Twinning Relationship, it is recommended that one studies the social documents of the church and other pertinent documents relating to issues of the country and area chosen for twinning, (Mission Office has suggestions) 5. Invite a wide participation in the planning process, i.e. leaders of school and/or religious education programs, youth and senior citizen groups. 6. Both potential twinning partners need to develop some EXPECTATIONS for this relationship. What do both parties want and need and also, do not want from this relationship, i.e. mutual visits, donation of resources and skills, learning simplicity, learning new ways in being churched? 7. Draw up a contract with the twinning partners, based on above expectations, assuming role responsibilities, a designated time factor for the relationship, and a sunset clause to allow for changes in the relationship (the Mission Office has sample contracts) 8. Acquaint the entire parish with the plan, involving as many parishioners as possible with the selection of a team to travel to the area of mission partnership. 9. Plan a departure ceremony to spiritually involve the entire parish in the mission experience of the team. (Mission Office has suggestions). 10. Orient the visiting team, before traveling, to the area about the country, culture, religion, and other necessary factors. (Mission Office has on hand recommended resources and personnel, i.e. Su Casa) 11. Develop a daily debriefing process for the visiting team during the time spent within the mission partnership area. 12. Develop a reorientation process for the visiting team upon returning home and a process to disseminate the mission experience within the parish. Page 4

Twinning Cautions & Minimizing Obstacles Relationships do have their ups and downs. Twinning relationships are no different. However, with good planning, cultural sensitivity, and being proactive, obstacles can be avoided or minimized. The following are some areas to ponder in creating SUCCESS in the relationship: 1. SUCCESS increases with collaborative efforts with the local mission Bishop and leadership. 2. SUCCESS increases when there is avoidance of a superiority/inferiority mentality of a developed country over a developing country. It is easy for a large wealthy parish to overwhelm their twinning partner. 3. SUCCESS increases when there is establishment of parameters on expectations and on the commitments to be made by either party; namely, the time factor, extent of the project with regard to financial and material support, and involvement of persons and process. 4. SUCCESS increases when parties think far beyond the mere completion of a project for developmental purposes. This is a mission and evangelization endeavor. 5. SUCCESS increases when one respond to the needs of the people for a developing area and NOT TO OUR OWN NEEDS. Material gifts are to be given only in response to needs that have been discerned by the people and leaders of the area themselves. 6. SUCCESS increases as the twinning parishes try to avoid a narrow vision of mission by concentrating upon one project within one area of the world. 7. SUCCESS increases when the ownership of twinning expands to all the parts of a parish including school, parish ministries, and other components. Page 5

Twinning-With Whom and Where The Mission Office has many suggestions, contact names of established Twinning Parishes, and Religious Orders that may be a resource for you. Ask for Teresa Phillips: Associate Director at (513)-421-3131, ext. 202 or E-mail: tphillips@catholiccincinnati.org Address: Mission Office, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, 100 E. Eighth St., Cincinnati, OH. 45202 Questions to ask yourself and your parish 1. Is there a returned missioner from your parish or a missioner currently serving who may wish a twinning relationship? 2. Is there a natural connection abroad with a Religious Order currently serving your parish? 3. Is there a preference to connect with a Religious Order serving in the Archdiocese such as the Franciscans, Comboni Missioners, Glenmary Home Missioners, Maryknoll Missioners, Marianists, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Precious Blood, Jesuits, Sisters of Charity, and others? Definition of Solidarity Parishes often act as islands of local religious activity rather than as parts of the mystical body of Christ A parish reaching beyond its own members and beyond national boundaries is truly a catholic parish Parishes need to be more Catholic and less parochial. Solidarity is action on behalf of the one human family, calling us to help overcome the divisions in our world. Solidarity binds the rich to the poor. It makes the free zealous for the cause of the oppressed. It drives the comfortable and secure to take risks for the victims of tyranny and war. It calls those who are strong to care for those who are weak and vulnerable across the spectrum of human life. It opens homes and hearts to those in flight from terror and to migrants whose daily toil supports affluent lifestyles. Peace making, as Pope John Paul II has told us, is the work of solidarity. From Called To Global Solidarity: International Challenge for U.S. Parishes by U.S. Catholic Bishops, 1997 Page 6

Resources from the Mission Office Mission Office: see previous page for office contact name and number/e-mail. Mission Website: www.catholiccincinnati.org/mission Other Websites: On request Videos: i.e. Mano con mano (Hand to hand) by Maryknoll Maryknoll website: www.maryknollworld.org Global Solidarity (a framework for parishes) based on the U.S. Catholic bishop s statement Called to Global Solidarity: International Challenges for U.S. Parishes. U.S. Bishops website: www.nccbuscc.org Others videos on request Local Mission Organizations Contacts: On request Some national Twinning organizations: Parish Twinning Program of the Americas ptpa@earthlink.net SHARE Foundation (twinning in El Salvador) sharesf@share-elsalvador.org www.share-elsalvador.org Books/pamphlets/handouts for Twinning Development: Frequently asked/suggested: Dorr, D. (2000) Mission in today s world. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books www.maryknoll.org Tshimika, P. & Lind, T. (2003) SHARING GIFTS in the Global Family of Faith:One Church s Experiment. Intercouse, PA: Good Books Publishing www.goodbks.com U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. (1997). Called to Global Solidarity: International Challenges for U.S. parishes. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. www.nccbuscc.org U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. (1997). Sharing Faith: Across the Hemisphere. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. (Excellent video by same name available by ordering at 1-800-235-8722) www.nccbuscc.org Others on request Page 7

Mission Office Reminders Twinning does not replace other Mandated Archdiocese of Cincinnati collections. (details below) There has been an important Change concerning Twinning and the Missionary Cooperation Plan (MCP) Guidelines. (details below) I Pontifical Mission Aid Organizations: Twinning enables an additional way of giving and learning how to be a mission partner. Twinning is not intended to replace or take away from the following Pontifical Mission Aid Organizations i.e. The Society for the Propagation of the Faith, The Holy Childhood Association, Society of St. Peter the Apostle, and Pontifical Missionary Union.These are the Holy Father s own Worldwide Mission Supports for ALL of the Mission dioceses throughout the world.. They ensure that mission is established and maintained on a long term basis. (Thus, we especially stress that Mission Sunday in October be honored.) II. Important Change concerning Twinning and the Missionary Cooperation Plan (MCP) Guidelines for Our Archdiocesan Pastors: While the Mission Office encourages our parishes to invite representatives from their twinning partners to visit them, the Mission Office will no longer be able to replace the mandatory MCP assignment with a parish s twinning partner. Twinning and MCP need to be kept as two separate programs. Please direct your questions concerning this important change to the Mission Office Director, Mike Gable at 513-421-3131 ext 201. Page 8

Mission Office Archdiocese of Cincinnati Mike Gable, Director 100 E. Eighth St. Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (513) 421-3131 mission@catholiccincinnati.org http://www.catholiccincinnati.org Who we are The Mission Office of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati serves the Pontifical Mission Societies, under national director, Fr. John Kozar, in New York. Fr. Kozar reports directly to the Vatican. The Pontifical Mission Societies in the U.S. and those in 120 other countries help support over 1100 mission dioceses in Asia, Africa, the Pacific Islands, and remote regions of Latin America. Our Mission Office specifically supports the four components of the Pontifical Mission Societies: The Propagation of the Faith seeks prayer and support from high school and college students and adults for pastoral and evangelizing programs of mission dioceses. The Holy Childhood Association directs its efforts to elementary school children to greatly better their lives especially in the developing countries. The Society of St. Peter Apostle is concerned with the gathering of help for seminarian and Religious novices in the Missions. The Pontifical Missionary Union is a spiritual apostolate, working on formation in the missionary spirit among those called to animate all the faithful in this essential work. Know that on Mission Sunday, always the second to last Sunday in October, your offerings are especially paramount to supporting the Pontifical Mission Societies. May 2005 Page 9