In July 2006, Sister Karen Collier became the third woman religious to be canonically appointed as a parish life director - the central leader of a parish, the one who makes the day-to-day decisions - in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
When recently asked, "So how's it going here at St. Agatha's?" the Sister of St. Louis leaned back a bit behind her desk and chuckled.
"It's been interesting," she mused, before adding, "It's a wonderful job. I think a lot of people just think of parish life directors as administrators. I have a business manager who does the business part of it. But it's really setting the vision of the parish, helping the people to know what is the vision and finding out from them what that vision is, where do they want to go - and coming up with plans to help them go there."
The former elementary school teacher, youth minister, liturgist and vocations worker admits she does oversee the L.A. urban parish's finances as well as its religious education programs and other ministries. But she says her primary job - and challenge - is building community in a parish that is really two different churches: Spanish-speaking and English-speaking.
After 85 years, St. Agatha's demographics are still evolving. Whites who established the church were followed by an influx of blacks after World War II and then Latino immigrants, who make up the majority today. But there are also Indonesians, Filipinos and Anglos who still live in the area and others who drive in from communities and suburbs for Mass.
Sister Collier says most parishioners have accepted her leadership role, while others still haven't gotten over the fact that a woman is running the show. When Trinitarian Father Bill Axe became the priest minister of St. Agatha's, people first went to him with their questions and concerns until he reminded them that Sister was the one in charge.
"But I think it's worked out well," she said. "We still need a priest for Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and other sacraments. And not only that: I think the elderly and the sick in our parish have seen a priest more often since Father Bill has been here than they ever did. Because before the priest never had the time; he was too busy with all the other stuff. Now he's able to go out and do what he's supposed to do and loves - minister to the people."
The Sister of St. Louis, who describes herself as a "people person," would rather be more involved in direct service herself than sitting behind a desk and attending meetings. But because she loves St. Agatha's, she's satisfied for now with making sure the parish not only survives in these economically hard times but also prospers.
"The joys are working with the people and keeping the vision of the parish alive, helping them keep it going and finding creative ways of reaching out to the community," she explained. "And our vision is to be a welcoming community to anyone who walks in - whether you're Catholic or not, gay or straight, it doesn't matter.
"What we're trying to do is take that spirit that we have in our weekend liturgies and make it evident in everything that we do. You'll get people who will grumble and be mad and leave. Also it's not easy because the people here aren't affluent. But they try to give the best they can. We do a lunch program on Saturdays that has grown to 80 people. And on Christmas day we fed about 1,000."
Sister Collier says the other hat she wears as a founding board member of L.A. VOICE, a congregation-based community organization, also shores up her ministry at St. Agatha's. When she first came to the inner-city parish more than five years ago as a pastoral associate, the big concern was closing drug houses in the neighborhood. Working with the grass-roots group and the Los Angeles County district attorney's office, three of these drug dens were closed in two months.
The parish and L.A. VOICE have also joined forces in trying to improve blighted Adams Boulevard, lessen gang violence, add more affordable rental housing and start a community center for youth.
The 61-year-old woman religious, who grew up in the San Gabriel Valley with three sisters and four brothers, is convinced the parish life director model of leadership works.
"We're not taking the place of the priest," Sister Collier stressed. "I think what it boils down to is looking at ways we and the laity can share our gifts within the Church.
"It's not like I'm standing on my horse alone," she said. "It's really a collaborative model of leadership. It's trying to bring the collaborative model used to run the archdiocese down to the parish level. I would hope it continues in the future." |