On both sides of the division between the original Corpus Christi parish and the now separately organized New Faith Community, Catholics in inner-city Rochester, N.Y. continue to maintain a Gospel emphasis on outreach ministries to the poor and marginalized. Still operated under parish auspices are a prison ministry, a free health clinic, a clothing program, Dimitri House for the homeless, and Isaiah House for the dying. Members of New Faith Community -- the new "parish in exile" served by Mary Ramerman, Fr. Jim Callan and many former staff of Corpus Christi and now housed in rented facilities at a Protestant church -- still contribute lots of money and volunteer time to these Corpus Christi programs. July 10-11, for example, Kathie Quinlin, director of Isaiah House, preached at all three masses at New Faith, and a special collection for the hospice effort brought in about $5,000 and a host of volunteers. "Isaiah House continues to be part of our community," said Mary Ramerman.

The Corpus Christi mission project in Haiti has been reorganized and separately incorporated as the Haiti Outreach Project. Money and volunteers from both Corpus Christi and New Faith are involved. New Faith Community is also undertaking new outreach initiatives. Recovery House for the addicted was not continued by Corpus Christi, but its longtime director, Josephite Sr. Margie Henninger, fired by the parish last December, is preparing to open a new "Grace of God" Recovery House. New Faith Community will be the sponsor, and at ChurchWatch press time had raised in two weeks more than half of the $80,000 needed by Aug. 15 to purchase a new building. This endorses Henninger's work at a crucial time: her religious congregation for the last 39 years has taken first canonical steps to dismiss her because of her continued public role with New Faith Community, which is regarded as schismatic by diocesan officials. While prison ministry continues at the old Corpus Christi, New Faith is supplementing its efforts. With a grant from a local foundation, it is beginning "Women of Conviction," a new program for women ex-offenders. Staff include Jim Smith, fired after 18 years in the prison ministry at Corpus Christi, and Eileen Hurley, who resigned as director of the parish health center during the controversy.

As stated in an April CTA News editorial, "CTA is committed to seeking common ground and personal healing among all in Rochester who share the Vatican II vision of a participatory, inclusive servant church." To that end, CTA has met with Rochester CTA members on both sides of the issue to explore ways of bridging the gap.