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Journey in Faith & Grace

This page to be used to keep the parish community abreast of "Journey" developments.

The latest....

I’d like to give the details of the revised proposal for restructuring our Southern Chautauqua Vicariate.          First, however, I need to explain two terms.  To “merge” parishes together is to create a new parish from one or more parishes.  The effect is like that of a marriage, they are no longer two (or more) but one.  To “link” parishes is to assign one priest to pastor more than one parish with each remaining independent. There are four points in the proposal which addresses the reconfiguration of our twelve parishes.

            1.  SS Peter and Paul would MERGE with St. John.  The two church buildings would retain their names, but a new parish with a new name would be created.  There would be one organization:  one pastor, one set of trustees, one finance council and one parish council.  This new parish would then LINK with St. James and Scared Heart (Lakewood).  Each of these parishes would retain their individual identities.  A second priest would be assigned to serve the linked communities.

                2.  Our Lady of Loreto (Falconer) would MERGE with Our Lady of Victory (Frewsburg).  This too would be a new parish with a new name and one organization.  This merged parish would then LINK with St. Patrick in Randolph.  One priest would serve these communities.

            3.  St. Mathias (French Creek), Our Lady of the Snows (Panama), and St. Isaac Jogues (Sherman) would MERGE together to form one new parish with a new name and one organization served by one priest.  This would necessitate not having Mass at one of the sites.

            4.  St. Mary (Mayville) would MERGE with Our Lady of Lourdes (Bemus Point) to form one new parish with a new name and one organization served by one priest.

            The effects of the proposal would be to reduce the number of parish organizations from twelve to seven.  This reduction is necessary in view of the probability that only five priests will be available for deployment to the vicariate by the year 2015.  Please note that a merger of parishes does NOT ipso facto mean that churches will be closed and properties sold.  It will be the responsibility of the newly created parishes to evaluate the facilities that they have and determine how they will be used.  Likewise Mass schedules will have to be planned according to the size of the congregations served by each priest.  As well, the organization of ministries and activities will require the blending of what were formerly separate into one.

            This is the outline of what we are proposing to the Planning Commission.  We’ll now wait to hear their analysis on whether or not we can bring this forward to the next step.

 

(from May 27th)

Recently, there have been several announcements about restructuring of parishes in various parts of the diocese that are being implemented as part of the Journey in Faith and Grace.  Even though there is no timetable for the realization of the goals of this process, Bishop Kmiec has made it clear that when a vicariate has a practical and workable proposal in place, he will authorize the parishes involved to move forward.  In case you’re wondering what’s happening in Southern Chautauqua, I’d like to give you an update on where we’re at in the Journey.

            The proposal that our Vicariate had submitted last December was deemed by the Planning Commission to fall short of the diocesan guidelines for a restructuring that would meet the pastoral needs of our communities in the target year of 2015.  On receiving this information, the pastors of our several churches together with a parishioner from each church met in March with Sister Regina Murphy, the Director of Research and planning for the Diocese, who outlined the reasons why our proposal was rejected.  At that time, she noted that to assist vicariates in the process the Strategic Planning Commission is willing to convene an ad hoc committee to analyze the situation of the vicariate and create a restructuring proposal for that vicariate’s consideration.  The consensus of the pastors and parish representatives was that this was desirable for us in Southern Chautauqua, and we requested that Sister Regina follow through on convening such an ad hoc committee.

               Just last week, in my capacity as Episcopal Vicar, I received their proposal.  The timing was right (must be the Holy Spirit!), as the priests were already scheduled to have a vicariate meeting last Friday (May 18th).  We are now reviewing the proposal, and I have provided copies to every representative from every parish who participated in the “cluster” phase of the Journey, and those who serve on the Vicariate Council, as well as those who met with Sr. Regina in March.  Within the next month, we will all be meeting together to critique the proposal made by the ad hoc committee to ascertain whether or not we will use this as our proposal for reconfiguring our parishes.

            This is “where we’re at” right now, and I would ask your continued prayers that the Holy Spirit will guide our discernment and lead us forward in this Journey in Faith and Grace.  As I’m sure you are aware, this whole process is not an easy one and has caused much anxiety for people throughout the diocese.  People have become angry with one another, and very unkind (and decidedly “unchristian”) things have been said about our bishop and those who are working to “right size” our parishes for the future.  I am pleased to say that, although we have had our share of tensions in Southern Chautauqua, we are blessed with a spirit of collaboration.  Let’s pray this will continue.

 

(from March 31st, 2007)

In December 2006, the Vicariate Council of Southern Chautauqua submitted a proposal for restructuring of our twelve parishes to the Strategic Planning Commission. On reviewing the proposal, it was determined that it did not meet the diocesan guidelines. At the request of our Episcopal Vicar Fr. Dennis Mende, Sister Regina Murphy met with the pastors and a representative from each parish to clarify the reasons why the proposal could not be approved. An option for going forward that she presented was to have an Ad Hoc Committee of the Planning Commission made a restructuring proposal to our Vicariate for its consideration. The consensus of those attending the meeting was that this would be very beneficial to us, and Sister Regina is now arranging for this special Committee to convene. When it has prepared a proposal, it will be presented to the Episcopal Vicar. On receiving it, Father Mende will forward copies to all of the clergy, and everyone who participated in the cluster meetings, as well as the members of the Vicariate council for their review. A meeting will then be held for all concerned to evaluate the proposal we are given to ascertain whether or not the parishes see it as a viable option for our vicariate. Anyone interested in learning more about the Journey in Faith and Grace process and the details of the proposals made, is welcome to inquire by calling Fr. Dennis at 664-5703.

A DIFFICULT TIME
(from January 21st, 2007)

            It is a truism to say that change is not easy, and at the beginning of this new year we are hearing of the changes that the Catholic community of Western New York will have to face as the year 2007 unfolds.  Last week the first significant recommendations for diocesan restructuring in the Journey in Faith and Grace were announced.  Most people reacted in dismay as it was revealed that fourteen elementary schools would be closed in June.  Even though it has been obvious for quite some time that the cost of maintaining many of our schools was more than the Church at large and our families in particular could afford, the actual decision to close these schools was not welcome.  Faith based education is of great value to our society, and I believe much needed in today’s world.  Nevertheless, justice demands that qualified and dedicated teachers be paid a just wage, and the ability to do so is beyond the means of many of our parishes.

            With the announcement of these closings, the question naturally arises as to what might be the future of our own Holy Family School.  Will we too be faced with the prospect of closing, given the demographic and economic realities of our community?  I believe not, and I say this because we are the beneficiaries of the foresight of those who were pastors of our parishes in the 1990’s.  In the middle of the last decade, the former SS Peter and Paul School was struggling.  Enrollment was declining and costs were increasing.  It was becoming clear that one parish alone would not have the resources to maintain the school.

            In the face of a reactionary shortsightedness, the pastors forged ahead with creating a regional school supported by all of the parishes of the Southern Chautauqua Vicariate.  Even those that had not had, nor would be likely to have, students in the school, agreed to provide financial support for a new regional school.  Thus, Holy Family School was born in 1996.  Because of this, we are ahead of the game in the restructuring process!  What other areas of the diocese will now have to do to maintain Catholic education has been a reality here for ten years, and I’m rather certain that Holy Family has a secure future.

            Our challenge in the Journey in Faith and Grace will be to work toward a more equitable distribution of the cost of funding the school.  Presently, SS Peter and Paul Church is providing more than its fair share.  This is not a unique situation – it occurs with several regional schools – and the diocese is in the process of devising a way to more evenly distribute the support parishes are asked to give a school.  One such proposal is now under consideration.

            In the mean time, as we hear of the difficult decisions that are being made to restructure the diocese to better serve the Gospel of Christ, let us pray that all such decisions may be the result of a prayerful attempt to discern the direction in which the Holy Spirit is leading.

                                               

WHERE WE’RE AT (1/9/07)

            It’s been so long since I’ve written about the Journey in Faith and Grace that you might be wondering where we’re at with the project of restructuring and reconfiguring the parishes of the diocese.  Although no significant changes have been made, other than some adjustments in Mass schedules, the process is continuing and I’d like to let you know what’s happening now.

            When Bishop Kmiec called us to this Journey in the summer of 2005 he explained that the radically changed demographic and economic situations of Western New York (population loss and shift, together with economic decline) have had a significant impact on the Church.  In short, the number and locations of parishes is not appropriate to the size and distribution of our present population.  As well, we now have fewer priests to staff our parishes.  Thus, he instituted a planning process to ascertain what changes we as the Church need to make so as to serve the present and future pastoral needs of our people.

            In the year 2006 we moved through three phases of the Journey, wherein first the individual parishes, then clusters of parishes together, and finally entire vicariates analyzed their present situations and devised proposals for restructuring.  By the end of December, each of the vicariates had submitted a proposal to the diocesan “Strategic Planning Commission” for review and evaluation.  This is where we’re at right now, and why it might appear that the process is going nowhere!

            Those who participated in the cluster and vicariate phases of the process experienced first hand how difficult it is to propose changing structures that have been in place for many years.  The first thought on most parishioners’ minds was, “will my church be closed?”  Fear of the loss of what generations of Catholics had sacrificed to build and what families cherish as the place where they were formed in the faith and celebrated the sacraments caused great anxiety.  This was exacerbated by the irresponsible threats that everything will have to be closed and a new “megachurch” created so that Catholics from miles around could all gather at one time for one Mass in a sports arena type setting!

            Fortunately, as the process unfolded such “slash and burn” ideas were seen as impractical, unworkable, and just plain stupid, and a more reasonable approach was taken.  This is what happened in Southern Chautauqua, and the proposal that was submitted for our vicariate would appear to be both practical and workable (I’ll give the details of the proposal in next week’s article).  The planning commission must now review each vicariate’s proposal, and then all proposals together to see how each affects the diocese as a whole.  Should the commission discern a need to revise a proposal in the light of the overall picture, individual vicariates may be asked to do so.  This is where we’re at right now with our diocesan restructuring process.  

 

From 2006:

The last time I wrote about the Journey in Faith and Grace (about a month ago!) I gave the details of the proposals for restructuring presented to the Vicariate Council from the cluster in which our parish participated. I concluded by saying that I would also be providing the details of the proposals from the other two clusters of parishes, and then left things at loose ends by writing on another topic last week. What follows will tie these together and offer a clarification of what is supposed to be happening in this phase of the process since some ideas and interpretations that are being expressed are at odds with what the diocese has outlined.

 

The "western cluster" (the churches in Mayville, Sherman, French Creek, Panama, and Bemus Point) is proposing that all five churches become one parish with five sites used for weekend worship. This means that each would cease to be an independent entity, becoming one parish with a new name, one pastor, one central administration, and one set of trustees. All five buildings would remain open and in use. To have a weekend Mass at each location would require the assistance of priests from Jamestown. This cluster did not make a proposal for the reconfiguring of parishes outside its geographical area.

 

The "eastern cluster" (the churches in Falconer, Frewsburg, and Randolph) presented two proposals. The first simply states that the present links of Falconer and St. John and Frewsburg and St. James would be retained, with Randolph remaining a parish in its own right. The second states that the three sites would be ministered to by two priests. It was not made clear as to whether this proposal envisioned a change in the links that are in place to create a new link of these three parishes. This cluster also did not make a proposal for parishes outside its geographical area.

It is now the responsibility of the Vicariate Council to review and critique these several proposals. To do this, the council members must look at all of them together to ask how one affects another, and whether or not from them one comprehensive proposal might be prepared for presentation to the diocesan Strategic Planning Commission. The proposals must be evaluated in light of the projection that by 2015 it is likely that only five priests will be available for deployment as pastors for the entire vicariate.

Now, to clear up a misunderstanding. No action on any reconfiguration of parishes can be taken until the proposals have been presented to the diocesan commission for review. The idea that what has been proposed by any of the clusters is now being put into effect is incorrect. Nothing that is now under discussion ought to be seen as an accomplished fact. We are IN PROCESS and nothing more. To conclude anything else is contrary to the outline the diocese has given to us.

Be at peace,

Father Dennis Mende