Transition Newsletter 3: May 9, 2008 Summarized account of Bishop Galante’s Hour of Conversation with Priests held May 8, 2008 at St. Charles Borromeo Church, Sicklerville Road Bishop Galante opened his remarks thanking priests for coming. What follows are summaries of the information in sequential order provided by Bishop and others and the exchange of conversation. “I ask you not to lose sight of the reasons we are reconfiguring parishes. We are planning and merging so that our Catholic tradition is carried forward in vibrant and dynamic parishes. Where else can it happen? Hope has to be made concrete. With 76% of our Catholics not coming to liturgy, I cannot stand by and do nothing. These revitalization efforts are a matter of conscience for me. During this hour I want to address questions being asked about some of the steps ahead” (Bishop Galante) About timeline for completion of mergers: That is fluid and will vary depending on each reconfiguration. Some mergers will go fast and some slower, but within 1 - 2 years our new parishes should be ready for their decree of establishment. The greatest amount of work and time will be spent in bringing communities together. By analogy this time is like the courtship phase in a relationship. Understanding various traditions, devotions, events, of each merging community is just one pastoral aspect of the courtship. That does not happen overnight. When I issue the canonical decree, then the courtship is over and the marriage begins. 1) In fall there will be 2 parallel happenings going on simultaneously in merging parishes • Parish life will continue under the direction of the present pastor. Parish programs, and events continue, as well as scheduling weddings, first communion, and confirmation. • A priest will be named by the Bishop after hearing the Priests Personnel Board’s recommendations. He will be called the PRIEST CONVENER for his primary role and task will be to work with a small group of people (CORE TEAM) from each parish in the merger to help create the new parish. Leadership is very important for this role. • If the present pastor is selected as PRIEST CONVENER, he will have additional leadership responsibilities, working separately with the ongoing parish and with the CORE TEAM. • If the PRIEST CONVENER is not the present pastor, he will need to work closely with the present pastor who will do all he can to graciously be of assistance. To avoid role confusion and overlapping responsibilities the pastoral leader in the CORE TEAM is the PRIEST CONVENER. Although the present pastor is not a member of the CORE TEAM, he is a knowledgeable consultant to that team, and collaborates in helping to make the transition easier for parishioners. 2) AN EXTENSIVE MERGER MANUAL is in the process of being prepared. It will cover all the areas and processes that need to be addressed to effect mergers. There will be multiple workshops scheduled in late summer and early fall for pastors whose parishes are involved in a merger and for PRIEST CONVENERS and their CORE TEAMS. They will receive the MERGER MANUAL at that time. The MERGER MANUAL is a result of research and consultation of other dioceses who have dealt with the same issues that we are experiencing here in South Jersey relative to planning for dynamic parishes. 3) The consultations step in Pastoral Succession developed by the Priests Personnel Board has already begun. Priests can apply for more than one new parish. Applicants will be asked to name 3 parishes in order of preference. The first round of selection of the PRIEST CONVENERS is expected to conclude in August and the second round in September. If a pastor of a non-merging parish wishes to resign to apply to be a PRIEST CONVENER for a new pastorate he may do so. Parochial vicar assignments will be addressed after PRIEST CONVENERS have been named. The description of senior priests their responsibilities and expectations are being developed and will be published soon. Priests are asked to call Fr. Terry Odien if they wish to see parish profiles. (Info provided by Fr. Terry Odien) 4) Formation is a very high priority and a necessity in developing dynamic parishes. People’s knowledge and practice of faith is at different levels. In our new parishes we must meet the needs of all people: pastoral, spiritual, and generational, e.g. a spirituality of aging. We need resources to reach out to those who have left our family of faith and to develop trained lay ministers who can welcome youth, who can help strengthen family life. I hope to raise a substantial sum in the millions to train and scholarship lay leaders. 5) Regarding the establishment of new parishes and Decree of Erection: When the new parish is ready and the work is completed that needs to be done: pastorally, administratively, canonically, structurally, financially, and legally, both in the development of new parish and in the parishes that are making up the new parish, the PRIEST CONVENER will contact me. This will set in motion a final review to ensure that all preparations are done pastorally, legally, and canonically. Again the MERGER MANUAL will be the guide for this. Following that successfully completed review of the paper work for the establishment of the parish, the decree naming the parish, including naming its pastor and its beginning date, will be published. 6) Part of preparation of the new parish is naming it. The naming of the parish is best handled in a prayerful consultative process. While the new parish receives a new name which ultimately needs the Bishop’s approval, there are policies, canons, and a process for this, which need to be followed. The church buildings used for worship sites retain their names. The new parish receives a new name when the decree is issued. Blessed John XXIII is a current example of this. 7) Boundaries described in the decree will generally reflect the combined territory of the parishes that were merged. 8) What is the role of pastor in Catholic schools at this time? The host pastor is still the lead pastor, the structure of the regionalized school remains, and the subsidy structure remains. A committee is working on system change but it is not ready for implementation. (Info provided by Msgr. Roger McGrath.) 9) Do people in the parish say a say in the wording of the Decree? Canon law was quoted. “Only the Bishop can suppress or establish a parish.” This also refers to the decree of establishment. Suggestions can be made to the Bishop. (Information provided by Msgr. Peter Joyce)

Transition Newsletter 3: May 9, 2008

Summarized account of Bishop Galante’s Hour of Conversation with Priests held May 8, 2008 at St. Charles Borromeo Church, Sicklerville Road

Bishop Galante opened his remarks thanking priests for coming. What follows are summaries of the information in sequential order provided by Bishop and others and the exchange of conversation.

“I ask you not to lose sight of the reasons we are reconfiguring parishes. We are planning and merging so that our Catholic tradition is carried forward in vibrant and dynamic parishes. Where else can it happen? Hope has to be made concrete. With 76% of our Catholics not coming to liturgy, I cannot stand by and do nothing. These revitalization efforts are a matter of conscience for me. During this hour I want to address questions being asked about some of the steps ahead” (Bishop Galante)

About timeline for completion of mergers: That is fluid and will vary depending on each reconfiguration. Some mergers will go fast and some slower, but within 1 - 2 years our new parishes should be ready for their decree of establishment. The greatest amount of work and time will be spent in bringing communities together. By analogy this time is like the courtship phase in a relationship. Understanding various traditions, devotions, events, of each merging community is just one pastoral aspect of the courtship. That does not happen overnight. When I issue the canonical decree, then the courtship is over and the marriage begins.

1) In fall there will be 2 parallel happenings going on simultaneously in merging parishes

•Parish life will continue under the direction of the present pastor. Parish programs, and events continue, as well as scheduling weddings, first communion, and confirmation.

•A priest will be named by the Bishop after hearing the Priests Personnel Board’s recommendations. He will be called the PRIEST CONVENER for his primary role and task will be to work with a small group of people (CORE TEAM) from each parish in the merger to help create the new parish. Leadership is very important for this role.

•If the present pastor is selected as PRIEST CONVENER, he will have additional leadership responsibilities, working separately with the ongoing parish and with the CORE TEAM.

•If the PRIEST CONVENER is not the present pastor, he will need to work closely with the present pastor who will do all he can to graciously be of assistance. To avoid role confusion and overlapping responsibilities the pastoral leader in the CORE TEAM is the PRIEST CONVENER. Although the present pastor is not a member of the CORE TEAM, he is a knowledgeable consultant to that team, and collaborates in helping to make the transition easier for parishioners.

2) AN EXTENSIVE MERGER MANUAL is in the process of being prepared. It will cover all the areas and processes that need to be addressed to effect mergers. There will be multiple workshops scheduled in late summer and early fall for pastors whose parishes are involved in a merger and for PRIEST CONVENERS and their CORE TEAMS. They will receive the MERGER MANUAL at that time. The MERGER MANUAL is a result of research and consultation of other dioceses who have dealt with the same issues that we are experiencing here in South Jersey relative to planning for dynamic parishes.

3) The consultations step in Pastoral Succession developed by the Priests Personnel Board has already begun. Priests can apply for more than one new parish. Applicants will be asked to name 3 parishes in order of preference. The first round of selection of the PRIEST CONVENERS is expected to conclude in August and the second round in September. If a pastor of a non-merging parish wishes to resign to apply to be a PRIEST CONVENER for a new pastorate he may do so. Parochial vicar assignments will be addressed after PRIEST CONVENERS have been named. The description of senior priests their responsibilities and expectations are being developed and will be published soon. Priests are asked to call Fr. Terry Odien if they wish to see parish profiles. (Info provided by Fr. Terry Odien)

4) Formation is a very high priority and a necessity in developing dynamic parishes.

People’s knowledge and practice of faith is at different levels. In our new parishes we must meet the needs of all people: pastoral, spiritual, and generational, e.g. a spirituality of aging.

We need resources to reach out to those who have left our family of faith and to develop trained lay ministers who can welcome youth, who can help strengthen family life. I hope to raise a substantial sum in the millions to train and scholarship lay leaders.

5) Regarding the establishment of new parishes and Decree of Erection:

When the new parish is ready and the work is completed that needs to be done: pastorally, administratively, canonically, structurally, financially, and legally, both in the development of new parish and in the parishes that are making up the new parish, the PRIEST CONVENER will contact me. This will set in motion a final review to ensure that all preparations are done pastorally, legally, and canonically. Again the MERGER MANUAL will be the guide for this.

Following that successfully completed review of the paper work for the establishment of the parish, the decree naming the parish, including naming its pastor and its beginning date, will be published.

6) Part of preparation of the new parish is naming it. The naming of the parish is best handled in a prayerful consultative process. While the new parish receives a new name which ultimately needs the Bishop’s approval, there are policies, canons, and a process for this, which need to be followed. The church buildings used for worship sites retain their names. The new parish receives a new name when the decree is issued. Blessed John XXIII is a current example of this.

7) Boundaries described in the decree will generally reflect the combined territory of the parishes that were merged.

8) What is the role of pastor in Catholic schools at this time? The host pastor is still the lead pastor, the structure of the regionalized school remains, and the subsidy structure remains.

A committee is working on system change but it is not ready for implementation. (Info provided by Msgr. Roger McGrath.)

9) Do people in the parish say a say in the wording of the Decree? Canon law was quoted.

“Only the Bishop can suppress or establish a parish.” This also refers to the decree of establishment. Suggestions can be made to the Bishop. (Information provided by Msgr. Peter Joyce)