St. Mary's Church Rosenhayn, NJ Parish Planning Update Presented at Liturgies Weekend of May 19, 2007 I am a member of the Parish Planning Team here at St. Mary's. I would like to bring you up to date on what has been transpiring over the past several months throughout the diocese. As we said back in February, we here at St. Mary's have been working on two different plans to be submitted to Bishop Galante. The first plan involves St. Ann's in Elmer, which is outside of our deanery. The second plan involves the parishes from Bridgeton, which are all a part of our deanery. The two recommended plans were submitted to Bishop Galante on May 15th. He will spend the summer reviewing these plans (as well as the plans submitted by all of the parishes in the diocese). In mid September he will communicate his decision to all of us. Please keep in mind, and this is very important, that the plans we submitted were just RECOMMMENDATIONS which the bishop will either, accept, reject, or send back to the planning teams for adjustment. No final decisions have been made as of yet, and that goes for all of the parishes in the diocese. The following is a summary of the two plans we submitted for consideration. Plan #1 is a cluster/merger with St. Ann's in Elmer. We would consolidate all of the parish functions of the two parishes. Initially, for the short term, there would continue to be weekend liturgies at both St. Ann's and St. Mary's. During that time, we would be looking into selling St. Ann's rectory and parish center. Longer term, because neither St. Ann's or St Mary's is large enough, we would consider either enlarging St. Mary's, or possibly building a new church on the land owned by the diocese in Elmer. The actual building of a new church would take considerable study and is not something that can happen in a few years, but given the limited number of priests in the next ten years, larger parishes are definitely the way of the future. This is why we feel it certainly should be at least considered for long term planning purposes. We have met with the planning team from St. Ann' on numerous occasions and they also agree that this plan is preferable to them. Both planning teams felt this plan is workable for several reasons. First and foremost, a large number of the members from both parishes live in Pittsgrove. Many of St. Mary's and St. Ann's children go to the same schools and play on the same sport teams. Lastly, the parishes are geographically similar. The meetings we have had with St. Ann's have all been very upbeat. The two committees agree on all of the important issues and find this plan to be very workable. We are hoping that Bishop Galante agrees. In Plan #2, we are recommending that we join the cluster of parishes in Bridgeton - namely St. Teresa's and Immaculate Conception. Upon the retirement of Fr. Bleihler, pastor of St. Michael's, Cedarville, St. Michael's will merge with the Bridgeton parishes. When Father Jay retires, in approximately 4 years, St. Mary's would then become a mission church, with a priest from the Bridgeton cluster coming here to say Mass, etc. In the longer term, since none of these churches will be large enough to serve all of these communities, the Bridgeton plan will include the possibility of building an even larger church on the land owned by Immaculate Conception in Upper Deerfield. This plan has been submitted to the diocese because we were instructed to plan with the parishes in our deanery. The cluster/merger plan involving St. Ann's (which is outside of our deanery) is our number one preference. I have given you an overview of the two plans, without going into too many details, because many of these details need to be worked out and really can't be until recommendations come back from the Bishop. The time frame for the implementation of the approved plans is early in 2008, but this process is not something that will happen overnight. Whatever plan is finally approved, please rest assured that the concerns of all the parishes involved will be taken into consideration and care will be taken to be mindful of the feelings and loyalties of all parishioners. Two other issues we mentioned back in February are still very important. First, please remain positive and look upon these changes as necessary for the continued growth of the parishes and the diocese. Second, please do not listen to rumors. We have tried to keep you informed by sharing with you the facts as we know them. If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact anyone on the planning committee. We are always available by email from our website: www.stmarysrosenhayn.org. Please continue to keep the planning committee in your prayers, and we will continue to keep you informed as the process continues. Thank you. Back to Pastoral Planning Home

St. Mary's Church

Rosenhayn, NJ

Parish Planning Update

Presented at Liturgies

Weekend of May 19, 2007

I am a member of the Parish Planning Team here at St. Mary's. I would like to bring you up to date on what has been transpiring over the past several months throughout the diocese.

As we said back in February, we here at St. Mary's have been working on two different plans to be submitted to Bishop Galante. The first plan involves St. Ann's in Elmer, which is outside of our deanery. The second plan involves the parishes from Bridgeton, which are all a part of our deanery. The two recommended plans were submitted to Bishop Galante on May 15th. He will spend the summer reviewing these plans (as well as the plans submitted by all of the parishes in the diocese). In mid September he will communicate his decision to all of us.

Please keep in mind, and this is very important, that the plans we submitted were just RECOMMMENDATIONS which the bishop will either, accept, reject, or send back to the planning teams for adjustment. No final decisions have been made as of yet, and that goes for all of the parishes in the diocese.

The following is a summary of the two plans we submitted for consideration.

Plan #1 is a cluster/merger with St. Ann's in Elmer. We would consolidate all of the parish functions of the two parishes. Initially, for the short term, there would continue to be weekend liturgies at both St. Ann's and St. Mary's. During that time, we would be looking into selling St. Ann's rectory and parish center. Longer term, because neither St. Ann's or St Mary's is large enough, we would consider either enlarging St. Mary's, or possibly building a new church on the land owned by the diocese in Elmer. The actual building of a new church would take considerable study and is not something that can happen in a few years, but given the limited number of priests in the next ten years, larger parishes are definitely the way of the future. This is why we feel it certainly should be at least considered for long term planning purposes.

We have met with the planning team from St. Ann' on numerous occasions and they also agree that this plan is preferable to them. Both planning teams felt this plan is workable for several reasons. First and foremost, a large number of the members from both parishes live in Pittsgrove. Many of St. Mary's and St. Ann's children go to the same schools and play on the same sport teams. Lastly, the parishes are geographically similar.

The meetings we have had with St. Ann's have all been very upbeat. The two committees agree on all of the important issues and find this plan to be very workable. We are hoping that Bishop Galante agrees.

In Plan #2, we are recommending that we join the cluster of parishes in Bridgeton - namely St. Teresa's and Immaculate Conception. Upon the retirement of Fr. Bleihler, pastor of St. Michael's, Cedarville, St. Michael's will merge with the Bridgeton parishes. When Father Jay retires, in approximately 4 years, St. Mary's would then become a mission church, with a priest from the Bridgeton cluster coming here to say Mass, etc. In the longer term, since none of these churches will be large enough to serve all of these communities, the Bridgeton plan will include the possibility of building an even larger church on the land owned by Immaculate Conception in Upper Deerfield. This plan has been submitted to the diocese because we were instructed to plan with the parishes in our deanery. The cluster/merger plan involving St. Ann's (which is outside of our deanery) is our number one preference.

I have given you an overview of the two plans, without going into too many details, because many of these details need to be worked out and really can't be until recommendations come back from the Bishop. The time frame for the implementation of the approved plans is early in 2008, but this process is not something that will happen overnight. Whatever plan is finally approved, please rest assured that the concerns of all the parishes involved will be taken into consideration and care will be taken to be mindful of the feelings and loyalties of all parishioners.

Two other issues we mentioned back in February are still very important. First, please remain positive and look upon these changes as necessary for the continued growth of the parishes and the diocese. Second, please do not listen to rumors.

We have tried to keep you informed by sharing with you the facts as we know them. If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact anyone on the planning committee. We are always available by email from our website: www.stmarysrosenhayn.org. Please continue to keep the planning committee in your prayers, and we will continue to keep you informed as the process continues.

Thank you.

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