Update of final RECOMMENDED plan submitted to the Bishop for reconfiguration of parishes in the dioceses. 1. We were told to think and plan as a Deanery, not as just a Parish...only guidelines were half the number of priests in 10 years. 2. Going forward, after plans came back in Oct., emphasis changed to convenience and travel time to worship site, and no less than 2,000 families in a parish. 3. This took the plan with St. Ann’s off the table. 4. Plan B.....merger then cluster with Bridgeton parishes, however, the cluster model was not favored by clergy as they felt traveling from parish to parish gave no sense of community. 5. Back to merger, but no church was large enough to accommodate the merged parishes, plus the hardest question was, what worship site do you close? 6. THEREFORE: the recommended plan is.... All four parishes would come together to form one, large, new parish of about 3,600 families. By doing this, no one parish is being singled out as having to give up their church and all the memories and feelings that go along with that process. This would be shared by all 4 parishes. A new worship site will be built on 20 acres of land in Upper Deerfield on Love lane, already owned free and clear by Immaculate Conception. To help make this happen, the assets of all 4 parishes would be sold and put towards the new worship site, which would hold approximately 1200 people. The actual timeline and particulars of the sales and building are yet to be determined. * ALL FOUR PARISH PLANNING COMMITTEES ARE IN AGREEMENT THAT THIS PLAN IS THE BEST WAY TO PROCEED, GIVEN THE PROJECTED SHORTAGE OF PRIESTS, AND THE OTHER GUIDELINES GIVEN TO US BY THE DIOCESE. We are all well aware of the emotional attachment that parishioners have to this church and that is the same in all 4 parishes. However, given that there is no magic solution to the priest shortage, our options were somewhat limited. Remember, this is still only a recommendation. The Bishop will give his final decision sometime in April or May. One final thought... The church is not the physical building where we go to worship every week. The church is made up of all of us...the people. And while we have all become attached and comfortable with this church building...where we worship is not as important as how we worship. We should look on this situation as an opportunity to strengthen the church as a whole and have an even stronger and more vibrant parish than before. Keep in mind....the most important event in the history of the church did not take place in a beautiful church or cathedral, but it took place in a stable. Thank you. Mike Takacs Back to Pastoral Planning Home

St. Mary's Church

Rosenhayn, NJ

Parish Planning Update

Presented at Liturgies

Weekend of Jan. 26, 2008

Update of final RECOMMENDED plan submitted to the Bishop for reconfiguration of parishes in the dioceses.

1. We were told to think and plan as a Deanery, not as just a Parish...only guidelines were half the number of priests in 10 years.

2. Going forward, after plans came back in Oct., emphasis changed to convenience and travel time to worship site, and no less than 2,000 families in a parish.

3. This took the plan with St. Ann’s off the table.

4. Plan B.....merger then cluster with Bridgeton parishes, however, the cluster model was not favored by clergy as they felt traveling from parish to parish gave no sense of community.

5. Back to merger, but no church was large enough to accommodate the merged parishes, plus the hardest question was, what worship site do you close?

6. THEREFORE: the recommended plan is....

All four parishes would come together to form one, large, new parish of about 3,600 families. By doing this, no one parish is being singled out as having to give up their church and all the memories and feelings that go along with that process. This would be shared by all 4 parishes.

A new worship site will be built on 20 acres of land in Upper Deerfield on Love lane, already owned free and clear by Immaculate Conception.

To help make this happen, the assets of all 4 parishes would be sold and put towards the new worship site, which would hold approximately 1200 people.

The actual timeline and particulars of the sales and building are yet to be determined.

* ALL FOUR PARISH PLANNING COMMITTEES ARE IN AGREEMENT THAT THIS PLAN IS THE BEST WAY TO PROCEED, GIVEN THE PROJECTED SHORTAGE OF PRIESTS, AND THE OTHER GUIDELINES GIVEN TO US BY THE DIOCESE.

We are all well aware of the emotional attachment that parishioners have to this church and that is the same in all 4 parishes. However, given that there is no magic solution to the priest shortage, our options were somewhat limited.

Remember, this is still only a recommendation. The Bishop will give his final decision sometime in April or May.

One final thought...

The church is not the physical building where we go to worship every week. The church is made up of all of us...the people. And while we have all become attached and comfortable with this church building...where we worship is not as important as how we worship. We should look on this situation as an opportunity to strengthen the church as a whole and have an even stronger and more vibrant parish than before.

Keep in mind....the most important event in the history of the church did not take place in a beautiful church or cathedral, but it took place in a stable.

Thank you.

Mike Takacs

Back to Pastoral Planning

Home