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Deanery: Rockingham Dean:
Very Rev. Frederick J. Pennett, Jr.,
V.F.
Cluster: 16
Facilitator(s): Paul J. Ashton, Psy.D., D.Min.
Recorder: Mrs. Joyce Lee
Priest
Allocation: 2 Diocesan Priests
and 2 Religious (Jesuits)
Cluster Task
Force Members (Name and Parish):
Rev. Robert C. Guillemette Saint Patrick
Mr. James B. Hogan Saint Patrick
Mrs. M. Gael Ouellette Saint Patrick
Rev. Paul F. Ruzzo Mary, Queen of Peace
Mrs. Donna Sytek Mary, Queen of Peace
Mrs. Mary Giordano Mary, Queen of Peace
Rev. John W. Michalowski, S.J.
Mr. Shawn McDonough
Mrs. Claire W. Simensen
Rev. Msgr. Donald Gilbert Saint Matthew
Mrs. Ginny Dandreta Saint
Matthew
Mrs. Betty Epperson Saint
Matthew
Parishes represented
in the Cluster Task Force
(CTF):
Parish: Saint
Patrick Location: Pelham
Parish: Saint
Matthew Location:
Parish: Mary,
Queen of Peace Location:
Parish:
Dates and
locations of Listening Sessions:
Date:
Date: Monday
18 June Location: Mary,
Queen of Peace,
Dates and
locations of Working Sessions:
Date: Tuesday
1 May Location:
Saint Patrick, Pelham
Date: Wednesday
16 May Location:
Date: Monday
21 May Location:
Mary, Queen of Peace,
Date: Sunday 27
May Location: Saint Patrick, Pelham
Date: Sunday
3 June Location: Mary,
Queen of Peace,
Date: Sunday
10 June Location:
Description
of the process used by the CTF in arriving at consensus:
In coming together as a
task force there was an almost immediate sense that the group was cohesive and
cared greatly not only for their own parish, but for the deanery parishes and
diocesan church as a whole. The
commitment and cumulative ministry experience was an overwhelming foundation which
buttressed each conversation of local church.
Not only were individuals articulate and knowledgeable about their
particular parish and history, their keen sense of the Church universal was
woven throughout conversations and deliberations. Theological and other related
pastoral and educational ministerial experience made for a smooth flowing, and
open dialogue. A deep sense of prayerful
spirituality under girded our process.
We were always made aware of the full presence of God and a need for
solidarity for the poor and marginalized.
Even in areas of discussion that became heated, respect was paramount.
From the initial meeting
each task force member articulated their affective approach and history of
their parish. Although there might have
been some resistance and desire to begin immediate scenario formulation, much
time was spent sharing the gifts and raising the highlights of each parish
community. As well, each parish was able
to present the difficulties undergone in recent history.
Significant time was spent
clarifying the role that the Society of Jesus would play in the configuration
for 2012. This is reflected clearly in the minutes of our meetings.
Through working sessions
led by the facilitator of appreciative inquiry, mutual and open dialogue,
prayer, shared feelings, thoughts, dreams and ideals, the task force was able
to brainstorm scenarios and vision for the future. Through guided appreciative inquiry, the CTF
built on shared goodness thus fostering positive relationships which enhanced
the system’s capacity for collaboration, consensus and change. We discovered
and identified the organizational processes that worked well, we dreamed and
envisioned the processes that might work well in the future, we designed,
planned and prioritized processes that might work and we delivered a possible
destiny for implementation and execution.
Through the same process of
open conversation and discussion, the task force formed and ultimately
eliminated various scenarios for the future.
When left with two major
choices involving Saint Joseph Parish twinning or merging with either Mary,
Queen of Peace or Saint Matthew Parish, the task force turned over to the
Jesuits the process of discernment as to which direction they felt best to
pursue. The Jesuits took two weeks to
discern their decision.
Recommendation
to the Dean and LRPC for 2012
ministry coverage:
We recommend that Mary, Queen of Peace
and
We also recommend that Saint Patrick be
maintained as it presently exists to be pastored by one diocesan priest.
Finally, we recommend that Saint Matthew be maintained as it presently exists
to be pastored by one diocesan priest.
Rationale for
the recommendation:
The southern tier of the
diocese, as it has come to be called and known, is the fastest growing
geographical region both in population and economy. It was difficult, therefore, for the CTF to
accept the reality that a diminished clergy would be a part of any rationale to
serve this fast growing region. This
being said, the CTF examined the possibilities of the reality of the situation
as presented and charged to them by the Bishop of
While “thinking outside the
box” was always operative in the collective minds of the task force, having
both models of schools (regional and parish) in the cluster as well as a parish
served by a religious community made for more focused discernment. This discernment and discussion resulted in
nine possible scenarios that would best suit the needs of the cluster in
2012. Keen interest in sacramental
numbers, financial considerations, proximity, venue, and many practical
concerns were examined. As we reached
group consensus that included two basic options (a twinning or merger with
Decree 2 of the
34th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus tells us that “Today we
realize clearly: [that there can be] No service of faith without [the]
promotion of justice, entry into cultures, [and] openness to other religious
experiences.” (#47). Decree 13 is entitled: Cooperation with the Laity in
Mary, Queen of Peace has a similar demographic to St. Joseph
Parish, which means that it has a higher percentage of poorer parishioners than
St. Matthew Parish. Like
Having been without a resident pastor for over a year with only a
part-time administrator, lay ministers had to assume a greater responsibility
for the parish. Even with the advent of a new pastor, this lay involvement has
continued.
Other factors in favor of MQP-St. Joseph merging is the fact that
we have some history of working together, not just with Confirmations and with
a joint Youth Ministry, but in the past with RCIA and a joint picnic. The
building of a high school in
Because of the history of hurt at MQP in losing a pastor and not
having a resident pastor for over a year, it would be helpful to begin the
linking of St. Joseph and MQP in Phase I as a twinning with a merger in Phase
II while maintaining two worship sites. This will also allow for the continued
growth of both parishes and accommodate the spiritual needs of
How many pastors
are needed to facilitate this recommendation and why?
3 Pastors.
One for Saint Patrick; one for Saint
Matthew; one for the twinned and eventually merged Saint Joseph and Mary, Queen
of Peace Parishes.
Our recommendation follows the guidelines
as presented by the diocese.
How many
parochial vicars are needed to facilitate this recommendation and why?
One.
One full time equivalent parochial vicar
for the twinned and eventually merged
Our recommendation follows the guidelines
as presented by the diocese.
How many deacons
are needed to facilitate this recommendation and why?
One sacramental deacon for Saint Patrick
Parish.
One full time deacon for Saint Matthew
Parish.
Two sacramental deacons for the twinned
and eventually merged Saint Joseph and Mary, Queen of Peace Parishes to meet
the pastoral and sacramental needs of the cluster.
What
type of lay staff are recommended (i.e. administrators, DREs, youth ministers,
lay pastoral associates, etc.)
St.
Joseph and Mary, Queen of Peace - During the twinning period,
it would be important to keep the staffs of the two parishes intact, until it
can be determined how best to meld the two parishes. The one difference would
be to hire a plant manager-maintenance person. Right now, neither parish has a
person with the broad range of skills necessary for the upkeep of an aging
physical plant. Thus during the twinning period, MQP would keep its two
full-time pastoral associates, its full-time business manager/bookkeeper, its
full-time DRE and its secretary. St. Joseph would keep its part-time deacon,
its full-time office manager, its part-time secretary, its full-time DRE and
part-time religious education secretary, and its part-time youth minister. Both
parishes would keep their part-time organists. There would probably be a
sharing of a full-time custodian to work with the plant manager.
By 2012, it would be important to have a sacramental
deacon assigned to each church, so that about a third of the baptisms, weddings
and funerals could be handled by a deacon. Unfortunately, the trend is for
fewer families to request a Mass with a wedding or a funeral.
St. Patrick staffing and
St. Matthew staffing will be determined by pastoral and spiritual needs of each
parish.
Other comments
to be brought to the attention of the LRPC and RCBM:
Considerations
of Deeper Moment for the Ongoing Life of the Church
- As Pope John Paul II said
in Tertio Millennio Adveniente, “Let
us listen to what the faithful say, because in every one of them the Spirit of
God breathes.” The following points come from the faithful on the clustering
committee and from their pastors.
- The Catholic Church is a
sacramental Church and the People of God have a right to the Eucharist. “From the liturgy, therefore, and
especially from the Eucharist, grace is poured forth upon us as from a
fountain, and the sanctification of mankind in Christ and the glorification of
God to which all other activities of the Church are directed, as toward their
end, are achieved with maximum effectiveness.” Sacrosanctum Concilium, #10.
-
At the last Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist, various
bishops brought forth the proposition that for the Church to continue to grow
as the sacramental Church, the Western Church needs to adapt the practice of
the Eastern Catholic Churches and ordain men of proven worth to the priesthood.
We have already seen
such men of proven virtue with the revival of the diaconate in the West.
-
The diaconate has shown itself of proven worth in many dioceses in the
-Some
ten years ago the Canon Law Society of the
-
While St. Patrick and St. Matthew are not directly impacted by the
twinning\merger process, the task force plans to continue dialogue to foster
the good work begun here.
Other points of concern:
1.
Rev. Paul Ruzzo’s celebration of his 25th
Anniversary in April, 2008
2.
-
Cluster
Task Force 16
Report Submitted
by: Paul
J. Ashton, Psy.D., D.Min.
Facilitator Signature:_______________________________________________________________
Date:
Cluster Task Force Names
and Signatures
NAME
(Print) SIGNATURE
Rev. Robert C. Guillemette ______________________________
Mr. James B. Hogan ______________________________
Mrs. M. Gael Ouellette ______________________________
Rev. Paul F. Ruzzo ______________________________
Mrs. Donna Sytek ______________________________
Mrs. Mary Giordano ______________________________
Rev. John W. Michalowski, S.J. ______________________________
Mr. Shawn McDonough ______________________________
Mrs. Claire W. Simensen ______________________________
Rev. Msgr. Donald Gilbert ______________________________
Mrs. Ginny Dandreta ______________________________
Mrs. Betty Epperson ______________________________
Mrs. Joyce Lee (recorder) ______________________________