Pastoral plan for Deaneries I, II & XI presented at St. Mark's Parish

Article and photos by Megan Marley

Parishes in Deaneries I, II and XI are implementing a strategic plan that responds to a changing world, while continuing to support the faithful in spiritual growth and missionary discipleship. A livestreamed and in-person presentation of the plan took place at St. Mark Parish in Independence May 19. The plan is the second created as part of an ongoing comprehensive resources strategy for the diocese, and similar studies and planning will take place across the diocese.

CRAFTING A PLAN TO USE RESOURCES WISELY

In 2018, listening sessions were held throughout the diocese to help craft a vision for the future. Following much study, consideration and prayer, a diocesan vision — One Family: Restored in Christ, Equipped for Mission — and three goals — Healing our Family, Growing God’s Family, and Using Resources Wisely — were identified.

Using Resources Wisely is the inspiration for the pastoral plan, developed with the help of Meitler, a data study and planning firm for Catholic communities. The firm collected data on parish statistics, community demographics and forecasted regional changes, interviewed pastors and parish representatives, toured parishes and provided structure for developing the pastoral plan with an Area Planning Committee composed of representatives from each parish.

“As with any household, our local Church has limited resources; our personnel and money, time, facilities and so forth are not infinite,” said Father Charles Rowe, Vicar General for Pastoral Affairs, at the presentation. “Now is the time to take a careful look to see whether resources are being deployed effectively or not, in the service of making our local Church ‘One Family: Restored in Christ — Equipped for Mission.’”

SO WHAT’S CHANGING?

All parishes in the study will to one degree or another collaborate on approaches to common issues — such as faith formation, communications, outreach ministries, community building and staff — as a ‘parish family’.

One benefit of the new pastoral plan is collaboration within “parish families.” The parishes of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Guardian Angels, St. James, St. Francis Xavier, and St. Therese Little Flower will collaborate as one parish family, while the parishes of Cathedral, Sacred Heart-Guadalupe, Oratory of Old St. Patrick, St. Monica, Our Lady of Sorrows and Our Lady of Perpetual Help will collaborate as a second parish family.

St. Therese Little Flower in Deanery I

In Deanery I, Our Lady of Good Counsel and St. Francis Xavier remain independent, stand-alone parishes. However, St. James and St. Therese Little Flower parishes are clustered under Father Don Farnan, and St. Louis Parish merged with St. Therese Parish on June 30. St. Therese Little Flower and Guardian Angels parishes are both unsustainable in their current state, but have two years to improve sacramental activity, membership, finances and other parish statistics. At Guardian Angels Parish, Father Carlito Saballo, SOLT, is now parochial administrator and Our Lady of Hope School continues to operate.

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Deanery II

In Deanery II, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and Sacred Heart-Guadalupe become stand-alone parishes independent of one another. St. Monica and Our Lady of Sorrows parishes cluster under Father Leonard Gicheru, and may collaborate on staff, pastoral and committee activities but maintain separate finance councils; St. Monica Parish may also need to renovate their office building for the mission ahead. Oratory of Old St. Patrick retains its status as an oratory for the Latin celebration of the Roman Missal of 1962 and should evaluate building a parish center. Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Redemptorist) Parish remains stand-alone and may add and share staff with the other parishes; there is also potential for Redemptorist Center to be supported and expanded with other churches in the deanery.

St. Mary in Deanery XI

In Deanery XI, Nativity of Mary and St. Bernadette parishes continue to cluster under Father Robert Stone, and St. Mark Parish remains stand-alone. St. Mary, St. Ann, and St. Cyril parishes are clustered under Father Kendall Ketterlin. St. Joseph the Worker Parish will merge with St. Mary Parish and close this year, and St. Ann and St. Cyril parishes will also merge and close within the next two years. Pending discussion, St. Cyril Parish might continue on as a Slavic heritage center. As a region, Deanery XI has an opportunity to collaborate on outreach to a growing Hispanic population and those in need.

ST. LOUIS PARISH | 1919 - 2022

Bishop Johnston celebrated the final Mass at St. Louis Parish on Sunday, June 26 at 10 a.m., followed by a reception in the parish hall. The entrance antiphon set a tone of celebration and gratitude, declaring “All you people, clap your hands! Cry to God with shouts of joy!” (Ps 47:1) More than 150 people filled the pews at St. Louis Catholic Church, even spilling into overflow seating, as they came together in community to celebrate the fulfillment of the parish’s mission. Read more and watch a recording of the full Mass at catholickey.org.