PRST STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Norwood, MA Permit #7
Postal Customer Local Vol. 4 No. 1
Sinkhole Forms on East Street in Wrentham
Church Reorganization Impacts Local Parishes By Grace Allen Norfolk Catholics are living in interesting times. Six months ago, the parishes of St. Jude in Norfolk and St. Edward the Confessor in Medfield merged. The merger, officially known as a collaborative, has been a study in cooperation and flexibility between the two parishes.
By Patrick Coleman For most of the summer, East Street in Wrentham was a bumpy mess as it received a major facelift. Drivers were subjected to a teeth-rattling journey along the road that runs from Wrentham Center into Foxboro. But, eventually, there was a pay off with a smooth new road. That was until December 1.
Churchgoers in both towns most likely have not noticed many changes yet. Behind the scenes, however, there is ongoing work to try to integrate the two parishes. Led by their new pastor, Father John Culloty, formerly of St. Timothy in Norwood, the collaborative is a continuing effort to deal with a shortage of priests in the Boston Archdiocese. Considered part of the Archdiocese of Boston’s Phase II Collaborative, the merger of the two parishes is just one of 33 collaboratives that combine 72 former independent parishes. Struggling with both finances and attendance, collaborative plans were announced in 2013 by the Archdiocese in the hopes of strengthening the Church with shared resources. Collaboratives are seen as a less-drastic response than
St. Jude Church in Norfolk
the church closings of a decade ago, which led to emotional vigils and protests at many parishes.
Church in the U.S., and Boston-area parishes are the testing ground. “Fasten your seatbelts,” said Father Culloty.
According to Father Culloty, the rest of the nation is closely watching the collaborative efforts in the Archdiocese of Boston. Like it or not, it is probably the future of the Roman Catholic
In both Norfolk and Medfield, over 50% of residents identify themselves as
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Church Reorganization
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The fire hydrant, located outside Pond Home, came off its base, quickly flooding the newly paved road.
Aiguier was transported to Norwood Hospital. Officials say he only had minor injuries, but the damage to East Street was far from minor. Officials say the flood unleashed hundreds of gallons of water that gushed underneath the roadway, quickly eroding the ground. The result was a nearly 20-foot sink hole. According to Michael Lavin, Superintendent of Wrentham Department of Public Works, typical modern fire hydrants break off above the connection to the water main preventing a water leak. In this case, the hydrant actually became dislodged from the connection at the
sinkhole
continued on page 2
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According to the Wrentham Police Department, Michael Aiguier of Dorchester was traveling south on East Street around 1 p.m. when he crossed the center line, “went over the curb and struck a fire hydrant.”
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