Minutes of May 3, 2011
Cluster Three: St. Joseph, Sacred Heart, St. Maurice
Attendance: Rev. Stan Szczapa, Donna Gessay, Joe Augustyn, Angela Atwater, John Machung, Matt Stein, Joel Cohan and Patti Cinea.
Excused: Rev. Wojciech Pelczarski, Rev. Krzysztof Drybka
The following agenda was discussed:
1. The cluster read and provided feedback regarding two handouts submitted for review. The first proposed a reverse pyramid method of structuring times of weekend Mass availability from the current schedule of 3 parishes, 4 priests to a possible situation should the availability of priests and parishes be reduced. It also proposed the possibility of regionalizing St. Joseph School, with assigning Diocesan Director Dr. Shine to oversee issues related to staffing, performance review, and teacher/principle evaluations. Subsidies would be solicited from all parishes. This handout included opportunities of areas of collaboration from the cluster parishes, with overseeing and implementation by a group created from representatives from each of the clustered parishes.
The second handout identified a successful clustering of 3 parishes in the Archdiocese of Hartford. Over a process of 6 years these three churches have evolved into a structure of one pastor, two parochial vicars, and two deacons. [Highlighted is that the 3 parishes share a cost of one business manager and one educational director. Each parish funds its own secretary. The entire staff has offices at a single location. There is one parish council with reps from all 3 parishes. Each parish has two Masses on the weekend.] Lessons learned that is that this process works only with cooperation from the priests involved and much communication is needed.
2. The cluster then began to tackle Part Two of the Final Report Form as follows:
The cluster began looking at the hard data from the Criteria for Parish Evaluations forms, with respect to weekly Mass attendance at all 3 parishes, the percentage of youth as a factor in the future health of each parish, the financial resources and the number and structural integrity of the buildings. It was determined that St. Joseph had the highest percentage of infants to age 16, the highest Mass attendance and weekly offertory collections. The school creates financial stress on the parish; however, parishioners are determined to provide financial support to the school through serious fundraising efforts. The school and their ability to provide services to the Polish speaking community are considered an asset. Their buildings have been enhanced with one unused. Sacred Heart and St. Maurice were both negatively affected in their yoking as both suffered losses both of parishioners and financial income. They currently are experiencing some re growth, with St. Maurice drawing back former parishioners with young families and up to 30% more weekly income. The church building at Sacred Heart has been condemned for 12 years. It is planning a strategy on obtaining resources to demolish this building. Sacred Heart uses the former rectory solely for office spaces. St. Maurice has spent a majority of its financial revenue on the rehabilitation of both the rectory and Parish Center buildings, and faces a major expense of replacing the flat roof sections on its church. In light of this information, the cluster began to discuss the feasibility first of creating a cluster community which all 3 parishes would remain open with a single pastor administrating. It would be modeled on the clustering of 3 parishes in the Archdiocese. There would be one pastor utilizing assistance of support priests, sharing a business administrator for all 3 parishes, sharing the 2 deacons, and having one educational director. Fr. Stan proposed that he could pastor all 3 parishes. He would request help from possibly a priest from Immaculata Retreat House, or another available priest. He stated his need to live in his present residence, allowing for privacy. Communication would be facilitated by use of Facebook, cell phone and the bulletin. He requested that all offices would be centrally located at Sacred Heart. Finances would remain independent, pacifying the concern that only Sacred Heart would need to back the finances of demolition of its church building. The second proposal was the creating the cluster to consist of 2 parishes which would be yoked, sharing a priest. The pros and cons for each parish grouping were discussed, which included distances between parishes, staffing availabilities, financial situations and past relationships. St. Maurice stressed that feedback obtained from its communication about the restructuring meetings is that parishioners have experienced 4 pastors in 3 ½ years. The parish is in the process of new growth. Part of the sensitivity to a re yoking is it creates another change for the parish.
It was agreed that based on tonight’s response, Patti would draft out answers for questions 2a-2f in a timely manner to solicit feedback and completion before the next cluster meeting. Communication would be done via email. This would be motioned for acceptance on May 17th, and allow the cluster to exert its efforts in completing Part Three of the Final Report Form.
Respectfully submitted,
Patti Cinea
