'The Process Worked' After thorough consultation and study, parish realignment plan released By MARY ANN POUST
With the release of the long-awaited parish realignment plan, archdiocesan officials have begun a series of meetings with pastors and administrators of the 21 parishes set to close or merge as they begin implementing the plan—which aims at addressing the changing population patterns of Catholics in the archdiocese. "It was a very fair process, with wide consultations and no rush to decisions," said Auxiliary Bishop Dennis J. Sullivan, vicar general, who headed the realignment team. "But we reached our decisions, and now we have to implement them," he told CNY in an interview. He said that individualized closing plans will be developed with pastors and administrators at the meetings that began late last week to arrive at the "pastorally appropriate moment." He said that there's no timetable, but he expects that most of the closings and mergers will be accomplished by the end of June. Announcing the realignment plan Jan. 19, Cardinal Egan called it "very good news" for Catholics in New York in that it recognizes that "we want to serve our people, in every part of the archdiocese, as well as we possibly can." The plan, developed after more than three years of study, calls for 10 of the 409 parishes in the archdiocese to be closed outright and 11 others to be merged with other parishes. It differs considerably from the initial recommendations announced last March—nine parishes and six missions that were recommended for closing or merger at that time have had no change in their status, including St. Rita of Cascia parish in the Bronx, Guardian Angel parish in Manhattan, St. Benedict the Moor mission in Manhattan and Blessed Sacrament mission in Fort Montgomery. Parishes originally recommended for closing that will instead be merged include St. Paul's parish on Staten Island, which will merge with Assumption, and Nativity in Manhattan, which will merge with St. Teresa's. In addition, the status of four parishes—St. Mary's and St. Francis of Assisi in Newburgh, Our Lady of Esperanza in Manhattan, and Assumption in Tuckahoe—is still under review. Taking into account population shifts of recent decades that saw a swell of Catholics migrating north from Manhattan and the Bronx, the plan also calls for five new parishes to be established in the future, three in Orange County, one in Dutchess County and one on the south shore of Staten Island. Nine existing parishes, mostly in the northern part of the archdiocese, also will get new church buildings, according to the plan. "This was a long and careful process of study, discussion and prayer—with an emphasis on prayer," the cardinal said, announcing the plan at a news conference with Bishop Sullivan and his team at Cathedral High School in Manhattan. "The good news this morning is that the process worked, and worked very well," said the cardinal, who was deeply involved in the process to the point of personally visiting parishes and neighborhoods. "It could have been simplified," he said. "We could have just gotten the numbers. But we sought an in-depth understanding of what our people needed. "We listened, listened, listened. We learned much and, I believe, we learned well," the cardinal said. Cardinal Egan said that the input and collaboration of parishioners in the decision-making process was a "gift of the Second Vatican Council," which called for increased participation of the laity in Church life. "It's a gift that's much more precious than we might have suspected," the cardinal said. Noting the mileage he put in and the visits to parishes and their communities during the process, he said, "I know more about the Archdiocese of New York now than I could have learned any other way." One parish that the cardinal clearly learned more about was St. Augustine's in the Bronx. This parish was orginally recommended for closing, but its status wasn't changed in the final plan. Claire Harris, a retired educator, said parishioners are "elated" that the parish will not close. "We're the largest African-American church in the Bronx and we've been here for 156 years," she said. She added, however, that the parish still does not know whether the aging church building, which is too large for the current congregation, will continue to serve or whether a new smaller church will be built. "Still, we're elated with the decision," she said. The realignment plan was developed over the last three years by a team led by Bishop Sullivan with the assistance of Msgr. Douglas J. Mathers, a civil and a canon lawyer who is also the pastor of St. John the Evangelist parish in Manhattan. Their work built on the efforts begun in 2003 by Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell, a former vicar general, who was asked to head the Diocese of Springfield, Mass., before completing the project. Throughout Bishop Sullivan's leadership, the cardinal chaired weekly meetings with senior archdiocesan staff members to review the progress of the plan. Also reviewing the plan in its later stages was a representative group of laypeople, clergy and religious, more than 50 in number, from all parts of the archdiocese. The cardinal explained the details of the process to the Catholic faithful during the planning period in several columns that he wrote for Catholic New York and, finally, in a letter distributed through parishes on the weekend of Jan. 20-21. "At every step," the cardinal wrote, "all proposals were reviewed with particular concern for the most effective pastoral care of the faithful." Bishop Sullivan said the implementation program now under way will follow a set of detailed guidelines that are contained in a parish transition manual. The manual was developed by the realignment team to accommodate previously scheduled events such as First Communions, weddings and even Mass intentions that have been reserved for specific dates. "We will be sure that those Masses are celebrated elsewhere," the bishop said. He also said at the news conference and in the interview with CNY that the archdiocese has no plans to sell church buildings and other properties of closed or merged parishes. Instead, these properties will be available as worship sites or for other Church-related needs. "Each decision will be individually adapted for each parish situation," he said, adding that the archdiocese prefers to lease rather than sell its unused properties. "There will be no massive closings and no abandoning or selling of property," he said. In a separate development, the archdiocese announced that Our Lady of Vilnius parish in Manhattan, which was founded in 1905 to serve Lithuanian immigrants, also will close. Discussions concerning that parish were taking place before the realignment process began. (Story, Page 9.) Also, in addition to the parishes that will close or merge in the realignment, three mission churches—which are small "outposts" of a nearby parish—will be closed in Ulster and Orange counties and they will be reunited with their sponsoring parishes. Since realignment was announced, reaction in the impacted parishes has, in most cases, been one of faith-filled acceptance. Just four of the 21 parishes have had full-time pastors assigned to them in recent years, including two—Mary Help of Christians and Our Lady Queen of Angels in Manhattan—that are staffed and run by religious orders rather than by archdiocesan priests. One of the parishes on the list—Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Manhattan, set to be merged into Our Lady of the Scapular/St. Stephen with a new chapel to be established—has already started its next step. The church building closed nearly two years ago to make way for construction of a residential building that will contain the new chapel. And many of the others that will close or merge had long been operating as virtual extensions of neighboring parishes, in some cases without even having their own phone number or mailing address. St. John Baptist de La Salle, administered by nearby Immaculate Conception on Staten Island, is one such parish. Attendance at the sole Sunday Mass has recently been as low as 15 people. Indeed, when the preliminary recommendation to close it was made last spring, the parishioners chose not to appeal the recommendation even though the archdiocese had invited all parishes proposed for realignment to do so. "Nobody wanted to challenge it. The people here were realistic from the very beginning," said Father Peter J. Byrne, the pastor of Immaculate Conception, who serves as administrator of St. John Baptist de La Salle as well. "This is the smallest of all the parishes in the archdiocese," he said of St. John's. Meanwhile, said Bishop Sullivan, as the realignment plan is implemented, the logo of the archdiocesan bicentennial celebration is fitting: "Through faith we grow." Parish Realignment List These are the parishes in the realignment program Parishes to be closed: 1. Mary Help of Christians, Manhattan
Parishes to be merged or have chapels established: 1. Nativity, Manhattan – to be merged into St. Teresa, South Manhattan, with a new chapel to be established
Mission Churches to be closed: 1. St. Edward Mission, Orange County (St. Stephen the First Martyr, Warwick)
Parishes with No Change in Status: 1. St. Joseph, Monroe Street, Manhattan
Missions with No Change in Status: 1. St. Benedict the Moor, Manhattan (Sacred Heart of Jesus)
Parishes Still Under Review: 1. Our Lady of Esperanza, Manhattan
New Parishes Planned to be Established: 1. South Shore Area, Staten Island
New Churches Planned for Existing Parishes: 1. St. John Nam (relocate), Bronx
Lista de Realineamiento de Parroquias Estas son las parroquias en el programa de realineamiento Parroquias que ser#án cerradas: 1. Mar#ía Auxilio de los Cristianos, Manhattan
Parroquias que han de ser unidas o tienen capillas establecidas: 1.Natividad, Manhattan que ser#á unida con Santa Teresa, Sur de Manhattan con una nueva capilla que ha de ser establecida
Iglesias de Misi#ón que ser#án cerradas: 1. Misi#ón San Eduardo, Condado de Orange (San Esteban el primer m#ártir, Warwick)
Parroquias Sin Cambio de Estado: 1. San Jos#é, Monroe Street, Manhattan
Misiones Sin Cambio en sus Estados: 1. San Benedicto el Moro, Manhattan (Sagrado Coraz#ón de Jes#ús
Parroquias A#ún Bajo Revisi#ón: 1. Nuestra Se#ñora de la Esperanza, Manhattan
Nuevas Parroquias en planes de ser establecidas 1.South Shore Area, Staten Island
Nuevas Iglesias plaeadas para Parroquias Existentes: 1. San Juan Nam (relocada), Bronx
Catholic New York - Lead Story - February 1, 2007
2. Our Lady Queen of Angels, Manhattan
3. St. Mary, Bronx
4. St. John Baptist de La Salle, Staten Island
5. Our Lady of the Rosary, Yonkers, Westchester County
6. St. Margaret of Hungary, Yonkers, Westchester County
7. St. Stanislaus, Hastings, Westchester County
8. Holy Cross, Sleepy Hollow, Westchester County
9. Most Sacred Heart, Port Jervis, Orange County
10. St. John the Baptist, Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County
2. St. Veronica, Manhattan – to be merged into Our Lady of Guadalupe/St. Bernard and to be used as a worship site
3. St. Brigid, Manhattan – to be merged into St. Emeric, with a new chapel to be established
4. Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, Manhattan – to be merged into Our Lady of the Scapular/St. Stephen with a new chapel to be established
5. St. Vincent de Paul, Manhattan – to be merged into St. Columba, with a new chapel to be established
6. Resurrection, Harlem – to be merged into St. Charles Borromeo and to be used as a worship site
7. St. Francis of Assisi, Shakespeare Avenue, Bronx – to be merged into Sacred Heart and to be used as a worship site
8. St. Francis of Assisi, Baychester Avenue, Bronx – to be merged into St. Frances of Rome and to be used as a worship site
9. St. Anthony, Richardson Avenue, Bronx – to be merged into St. Frances of Rome and to be used as a worship site
10. St. Paul, Staten Island – to be merged into Assumption and to be used as a worship site
11. St. Stanislaus, Pine Island, Orange County Ñ to be merged into St. Joseph, Florida and to be used as a worship site
2. Our Lady of LaSalette, Boiceville, Ulster County (St. Francis de Sales, Phoenicia)
3. Our Lady of Lourdes, Allaben, Ulster County (St. Francis de Sales, Phoenicia)
2. St. James, Manhattan
3. Guardian Angel, Manhattan
4. St. Dominic, Bronx
5. St. Rita of Cascia, Bronx
6. St. Augustine, Bronx
7. St. Francis de Sales, Phoenicia, Ulster County
8. Presentation, Port Ewen, Ulster County
9. St. Thomas Aquinas, Forestburg, Sullivan County
2. St. Michael, Goldens Bridge, Westchester (St. Joseph, Croton Falls)
3. St. John, North Salem, Westchester (St. Joseph, Croton Falls)
4. Blessed Sacrament, Fort Montgomery, Orange County (Sacred Heart of Jesus, Highland Falls)
5. St. Augustine Chapel, West Shokan, Ulster County (St. John, West Hurley)
6. Sacred Heart Mission, Esopus, Ulster County (Presentation, Port Ewen)
2. Assumption, Tuckahoe, Westchester County
3. St. Mary, Newburgh, Orange County
4. St. Francis of Assisi, Newburgh, Orange County
2. St. Paul Mission, Bullville, Orange County
3. Our Lady of the Assumption Mission, Bloomingburg, Orange County
4. Our Lady of the Lake Mission, Orange County
5. Stormville Area, Dutchess County
2. St. John Neumann, Staten Island
3. St. Joseph, Croton Falls, Westchester County
4. Holy Spirit, Cortlandt Manor, Westchester County
5. St. Lawrence O'Toole, Brewster, Putnam County
6. St. Margaret, Pearl River, Rockland County
7. St. Gregory Barbarigo, Garnerville, Rockland County
8. St. Peter (relocate), Dutchess County
9. St. Anthony, Dutchess County
2. Nuestra Se#ñora de los Angeles, Manhattan
3. Santa Mar#ía, Bronx
4. San Juan Bautista de la Salle, Staten Island
5. Nuestra Se#ñora del Rosario, Yonkers, Condado de Westchester
6. Santa Margarita de Hungr#ía, Yonkers, Condado de Westchester
7. San Estanislao, Hastings, Condado de Westschester
8. Santa Cruz, Sleepy Hollow, Condado de Westchester
9. Sacrat#ísimo Coraz#ón, Port Jervis, Condado de Orange
10. San Juan Bautista, Poughkeepsie, Condado de Dutchess
2. Santa Ver#ónica, Manhattan que ser#á unida con Nuestra Se#ñora de Guadalupe/San Bernardo y ha de ser usada como lugar de culto.
3. Santa Br#ígida, Manhattan que ha de ser unida con San Em#érico con una nueva capilla que ha de ser establecida
4. Sagrados Corazones de Jes#ús y Mar#ía, Manhattan que ser#á unida con Nuestra Se#ñora del Escapulario/San Esteban con una nueva capilla que ser#á establecida.
5. San Vicente de Paul, Manhattan que ser#á unida con San Columbano, con una nueva capilla que ser#á establecida.
6. Resurrecci#ón, Harlem que ha de ser#á unida con San Carlos Borromeo y ha de ser usada como sitio de culto.
7. San Francisco de Asis, Avenida Shakespeare, Bronx que ser#á unida con El Sagrado Coraz#ón y usada como sitio de culto
8. San Francisco de Asis, Avenida Baychester, Bronx que ser#á unidad con Santa Francisca Romana y ser#á usada como sitio de culto
9. San Antonio, Avenida Richardson, Bronx que ha se ser unida con Santa Francisca Romana y usada como sitio de culto
10. San Pablo, Staten Island, que ser#á unida con la Asunci#ón y usada como sitio de culto
11. San Estanislao, Pine Island, Condado de Orange que ser#á unida con San Jos#é, Florida y ser#á usada como sitio de culto.
2. Nuestra Se#ñora de Lasalette, Boiceville, Condado de Ulster
3. Nuestra Se#ñora de Lourdes, Allaben, Condado de Ulster (San Francisco de Sales, Phoenicia)
2. San Santiago, Manhattan
3. Angel Guardi#án, Manhattan
4. Santo Domingo, Bronx
5. Santa Rita de Cacia, Bronx
6. San Agust#ín, Bronx
7. San Francisco de Sales, Fenicia, Condado de Ulster
8. Presentaci#ón, Port Ewen, Condado de Ulster.
9. Santo Tom#ás de Aquino, Forestburg, Condado de Sullivan
2. San Miguel, Puente Dorado, Westchester (San Jos#é, Croton Falls)
3. San Juan, North Salem, Westchester (San Jos#é, Croton Falls)
4. Sant#ísimo Sacramento, Fort Montgomery, Orange County (Sagrado Coraz#ón de Jes#ús, Highland Falls)
5. Capilla de San Agustin, West Shokan, Condado de Ulster (San Juan, West Hurley)
6. Misi#ón del Sagrado Coraz#ón, Esopus, Condado de Ulster County (Presentaci#ón, Port Ewen)
2. Asunci#ón, Tuckahoe, Condado de Westchester
3. Santa Mar#ía, Newburgh, Condado de Orange
4. San Francisco de Asis, Newburgh, Condado de Orange
2. Misi#ón de San Pablo, Bulleville, Condado de Orange
3. Misi#ón de Nuestra Senora de la Asunci#ón, Bloomingburg, Condado de Sullivan
4. Nuestra Se#ñora de la Misi#ón del Lago, Condado de Orange
5. Stormville Area, Condado de Dutchess
2. San Juan Neumann, Staten Island
3. San Jos#é, Croton Falls, Condado de Westchester
4. Esp#íritu Santo Cortland Manor, Condado de Westchester
5. San Lorenzo OÕToole, Brewster, Condado de Putnam
6. Santa Margarita, Pearl River, Condado de Rockland
7. San Gregorio Barbarigo, Garnerville, Condado de Rockland
8. San Pedro (relocalizada), Condado de Dutchess
9. San Antonio, Condado de Dutchess