For the past twelve years, parishes and their pastors have been engaged in a concentrated planning process.  Parish planning committees have been asked to assess their viability and to establish goals and objectives for the next three to five years in order to sustain or increase their effectiveness as parishes.  In some cases, because of insufficient parish membership, reduced finances, or both, parishes have agreed to close or be established as oratories.

The second phase of parish planning was the Collaboration/Reconfiguration aspect.  Experience has proven the value of working together with others for the “common good.”  A sharing of ideas, resources, talents, and even staff members or volunteers has enriched our parishes that are already collaborating.  Each parish was to review their resources, financial and personnel, as well as programs to see if there were ways they might share with neighboring parishes.  Such collaboration can reduce expenses, expand parish programs and create a bond between or among parishes.

Parish reconfiguration such as linking or merging has become necessary in light of the ever-increasing priest shortage.  We have now, in 2011, 85% of our parishes sharing a pastor and 14 parishes have consolidated or merged.  Every effort must be made in our planning to ensure the health of our parishes and priests so that future parishes will enjoy the celebration of Sunday Eucharist and a viable, vibrant parish community.

The following is a brief summary of various options for parishes in our diocese, all of which have been used at one time or another in our diocesan history.

Linked Parishes:   Linked Parishes are usually two but possibly three parishes that remain independent parishes but share one pastor.  Without the consolidation of mass schedules and the assistance of deacons or laity in parish roles, this can be very demanding on the priest.

Mission:   This is a linked parish, usually quite smaller than the parish to which it is linked.

Consolidated Parishes:  This is when two or more parishes join together to form a new parish.  The new parish corporation, usually with a new name, obtains all the assets as well as the liabilities of the parishes that formed it.  A consolidation may center all parish activities at one site or continue to use two or more building sites.

Merged Parish:   This takes place when one or more parishes are merged or absorbed by one larger parish.  They may have a name change. This new entity would also have the second church used as a worship site.

Oratory:   Oratory status designates a church that is no longer a parish church and which no longer has regularly scheduled services.  The oratory is the responsibility of a nearby parish.  An oratory may still be used for special liturgies such as a funeral of a long time parishioner or to celebrate the oratory’s patronal feast.

Worship Site:   This is a church that remains open for Sunday worship, even though the parish itself has been either consolidated or merged.

Pastoral Associate:  This is a person hired by the pastor to assist him in various parish duties that are determined locally and in reference to diocesan guidelines.  This person may be a religious sister or brother, deacon, or qualified layperson.

Parish Life Coordinator:    This is a person appointed by the bishop who will oversee the administration of the day-to-day life of the parish and who work closely with a non-resident pastor who is assigned to celebrate liturgy and sacraments for the parish.