Parish Restructuring Presentations April 12, 13, 14, 2016

Loving God, author of creation, your spirit pervades and enriches our world. Through your Son, who shares our humanity you have called us to participate in your divine creativity and to build the kingdom of God here on earth.

Form us, we pray, as one community under the leadership of our bishop to serve all the people of this region in your name.

Inspire us to discover new ways and structures to spread your Gospel. Open our eyes to see Christ in others, especially the poor, the sick and the marginalized.

Empower us to be the hands and feet of Christ in our parishes and communities. Help us to welcome all into His embrace.

Guide us in our discernment, as we pray with Pope Francis for the vision to see new paths of possibility.

for a spirit of mission that invigorates our every effort; and for the strength to be unafraid of what is new.

 Deacon Marty Eisert  Msgr. Edward Lohse  Msgr. Richard Siefer  Parish-by-parish presentation  Timeline

 Deacon Marty Eisert  Msgr. Edward Lohse  Msgr. Richard Siefer  Parish-by-parish presentation  Timeline  Q & A

The best pastoral and spiritual care of souls

“…enabling each person to advance the reign of God and achieve full human potential and salvation in Christ.”

 Pastoral focus  Best pastoral care for souls

 aging  dwindling  increased responsibilities  use of resources

 parish operation  focus on future “First and foremost, our mission is to preach Jesus Christ and help people develop a relationship with him.” Bishop Persico

 Strengthen Catholic education  Invigorate parishes  Increase vocations  Expand faith formation  Realign organization structur e

 Preliminary plan unveiled Oct  Feedback  Preliminary plan adjusted  Final plan announced Feb “Schools and parishes, that’s where the life of the church is experienced.” —Bishop Persico

 Taking stock  Preliminary plan  Feedback  Adjust

 Proclaim the Gospel through sacraments, ministry and local service  Breathe new life into our spiritual communities

 Diocesan population has shrunk by 6.7%.  Mirrors the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and northeastern cluster of states FACT: The population migration continues from the northeast states toward the southern and southwestern states U.S. Census Bureau’s Demographic Trends in the 20 th Century

 Registered households decreased 19 percent from 71,491 in 2004 to 59,692 in 2014  Mass attendance decreased 26 percent from 65,858 in 2006 to 48,696 in 2014

 In the Diocese of Erie, only 34.5 percent of Catholics registered in parishes attend Mass on a typical weekend  Infant baptisms have declined every year for more than a decade. In 2014 there were 768 baptisms, which means 43% fewer infants were baptized than in 2004

 There are more than twice as many funerals as baptisms in our diocese. An 11% decline in deaths comparing 2014 (2,360) to 2004 (2,660), underscores the decreasing number of parishioners  Diminishing number of active priests  Aging presbyterate

 We must operate within our reality  Change required at all levels  We are not alone Fact: Change is the one constant in life.

 About a third of parishes in the US are consolidated or linked  More than one quarter (27%) share a pastor with at least one other parish (source: Emerging Models of Pastoral Leadership study)

 About a third of parishes in the US are consolidated or linked  More than one quarter (27%) share a pastor with at least one other parish (source: Emerging Models of Pastoral Leadership study)  In the Diocese of Erie, 49 (mostly small) parishes already share a pastor with at least one other parish

“Our primary concern is to provide the best pastoral and spiritual care for souls.” “Our primary concern is to provide the best pastoral and spiritual care for souls.”

Through the implementation of two parish models and a transitional step:  Stand-Alone Parish  Partnered Parish  Merged Parish Fact: Nearly 150 parishes, missions or church “stations” have been partnered, merged or closed during the Diocese of Erie’s 163-year history

A canonically distinct parish with its own:  pastor  parish church  finances and finance council  pastoral (parish) council  staff and office  focus on mission and ministry (guided by a shared diocesan vision)

A canonically distinct parish with its own:  parish church  finances and finance council But which shares with another parish:  one pastor  one pastoral (parish) council  one staff and office  one focus on mission and ministry (guided by a shared diocesan vision)

 enhanced opportunities for worship  pools resources for more effective evangelization  addresses decreasing priest personnel throughout the diocese  efficiencies in operation  This model is used in other dioceses

 Understanding MERGING as a transitional step  Once two or more parishes merge, a new STAND ALONE parish or a new PARTNERED parish is created

 Creates a vibrant parish in a local community through:  enhanced opportunities for worship  effective evangelization  optimum utilization of clergy  efficient operation  This model is used in other dioceses

 In addition, merging parishes will result in each new STAND ALONE or PARTNERED parish having multiple churches: 1. the parish church 2. one or more secondary churches

 Every parish is to have its own parish church, with rights and obligations which are proper to parish churches.  Some parishes may have additional churches, also called secondary churches. These do not share the rights and obligations proper to parish churches.

 Sunday Masses and Holy Day Masses are always permitted in parish churches, but not necessarily in secondary churches.  In the Diocese of Erie, those secondary churches in which Sunday Masses and Holy Day Masses are permitted are called mission churches.

 Weekday Masses and other devotions, both public and private, can be celebrated in any parish or secondary church, under the direction of the pastor and in accord with proper liturgical norms.

 Criteria established by Parish Listening Task Force  Comprehensive data gathered on each parish

 Geographical location/distance for people to reach a parish  Potential for population growth and demographics of the area  Recommendations from the parish snapshots  Financial stability of the parish

 Seating capacity of churches and ancillary facilities that support parish ministry  Condition of the facilities  Projected number of active priests

St. Anonymous parish - 1 Mass City: Erie County: Erie REGISTERED HOUSEHOLDS 2014 to / / 293  Numerical increase (+)/decrease (-)-64  Percentage increase (+)/decrease (-)-17.9% 2007 to 2015  Numerical increase (+)/decrease (-)-269 (2007 total: 562)  Percentage increase (+)/decrease (-)-47.9%  Nine-year trendNone increased. Eight decreased MASS ATTENDANCE 2014 to / / 70  Numerical increase (+)/decrease (-)-118  Percentage increase (+)/decrease (-)- 62.8% 2007 to 2015  Numerical increase (+)/decrease (-) -205 (2007 total: 275)  Percentage increase (+)/decrease (-) -74.5%  Nine-year trend Two increased. Six decreased.

PARISHES in the EASTERNVICARIATE

1. Merge Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish into St. Francis of Assisi Parish 2. St. Francis Parish becomes an enhanced STAND ALONE parish with two churches: -parish church: St. Francis -secondary church: Our Mother of Perpetual Help

3. Partner the newly enhanced St. Francis of Assisi Parish with St. Bernard Parish

1. Sacred Heart Church remains a mission church of St. Bibiana Parish

2. Eliminate weekend Masses at St. Augustine Church, eliminating its distinction as a mission

3. Transfer St. Augustine Church from St. Bibiana Parish to St. Eulalia Parish ( by redefining the parish boundaries )

4. St Bibiana Parish remains a STAND ALONE parish, but now has two churches: - parish church: St. Bibiana - secondary mission church: Sacred Heart Mission

5. St. Eulalia remains partnered parish but now has two churches: -parish church: St. Eulalia -secondary church: St. Augustine

6. St. Eulalia also remains partnered with St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish in Port Allegany.

 Merge St. Joseph Parish into St. Elizabeth Parish St. Elizabeth Parish becomes an enhanced STAND ALONE parish with two churches: -parish church: St. Elizabeth -secondary church: St. Joseph

 Merge St. Theresa Parish into St. Raphael Parish St. Raphael becomes an enhanced STAND ALONE parish with three churches: -parish church: St. Raphael Parish -secondary mission church: St. Theresa -secondary mission church: St. Mary

 Correctly identify Holy Cross Church as a secondary church of Holy Rosary Parish Holy Rosary Parish is a STAND ALONE parish with three churches: - parish church: Holy Rosary - secondary church: St. Anne - secondary church: Holy Cross

 Merge Holy Cross Parish into St. Boniface Parish  St. Boniface becomes an enhanced STAND ALONE parish with two churches: - parish church: St. Boniface - secondary church: Holy Cross  The Saint Marys Deanery increases to include all of the newly-enlarged St. Boniface Parish

 Merge Holy Trinity Parish into St. Basil the Great Parish  St. Basil the Great becomes an enhanced STAND ALONE parish with two churches: - parish church: St. Basil the Great - secondary mission church: Holy Trinity

 Merge Immaculate Conception Parish into Christ the King Parish  Christ the King becomes an enhanced STAND ALONE parish with two churches: - parish church: Christ the King - secondary mission church: Immaculate Conception

 St. Agnes Parish retains Saints Peter and Paul Mission at Hawk Run, but is no longer partnered with Immaculate Conception at Osceola Mills

 St. Agnes Parish becomes a STAND ALONE parish with two churches: - parish church: St. Agnes - secondary mission church: Ss. Peter and Paul

 Partner St. Bonaventure Parish with St. Timothy Parish

Step one:  Merge St. Joseph Parish into St. Catherine of Siena Parish  St. Catherine of Siena becomes a newly enhanced STAND ALONE parish with two churches: - parish church: St. Catherine of Siena - secondary church: St. Joseph Church

Step two:  Partner St. Catherine of Siena Parish with St. Michael the Archangel Parish

 Correctly identify St. Adrian, St. Anthony, and St. Joseph as secondary churches of Ss. Cosmas and Damian Parish, and not as missions.

 Ss. Cosmas and Damian Parish remains a STAND ALONE parish with four churches: - parish church: Ss. Cosmas and Damian - secondary church: St. Adrian - secondary church: St. Anthony of Padua - secondary church: St. Joseph

 St. Bernard Parish remains a STAND ALONE parish but will have a part-time, non-resident pastor with responsibilities at the hospital and Christ the King Manor, while residing at St. Catherine rectory, DuBois

 Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish remains partnered with St. Mary Parish  Offer three weekend Masses between the two partnered parishes

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish with two churches: - parish church: St. Callistus (Kane) - secondary church: Ss. John and Stephen in James City

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish with two churches: - parish church: Immaculate Conception (Brookville) - secondary mission church: St. Dominic Mission (Sigel )

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish with two churches: - parish church: St. Mark (Emporium) - secondary mission church: St. James (Driftwood ) (seasonal Mass only)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish with three churches: - parish church: St. Mary of the Assumption (Frenchville) - secondary mission church: Ss. Peter & Paul (Grassflat) - secondary mission church: St. Severin (Drifting) (no change)

PARISHES in the NORTHERNVICARIATE

 Merge St. John the Baptist Parish into Holy Rosary Parish  Holy Rosary Parish becomes an enhanced STAND ALONE parish with two churches: - parish church: Holy Rosary - secondary church: St. John the Baptist

 Our Mother of Sorrows Parish is made up of parishioners at: Holy Family St. Ann St. Casimir parishes  There is no church building called Our Mother of Sorrows  In addition, the parish has never had a properly designated parish church

Therefore we are taking advantage of this opportunity: 1. Designate St. Ann Church as the parish church of Our Mother of Sorrows Parish 2. Holy Family Church and St. Casimir Church become secondary churches of the parish

3. Next: Extend the border between Our Mother of Sorrows Parish and St. Patrick Parish

4. Merge St. Hedwig Parish into Our Mother of Sorrows Parish 5. Our Mother of Sorrows Parish becomes an enhanced STAND ALONE parish with four churches: - parish church: St. Ann - secondary churches: Holy Family St. Casimir St. Hedwig

 Partner Mount Calvary and St. Mark the Evangelist parishes

 Partner St. Andrew Parish with St. Jude the Apostle Parish

 Partner St. Paul Parish with Sacred Heart Parish  Appoint a permanent deacon to assist with the administration of St. Paul Parish

 Merge St. Philip Parish into Our Lady of the Lake Parish  Our Lady of the Lake Parish becomes an enhanced STAND ALONE parish with two churches: - parish church: Our Lady of the Lake - secondary church: St. Philip

 Merge St. Anthony Parish into Holy Redeemer Parish  Holy Redeemer Parish becomes an enhanced STAND ALONE parish with two churches: - parish church: Holy Redeemer - secondary mission church: St. Anthony

 St. Teresa of Avila remains a STAND ALONE Parish with two churches: - parish church: St. Teresa of Avila - secondary mission church: Our Lady of Fatima  Reduce the Sunday use of Our Lady of Fatima church to seasonal weekend Mass

 Merge St. Elizabeth Parish into St. Thomas the Apostle Parish  St. Thomas the Apostle becomes an enhanced STAND ALONE parish with two churches: - parish church: St. Thomas the Apostle - secondary church: St. Elizabeth

 Merge St. Luke Parish into St. Joseph Parish  St. Joseph Parish becomes an enhanced STAND ALONE parish with two churches: - parish church: St. Joseph - secondary mission church: St. Luke

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish with two churches: - parish church: St. John (Tidioute) - secondary mission church: St. Anthony (Tionesta) (no change)

PARISHES in the WESTERNVICARIATE

 Partner St. Michael Parish with St. Joseph Parish  Assign the pastor to reside at St. Joseph rectory in Lucinda

 St. Brigid Parish, St. Mary of Grace Parish, and St. Agatha Parish will be partnered

 St. Peter Parish and St. Philip Parish will be partnered

 Shorten the name of Our Lady of Fatima-St. Ann Parish to Our Lady of Fatima Parish  Merge St. Adalbert Parish and St. Anthony of Padua Parish into Our Lady of Fatima Parish

St. Adalbert Church and St. Anthony of Padua Church become secondary churches of Our Lady of Fatima Parish

Our Lady of Fatima Parish becomes an enhanced STAND ALONE parish with three churches: - parish church: Our Lady of Fatima - secondary church: St. Adalbert Church - secondary church: St. Anthony of Padua Church

 Merge St. Stanislaus Kostka-Holy Trinity Parish and Sacred Heart Parish into St. Joseph Parish  St. Stanislaus Church and Sacred Heart Church become secondary churches of St. Joseph Parish

 St. Joseph Parish becomes an enhanced STAND ALONE parish with three churches: - parish church: St. Joseph - secondary church: Sacred Heart - secondary church: St. Stanislaus

STEP 1  Merge Assumption of the BVM Parish and Our Lady Help of Christians Parish into St. Joseph Parish

STEP 2  Merge St. Venantius into St. Stephen Parish

STEP 3  Partner enhanced St. Joseph Parish with enlarged St. Stephen Parish

St. Joseph Parish will have three churches: - parish church: St. Joseph - secondary church: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - secondary church: Our Lady Help of Christians

St. Stephen Parish will have two churches: - parish church: St. Stephen - secondary church: St. Venantius

 Merge St. Walburga Parish into St. Titus Parish  St. Walburga Church becomes a secondary church of St. Titus Parish

 Immaculate Conception Church remains a secondary church of St. Titus Parish, but without weekend Masses, eliminating its distinction as a mission.

 St. Titus Parish becomes an enhanced STAND ALONE parish with three churches: - parish church: St. Titus - secondary church: Immaculate Conception - secondary church: St. Walburga

STAND ALONE Parishes in the WESTERN VICARIATE

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish with two churches: - parish church: Immaculate Heart of Mary - secondary church: St. Hermenegild (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish with two churches: - parish church: St. Hippolyte - secondary mission church: Our Lady of Lourdes (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish with two churches: - parish church: St. Anthony of Padua (Cambridge Springs) - secondary mission church: St. Bernadette (Saegertown) (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish with two churches: - parish church: St. Charles (New Bethlehem) - secondary mission church: St. Nicholas of Tolentino (Crates) (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish with two churches: - parish church: St. Eusebius (East Brady) - secondary mission church: St. Richard (Rimersburg) (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish with two churches: - parish church: St. Mary (Crown) - secondary mission church: St. Ann (Marienville) (no change)

 Remains a STAND ALONE parish with two churches: - parish church: St. Michael (Greenville) - secondary mission church: St. Margaret (Jamestown ) (no change)

 Partnering and merging parishes are not the end result  They are the means to the goal  The goal is to build new and vibrant communities of faith

 Deanery meetings for feedback  Online feedback through May 20  ErieRCD.org  May through August  September announcement  February 2017 implementation

 The diocese is collaborating with Meitler to create  a kit for parishes that are partnering  a kit for parishes that are merging  a guide for stand-alone parishes

We are a people of God God is journeying with us Guide us in our discernment... for the vision to see new paths of possibility... and for the strength to be unafraid of what is new. Pastoral Planning Prayer