> Features > Pg 2 Feature Stories > Diocese begins planning process
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Diocese begins planning process
By G. Michael Dobbs
Managing Editor
SPRINGFIELD With a decrease in both the population of western Massachusetts and the number of available priests in the near future, the Diocese of Springfield has begun an effort to plan for the future.
The first step of that plan was released last week in a series of meetings on Thursday for parish representatives and the press at the Marshall Center.
Although some news outlets emphasized the recommendations of closings and mergers in the report prepared by Dr. John Mullin of the University of Massachusetts, Monsignor John Bonzagni explained the report "was just the beginning of a conversation."
Bonzagni said the realignment of resources is "not so much a crisis as it is an opportunity."
The Diocese has seen much change in the last 27 years. In 1980, there were 208 active diocesan priests. Now there are 97. There were 351,000 Catholics in the diocese and there are now 234,000. The number of religious order priests has decreased from 121 to 36.
By 2010, Bonzagni estimates there will be only 65 active priests to serve the parishioners.
Adding to the situation, Bonzagni said is that various religious orders that have assigned priests to be pastors in the Diocese have indicated they will not be replacing those priests upon retirement. He added that some churches might be administrated by deacons or nuns in the future.
Bonzagni commissioned the Center for Economic Development at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in October 2004 for a demographic study of the Springfield Diocese.
The diocese was broken down into 10 regions and were evaluated by the following indicators:
The Population to Priest Ratio that measured the size of the parish.
The Community Presence/Geographic Status that ensures Catholics in small towns and remote areas retain the same access to services as available in larger communities.
Baptisms/Funerals Ratio that measures whether or not the population of a parish is growing, declining or stable.
The Weekly Offertory Trend that helps measure the financial health of a parish.
The Parishioner Attendance Indicator.
The Total Outstanding Debt Indicator that measures the debt a parish owes to the Diocese.
From the analysis of this information, the report prepared by Mullin made a number of recommendations that include both merging and linking parishes. Bonzagni explained that linking parishes would mean the sharing of a pastor, while a merging would be the combination of two parishes. A merge would result in one church building being used with the name of that existing church or with a new name to represent the combined parish.
Bonzagni said the report takes into account the convenience factor of worship and didn't recommend any merges that would involve a commute time of more than 25 minutes.
The report does not include any considerations about Catholic schools. Bonzagni said a parish "could go away, but the school stays there as a stand-alone institution."
The media has frequently covered stories in which parishioners have taken extreme measures to attempt to keep a beloved church open. Bonzagni wants to avoid those kinds of situations by making the process of pastoral planning inclusive.
He said that parishioners want to be treated as adults; see the process as transparent; and have a seat at the table when discussing changes.
The timeline for final changes is "within a couple of years," and Bonzagni said the process will be "slow, deliberate and we're going to get it right."
There will be parish input as well as recommendations from several committees before a blueprint for change is approved.
"We're really writing history. It's scary, but exciting," he said.
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The following are the recommendation made by the Mullin report.
Holyoke Region
The Holyoke Region is characterized by a dense cluster of parishes located in the eastern
section of the City of Holyoke. All of the parishes in the region are unlinked. The majority of parishes have a Community Presence/Geographical Status Indicator rating of three due to the large number of parishes located in the City of Holyoke. In general,
financial indicators suggest that the majority of parishes in this region are not in financial difficulty. Population/Priest ratio calculations for this region indicate that approximately five priests should be assigned to this region; currently, the region is assigned nine priests.
(South Hadley)
St. Theresa
St. Patrick
Link these two parishes and assign a resident pastor. Rationale: Will assist in improving Population/Priest ratio.
Mater Dolorosa
Immaculate Conception
Merge these two parishes and assign a resident pastor. The church building utilized to house the newly merged parish would be determined by the Diocese in consultation with parishioners and pastors of the two parishes. The new building being considered to replace Immaculate Conception parish would likely be the building to house the merging of these two parishes. Rationale: Will assist in addressing financial issues by consolidating assets, will assist in improving Population/Priest ratio.
Holy Cross
St. Jerome
Link these two parishes and assign a resident pastor. Rationale: Will assist in addressing high Population/Priest ratio.
Blessed Sacrament
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Link these two parishes and assign a resident pastor. Rationale: Will assist in addressing high Population/Priest ratio.
(Granby) Immaculate Heart of Mary
Resident pastor assigned to this unlinked parish would assist and substitute for other pastors throughout the region when necessary.
Chicopee Region
The Chicopee Region is characterized by two dense clusters of parishes; one cluster located in the City of Chicopee and the other located in the City of Ludlow. All of the parishes in the region are unlinked. Due to the clustering of parishes in only two communities, all parishes have a Community Presence/Geographical Status Indicator rating of 3. In general, financial indicators suggest that the majority of parishes in this region are not in financial difficulty.
(Ludlow) Christ the King
St. Mary of the Assumption
St. John the Baptist
Our Lady of Fatima
Link parishes to create two groups of parishes and assign one resident pastor to each group. Diocese would determine how to configure groups and assignment of resident pastors based on consultations with parishioners and current pastors. Rationale: Will assist in addressing high Population/Priest ratio.
Holy Name
Close parish. Rationale: Will assist in addressing financial issues, will assist in addressing high Population/Priest ratio.
St. Patrick
St. Stanislaus
Link these two parishes and assign a resident pastor. Rationale: Will assist in addressing high Population/Priest ratio.
St. Rose
St. George
Link these two parishes and assign a resident pastor. Rationale: Will assist in addressing high Population/Priest ratio.
St. Anthony
Nativity
Link these two parishes and assign a resident pastor. Rationale: Will assist in addressing high Population/Priest ratio.
St. Anne
St. Mary
Link these two parishes and assign a resident pastor. Rationale: Will assist in addressing high Population/Priest ratio.
All other parishes in the Chicopee Region
Maintain current configurations.
Additional Recommendations:
Assumption
Resident pastor assigned to this unlinked parish would assist and substitute for other pastors throughout the region when necessary.
Springfield Region
The Springfield Region is characterized by numerous neighborhood parishes located
throughout the City of Springfield and a limited number of parishes to the south and east of the urban core. In addition, the region is characterized by growing populations in the communities to the south and east of Springfield. Parishes in the City of Springfield are located in relatively close proximity to one another and therefore receive a Community Presence/Geographical Status Indicator of three (meaning the parishes are in a cluster). Financial indicators suggest that several parishes in the Springfield region are experiencing financial difficulties.
St. Jude
Immaculate Conception
Link these two parishes and assign a resident pastor. Rationale: Will assist in addressing high Population/Priest ratio. Before linking, an analysis should be conducted to determine if a merger between these two parishes would be preferable in order to address fiscal issues.
Our Lady of Hope
St. Mary
Merge. Rationale: Will assist in addressing high Population/Priest ratio. Will assist in addressing fiscal issues.
Holy Family
St. Michael's Cathedral
Merge. Rationale: Will assist in addressing high Population/Priest ratio. Will assist in addressing fiscal issues.
All Souls Mission
Blessed Sacrament
Merge. Rationale: Will assist in addressing fiscal issues.
All other parishes in the Springfield Region
Maintain current configurations.
Other Recommendations
An analysis should be conducted to determine if linking or merging Our Lady of the Sacred Heart parish with another parish would be possible. Such a linking or merger may not be possible due to the burden it might place on current parishioners in attending church services.
Agawam Region
The Agawam Region is characterized by three small clusters of parishes in the cities of Westfield, West Springfield, and Agawam. The Community Presence/Geographical Status Indicator rating for the majority of parishes in this region is three (meaning the parishes are in a cluster). Financial indicators suggest that parishes in this region are not in financial difficulty.
Holy Trinity
Close parish. Rationale: Will assist in addressing financial difficulties, will assist in addressing high Population/Priest ratio, suppression will not significantly increase travel times for parishioners due to the close proximity of other parishes.
St. Mary
Sts. Peter and Casmir
Link these two parishes and assign a resident pastor. Rationale: Will assist in addressing high Population/Priest ratio.
All other parishes in the Agawam Region
Maintain current configurations.
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> Features > Pg 2 Feature Stories > Diocese begins planning process
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