Walking Toward Unity

My first anniversary (July 30) as pastor of the four parishes in the city of New Castle came and went.  My two associates have also passed their first anniversaries serving here.  When I tell people about our unique (to the Diocese of Pittsburgh) pastoral situation here in Lawrence County, they often ask, well, are you merged yet?

I explain (with maybe too much an air of "been there, done that") that when the bishop gave me this assignment, he and I agreed that the first thing was not "merger" but "being church."  I have long felt that it takes a priest anywhere from 18 to 36 months to feel that he is settled into his assignment.  With the people, organizations and histories of four parishes, that number of months probably has to rise.  So my brother priests and I are trying our best to "just be church" and do our work in all four parishes.

At the same time, however, we are working together.  For the first anniversary, I sat down with my associates at our weekly lunch-and-business-meeting and came up with a list of areas where we have collaborated.  Let me share it here.  

First off, at the suggestion of Bishop Zubik, all three priests live under one roof at Mary Mother of Hope rectory.  We only had to do minor fix-up, paint-up to put together three nice four room suites for each of us.  We have weekly business meetings and three regular shared meals together, as well as a schedule which allows each of us a full day off each week.  The people have been incredibly supportive of our small fraternity of priests.  

In January I reorganized the pastoral and finance councils of all four parishes.  Instead of meeting with each parish's councils separately (potentially 40 meetings a year!  Ugh!), the councils meet together five times a year.  The pastoral council has done good work in discerning three goals (catechesis, evangelization, stewardship) for our situation.  It has also made concrete suggestions for action under each goal, which we are tackling and planning to accomplish over the next 12 months.

We have hosted joint meetings from all four parishes of the secretaries, musicians, directors of religious education, St. Vincent de Paul Society conferences, and bookkeepers.  I hope that these meetings continue, so that people can work collaboratively and effectively.  One result of the meeting with DREs is for the first time (ever?) there will be one celebration of Confirmation for the young people of all four parishes this fall.  Bishop Zubik is coming on Wednesday, October 16, to confirm 110 ninth graders in St. Vitus Church.

We have set schedules for the four parishes, for Sunday Masses, weekday Masses, civil holiday and holyday Masses, and Masses in local nursing homes.  Fathers Nick and Bill (with others) have organized a one-day marriage preparation workshop for engaged couples, which is offered twice a year.  Parishioners have led a schedule of monthly classes for parents to prepare for the baptism of their children.  This class is rotated among the four sites.  Our parishes continue the longstanding cooperation with the other four Lawrence County parishes for shared penance services in Advent and Lent, the youth group and the RCIA process.

One special achievement was the planning and execution of a chapel for the extended adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.  After more than eight months of preparation  on the Feast of Corpus Christi (June 2) we began round-the-clock adoration (six days a week) in the Mary Mother of Hope religious education building on North Beaver Street.  Over 190 parishioners have signed up for a weekly hour of silent prayer.  Many have thanked me for the spiritual enrichment this hour in the presence of Our Lord has brought them.  But this cooperative effort was led by parishioners, I'm happy to say.

Another nice thing was the diocese assigning two seminarians to us for a pastoral internship this past summer.  Chris Mannerino and Zach Galiyas worked hard, and (God willing) are looking forward to be called to the Order of Deacon for ordination in June 2014.  I know I enjoyed their youthful enthusiasm and energetic assistance.

Last winter two of our parishes, St. Vincent de Paul and St. Vitus, completed their efforts for Our Campaign for the Church Alive!  Both parishes exceeded their diocesan-set target:  St. Vincent de Paul (103%; $493,000) and St. Vitus (125%; $1,435,000).  Now is the "fulfillment" stage, and parishioners who made pledges fulfill them monthly, quarterly or annually.  In November these parishes will receive their first payment (40% of money received since January) from the Church Alive Campaign, to begin fulfilling their parish case statements.

There may be other ways we've worked together, but this is a start.  I would say we've been busy about the Lord's work.  And as parishioners from each of the parishes get to know each other, go to each others churches for Mass and halls for meetings and festivals, we are walking together on the journey to unity.