Change Comes to Lawrence County

Three years ago the parishes of New Castle, here in Lawrence County, were at the vanguard of pastoral changes in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.  It was on July 30, 2012, that I was appointed pastor of four parishes at once -- Mary Mother of Hope, St. Joseph the Worker, St. Vincent de Paul  and St. Vitus, all in the city of New Castle.  This was the first time in anyone's memory that one priest had been named pastor of four parishes in our local church.  Since then two more priests have had this "honor," with possibly more to come.  At the same time, we were given two priests as parochial vicars to all four parishes.  

Over the weekend Bishop Zubik announced another change in our neck of the woods.  Father Jim Downs has been preparing to retire from active ministry.  "JD" as he is known, has carried out priestly ministry for 45 years, 40 of them here in Lawrence County.  He first came in 1975 as assistant pastor at St. Joseph the Worker Parish. He has also served as chaplain at the Youth Development Center, a hospital chaplain, and for the last 15 years as pastor of Christ the King Parish, Bessemer-Hillsville, and St. James the Apostle Parish, Pulaski.  

We are sorry to see JD retire, though he richly deserves retirement.  He promises to come back and help us out.  I have full confidence that he'll make good on his promise.

The change comes from the fact that we will have one fewer priest in Lawrence County.  Three months ago we were told that the bishop did not have any other priest to replace Father Downs after his retirement.  Instead, Deacon John Carran will be appointed Deacon Administrator of the two parishes.  Deacon Carran will be responsible for the day-to-day operations and administration of both parish communities.  Following canon law, Father Phil Farrell, who is the bishop's delegate and regional vicar for Vicariate 4, will be additionally assigned as Priest Director of the two parishes.  

The Diocese of Pittsburgh does have one individual acting according to Canon 517#2.  She is Sister Dorothy Pawlus, CSFN, parish life collaborator at St. Bartholomew Parish in Penn Hills.  She has been doing an excellent job there for seven years.  Deacon Carran is the first of three deacons appointed as administrators of parishes.  Later this summer one will be named for a parish in the city of Pittsburgh, and one in Greene County.  

As you all know, deacons can baptize, preach homilies, lead the faithful in prayer and conduct wake services.  Deacons can witness marriages and conduct funeral services outside of Mass.  However, deacons cannot celebrate the Eucharist, hear confessions or celebrate the Sacrament of Anointing and Healing.

Therefore, the four remaining priests (Father Mike Peck, pastor of St. Camillus Parish, Neshannock, my two associates, Father Larry Adams and Bill Siple, and myself) will be responsible for providing the sacramental care of Christ the King and St. James the Apostle Parishes.  One practical result of these added responsibilities is that we have to change the Sunday and weekday Mass schedules for all seven parishes.  Right now, the five priests (Downs, Peck, Adams, Siple and myself) say 20 Masses on a typical weekend, excluding wedding and funeral Masses on Saturdays.  We are planning to go down to 13 Masses for Sunday (including Saturday evening vigils).    

In his letter to parishioners, Bishop Zubik wrote, "The reality is that our priests are being stretched to their limits.  There are fewer priests, and at the same time, much more is being expected of the priests we have."  How true.  I appreciate the bishop understanding our sometimes stressful situation.  

As part of the communication and consultation with the people, Bishop Zubik's letter was read in all seven parishes this weekend.  A mailing is going out to all registered parishioners in the seven parishes tomorrow, with Bishop Zubik's letter, a question and answer sheet, listing of two different proposed Sunday Mass schedules, and a survey form folks can use to give their comments on the proposed Mass schedules.  We are hosting a meeting for consultation with the pastoral council and finance council members of all seven parishes on Monday, July 6.  The priests will get together on Wednesday, July 8, to review all comments and come up with a schedule, with the approval of our vicar, Father Farrell.  The new Mass schedule will go into effect on Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2.  

This pastoral change is part of the bishop's vision for our future, On Mission for the Church Alive.  In another post I'll have some comments about how this pastoral change fits into the larger picture.