When Bishop Galante announced his intentions for parish configurations, he noted that the new configurations would not happen overnight, but would take one to two years. Therefore, he said, there will be no immediate changes to parishes with regard to staff, property, Mass schedules or day to day parish life.
Before the new parish configurations can be formally established, a number of things must first occur. Parishes, for example, are now taking advantage of “Coping with Change Together,” a resource for parishioners and parish personnel who are dealing with the prospect of change as a result of the parish configurations announced April 3.
Last Thursday, Bishop Galante met in Sicklerville with priests whose parishes will be affected by reconfiguration to review the process that has taken place so far, the steps that are ahead, and to answer questions they had.
In addition, consultations are now taking place with parish representatives to determine pastoral needs before the naming in August of the priests who eventually will become pastors of merged parishes when the new parishes are formally established by decree (a timeline was published in the May 2 Catholic Star Herald showing the process). Existing pastors will cease to be pastors when the decrees establishing the newly-merged parishes are promulgated. Until then, parish life will continue under the direction of the present pastor. Parish programs, and events continue, as well as the scheduling of weddings, first Communion, and confirmation.
The priests announced in August will be called “Priest Conveners,” for their primary role and task will be to work with a small group of people, or core team, from each parish in the merger to help create the new parish. Details regarding the formation of the core team, as well as the scope and timeline of its work will follow in the weeks and months ahead, according to Sister Marilyn Vollmer, director of planning for the diocese.
“There will be clearly-defined roles and criteria for the Priest Convener and Core Team that will be provided by early fall. In the meantime, no changes are to be made, no work toward merger is to occur and no core teams should be formed until further direction and detail is provided,” she emphasized.
If the present pastor is selected as the Priest Convener, he will have additional leadership responsibilities, working separately with the existing parish and with the Core Team. If the Priest Convener is not the present pastor, he will work closely with the present pastor who will offer his assistance. However, to avoid role confusion and overlapping responsibilities, the pastoral leader in the Core Team will be the Priest Convener. Although the present pastor is not a member of the Core Team, he is a knowledgeable consultant to that team, and collaborates in helping to make the transition possible.
A manual will be published that will describe the steps that must take place before new parish configurations are formalized. In conjunction with the publication of this manual, multiple workshops will be scheduled in late summer and early fall for pastors whose parishes are involved in a merger and for Priest Convener and their Core Teams. They will receive the manual at that time.
Part of the final preparation will be the naming of the new parish. While the new parish typically receives a new name, which ultimately requires the Bishop’s approval, there are policies, canons, and a process for this, which will ensure that the naming is accomplished through a prayerful, consultative process. The church buildings used for worship sites retain their names even as the new parish receives a new name when the decree is issued. This situation already exists in the diocese. For example, Blessed John XXIII was established as a new parish with a new name in November 2002 through the merger of Sacred Heart mission (Cedar Brook) and St. Lucy parish (Blue Anchor). The worship sites in Cedar Brook and Blue Anchor retained their names when the new parish was established.
Once the work is completed that needs to be done in preparation for merger — pastorally, administratively, canonically, structurally, financially, and legally — both in the development of new parish and in the parishes that are making up the new parish, the Priest Convener will notify Bishop Galante of a readiness to merge.
This, in turn, will set in motion a final review to ensure that all necessary preparations have been satisfactorily accomplished. Following a review of the paperwork for the establishment of the parish, the decree naming the parish, including naming its pastor and its beginning date, will be published.
Editor’s Note:
For more information about Gathering God’s Gifts see
For information about the Coping with Change Together program, pastors should call 856-795-6672 or email