More than 150 priests of the diocese gathered Sept. 10 at Holy Family Parish in Sewell for an information meeting outlining the responsibilities of the Priest Conveners and the Core Teams that will guide parishes through the merger process ahead.
Father Terry Odien, Vicar for Clergy, moderated the two-hour meeting. Bishop Galante offered an opening prayer and introductory remarks. Representatives from the diocese’s planning office, Sister Marilyn Vollmer and Sister Antoine Lawlor, presented information on the Priest Conveners and Core Teams, including the first section from a Merger Manual that has been prepared as a resource for Priest Conveners and the Core Teams. A period for questions and answers followed the formal meeting agenda.
Last month, Bishop Galante announced the names of 41 Priest Conveners who will guide merging parishes through the various pastoral, administrative, canonical and civil steps that must occur before the new parishes are established formally by decree. Last April, Bishop Galante indicated that preparation for the mergers could take 12-24 months, depending on the parish.
While the Priest Convener likely will become the pastor of the new parish once it is established by decree, the Priest Conveners are not replacing pastors. Existing pastors and administrators remain in place and parish life continues under their care until the new parish is established. The Priest Conveners also retain their current assignments in addition to the Convener responsibilities.
At Wednesday’s meeting, it was explained that the Priest Convener will work with existing pastors, administrators and Core Teams to create the new parish. In particular, the Priest Convener and Core Team will prepare the existing parish communities to become one parish, will set up the administrative and pastoral structures for the merged parish, including staffing, and will provide for worship, ministries and other services necessary for the new parish to function.
Information about how the Core Teams will be formed also was presented at the meeting. An equal number of parish members from each of the parishes that will be merged will be appointed to the Core Team. The process for identifying and the criteria for nominating potential Core Team members also were reviewed with priests at the meeting. In early October, following interviews with Core Team nominees and consultation between pastors and the priest conveners, Core Team members will be selected by Priest Conveners. Announcement of the Core Teams and the introduction of the Core Teams to parishioners will be made later in October. A Commissioning Rite presided over by Bishop Galante will be held on Oct. 19 at St. Agnes Church in Blackwood.
In the meantime, meetings will be held in September and October for present pastors, administrators and their staffs to review the steps that must occur to sustain the parishes during the transition toward merger, and the steps that will occur in preparation for the mergers.
Sessions also will be held in October for Priest Conveners and their Core Teams to review Core Team responsibilities and to review the materials contained in the Merger Manual. The manual has six main sections: the ministry of the Priest Convener with the Core Team; laying the foundations for worship in the new parish; laying the foundations for pastoral ministries in the new parish; care of temporal goods; canon law perspectives on parish reconfiguration; and transition to the new parish.
The Priest Convener and Core Team will set the pace for each merger and will schedule and set the agendas for the necessary meetings that must occur to prepare their parishes for the merger. The first meetings will be held in October. The number of meetings and the timeline for completing the meetings will depend on local circumstances and considerations.
After the necessary steps have been completed and the parishes are ready to merge, the Priest Convener will write to Bishop Galante requesting the formal decree establishing the new parish.
Bishop Galante said he understands and appreciates the challenges ahead. “The feelings of anxiety we feel when faced with change, I too feel. Yet, we can’t just wait, hope and pray that something will change. We have to work, too, so that God’s grace can be experienced by more people,” he said.
While acknowledging that fear and apprehension are natural at this time, Bishop Galante also took note of the good that lies ahead. “We are entering into a time of hope and anticipation, of creativity and wonder. We together are called to build the Church with the living stones of God’s people. As we renew our Church, this must be a time of great prayer, prayer that we will collaborate, cooperate and be open to Jesus, the Master Builder, who calls us and works through us to build His Church.”
Editor’s note: Next week: More information on Priest Conveners, Core Teams, and the steps ahead for parish mergers. See alsohttp://www.GatheringGodsGifts.org