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	Bishop Announces a Reconfiguration of Parishes in the Diocese Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden April 3, 2008 http://www.camdendiocese.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=487&Itemid=153 Citing the need to bring new vitality to parish life, Most Reverend Joseph A. Galante, Bishop of Camden today announced his intention to reconfigure parishes in the six southern counties of New Jersey. Bishop Galante made the announcement in a web video posted to the diocese's website on Thursday afternoon. Under the announced reconfiguration, there will be 38 merged parishes, three parish clusters (involving six parishes) and 22 stand-alone parishes. The reconfiguration, when fully implemented, will bring about an overall reduction in the number of parishes from the current 124 parishes to 66 parishes. The number of worship sites serving each new configuration will vary. There will be primary, year-round sites, while others will function as secondary sites, mission sites or will be utilized during summer months to accommodate overflow populations in shore areas during the peak tourist season. In all, up to 100 worship sites could be utilized by the 66 parishes, depending on the time of the year. The new configurations will not happen immediately, but will occur over the next 12-24 months, depending on location and transition issues involved. Bishop said the reconfiguration is necessary to strengthen and revitalize parish life in response to population changes, a decline religious practice, fewer priests available for ministry, and the need to advance key pastoral priorities identified by Catholic parishioners at more than 140 "Speak Up" sessions that were held in 2005 and 2006 with Bishop Galante. These priorities include lifelong faith formation, vocations to priesthood and religious life, lay ministry, compassionate outreach, liturgy, and youth and young adults. Bishop said that the diocese has seen its total population grow, but that it is now more diverse, with significant Latino, Filipino, Korean and Vietnamese populations that require the Church's pastoral care. According to the diocese, there are now more than 100,000 Hispanic Catholics among the 500,000 Catholics served by the diocese. Bishop Galante also called attention to shifts in .the Catholic population, as Catholics have moved out of areas that were population centers in decades past, leaving under-utilized, aging facilities-sometimes located very close to each other-serving greatly diminished Catholic populations. This, he said, has been coupled with a decline in religious observance, as Mass attendance has declined from its peak of 74 percent five decades ago to less than 24 percent now. This has left many struggling parishes without the resources to address challenges, to advance the most important pastoral priorities, and to serve parishioners well. Bishop Galante also noted that an anticipated reduction in the number of diocesan priests available for ministry in the years ahead also requires that there be new parish configurations. There are currently 162 diocesan priests serving 124 parishes. The diocese expects that there will be fewer than 85 diocesan priests available for ministry by 2015, as new ordinations are not keeping pace with priest retirements. "I know that these are serious challenges. But I believe that far greater are the opportunities for our parishes to become dynamic life-giving centers for the practice of our faith if we take bold action together, confident that the Spirit is guiding us on our way. What is not an option is inaction. What is not an option at this time is leaving things alone and hoping for the best. We've tried that for too many years and it doesn't work," Bishop said. The announcement by the Bishop follows an extensive consultation over a 15 month period with representatives from each of the diocese's 124 parishes. Almost 500 parish planners reviewed parish data, sacramental trends, facilities, financial reports and other information in order to provide input to the Bishop on ways to strengthen parish life in each area of the diocese. Planners also reviewed new models of parish configuration, including the merging of parishes or the clustering of multiple parishes under the care of a pastor. Bishop thanked parish planners and said their input was essential as he considered various approaches for parish configuration in the diocese. "While planning decisions ultimately are mine, the in-depth input provided...has helped form, shape and refine the decisions that are before me." Bishop also consulted with the 18-member Diocesan Planning Commission and the diocesan Presbyteral Council, an advisory council of 31 priests. The Bishop is required under church law to consult with the Presbyteral Council and to obtain their advice in instances where a parish may be "altered notably" through merger, boundary change or some other configuration. Bishop said the merging and clustering of parishes would help in the goal of parish revitalization. by "combining human and financial resources in a way that will allow the newly configured parishes, under the direction of good pastoral leadership and staffing, to better serve the needs of the people." As part of the planning initiative, Bishop noted that it would be essential to add paid, professional staff at each parish to carry out key ministries and to improve service to the people of the diocese. As presently configured, many parishes do not have the means to do this, he said. In his announcement, Bishop promised that the diocese would help guide parishes in the months ahead as they work to address issues that will be involved with the transition to new configurations, including the naming of new pastors. He also said the diocese would, through the help of over 100 trained facilitators, work with pastors and parishioners to deal with the feelings of loss that will occur as parishes adopt new structures. "I recognize that these changes will require sacrifice," he said. "The giving up of the familiar and the comfortable is never easy for any one of us...My prayer is that all of us will have the patience and courage that is necessary to bring about this renewal and new life in our Church."
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