By Anne Gregory
The Journal Gazette
April 29, 2009
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20090429/FEAT04/904299950/1002/LOCAL
 |
Nearing retirement, Bishop John M. D'Arcy has begun taking steps to merge, close or expand a number of parishes across the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend.
In an announcement released Wednesday morning, the bishop said it is his responsibility to make sure that the Eucharist is provided and that there are enough priests to serve the parishes.
He said he is taking these steps now in preparation for "the coming of a new bishop."
"It is incumbent upon me, especially given my knowledge of the diocese, to face what must be done, by at least initiating those changes that need to be made for the better pastoral care of our people, and not leave such difficult decisions to the new bishop," he said in the announcement.
"The adjustment faced by a new bishop is difficult enough without having to address the merging or closing of parishes," D'Arcy said. He has served the diocese for 24 years.
The bishop said the second reason for acting now is that 11 of the 80 parishes are served by priests from other nations and are not linked permanently to pastoral service to the diocese.
"Since these priests are not permanently bound here, they can return to their home diocese or their religious congregation, if they so choose," D'Arcy said. "This presents a second reason why planning and decision-making cannot be postponed."
The priest's committee recommendations and his decisions include:
St. Mary Parish, Geneva
Recommendation: That it be joined to the nearest parish, St. Mary in Decatur.
Decision: Recommendation has been accepted for further discussion. The parish will remain with a resident priest as long as Father Bosco Perera, a native of Sri Lanka, is able to remain.
After that, it will be joined to St. Mary Parish.
St. Catherine, Nix Settlement
Recommendation: This parish be taken care of by the pastor of St. Paul of the Cross Parish, Columbia City, and should remain a site for one Mass each Sunday by the pastor of Columbia City.
Response: This recommendation has been accepted.
St. Francis Xavier Parish, Pierceton
Recommendation: This parish should be merged with Sacred Heart Parish, Warsaw.
Response: This recommendation has been accepted pending further consultation. As long as the personnel situation allows, the judicial vicar will remain as pastor, but it is likely that placing St. Francis under Sacred Heart will be necessary in the near future.
St. Joseph Parish, Roanoke, and the parishes in Huntington, Sts. Peter and Paul, and St. Mary
Recommendation: One priest should be assigned as pastor for St. Mary Parish and Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, and he should have an associate pastor.
St. Joseph, Roanoke, should be merged with the Huntington parishes; as long as there are two priests in Huntington, one Mass can be celebrated each Sunday at Roanoke. This would release one priest for pastoral ministry elsewhere.
Response: While Father Rieder, our Capuchin priest, remains at Sts. Peter and Paul, the situation can be left as it is. When the Capuchins are no longer able to provide a priest for Sts. Peter and Paul, this recommendation is accepted, pending consultation with the parishes concerned, and if necessary, with the Presbyteral Council. (The pastor of St. Mary recommended consideration of a pastor for each of the parishes, rather than a merging of the two parishes.)
St. Joseph, Garrett
Recommendation: Merge St. Joseph, Garrett, with Immaculate Conception, Auburn, under one priest. At least one weekly Mass would be mandated at St. Joseph, Garrett.
Response: This recommendation is not accepted at this time but might be considered later.
St. Mary, Fort Wayne
Recommendation: That it be joined to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Continue to celebrate a Mass each Sunday at St. Mary.
Response: Recommendation has been accepted.
St. Henry Parish, Fort Wayne
Recommendation: Let the pastor of St. Peter's Parish in Fort Wayne have responsibility for St. Henry's Parish.
Response: This recommendation is accepted.
Sacred Heart Parish, Fort Wayne
Recommendation: That this parish be granted to the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, of which Father Gabet is a member, and that they follow the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Liturgy.
Response: This recommendation is accepted.
St. Gasper Del Bufalo Parish, Rome City, and St. Joseph, LaGrange
Recommendation: That one pastor care for both parishes. Because LaGrange is under the pastoral supervision of the Conventual Franciscans, this recommendation cannot be accepted without further consultation with that congregation.
Response: This recommendation is sound but is on hold as long as Father Ramanaden has approval from his superiors to remain, and the Franciscans continue to be able to care for LaGrange.
Immaculate Conception, Kendallville, and St. Mary of the Assumption, Avilla
Recommendation: That these parishes be merged, with the priests residing at Avilla, and offering one or two Masses a week at Immaculate Conception, Kendallville.
Response: This recommendation is on hold as long as the diocese is able to keep a priest in each parish.
St. Louis, Besancon
Recommendation: That the parish be merged with St. John, New Haven.
Response: The diocese is able to have a priest at this parish, so the recommendation is on hold for now.
St. Rose, Monroeville
Recommendation: That this parish be under the care of the pastor of St. Joseph-Hessen Cassel.
Response: This recommendation does not release an extra priest for service in a larger parish. Another possibility remains; keep the parish in Besancon and the parish in Monroeville under one pastor.
Consolidation of the Monroeville school with Saint Joseph-Hessen Cassel, or with the parish school at Besancon will continue to be evaluated.
St. John Bosco, Churubusco, and Immaculate Conception, Ege
Recommendation: Some years ago, the diocese purchased extensive land in Huntertown with the possibility of a new parish and school there. If a new parish is established in Huntertown, St. John Bosco, Churubusco, and Immaculate Conception, Ege, should be merged into the new parish.
Response: A new parish, if possible with a school, should be considered with a church built on the land in Huntertown. Fundraising for a new church should wait until the economy is stabilized. Immaculate Conception, Ege, should continue to have a Mass at least once a month.
D'Arcy said the diocese must also consider the effect on parish schools to the north, such as Garrett and Avilla.
The bishop said these changes Fort Wayne area, northeast Indiana and those in the South Bend area would release four or five diocesan priests for other assignments, which would ease the necessity of appointing as pastors, priests who were ordained only a few years.
He said it would also release four or five of the priests from other nations for other parishes, if their superiors allow them to remain.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.