By William T. Clew
The Catholic Free Press
March 5, 2010
http://www.catholicfreepress.org/_Pages/_This%20Week/0305Fitchburg.html
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Bishop McManus announced today that he will establish four new parishes in Fitchburg, effective July 1.
He said the charters of all eight existing parishes in Fitchburg, “whether national or territorial,” essentially are ended.
National parishes were established to serve certain ethnic groups, usually made up of recent immigrants. Territorial parishes serve geographic areas.
The bishop’s letter telling of the changes, dated March 5, will be read at all the Masses this weekend in Fitchburg.
He said the four new parishes will be as follows:
• St. Bernard’s Parish worshipping at St. Camillus de Lellis Church and serving the northern part of the city.
• St. Anthony Parish at St. Anthony Church serving the downtown area.
• St. Joseph Parish at St. Joseph Church serving West Fitchburg, including the Cleghorn neighborhood.
• St. Francis Parish at St. Francis Church serving the south and east neighborhoods of the city.
“The patrimony, including assets and liabilities of St. Camillus de Lellis Parish and St. Bernard Parish, which includes St. Bernard Elementary School and St. Bernard Cemetery, will all be part of the new St. Bernard Parish at St. Camillus Church. The patrimony and traditions of Immaculate Conception, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Madonna of the Holy Rosary, as well as their assets and liabilities, will be assumed by the other three newly established parishes,” the bishop wrote.
“Over the coming weeks, the Diocesan Pastoral Planning Committee will meet with parish focus groups and, together with the Fitchburg Planning Committee, will present recommendations for the assignment of patrimony and specific territorial boundaries,” the bishop wrote. “One of the new parishes will also welcome those celebrating the Mass in Latin using the Extraordinary Form. There has also been discussion about the possible use of an available site in the city of Fitchburg as a Religious Education Center for the entire city. More discussion must happen on this topic before a decision can be made.”
Bishop McManus said that the diocese began pastoral planning more than six years ago “for more vibrant parish life in order that we might give more meaningful witness to the mission of the Catholic Church in Central Massachusetts.”
To date, pastoral planning has affected Worcester, Clinton, Harvard, Bolton, Upton, and Mendon with both closed and new parishes being announced or established, according to the diocesan Office of Communication.
The bishop said the process leading to the changes in Fitchburg has been under way “in earnest” for nearly a year. Parish profiles were developed, parishes were visited and monthly meetings were held with representatives and pastors of each parish. A city-wide focus group and the diocesan Pastoral Planning Committee then developed a pastoral plan.
The Fitchburg committee pointed out needs the Church should meet in order to provide a stronger presence in the city. They include religious education for all ages, outreach to the Hispanic community and the poor, and more human, financial and pastoral resources in parishes to help pastors address pastoral needs.
”The committee also saw a need for greater outreach to our youth, to the local college community and to those who struggle with physical disabilities to participate actively in parish life,” the bishop said in his letter. “That same committee underscored the rich faith life that is part of the heritage of the Catholic Church in Fitchburg, including many ethnic devotional practices and social activities, as well as the celebration of the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Lastly, there was an overall realization that the charters of our parishes in Fitchburg have changed over the decades. Today there are different ethnic communities to serve and a significant change in the makeup of our neighborhoods leading to different pastoral challenges. To that end, the process developed recommendations for new parish configurations that would best serve all these needs today and tomorrow.”
Bishop McManus said he knows it is “hard to hear that a beloved parish church is being closed, since, for many Catholics, parish life is an extension of our family life. Yet I remain convinced that these decisions are necessary at this point in the life of the Catholic Church in Fitchburg in order for the Catholic community to grow and meet current and future challenges. This pastoral reconfiguration can effectively provide the foundation for the shared vision which the planning committee developed over the past year.”
He thanked the pastors and parish focus group volunteers “who have helped me in my pastoral responsibility to guide the Church through times of change and renewal. It is natural during a process like this for rumors to spread and for some to question both the intentions and integrity of the process. People involved in pastoral planning and many parishioners recognize deep down that change is needed so that our pastoral efforts and resources do not continue to be consumed by the need to maintain buildings at the expense of ministry.”
He asked that the people join him “in praying for the continuing mission of the Catholic Church in Fitchburg as well as our entire diocese.”
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