SAVE OUR CHURCH
In his November letter to practicing Catholics, Archbishop Leonard P. Blair has indicated that a shortage of priests dictates his removal of two pastors upon the retirement of Father Smith and demands the combination of seven (7) churches into one "mega parish" under the Pastoral Planning of the Archdiocese of Hartford.
Archbishop Blair realizes that under traditional church governance he is creating a structure which cannot succeed, so he knows that three (3) churches must be closed. However, there are three clear significant concerns surrounding the claim that a shortage of priests exists.
SEVEN CHURCHES - SEVEN MASSES
As a practical matter, if the Archdiocese of Hartford asks two priests to shepherd the flocks of seven (7) churches then why can't the two priests celebrate seven (7) masses on the weekend...one for each church? In this way each faith community can be preserved. Seven churches - seven masses.
Previously, four priests celebrated eleven (11) masses at the seven (7) churches. Retired priests are able to fill any gaps. If necessary one of the two deacons can conduct a prayer service which would include a homily and reception of Holy Communion. While not ideal, this type of service is keeping churches open in Maine.
A SHORTAGE OF PRIESTS?
Where is the proof that such a shortage exists?
The closure of any church is an extreme act requiring a detailed explanation of the reasons for its suppression. The Archdiocese should explain the actual shortage of priests in writing to all affected, enumerating the use of the active priests in the diminishing number of independent churches.
It is not sufficient to simply recite the diminishing number of seminarians and ordinates. The present need for parish priests must be considered in view of the church mergers into larger parishes and the closure of churches which began in 2017. A priest who used to serve one church may be expected to serve two or three churches. Ipso facto, the number of priests required by the Archdiocese has been reduced.
Also, many non-retired priests in the Archdiocese are not being assigned to parish work. In the Chancery there may be active priests who have not been so assigned. If a shortage of priests requires the closing of churches, then all hands-on deck, please. All non-retired priests should be assigned to parish work before any churches are closed. Is the saving of souls secondary to expediency and convenience?
Finally, on the assumption that the closing of a church is deleterious to both the parishioners and the greater Church, it is appropriate to ask whether the Archdiocese has sought assistance from Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell. There, seminarians graduate each year. There, active priests are assigned to instruction and counselling. Before any church is closed, the Archdiocese should explain to its parishioners, the results of its effort to obtain the assistance of the instructors, counselors and ordained graduates of Holy Apostles Seminary in parish work.
DOES THE ALLEGED SHORTAGE OF PRIESTS JUSTIFY THE CLOSING OF CHURCHES?
When a shortage of priests occurs, the Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church suggests a solution that does not require the closure of churches. Canon Law 517 §2 states, "If the diocesan bishop should decide that due to a dearth of priests a participation in the exercise of the pastoral care of a parish is to be entrusted to a deacon or to some other person who is not a priest or to a community of persons, he is to appoint some priest endowed with the powers and faculties of a pastor to supervise the pastoral care."
In other words, each parish or group of churches merged into a parish can be administered by deacons or another person or persons, while a priest or priests performs the pastoral care. So, in this merger of seven (7) churches the Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church urges that the bishop to assign the governance of the new mega- parishes to non-clerical administrators and to allow the priests to focus on pastoral care. Think the Sacraments, the Celebration of the Mass, full participation in religious instruction for our children and our adults as well as counseling.
If the Archdiocese of Hartford adheres to Canon Law 517 §2 then the two priests assigned to the new "mega-parish" will provide pastoral care while an administrator or a team of administrators is appointed to handle all administrative tasks from calling a plumber to preparing and implementing a budget.
Under Canon Law 517 §2, St. Peter Church need not be closed.
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