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‘Dying ... and Rising’ (Approximately 50 New York parishes to close, merge)
Catholic New York ^ | October 30, 2014 | Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan

Posted on 11/01/2014 2:35:28 PM PDT by NYer

Let me be candid: there will soon be a real sense of grief at some of our parishes as we get set to announce publicly what we’ve been preparing for the last five years, namely, the merging of some of our beloved parishes. In a few places, there might even be a feeling that something has died.

Perhaps the feast days this Saturday and Sunday can set a spiritual tone for what will be, undeniably, a tough time for us all, especially for the parishioners of the affected parishes.

Saturday, November 1, is the feast of All Saints (or, the old term, “All Hallows,” thus “Halloween,” the eve before), as we gratefully recall the citizens of our eternal home, heaven.

Sunday, November 2, is the feast of All Souls, when we reverently remember those, especially among our family and friends, who have died, the “faithful departed,” asking Jesus to have mercy upon them, especially those in purgatory awaiting heaven.

“By dying, He destroyed our death, by rising, He restored our life.”

Dying and rising ... Jesus did it; we all do it in and through Him.

As we now come to the decision point of our Making All Things New strategic pastoral planning, which began years ago and intensified the last year-and-a-half, about 14% of our parishes will undergo a “purgatory,” with decisions to merge them with their welcoming neighbors.

Some of our people will be sad, upset, critical, and even angry. Very understandable…loyal Catholic people love their parishes, and consider them their spiritual home. To see them changed or merged, even with next door parishes, will be very difficult.

I wish it could be different. I’d rather be adding parishes, or expanding the ones we have—and, by the way, we will be!—instead of consolidating some.

Why do we have to go through this? For one, at 368, we simply have too many parishes, in areas that used to have huge Catholic numbers, where most of the people have since moved away. On Manhattan alone, for instance, we have 88 parishes, some only blocks apart. Do the math: we have about 25% of our parishes in an area where less than 12% of the 2.8 million Catholics of the archdiocese reside.

Two, we must be good stewards of our financial resources. God’s people have told us that they want their offerings spent on our schools, charities, outreach, elders, religious education, the poor, the immigrant, our pastoral services, or expanding parishes that are jammed. By merging parishes, we will make better use of human and financial resources.

Three, we can no longer staff them. While still, thank God, blessed with a good number of priests, aided by deacons, a dwindling number of sisters and brothers, and devoted lay pastoral leaders, their census is shrinking. Rectories built a century ago—now in disrepair—for six priests usually now house one or two. We no longer have the priests to serve 368 parishes.

What we’re talking about is realism. Families do it, our schools have done it, corporations do it—now our parishes must do it: we merge in the areas where the population has shrunk, and build and expand—both plants and ministries—in areas where the Catholic numbers are bustling.

Over these years of preparation for the tough decisions coming this week, everyone has commented: “We need to do something! We can’t go on like we’re still in the 30s, 40s, and 50s, as if we have the numbers, the resources, the priests that we used to. We’ll have to reduce the number of parishes.”

But that’s usually followed by, “But, don’t close mine!”

We have to ... a woman reassured me, “As long as I have a place for Mass, I’ll be fine.”

This “process” has been exhaustive. Each parish had two representatives, and the vast archdiocese was divided into “clusters” where the delegates, with their pastors, guided by professionals, studied their parishes and made recommendations. These were refined, discussed, debated, and finally went to the larger umbrella committee, which accepted almost all of them. The deans, priests’ council, pastoral council, and college of consultors were all involved. It all then came to me, and, along with my brother bishops, we’ve made the decisions. I’m happy to say almost all are consonant with what came from the grassroots.

I was with many of my brother bishops from around the country last week, a good number of whom have already gone through a similar process, and I asked them about their experience. One observed, “While there is no painless way to merge parishes, it can be less painful if the people have a big part in the process.” You have. (It’s already clear that some of the early complaints are coming from parishes that did not care to participate in the process.)

Pope St. John Paul II called us to the new evangelization: we cannot, he told us, be so exhausted by the maintenance of our parishes and institutions that we have no energy left for the mission!

Pope Benedict reminded us that “the vine must be pruned if it is to grow and produce fruit.”

Pope Francis exhorts us not to be only about buildings and structures, but about outreach, love, service.

That’s what this week is about: dying, to be sure, and I apologize that these decisions will cause hurt; but rising to a stronger, more vibrant Church! Thanks for your patience, understanding, and support.


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; History; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: dolan; ny
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1 posted on 11/01/2014 2:35:28 PM PDT by NYer
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To: Tax-chick; GregB; SumProVita; narses; bboop; SevenofNine; Ronaldus Magnus; tiki; Salvation; ...
This is indeed a painful situation for practicing catholics. Regardless of your personal feelings towards Cardinal Dolan, one must acknowledge that the demographics of New York City have undergone a tremendous shift since many of these churches were built by European immigrants. It is especially anxious for me to await the fate of St. Michael's Church on W. 34th Street where my great, great grandparents baptized their 5 children. The current pastor is one you all recognize - Fr. George Rutler.

Ping!

2 posted on 11/01/2014 2:35:51 PM PDT by NYer ("You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears." James 4:14)
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To: NYer

becoming mosques


3 posted on 11/01/2014 2:36:25 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
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To: NYer

Spend less time doing “interfaith” services and more time spreading the faith.

Wierd how conservative areas are not closing Churches but are building them.


4 posted on 11/01/2014 2:37:44 PM PDT by icwhatudo (Low taxes and less spending in Sodom and Gomorrah is not my idea of a conservative victory)
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To: NYer

I know in my local hood Cathoicism is really dying but bad news lots of Latino are becoming Pencostal or Southern Baptist

There is local church that has two Spanish language service after 9am church service back to back I think in Latino community especially in SO CAL they do want that lively music


5 posted on 11/01/2014 2:43:52 PM PDT by SevenofNine (We are Freepers, all your media bases belong to us ,resistance is futile)
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To: GeronL

....Or Evangelical Protestant Bible churches.


6 posted on 11/01/2014 2:45:53 PM PDT by Biggirl
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To: icwhatudo

....Or maybe putting a BIGGER effort in spreading the faith via the Holy Bible itself.


7 posted on 11/01/2014 2:47:24 PM PDT by Biggirl
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To: NYer

The consolidation makes sense. The sad thing is that they don’t build churches like they used to.


8 posted on 11/01/2014 2:47:45 PM PDT by St_Thomas_Aquinas ( Isaiah 22:22, Matthew 16:19, Revelation 3:7)
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To: icwhatudo
Wierd how conservative areas are not closing Churches but are building them.

I notice from your home page that you are in Virginia. Many of the catholics from here in the northeast, have moved down to your area. In so doing, they leave behind their former parishes and look for a replacement. Absent one, they begin to construct one.

9 posted on 11/01/2014 2:48:02 PM PDT by NYer ("You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears." James 4:14)
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To: GeronL
becoming mosques

Would be interested in seeing which of these parishes have been sold to the muslims. Thanks for posting it.

10 posted on 11/01/2014 2:49:11 PM PDT by NYer ("You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears." James 4:14)
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To: NYer

Not good news.

The American Church is dying.


11 posted on 11/01/2014 2:49:30 PM PDT by miserare (2014--The Year We Fight Back!)
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To: NYer

I’m thinking that the Archdiocese should hang on to the properties. The people will come back. But it will be a slow process.

It’s up to each and every one of us to evangelize and call these people back.


12 posted on 11/01/2014 2:54:16 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: miserare

Are you thinking “Glass half empty.”??

“The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.”

The Catholic Church will NOT die.


13 posted on 11/01/2014 2:56:18 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: SevenofNine
I know in my local hood Cathoicism is really dying but bad news lots of Latino are becoming Pencostal or Southern Baptist

Just came across this article today.

THE REV. JOHN HELLER grew up in a Catholic family. When he got married, he and his wife attended Mass daily. Some of his co-workers encouraged him to check out their Pentecostal church. The first time they were there, Pastor LaFave preached a message about Mary and Martha, unbeknownst to him that was their favorite Bible story. He had never been in an annointed service like that, and it was when he had my Pentecostal experience. You can read the rest of the story here.

This is where poor catechesis ends.

14 posted on 11/01/2014 3:01:47 PM PDT by NYer ("You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears." James 4:14)
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To: Salvation
I’m thinking that the Archdiocese should hang on to the properties. The people will come back. But it will be a slow process.

No! This is Manhattan. These churches were erected by immigrants from western Europe during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, Manhattan is populated by peoples from every culture and diverse religious belief imaginable. The descendants of those immigrants moved to the suburbs (Queens, Bronx, LI, Staten Island) and their descendants have now moved south to VA, NC, GA, FL, LA, TX, etc. They have taken their faith with them, resulting in the construction of new churches in those communities. They will not be returning to NYC.

15 posted on 11/01/2014 3:09:17 PM PDT by NYer ("You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears." James 4:14)
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To: Biggirl

da horror...

/s


16 posted on 11/01/2014 3:14:59 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
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To: Salvation
Salvation: “The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.”
The Catholic Church will NOT die."

Agreed !
However, all Churches' fundamental values are under attack, including education in the schools ,abortion, marriage, etc.
This recent change in society, in general, is leaning more to hedonism and narcissism (A/K/A : Sodom and Gomorrah).
It's to the point that Progressivism, Socialism and Liberalism is the new 'State Supported' religion.

17 posted on 11/01/2014 3:17:39 PM PDT by Tilted Irish Kilt
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To: miserare; Salvation
Not good news. The American Church is dying.

Not true! It's a matter of demographics. As I pointed out to freeper Salvation, immigrants from western Europe built these churches in NYC. Their descendants moved to the suburbs and built new churches there. Now, their descendants have relocated to other US states, bringing their faith and constructing new churches in those communities.

These churches in NYC are testimony to the faith of the immigrants of the 19th and early 20th centuries. They stand as witnesses to their faith and determination to ensure their children would be properly baptized and catechized in their catholic faith. Now, 3 generations later, the demographics of NYC have changed. The immigrant families now arrive from diverse countries and different faith traditions. The "hey day" of catholicism in NYC is history. Time to move on, albeit painful for those of us who cherish the memory of our ancestors.

18 posted on 11/01/2014 3:19:25 PM PDT by NYer ("You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears." James 4:14)
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To: NYer
"Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"

Yes, but not in Manhattan.

19 posted on 11/01/2014 3:32:44 PM PDT by Oratam
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To: Oratam
Yes, but not in Manhattan.

Why not?

20 posted on 11/01/2014 3:34:56 PM PDT by NYer ("You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears." James 4:14)
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