AN OPEN LETTER
to the parishioners of Our Lady Queen of Peace, (Pitman)
and Our Lady of Lourdes (Glassboro)

 January 17/18, 2009

            Since our last bulletin insert (dated November 22/23), I have met with the members of our Core Team on two occasions.  The first meeting [November 24] was spent getting to know each another, and discussing how we can best address the current challenge to merge our two existing parishes into a new, single entity.  But then, in the course of the meeting, we discovered that there seems to be some confusion ... most of it stemming from inaccurate information that continues to be circulated as fact.  We unanimously agreed that our first task is to correct and clarify this situation.

            In order to address this, a second meeting was held [December 9], specifically to assemble a list of the most frequently voiced concerns pertaining to the intended merger.  We have briefly addressed these questions and concerns below.

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g What does it actually mean, to MERGE with another parish? 

(The expressed concern was that most people only know the term “merger” from a business perspective, which typically means a large corporation/company taking over a smaller one.)

The merger of parishes is a canonical action in which two or more parishes come together as equals to form a completely new parish.  The presumption is that the parish created will be territorial in nature.  Choosing a new name for the new parish reflects this newness.  However, when a new [parish] name is chosen, the church building(s) retain the name given at the time of the building’s dedication.

For example, if the name selected for the new entity is “Mary, Queen of the Rosary Parish,” the names of the merging parishes cease to exist, but the church buildings retain their original/existing names; in our case: Our Lady of Lourdes, and Our Lady Queen of Peace.

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g Why more than one “Worship Site?”

(The expressed concern was that some people think this is simply a ploy; as soon as the merge takes place — “...after the diocese gets our assets...” — they intend to close the church.)

There is no intention to close either worship site in this merger.  As stated in earlier published explanations, “The bishop may give permission for certain church buildings to remain open for the pastoral care of worshipers....” which he has already stated is his intention in merging OLQP and OLOL.  Care of the worship sites will be the responsibility of the designated (newly established) parish entity.

                        The scheduling of Eucharistic Liturgies, weddings, funerals, etc., would be the responsibility of the pastor (administrator) of the newly established parish.

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g What happens to the employees of parishes designated to merge?

(The expressed concerns centered upon who loses his/her job?  Who decides?  What criteria will be used to decide?)

[ ] When a new parish entity is formed, the existing parishes [OLQP and OLOL] that merged cease to exist.  Thus, the position of pastor of the previously existing parish(es) ceases to function and the employment of all parish personnel (priests, deacons, religious and lay) comes to an end.

[ ] When the new parish is established, the pastor (administrator) of the new parish will be appointed.  He, in turn, will designate the staffing needs of the new parish and hire personnel to fill these positions.

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g How does an affected employee apply for a new position?

[ ] During special meetings for parish employees — that were already held at
 various locations throughout the diocese — a package of information* was distributed containing instructions on how to apply for a position ... and an application form to be completed and submitted for consideration by the convener or new pastor.                  

*It should be noted, this package also contains information about the various opportunities being offered by the Diocese to existing parish employees; including: educational training, severance pay options, continuance of health and life insurance coverage, pension payment plans, and the like.

                     [ ] The Priest-Convener will meet with the pastors of the merging parishes and the Core Team to solicit feedback as to the staffing needs of the new parish, both full and part-time, and determine the role of volunteers.  The Priest-Convener will then decide how the newly merged parish will be staffed.

                        [ ] The Priest-Convener will form a small committee to help him prepare formal job descriptions and qualifications for each position to be staffed.  Openings will be announced in the respective parish bulletins [at OLOL and OLQP] and posted only in those locations.

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g Is the Priest-Convener required to hire from among the existing parish employees?

[ ] No, but it is the long-standing practice of the diocese in the case of a reduction in staffing to provide the opportunity for qualified employees affected by the reduction to have the initial opportunity to apply for the newly opened positions.  However, if the Priest-Convener together with those he has asked to assist in the screening and interview process do not believe that any currently employed applicant is qualified to adequately handle the position under consideration, he is free to expand his search.

            In the near future, we will be scheduling visitations to each parish so you can meet me and the members of our Core Team in person.  In the meantime, please feel free to ask any of us about your concerns.  We will be glad to provide you with whatever information we have.

            I look forward to working with them ... and with you ... in the months ahead.

                                                                                    Peace and love,

                                                                                    Fr. Joe Adamson,
                                                                                    Convener

ABOUT MERGERS AND WORSHIP SITES

The following Q and A has been reviewed by Bishop Galante and the Chancellor’s Office.  The text is intended to provide clarity about mergers, worship sites, and developing unity in the new parish community that is the focus of merger planning. 

1.  Who establishes a new parish?

Canon Law states that only the diocesan Bishop can establish, close, or alter a parish by written decree. Closing a church building or altering its purpose falls into this category.

2. What will be contained in the Decree that establishes the new parish?

The Decree language will indicate the following:

  • the primacy of pastoral care

  • the equality accorded to each merging parish 

  • the retention of the names of the church buildings of the merging parishes

  • the establishment of the one new parish community

  • the address of the home (seat)* of the one new parish

  • the naming of the pastor of the new parish community

  • the date for the establishment of the new parish community

  • the issuing of the decree by the Bishop of the Diocese of Camden

  • the closing of any church at the time of merger

  • the boundaries of the new parish

  • the name of the new parish.

3.  What is the role of the PRIEST CONVENER with the CORE TEAM?

     Their role is to prepare all that is needed to establish the new parish so it can begin to function canonically and civilly under its new name, with a new pastor and staff and the newly merged parish community. They also plan for the first year of operation of the new parish.

4.  Does this mean there are no worship sites until the merger is completed?

Yes. The term, worship site, is used to identify a church that belongs to and will serve the new parish after the merger is complete. After the merger each church building that remains designated as a worship site retains its name and is located within and belongs to the new parish. (Originally a worship site was called a secondary worship site to distinguish it from the parish church, but this usage was quickly dropped as it was misleading.).  See Merger Manual, Section C 1)

5.  What is the function of the home (seat) of the new parish?

The pastor, the administration, the parish office, the staff, the coordination of ministries, and the sacramental and business records are located at the home (seat) of the parish. It is recommended that events that affect the life of the new parish such as the Sacraments of Initiation be celebrated in the home (seat) of the parish including the entrance of RCIA candidates on Holy Saturday and the celebration of First Eucharist and Confirmation. However the pastor may determine that there are sufficient pastoral reasons to allow baptisms, reconciliation, weddings, and funerals at a parish worship site(s).

6.  Will all worship sites function the same way?

No, there are various options for how a worship site(s) might function.  This would vary according to the local needs.  For example, it could be any the following as long as there is someone to oversee the facility while it is open:

1) a church kept open for daily mass or daily mass on a rotation schedule with the parish church or other worship site(s)

2) a church where the sacraments of Baptism, First Eucharist, Reconciliation may be celebrated

3) a church kept open on a limited basis for weekend liturgy, some daily masses and Eucharistic adoration

4) a church where services are limited to weddings, funerals and special liturgies and devotions

5) a church used for some worship services (e.g. school) and some outreach ministry

     6) a church that is used only seasonally

     7) a church that combines some of the options above

7. Is the Bishop the one who decided where the home (seat) of the new parish community would be?

Yes, but only after serious consultation and careful examination of the reconfiguration recommendations made by local planners, deanery planners, the Diocesan Planning Commission, the Presbyteral Council, and many of the clergy.  In a few cases, upon further consultation and for the pastoral good of the people, the Bishop modified the announcements made in April, 2008.   

8.  Why did the Bishop announce his intent about worship sites before issuing the Decree for the mergers? 

The Bishop wanted to set the Diocese of Camden on a pathway toward revitalization.  With lessening Church attendance, changing demographics, diminishing resources, fewer priests, and 15 months of listening, he recognized that change was needed.  Having listened to every parish as well as many other groups through Speak Up Sessions, he ultimately identified 6 pastoral priorities that were critical to bring about dynamic parishes in South Jersey : Liturgy, Lay Ministry, Youth and Young Adults, Priestly Vocations, Compassionate Outreach and Lifelong Formation.  In order to address these 6 priorities as soon as reasonably possible, the Bishop engaged in a planning process called Gathering God’s Gifts.

By carefully listening and prayerfully considering input and recommendations, Bishop Galante chose to identify the home (seat) of the parishes that were merging.  In that way, he as  Shepherd of the Diocese spared his pastors and the merging parish communities the immediate and potential conflict of dividing along former parish lines as soon the merger takes place.  Thus the new parish community could begin immediately to build on and strengthen the unity already established.

* Home or(seat) of the parish are used as interchangeable terms related to function described in Number 4.