Thursday, May 17, 2007

Parish Clustering in the Diocese of Rochester

The May issue of the Catholic Courier features an article that describes the future of leadership for parishes in the Rochester Diocese. The failure of the diocese to attract new vocations to the priesthood is bringing about a radical change in parish life. Parish clustering is one of the most dramatic changes that is affecting the lives of local Catholics.

One of these clusters in the town of Bloomfield region is going to be led by Sister Diane Dennie. In a perverse twist that truly exemplifies the disorder in Rochester, Father Joseph Marcoux will be the parochial vicar of the cluster. Is it any wonder we have trouble attracting vocations in this diocese? How many young men want to end up as a parochial vicar with Sister Dennie as the boss?

On the upside, any young man entering seminary at this time will serve most of his years under a different bishop. The next bishop could very well be a Bishop Burke, Bruskewitz, or Sheridan. The next bishop could sweep out the dissidents that have infected the diocesan bureaucracy. This new springtime would see multiple vocations and an eventual end to female "priestesses". No more Sister Dennies as "pastors" with a priest in tow.

Some of the responsibility for this change rests on the shoulders of the faithful. We need to continually offer up our prayers and sacrifices for this cause. In time, God will answer our prayers. EM
Source.

Here is the article from the Rochester Catholic Courier, "Leadership takes on a new look"

HT to PG for the link

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

When more men become priests then each diocese will have enough pastors--until then I guess Catholics are 'stuck" with the hard working lay men and women who give 150 % of their lives to serving God's people.Is it that the Holy Spirit isn't calling ? Or maybe the Holy Spirit is calling the wrong people...Hmmm, do you think God could be wrong if he is in direct opposition to the Catholic hierarchy ??? What theology to ponder.