January 11, 2006
Albert V. Nicolella
Linda M. Fentner, OCDS
Karen Walter
Auburn Catholic Community
320 South Seward Avenue
Auburn, New York 13021
Dear Albert, Linda, and Karen,
Please express my thanks to all those involved in the development of the
pastoral plan for the
Auburn parishes. I know this has been a difficult, often arduous task,
made even more difficult
by changing circumstances since the beginning of the process. I
appreciate the good spirit with
which the members of the Auburn Catholic Community Planning Group have
dealt with the
uncertainty and ambiguity of unanticipated changes in pastoral
leadership. The decision of the
Franciscans to leave St. Hyacinth’s is understandable if regrettable.
The timing of this decision
and its implementation meant that the planning group was confronted with
changes more quickly
than would have been the case otherwise.
I also want to thank you for your leadership of this process. The work
of all is important but
nothing is more important than careful, committed, persistent and humble
leadership. You have
done much, perhaps more than most know, to bring this process to an
effective conclusion with
the submission of this plan.
I note that you organized the parishes into two work groups in order to
facilitate collaborative
planning and ministry. This approach appears to have borne good fruit.
At the same time, I
consider essential that there be a single planning group for Auburn so
that the needs of the entire
community are before a group that represents all the Catholic parishes,
institutions, and
ministries. It is also important that community-wide initiatives
continue to move ahead.
Your configuration plan calls for the appointment of a single pastoral
leader for St. Hyacinth and
St. Francis parishes. I affirm this change in configuration and will
make an appointment of a
single leader as soon as it is possible to do so. Given the current
situation, I have determined that
it is wise to make an interim appointment for the leadership of St.
Hyacinth until it is possible to
post the combined leadership position in our priest personnel process. I
will then receive a
recommendation from the Priest Personnel Board and will proceed with an
appropriate
appointment. I wish it were possible to be explicit about the timing of
this appointment but it is
not. Rest assured that I am cognizant of this situation and will begin
the appointment process as
soon as possible and practical. Please also note that our diocesan
policy on appointment of
pastoral leaders may result in either the appointment of a lay pastoral
administrator along with a
sacramental minister or the appointment of a pastor.
The remainder of your configuration plan calls for the other Auburn
parishes to stay as they are
for the next five years. As the number of assigned priests declines, it
will be necessary to reduce
the number of weekend Masses in the Auburn parishes. I appreciate your
past efforts in reducing
the number of Masses so that our diocesan guidelines are respected. Once
all pastoral leader
changes have taken place, the number of priests assigned to Auburn
parishes will be five with an
additional priest assigned as prison chaplain and another as health care
chaplain. As these
numbers decline, it will be necessary to reduce the overall number of
Masses. I was pleased to
see that you plan on accommodating some of these changes by seeing
assigned priests as a
resource for all of Auburn rather than constraining planning within work
groups. In preparation
for future reductions, I encourage you to examine your current Mass
schedule to make sure that
Masses are in locations and at times where the need is greatest.
I also value your commitment to work toward collaborative activities and
events. These will be
increasingly important to the vitality of the Church in Auburn. Your
group has also led the way
in communication with the support of a professional communications
process on behalf of all
parishes in the community. I am glad that you will be able to continue
that support.
You and your communities will be in my prayers as you move into
implementation. Deb Housel
will continue to provide support to you in this effort.
With every good wish, I remain,
Your brother in Christ,
†Matthew H. Clark
Bishop of Rochester
cc: Rev. Dennis Shaw, Holy Family
S. Chris Treichel, OSF, Sacred Heart/St. Ann
Rev. Louis Vasile, St. Alphonsus
Rev. Peter DeBellis, St. Francis of Assisi
Rev. Frank Lioi, St. Mary
Rev. Michael Brown, St. Hyacinth
Deb Housel, Planning Group Liaison
