The recommendations

Here is the document emailed yesterday to parishes in our region.

PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS SUMMARY – SOUTHERN REGION

JULY 16, 2008

INTRODUCTION

The following summaries are excerpts from the full Preliminary Recommendations made by the Planning Commission to each cluster. Four “further recommends” were made to all 50 clusters and are listed here.

1. The rich ethnic heritage of the people in your area be honored and celebrated whenever appropriate.

2. A new Mass schedule be developed that reflects good stewardship of priestly resources and maximizes opportunities for larger assemblies to provide a more robust celebration of the liturgy.

3. You share our Preliminary Recommendations and rationale with each of your parish communities, and invite their questions and feedback on an ongoing basis through September.

4. Upon reception of the Bishop’s directives for your cluster, please establish a Cluster Implementation Team to design ways to fulfill the directives.

All other recommendations are for each specific cluster.

CLUSTER # 1

PARISHES: Gate of Heaven, Dallas; Our Lady of Victory, Harvey’s Lake; St. Therese, Shavertown; St. Frances X. Cabrini, Carverton; Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Lake Silkworth

Recommendations

We recommend that as a cluster you enter into:

· Model Two: Linked Parishes between Saint Francis Cabrini, Carverton and Saint Therese, Shavertown leading to consolidation within three years at the St Therese site, pending the facility assessment results. A possible worship site at Centremoreland needs to be further considered.

· Model One: Consolidated Parishes or Model Four: In Solidum (Team), within three years among Gate of Heaven, Dallas, Our Lady of Victory, Harvey’s Lake and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Lake Silkworth. If there is a consolidation, we recommend that Gate of Heaven, Dallas be the parish site, with additional worship sites at Our Lady of Victory, Harvey’s Lake and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Lake Silkworth, which will be reviewed after two years.

· Model Three: Partnership Parishes among all the parishes in the cluster.

We further recommend that:

1. You consider cooperative efforts including areas of collaboration found on your Suggestion Form.

2. Serious consideration be given to studying current staffing patterns to eliminate duplication and enhance ministries.

CLUSTER # 2

PARISHES: Holy Family, Luzerne; St. Ignatius, Kingston; Holy Name/St. Mary, Swoyersville; Holy Trinity, Swoyersville; St. Mary Annunciation, Kingston

Recommendations

We recommend that as a cluster you enter into:

· Model One: Consolidated Parish between St. Ignatius, Kingston and St. Mary, Kingston at the St. Ignatius site, pending the facility assessment results.

· Model Two: Linked Parishes between Holy Name/St. Mary, Swoyersville and Holy Trinity, Swoyersville leading to consolidation within three years at the Holy Trinity site, pending the facility assessment results.

· Model Three: Partnership with Holy Family, Luzerne partnering with the consolidated parishes named above.

We further recommend that:

1. You begin immediately your collaborative efforts as outlined on your Suggestion

Form: Combining CCD programs; Participating in the Holy Family food pantry;

Developing a strong adult education program; Exploring ways to share administrative

staff, a business manager, groundskeepers, etc; Implementing a program for the

training of liturgical ministers; Exploring stewardship and justice programs .

CLUSTER # 3

PARISHES: Holy Rosary, Wilkes‑Barre; Maternity BVM, Wilkes‑Barre; St. Patrick, Wilkes‑Barre; St. Boniface, Wilkes‑Barre; Holy Trinity, Wilkes‑Barre; St. Joseph, Wilkes‑Barre Township

Recommendations

We affirm your suggestion and recommend that as a cluster you enter into:

· Model One: Consolidated Parishes among Maternity of the BVM, Wilkes‑Barre; Holy Trinity, Wilkes‑Barre; and Saint Joseph, Wilkes‑Barre Township. We also recommend that the parish site be at Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, pending the facility assessment results.

· Model One: Consolidated Parishes among Saint Patrick, Wilkes‑Barre; Saint Boniface, Wilkes‑Barre and Holy Rosary, Wilkes‑Barre. We also recommend that the parish site be at St. Patrick, pending the facility assessment results.

We further recommend that:

1. You locate Hispanic Ministry at Saint Patrick in order to accommodate the growing numbers of Hispanics attending Mass.

2. You re-evaluate the need for the “extraordinary form” of Mass in the Wilkes‑Barre area.

CLUSTER # 4

PARISHES: St. Nicholas, Wilkes‑Barre; St. Mary Immaculate Conception, Wilkes‑Barre; St. Joseph (Slovak), Wilkes‑Barre; St. Aloysius, Wilkes‑Barre; St. Casimir, Wilkes‑Barre (Lyndwood); St. Therese, Wilkes‑Barre

Recommendations

We recommend that as a cluster you enter into:

· Model One: Consolidated Parish between St. Joseph, Wilkes‑Barre and St. Mary, Wilkes‑Barre at the St. Mary site, pending the facility assessment results.

· Model Two: Linked Parishes between the newly consolidated parish at the St. Mary site and St. Nicholas, Wilkes‑Barre in three years.

· Model One: Consolidated Parish in three years among the three Wilkes‑Barre parishes St. Aloysius, St. Casimir and St. Therese at the St. Aloysius site, pending the facility assessment results.

We further recommend that:

1. You collaborate on a religious education program for high school students.

2. You develop a collaborative adult education program

CLUSTER # 5

PARISHES: Blessed Sacrament, Wilkes‑Barre; St. Francis, Wilkes‑Barre; St. John the Baptist, Wilkes‑Barre; St. Dominic, Wilkes‑Barre

Recommendations

We agree with your suggestion and recommend that as a cluster you enter into:

· Model One: Consolidated Parish among St. Francis of Assisi, Wilkes‑Barre; St. John the Baptist, Wilkes‑Barre; Blessed Sacrament, Wilkes‑Barre; and St. Dominic, Wilkes‑Barre. We also recommend that the parish site be at St. Dominic, pending the facility assessment results.

We further recommend that:

1. You share your response regarding plans for evangelization which were not included in the current report.

CLUSTER # 6

PARISHES: Sacred Heart/St. John Evangelist, Wilkes Barre; St. Stanislaus Kostka, Wilkes‑Barre; Holy Saviour, Wilkes‑Barre

Recommendations

We recommend that as a cluster you enter into:

· Model One, Consolidated Parish between St. Stanislaus Kostka, Wilkes- Barre and Sacred Heart/St. John’s, Wilkes‑Barre at the St. Stanislaus site, pending the facility assessment results. However, we recommend that St. Christopher Mission, Wilkes‑Barre be closed.

Model Two: Linked Parishes between Holy Saviour, Wilkes‑Barre and the newly consolidated parish at St. Stanislaus, and be consolidated within three years.

CLUSTER # 7

PARISHES: Our Lady Help Christians, Dorrance; St. Jude, Mountain Top; St. Patrick, White Haven

Recommendations

Given the various sizes of the parishes in your cluster, we recommend that you study the following options and in your response respond with one that will make better use of priestly presence in your cluster:

· Model Two: Linked Parishes with all three parishes St. Jude, Mountain Top; Our Lady Help of Christians, Dorrance and Saint Patrick, White Haven to be served by one pastor with assistants.

OR

· Model Four: In Solidum (Team) with all three parishes St. Jude, Mountain Top; Our Lady Help of Christians, Dorrance and Saint Patrick, White Haven to be served by a team of priests.

OR

· Model Two: Linked Parishes between St. Jude, Mountain Top, and Our Lady Help of Christians, Dorrance, while another Model Two: Linked Parishes between Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Freeland, and Saint Patrick, White Haven.

We further recommend that:

1. You activate the finance and pastoral councils to be more effective.

2. You explore the sharing of pastoral staff.

CLUSTER # 8

PARISHES: Holy Trinity, Nanticoke; St. Stanislaus, Nanticoke; St. Mary Czestochowa, Nanticoke; St. Francis, Nanticoke; St. Joseph (Slovak), Nanticoke; Holy Child, Nanticoke

Recommendations

We affirm your suggestion and recommend that you enter into:

· Model One: Consolidated Parish among Holy Trinity, Nanticoke; St. Stanislaus, Nanticoke; St. Mary’s Czestochowa, Nanticoke; St. Francis, Nanticoke; St. Joseph (Slovak), Nanticoke; and Holy Child, Sheatown. We also recommend that the parish site be at Holy Trinity, pending the facility assessment results. There will be an additional worship site which will be reviewed after two years.

We further recommend that:

1. You continue this process of collaboration in all areas of ministry.

CLUSTER # 9

PARISHES: St. Cecilia, Exeter; St. John the Baptist, Exeter; St. Anthony Padua, Exeter; Our Lady of Sorrows, W. Wyoming; St. Joseph, Wyoming; Immaculate Conception, W. Pittston; Holy Redeemer, Harding

Recommendations

We affirm your suggestion and recommend that as a cluster you enter into:

· Model One: Consolidated Parish within three years between Holy Redeemer, Harding, and Immaculate Conception, West Pittston. We also recommend that the parish site be at Immaculate Conception, pending the facility assessment results.

· Model One: Consolidated Parish within three years among St. John the Baptist, Exeter; St. Cecilia, Exeter, and St. Anthony, Exeter. We also recommend that the parish site be at St. Anthony, pending the facility assessment results.

· Model One: Consolidated Parish within three years between Our Lady of Sorrows, West Wyoming, and St. Joseph’s, Wyoming. We also recommend that the parish site be at Our Lady of Sorrows, pending the facility assessment results.

· Model Three: Partnership Parishes among the three consolidated parishes immediately to accomplish your stated goals.

CLUSTER # 10

PARISHES: Blessed Sacrament, Hughestown; St. Mary Help of Christians, Pittston; St. Mary Assumption, Pittston; Our Lady Mt. Carmel, Pittston; St. Rocco, Pittston; St. John Evangelist, Pittston

Recommendations

We affirm your suggestion and recommend that as a cluster you enter into:

· Model One: Consolidated Parish within three years among Blessed Sacrament, Hughestown, St. Mary’s Assumption, Pittston and St. Mary Help of Christians, Pittston. We also recommend that the parish site be at St. Mary Help of Christians, pending the facility assessment results.

· Model One: Consolidated Parish within three years between Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Pittston and St. Rocco’s, Pittston. We also recommend that the parish site be at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pending the facility assessment results.

· Model Three: Partnership Parishes among St. John the Evangelist, Pittston and the two newly consolidated parishes listed above.

CLUSTER # 11

PARISHES: St. Martha, Fairmont Springs; St. Mary, Mocanaqua; Ascension, Mocanaqua; Corpus Christi, Glen Lyon

Recommendations

We affirm your suggestion and recommend as a cluster that you enter into:

· Model One: Consolidated Parish among St. Mary, Mocanaqua; Ascension, Mocanaqua; St. Martha, Fairmount Springs. We also recommend that the parish site be at St. Mary with an additional worship site at St. Martha, Fairmount Springs, pending the facility assessment results.

· Model Three: Partnership Parishes among Corpus Christi and the newly consolidated parish noted above for a three year time period.

· We also recommend Model One: Consolidated Parish – At the end of three years, the newly consolidated parish at the St. Mary site will consolidate with Corpus Christi. There will be one worship site in each of the three communities: Fairmont Springs, Mocanaqua and Newport Township, to be chosen based on the facility assessment results and geography. The worship sites will be reviewed in two years.

We further recommend that:

1. You develop a strong evangelization program to reach out to the unchurched moving into the area.

CLUSTER # 12

PARISHES: Holy Family, Sugar Notch; St. Charles Borromeo, Sugar Notch; St. Leo, Ashley; Exaltation Holy Cross, Hanover Twp. (Buttonwood)

Recommendations

We affirm your suggestion and recommend that as a cluster you enter into:

· Model One: Consolidated Parish between Holy Family, Sugar Notch and St. Charles Borromeo, Sugar Notch. We also recommend that the parish site be at Holy Family, pending the facility assessment results.

· Model Three: Partnership Parishes among the consolidated Sugar Notch parishes, the Exultation of the Holy Cross, Hanover Township and the recently consolidated St. Leo, Ashley.

· We also recommend Model Two: Linked Parishes – Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Hanover Township linked to the newly consolidated parish in Sugar Notch.

CLUSTER # 13

PARISHES: Holy Rosary, Duryea; Sacred Heart, Duryea; St. Joseph, Duryea; St. Mary, Avoca; SS. Peter & Paul, Avoca; Sacred Heart of Jesus, Dupont

Recommendations

We recommend that as a cluster you enter into:

• Model One: Consolidated Parish within three years among Holy Rosary, Duryea; Sacred Heart of Jesus, Duryea and St. Joseph, Duryea at the Holy Rosary site, pending the facility assessment results.
• Model One: Consolidated Parish within three years between St. Peter and Paul, Avoca and St. Mary, Avoca at the St. Mary site, pending the facility assessment results.
• Model Three: Partnership Parishes with Sacred Heart of Jesus, Dupont, partnering with the newly consolidated parishes named above

We further recommend that:

1. You consider cooperative efforts including all the ways you have planned to work

together as stated on your Suggestion Form.

CLUSTER # 14

PARISHES: St. Maria Goretti, Laflin; St. Mark, Inkerman; SS. Peter & Paul, Plains; Sacred Heart, Plains; St. Joseph, Hudson

Recommendations

We affirm your suggestion and recommend that as a cluster you enter into:

· Model One: Consolidated Parish among Saints Peter & Paul, Plains; Sacred Heart, Plains and St. Joseph, Hudson. We also recommend that the parish site be at Saints Peter & Paul, pending the facility assessment results.

· Model One: Consolidated Parish between St. Maria Goretti, Laflin and St. Mark, Inkerman. We also recommend that the parish site be at St. Maria Goretti, pending the facility assessment results.

· Model Three: Partnership Parishes between the newly consolidated parishes named above.

CLUSTER # 15

PARISHES: All Saints, Plymouth; St. John Baptist, Larksville

Recommendations

We affirm your suggestion and recommend that as a cluster you enter into:

· Model Three: Partnership Parishes between All Saints, Plymouth which has recently consolidated and St. John the Baptist, Larksville.

We further recommend that:

1. After three years, All Saints, Plymouth and St. John the Baptist, Larksville, study the demographics and financial statistics for viability and consider whether linkage or consolidation might be an option.