FIVE PARISHES AND THREE PRIESTS MODEL

RECEIVES BOSTON ARCHDIOCESEAN ACCEPTANCE

ANOTHER HOPEFUL SOLUTION

Nashoba Valley’s five Parishes have received ARCHDIOCESEAN ACCEPTANCE for a model with five separate Parishes WITH three PriestS. Three Priests are to be assigned to the five Parishes and will address their pastoral needs and perform Sacraments. Administrative services will be shared. The Parishes will have separate Parish status and separate finances. A MULTIPLE PARISHES WITH SHARED PASTOR IS AN IDEAL model PLAN FOR us in lexington.

In the words of Father Michael A.J. Alfano, Pastor of both Sacred Heart Parish and Saint James Parishes, this five Parishes model will “allow each of the Five Nashoba Parishes to maintain its own pastoral and financial viability, while learning to share the ministry of three Priests.” Nashoba Valley Parishes are in the Archdiocese of Boston.

The 16 February 2006 approval letter from Bishop Richard Lennon on behalf of Cardinal Archbishop Sean O’Malley is on the reverse side of this handout.

Last weekend’s handout highlighted an existing two Parishes and one Pastor Model in South Boston consisting of Gate of Heaven Parish and St. Brigid Parish. These two Parishes have one Pastor and ONE ADMINISTRATION, but retain separate Parish identities and finances. See web site on reverse side for their hopeful approach. Sacred Heart Parish and St. Brigid’s Parish now have several attractive existing models as examples in the Archdiocese of Boston.

Despite statements to the contrary, these models are not “impossible” or “not permitted”. These models actually ALREADY exist in the Archdiocese of Boston and elsewhere in the United States. When Parishes propose innovative solutions; these models receive Archdiocesan ACCEPTANCE AND approvAL. A two Parishes – one Pastor Model is an ideal model plan for the Catholic Community in Lexington. Parishioners could have:

1. Choice in Parish selection

2. The maintenance of Parish identity in our Liturgy and Worship

3. Parish Management of Finances

4. Varied Religious Educational possibilities

5. Independent Parish Pastoral Councils and Parish Finance Councils

6. Shared Administration and Operations Functions

7. A renewed focus on our Ministries

8. Evangelization and Growth

9. A Growing Shared Community of Roman Catholics joined by belief and faith

Why are we in the position the Parishes in Lexington currently find ourselves: “I have asked the Archbishop and people from his office for clarification… Is what we are doing or thinking on track? Always I receive no answer or little help. We are on our own”. (emphasis added) (From the Pastor’s Desk February 19, 2006).

The Parish Pastoral Councils must work toward a model that will succeed. Many multiple Parishes models exist and have been approved in the Archdiocese of Boston and in many other U.S. Archdioceses. In fact, the two or more Parishes – one Pastor Model is the most widely used innovative organizational structure in the United States Catholic Church. This model exists all over the country and even in our own backyard. This model is not impossible, impermissible, unique, difficult, or non existent. Many other Parishes have achieved and already received Archdiocesan approval for:

TWO PARISHES – ONE PASTOR

ONE SHARED CATHOLIC COMMUNITY

FAITH, HOPE AND GROWTH

Work for a better solution and plan – Choose Hope

Join us: working for a future for both Parishes – Growth for the Parishes and the Catholic Community.

The Syrnick/Fiola Family, the Mahoney Family, the DiPietro Family, Ted and Patsy Heuchling, the Bellini Family, Daniel Rapperport and children, the Hegarty Family, the Gillis Family, the Cimino Family, the Laffey Family, Clora Bucci, the O’Connor and Ou Family, the Shine Family, the Sullivan/DeNatale Family, the Bosco Family, the Bourque Family, the Spillane Family, the Bradford Family, the Kush/Quartararo Family, M. Lorraine West and Family, the O’Sullivan Family and many other Parishioners and Families too numerous to fit on one page.

Letter from RCAB to Nashoba Valley (Sacred Heart – St James Parishes) Feb 16, 2006. ß click here to read PDF file.

South Boston 2 parish- 1 pastor – already exists: