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	Diocese Decision Leaves Bolton Parish Temporarily without Pastor By Kym Soper Journal Inquirer February 16, 2008 http://www.journalinquirer.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19301488&BRD=985&PAG=461&dept_id=161556&rfi=6 BOLTON - The congregation at St. Maurice Roman Catholic Church is reeling this week over a staffing decision by Norwich Diocese Bishop Michael Cote that has left it, for now, without a permanent pastor. The congregation's plight is the direct result of the reassignment and apparent subsequent suspension of the Rev. Thomas Sennik, who until earlier this week was pastor at St. Jude's in Willington for the last 16 years. Parishioners say Sennik refused Cote's order to move from the smaller Willington church to head up the much larger Bolton parish, as it would leave him little time to care for his invalid mother and chronically ill sister. He is now living in Middletown taking care of the two women full time. The congregation at St. Maurice, meanwhile, learned on Sunday that its spiritual leader for more than 18 years, the Rev. William Olesik, was being shipped out post haste to St. Mary's in Jewett City. He left on Thursday. For Olesik, St. Maurice was his first and only parish in his career. Born and raised in Somers, it had become his home, the congregation said. During the next two weeks both St. Jude's and St. Maurice will have temporary substitute priests on hand for Mass and to perform the sacraments, church officials say. St. Jude's does have a plan in play, in that Cote has directed it be "yoked" or shared with St. Philip the Apostle in Ashford, with its pastor, the Rev. Christopher Zmuda, overseeing both parishes. But for now, plans are up in the air for the Bolton church, and people there are in shock. "It's very unusual for a pastor to leave a parish and not know who the new pastor will be," Education Minister Karen Bergin said Friday. "It raises the questions about what the plan really was." In a letter to the St. Jude congregation, Cote blames the shortage of priests for the reassignments. But some have wondered if there wasn't a more ominous reason for the hasty transfers. For now, though, parishioners are more concerned about the clerics in their midst. "It's been such a collaborative concern, not for how St. Maurice will continue, but more about compassion and care for our clergy - when you've had a pastor in place for this length of time and have only a week's notice that he has to leave, that's unacceptable," Bergin said. To make matters worse, when members of the congregation learned of Sennik's plight, they came together, setting up nursing care and volunteers to help him care for his mother and sister. When they phoned the bishop's office with the solution, they were told it was no longer "negotiable." "I believe that there would be a loving response to support Father Tom and to help him care for his family, just as we care for one another, and we regret that that opportunity seems to be gone," Bergin said. Michael Strammiello, director of communications for the Norwich Diocese said Friday he was surprised, and that there might have been a misunderstanding. "They might not have been able to connect to the right person," he said, adding that when people call the chancery office, there's "a little bit of a maze and the wires might have gotten crossed." Strammiello also said he expected an announcement from Cote in the coming days that should clear everything up. "There is some incomplete information, and right now we have to wait for the bishop to address the remaining questions," said Strammiello, adding, "I expect a calming statement soon that will bring us to a resolution." The bishop oversees 78 parishes, many with schools, and it's a challenge keeping them viable and healthy, Strammiello said. Parishioners say they understand that transfers happen, particularly with the shortage of priests. But they said they were surprised by the lack of warning, concern, and regard for personal issues. "What would a month's wait have hurt?" asked one parishioner who didn't want her name revealed. "He's caring for people who are ill and terminal and now they're cut off." "Nobody is happy about this, especially Father Bill," said another, who also wanted to remain anonymous. While the transfers may have seemed hasty, there is "nothing I'm aware of that makes them ominous," Strammiello said. Rep Pamela Sawyer, R-Bolton, is not a member of St. Maurice, but remains concerned about the congregation. "It is normally distressing in an active, small town parish in transition between priests, but in this case it is worrisome to be in the middle of controversy," she said. The parishioners agree. "The parishioners and staff are very disappointed with the process that's taking place," Bergin said. Then she added: "I think that Father Bill's strengths and abilities will serve St. Mary's well, and St. Maurice will welcome Father Tom, even in the care of his mother - we're as open as we can be here."
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