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	Some Schuylkill County Churches Learn Their Fates News Item June 1, 2008 http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19736861&BRD=2715&PAG=461&dept_id=558782&rfi=6 The shepherd wants his flock to pray. Across the Catholic Diocese of Allentown, priests read letters during Saturday Masses from the bishop, the Most Rev. Edward. P. Cullen, announcing a restructuring plan which includes the closing of 32 churches, more than half of those in Schuylkill County. Of the county's 62 parishes, at least 39 will be eliminated, while seven new parishes will be created from some of those closed. Two parishes will absorb others through consolidation. Four will not be affected. "Our efforts of prayer must be even more fervent. We must pray so the reconfiguring are not harmful to the unity of faith in the diocese," Cullen wrote. The plans are to go into effect July 15. Seventeen other parishes are still waiting for a decision. The announcements brought tears, questions and, in some cases, relief. At Pottsville's St. Joseph Church, Mary H. Luppiano, 78, of Pottsville, wept Saturday when she heard the official word. "Actually, I never thought it would happen. I'm very sad. I've been in this parish 55 years, since I was married," Luppiano said. "Your faith doesn't depend on buildings," The Rev. John J. McNamara, pastor of St. Stephen Church in Port Carbon, told his congregation. St. Stephen is not closing; McNamara is retiring, and the county will see a net loss of seven priests. Of the approximately 30 priests in the county, four are leaving the county for assignments elsewhere in the diocese, two are taking medical leaves, one is taking a leave of absence, four are retiring. Four priests are going to new assignments in the county from elsewhere in the diocese. Ten county priests are moving to new assignments within the county. The letters announcing the restructuring, consolidation and merger of churches and parishes, will continue to be read at Masses today. For restructuring, the diocese has been divided into 33 deanery regions, and plans were prepared on a region-by-region basis, although plans will not be approved for some regions until 2009. In Schuylkill County, final plans are pending in the Shenandoah, Frackville, Girardville and Ashland areas. The restructuring is a response to a growing shortage of priests. The diocese projects that by June 2009 there will be 115 priests available for parish ministry. The diocese now has 151 parishes before restructuring goes into effect. The restructuring plans are the result of a process that began with listening sessions in fall 2005 in each of the six deaneries of the diocese. About 1,500 people attended the six sessions. Among the diocese's goals for the changes were to have one pastor assigned to one parish. The diocese also wanted the proportion of priests-to-people in a parish to be 1 to 2,400 where possible. Oldest to close Three of five churches in Pottsville and Mount Carbon will close, including St. Joseph, the oldest Catholic church building in Schuylkill County. The Rev. Edward B. Connolly, pastor of St. Joseph, 321 Howard Ave., said his 800 parishioners knew their church, canonically an Italian parish, would close. "It should not be a surprise to anybody. If it is, they just haven't been catching the hints. I suspected for years it would happen, because of the population and the fact there's a shortage of finances and there's a shortage of priests," Connolly, pastor for 22 years, said. Connolly is also pastor of St. Francis de Sales Parish, 49 Main St., Mount Carbon, established in 1921, which is also closing, as is Mary Queen of Peace Church, 732 N. Centre St., Pottsville, founded in 1920. The three churches will be consolidated into St. Patrick Church, 319 Mahantongo St., Pottsville. St. Patrick's is the oldest parish in the county; its church was built in 1889. St. John the Baptist Church, 913 Mahantongo St., is not affected. Susanne Wilson, 60, of Pottsville, a member of St. Joseph's for 31 years, said, "For a month now we knew it was going to close, but it's a shock to hear it." Even though the news is sad, it probably makes sense, Wilson said. While reading the letter from the bishop, Connolly mentioned St. Joseph's parish was in debt. "We are thousands and thousands of dollars in debt. Now St. Patrick's will have to pay it. And all of our assets will go to St. Patrick's," Connolly said. Connolly advised St. Joseph's parishioners to purchase lots at St. Joseph's Cemetery at $250. "I've kept prices down, but I can't guarantee prices after I leave. After July 15, I'm not responsible," he said. Luppiano said she will start attending St. Patrick's Church. Connolly said he will be transferred to two parishes in Girardville: St. Vincent de Paul Church, 260 N. 2nd St.; and St. Joseph Church, 211 W. Main St. 5 into 1; a new saint SAINT CLAIR — The announcement that all five Saint Clair Catholic churches will be consolidated into one new parish with a new name left worshippers at St. Casimir sad and uncertain. The Rev. Ronald V. Jankaitis, the pastor going on medical leave July 15, read the letter to about 60 worshippers, some wringing their hands and looking to the floor. The letter stated St. Casimir Parish, along with St. Mary Parish, Immaculate Conception Parish, SS. Peter and Paul Parish and St. Boniface Parish, will combine to form the St. Clare of Assisi Parish at the former St. Mary Church building in Saint Clair. The Rev. Monsignor William F. Glosser, currently pastor of St. Canicus and St. Fidelis Churches in Mahanoy City, will be St. Clare's pastor. "I hope as you have supported me for these 23 years, you will support him," Jankaitis said. Joseph and Jeannete Semasek said they travel to St. Casimir from their home in Frackville for Jankaitis' sermons. "He's not only a priest, he's an educator. His sermons have a story or a message," Joseph Semasek said. Joann Faenza, who has attended St. Casimir most of her life, said she was "very upset and sad" at the news, though she had heard rumors. Faenza said she was unsure whether she would attend the St. Clare parish. "I'm just going to pray about it to make the right decision," Faenza said. For Mother Teresa The bishop's letter was met with applause after parishioners of St. Joseph church on West Mahanoy Street, Mahanoy City, learned their church would be the only one in the borough to remain open. "I went here all my life. I am very happy," Elsie Yanavich, 93, said. "I was born right across the street. I lived in the same neighborhood all my life. My children came across the street to go to school, and we came across the street to go to church. I never moved off the block. If it would have been one of the other churches staying open instead, I would have had to accept it and go there, but now I don't have to think about that." According to the letter, St. Canicus, Assumption B.V.M., Sacred Heart, St. Casimir, St. Fidelis and Our Lady of Siluva, Maizeville, will merge into St. Joseph, and the community parish will be known as Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, effective July 15. Mother Teresa, the Roman Catholic nun who founded the Missionaries of Charity and won the Nobel Peace Prize for her missionary work, visited the order of the Missionaries of Charity in the borough and spoke at St. Joseph Church on June 17, 1995. About 5,000 people lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the 85-year-old nun as she attended Mass following a visit to the order's chapter house. Mother Teresa died Sept. 5, 1997. Pope John Paul II granted special permission two years after her death for canonization. The Rev. Kevin Gallagher, pastor of St. Mary, St. Boniface and SS. Peter and Paul parishes in Saint Clair, will lead the Mahanoy City parish. The diocese asked the Rev. Monsignor Anthony Wassel to retire because he has reached the mandatory retirement age of 75. The announcement came on a day that was also the 48th anniversary of Wassel's ordination. "Here we go," Wassel sighed as he prepared to read the letter. "This church will stay open and under a new name and will be the community church. We thank God that our church was chosen but we must pray that we will blend together as one parish. I think this will be a great blessing for everyone, but a letter like this will be hard to read in the other parishes." After Mass, parishioners were optimistic. "I think it was a good decision," said Charles Chesko, a member of Assumption B.V.M. "It doesn't matter what church you go to, it's not about the building." Stephen Babinchak, New Boston, who has been leading an effort to delay the decision, said the process is not over. "The people that really care about their church can appeal," he said. "The minute they get their letter of suppression the people have 10 days to write an appeal to the bishop asking him to keep the church open. He has 30 days to answer back ... If there is no response, they can send a letter to the Nuncio, the Vatican representative in Washington, D.C. The Nuncio will send a letter to Rome. The Congregation of Clergy then has 30 days to look at this and investigate to see if that church should stay open. If they can't make a decision it goes to the Supreme Tribunal, the equivalent of the Supreme Court. The good news is that they have reopened some of the churches in Boston that have done this." Some churches escape PORT CARBON — "This is not going to affect you," The Rev. John J. McNamara, 85, soon-to-retire pastor of St. Stephen Church, Port Carbon, told a crowd of about 140. "This parish will remain as it has for over 150 years and, I hope, as it will continue over the distant future." While his parish is one of four in the county not affected by the restructuring plan, McNamara had just read a letter from the bishop asking his parishioners to pray for everyone else who is, and to welcome fellow Catholics who may end up at their church. McNamara, who moves to St. Patrick rectory as a pastor emeritus after his July retirement, expanded on the bishop's letter. "The point is there are parishes around us that are closing and reconfiguring. There will be parishes with a new name, and some people in those might feel more attached to this parish than the one they're being reconfigured into." He said he has already been approached by people who said they would join St. Stephen "as soon as everything settles down." Few if any members of St. Stephen had expected their parish, founded in 1847, to close and most said they were more saddened by McNamara's departure after a tenure of 45 years. "I'm thrilled to death that it's not closing. I'm just upset that we are losing our priest," Joan M. Loose, Port Carbon. Anna Mae Bondura, Port Carbon, a parishioner for 40 years, said "I'm going to miss Father Mac, but time goes on." According to information provided to The REPUBLICAN & Herald, Holy Family Parish and Sacred Heart Parish, New Philadelphia, and St. Anthony Parish, Cumbola, will merge to become a new parish, Holy Cross Parish, at the former Holy Family Church building. "Inevitable" Chris Black, Pottsville, dabbed her eyes with a tissue as she left St. Barbara's, Minersville, after 6:30 p.m. Mass. "It probably was inevitable," she said. "You just always hope it's not your church on the hit list." Black, along with 75 other parishioners of St. Barbara and St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic churches, had just received the news that those parishes, as well as St. Stanislaus Kostka, Minersville, and St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Branchdale, would be merging to form the new St. Matthew Parish, which will meet in the former St. Stanislaus Kostka building. "Change is hard," Black said. "When you've been born and raised in a church, it's hard to accept the fact that it's closing." "It's too new," Joe Weschules, Pottsville, said as he and his wife, Janet, exited St. Barbara's, founded in 1913. "It still has to sink in. There's going to be a lot of people who will be upset." "We've been members all our lives, and so have our parents before us," Janet Weschules said. Mary Anne Genovese, Minersville, said she's leaving the church she grew up in. "I am devastated," she said after Mass. "I was born here, baptized here, had my first Holy Communion here, was confirmed here — my father was buried from here. I thought this was going to be my church. I was born here, and I thought I was going to die here." Lisa Paul, Minersville, was able to find a small bright side to the news that besides St. Matthew's, another new parish would be forming in Minersville — St. Michael the Archangel, out of St. Vincent de Paul and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Minersville, and St. Kieran, Heckscherville. "I'm relieved that there's going to be two parishes," Paul said. "I couldn't imagine how they would have accommodated everyone in one church." Consolidated, not merged While some parishes are combining to form a new parish with a new name, in Tamaqua and Pottsville, the churches that will close are being absorbed by another parish that will keep its identity. "We are blessed. We were asked to bring others in," The Rev. James C. Bechtel, sacramental assistant and administrator of St. Jerome, St. Bartholomew and St. Bertha, said after reading the bishop's letter. His smaller parishes will be consolidated to St. Jerome, where he become pastor on July 15. "Others are being asked to close their doors. And that's hard. Now it's up to us as a parish to invite the members of the other parishes to join us and to become part of us," said Bechtel, who will stay on at St. Jerome's parish as part of the consolidation. "That might be a little hard for us up front because we, in Carbon and Schuylkill counties, have a very provincial outlook on things in our parish. We're going to have to open the doors and welcome the people from the churches around us who will be closing. We need to welcome them and let them experience the gifts that we have here at St. Jerome's." The Rev. William T. Campion, pastor of St. Jerome, will go on sick leave until an injury to his foot is healed. In the Northern Schuylkill Deanery, Region I, which includes St. Jerome's and SS. Peter and Paul churches, both of Tamaqua; St. Bartholomew Church of Brockton and St. Bertha Church of Tuscorora, the parishes of St. Bartholomew and St. Bertha will consolidate with St. Jerome's parish in Tamaqua. Ss. Peter and Paul Church, 307 Pine St., Tamaqua, remains unchanged. Michael Matsago, a Tuscorora native who resides in South Tamaqua, attended Mass at St. Bertholomew's Church with his cousin, Betsy Matalavage, and aunt, Eleanor Belsak. "I'll go to St. Jerome's," he said. "Its sad to see this church close. But we can't say we didn't see it coming." "I'm ripping mad," said Joe McDonald of Mary D. "You mean to tell me they can send a priest over to Rosemont Camp Ground to say Mass on a Saturday evening and they can't send a priest here once a week?" Some wait Seventeen parishes in two deanery regions are waiting for a plan to be approved, a process that might take a year. They are: in Shenandaoh, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Saint Casimir, Saint George, Saint Stephen, Saint Stanislaus, Annunciation; Saint Mary Magdalene, Lost Creek; Saint Joseph, Sheppton; Saint Mary, Ringtown; Saint Joseph and Saint Vincent de Paul, both in Girardville; Saint Joseph and Saint Mauritius, both in Ashland; Our Lady of Good Counsel, Gordon; and Saint Ann, Annunciation and Saint Joseph, all in Frackville. The parishioners of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Girardville learned the news at 4 p.m. Mass. The Rev. Gregory Karpyn, pastor, Father Karpyn noted that the specific letter was to be read only at churches unaffected by restructuring. Afterward, Father Karpyn said, "The bishop has given permission for Region V, which is the region in which Girardville is, to extend the deadline on deliberations until May 2009. The bishop has done so after consideration and after I spoke to him personally on Holy Thursday... expressing my concerns and those of the people of Girardville. I told the bishop these are not bad people. These are good people who are very much attached to the church. I said to the bishop that if there is no church in Girardville, the town will go to pieces because the church is what holds the town together. "The bishop said that given the conditions in the mountain towns that he would consider a church in each town for the good of the people presently going to church for the next 10 to 15 years," Father Karpyn continued. "And so what that means is, for right now, St. Joseph's and St. Vincent's are given a reprieve. The bishop wants the people in Region V — Girardville, Ashland, Frackville, Gordon — to discuss among themselves in a very calm and deliberate way what parish and what facilities would be best without being pressured by anyone, by being forced by lack of time or by a sudden timetable." Father Karpyn then announced that he would be leaving in July, with the new pastor being the Rev. Edward Connolly, pastor of St. Joseph Church in Pottsville and St. Francis de Sales in Mount Carbon. Father Karpyn will undertake a pastoral ministry at the hospitals and nursing homes in Allentown and reside at St. Paul Church, Allentown. Encouragement, anger All 30 pews were filled and three parishioners stood in the back of the church for the 4 p.m. Mass Saturday at St. Bartholomew's, Tresckow. The parish, along five others will be combined to form a new parish called All Saints Parish. "Closings are very difficult for everyone,." The Rev. Thomas Shanfelt said. "I was faxed the changes today. They took about half an hour to read. It's not just here. There are 50 parishes affected and ten more will be." "I was straight forward with you in February," he said. "You'll be getting literature in the mail. The important things is to join a parish. I'm not going to tell you which one. It's up to you. It's like voting. But if a death occurs, if you're not a member of a parish, it's likely there will be no Mass of Christian burial. It's not enough to say you were a member here for 30 years." He said the same went for with baptisms, weddings, confirmations. "We're the body of Christ," he said. "With your faith and love we will get through this. But many parishioners were angry. I think this is absolutely disgusting," John Matyas said. "There are only two churches in town and there are still 25 or 30 people who still go to Mass every day. My family has been involved for 100 years; my grand father helped hand-dig the foundation at St. Michael's. But they have no ties to this area. And there's nothing you can do. At least with politicians, you can vote them out." "It's sad," Elaine Tokach said. "We kept hoping they'd change their mind." "I still can't believe it's happening," her husband Larry Tokach said. "But the Bishop had his mind set and there was no way to change it." The last priest we had used to say a priest had to answer for every soul he lost," Michael Brutosky said. "Well, what about this Bishop? Look what he had to answer for. This is a short term solution to a long term problem." "But they don't care," his wife Kathleen said. "The dollar rules."
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