DIOCESE OF SCRANTON
OFFICE OF THE EPISCOPAL
VICAR CENTRAL
PASORAL REGION
February 14,2007
Mr. Anthony S, Foti
770 Lantern Hill Road
Shavertown, Pennsylvania18708
Dear Mr. Foti,
Bishop Martino received your letter regarding Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Wilkes-Barre and asked me to respond.
Sacred Heart of Jesus Church is indeed a magnificent building with historical significance for the Slovak community. It is, however, above all else, a house of worship built to serve the needs of a particular community of the Christian faithful in the Diocese of Scranton. It is this reality, far more than the building's architectural and historical significance that has placed Sacred Heart of Jesus Church at a crossroads regarding its future existence.
Demographic studies have long indicated that the population of the portion of LuzerneCounty in which Sacred Heart of Jesus Church exists is diminishing rapidly. This fact, coupled with a parish debt to the Diocese of Scranton in excess of a half million dollars and the ever increasing estimates for repairs to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church building which now carry a price tag of approximately four million dollars serve to give us all reason to pause and question what is best for this particular parish community in light of the overall mission of the Church.
No one, including the parishioners of Sacred Heart of Jesus - Saint John parish, Bishop Martino or Monsignor Sempa wants to see a church building deteriorate or close. That being said, the expenditure of millions of dollars for the repair Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in light of the current profile of its parishioners and the questionable future of many parishes throughout the Diocese would reflect an irresponsible use of funds, given the many needs of the Church both in the parish and throughout the Diocese of Scranton.
Bishop Martino has entrusted Monsignor Sempa with the care of Sacred Heart of Jesus - Saint John parish. The Bishop supports Monsignor Sempa's efforts to respond to the spiritual and physical needs of this faith community in ways that he believes are prudent and responsible. While there is rarely total agreement between a pastor and all
members of a particular parish, the Bishop has determined that Monsignor Sempa has carefully consulted the members of the Parish Finance Council regarding the issue at hand. Moreover, data indicates that Monsignor Sempa has continually informed the parish at large of the precarious condition of the parish plant and its future.
While there may be some parishioners who question Monsignor Sempa's approach to the crisis facing Sacred Heart of Jesus - Saint John parish, Bishop Martino agrees with Monsignor's assessment of current parish needs and the manner of resolving them. Any further concerns should therefore be addressed to Monsignor Sempa, mindful of the Bishop's approval of the direction that Monsignor has established for Sacred Heart of Jesus - Saint John parish.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
{/Monsignor Joseph C. Bambera, V.E. Episcopal Vicar, Central Region
cc: Monsignor John J. Sempa
| 
