Request for Cooperation with Parish Pastoral Council

SACRED HEART WILKES-BARRE FOUNDATION, INC.

770 Lantern Hill Road

Shavertown, Pennsylvania18708

(570) 696-3169

May 1, 2008

Pastoral Council of Sacred Heart – St. John Parish

(Msgr, Sempa, Father Alco, Dan Amerise, Joe Boris, Bill Brace, Teresa Crosin, Michael Drevitch, Loree Gerich, Darlene Medico, Geri Ulichney, Dr. Vought)

666 North Main Street

Wilkes-Barre, PA18705

Subject:           Called to Holiness and Mission: Pastoral Planning in the Diocese of Scranton

Dear Members of the Pastoral Council of Sacred Heart – St. John Parish,

In his letter dated December 3, 2007 announcing the subject Called to Holiness and Mission, Bishop Martino called upon the Parish Pastoral Councils to provide input to the Parish Core Teams, and stated the importance of communication and cooperation between these councils.  As we evaluate our parish in conjunction with the parishes in our cluster group, the Parish Core Team will be asked to suggest a model to be adopted for our cluster team.  As stated in the Key Participants During a Parish Restructuring Process section of the Planning Guide, “it is vital for input to be provided by the two councils in the parish.”  In this spirit of communication and cooperation, and as a member of the Parish Core Team, we would like to know of your thoughts or recommendation regarding which model (i.e.: Consolidated Parish, Linked Parish, or Partnership Parishes) should be implemented for our parish. 

At the present time, Sacred Heart – St. John Parish is linked with St. Stanislaus Parish (Linked Parish Model).  The parishes are separate and distinct with independent finances and finance committees, but they share a common pastor.  Holy Savior Parish is the other parish in our cluster.  They have suggested entering into a partnership with Sacred Heart – St. John Parish and St. Stanislaus Parish (Partnership Parish Model).  This would allow the parishes to create joint programs and share staff as appropriate to enhance the quality of ministry.  The third model (Consolidated Parish Model) would create a new parish configuration (i.e.: territorial parish), with the purpose of providing more activities and opportunities than could be managed by the original parishes on their own.  However, the original parishes would be suppressed in this process.  Under this model, Sacred Heart – St. John Parish, a personal parish, would cease to exist, and its assets would be used to satisfy its obligations (i.e.: debt to the diocese), and any remaining assets would be assigned to the newly formed parish.  We sincerely hope you will agree that a consolidated parish is not in the best interest of the Sacred Heart – St. John Parish and its parishioners.

In the same December 3. 2007 letter, Bishop Martino also mandated that parishioners be involved in the planning process and that there be open and direct communication within the parish.  We therefore respectfully request that minutes of the Parish Council Meetings be inserted in the church bulletin (see enclosed example).  This will ensure that parishioners are aware of the discussions and recommendations, and will provide an opportunity for parishioner comments or feedback.

Finally, in a letter dated January 14, 2008, Bishop Martino urged all to make a commitment to prayer, quoting Pope John Paul II teachings.  Also, his December 3, 2007 letter reminds us that joint prayer services involving the Parish Pastoral Council, the Parish Finance Council, and the Parish Core Team will be crucial.  In this spirit, we invite you to join us in prayer on the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on May 30, 2008, as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church.  Also, you are invited to the presentation of the movie: “The Shrine of St. Joseph’s; The Church of Miracles”, to be shown on Wednesday evening, May 28, 2008 at 7:00 PM at the Burke Auditorium in King’s College.

We look forward to receiving your recommendations and hearing concerns regarding the various parish models, and to working with you as we continue in this diocesan effort. 

We also hope you will be able to join us in prayer, wherever the service may be held. 

Best regards,

Noreen W. Foti

President, Sacred Heart-Wilkes-Barre Foundation, Inc.

CC:      Most Rev. Joseph F. Martino, D.D. Hist. E.D.

            Auxiliary Bishop John M. Dougherty

            Msgr. Vincent J. Grimalia, V.G.

            Father Michael F. Quinnan, E.V. for the Southern Pastoral Region

Enclosure