Bishop reaffirms recommendations on Watervliet parishes

Bishop Howard J. Hubbard has reaffirmed earlier recommendations that established three worship sites for Immaculate Heart of Mary parish, which serves Watervliet and Green Island.

His decision confirms his acceptance of the consensus reached about a year-and-a-half ago by a six-parish Core Planning Team, comprised of diocesan officials and five representatives from each of the parishes that had served that community: Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Sacred Heart of Mary, St. Brigid's, St. Joseph's and St. Patrick's.

That planning team's recommendations called for the formation of a single parish (Immaculate Heart of Mary, established a year ago) with the continued use as worship sites of three former parish churches: St. Brigid's, including the school; St. Joseph's; and St. Patrick's.

Schools

The Bishop's decision comes after dozens of planning meetings, and input from parishioners and parish leaders over the last three years.

In addition to affirming the three worship sites and the continuation of St. Brigid's School, Bishop Hubbard has called for the continuation of Our Lady of Mount Carmel School's program under the care of St. Brigid's School and for it to operate this academic year in the Mount Carmel School building.

The faith formation program will be housed, for this year, in the former St. Patrick's rectory.

Buildings

The Bishop's announcement follows the completion of a prescribed architectural study of the 21 buildings that had served the six former parishes.

That study is expected to be of use to Immaculate Heart of Mary parish as it determines the future of buildings no longer in use.

The parish will be able to redirect anticipated resources from the lease or sale of those buildings into supporting existing programs and services.

Planning process

Bishop Hubbard, noting that the pastoral planning process was a struggle for many of those involved, said: "I wish to express to the entire leadership of Immaculate Heart of Mary parish my profound gratitude for the time, energy, sacrifice and service rendered over the past three years in an effort to plan for the ongoing viability and vitality of the Catholic Church in Watervliet and Green Island."

He also commended the entire parish community "for its perseverance, sacrifice and ongoing efforts to integrate the traditions and best practices of your former parishes into a new vibrant parish community, which has as its focus the continuation of the mission of Jesus while being good stewards of the resources entrusted to the care of your new parish."

While recognizing the "understandable sorrow" that many may experience from the decision, Bishop Hubbard said, "it is time to move on to the task of putting all of our energies into developing a strong parish community with adequate programs and services necessary to maintain a strong Catholic presence in Watervliet and Green Island while being prudent stewards of our parish resources."

'Changing realities'

The Bishop added that the planning process will continue throughout the Albany Diocese as part of "Called to Be Church."

Bishop Hubbard noted that "your sister parishes in the Albany Diocese and in every diocese throughout the entire northeast United States continue to struggle with the ongoing changing realities of migration to the suburbs, decline in church attendance, shrinkage of available priests and women religious for service within the Catholic community, and a host of other factors that challenge the way in which we live out our baptismal commitment to be Christ to each other in our day and time."

(Bishop Hubbard has asked parish leadership to celebrate, by mid-November, closing liturgies for Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Sacred Heart of Mary marked its closing last year.)

(10/5/06)