Consolidation going strong in Herkimer

"The Diocese keeps using this as an example," said Rev. Robert Shinos, pastor. "This merger was one of the smoother ones."

At the time, St. Joseph's Church, founded in 1907, was in need of extensive interior renovation, and parishioners began raising funds for the project. Meanwhile, St. Francis de Sales parish proposed to build its own parish center; so diocesan officials asked St. Joseph's parishioners not to proceed with their fund-raising effort. It also became clear that, with three parishes in Herkimer, consolidation was inevitable.

Working together

The reality of merging "doesn't really hit until you close a building," said Father Shinos, adding that the church represents "the heart and soul of what has been there."

Father Shinos moved from St. Joseph's rectory to St. Anthony's, and St. Joseph's rectory became the site of the parish offices and religious education classes. The old St. Anthony's Church, which served as a place of worship until the current church was built in 1963, was used as a parish hall and religious education center after the merger; St. Francis School also is used for religious education. The former St. Joseph's School was leased to Herkimer Area Resource Center, a facility for persons with developmental disabilities.

Formal unity

Members of St. Joseph's parish were encouraged to fill vacant seats on the joint parish council, and lay ministers and religious society members remained active in the merged parish.

One of the keys to making the merger work was preserving the traditions of each parish; St. Joseph's had an older, Polish congregation, while St. Anthony's parishioners were primarily younger and Italian. The merged parish continues to celebrate a St. Anthony's feast each year, while the traditional blessing of food baskets and the sale of Oplaki, or Christmas wafers, have been brought over from St. Joseph's.

Traditions

In addition, Father Shinos has continued the weekly tradition of recognizing parishioners who are celebrating a birthday or anniversary before the conclusion of Sunday Mass. Since he had been pastor of St. Joseph's since 1977 and had celebrated numerous Masses at St. Anthony's prior to the merger, "getting to know names and faces really wasn't that difficult," he said.

The religious education program includes nearly 475 students in grades kindergarten through 12 who receive instruction at St. Francis School, St. Anthony's Hall and St. Joseph's Center. Adult education also is an important aspect of Ss. Anthony and Joseph parish, as is music ministry, with seven different groups that play in church.

Smooth transition

"I think everybody's pleased about him. He just is a nice person. He's done a lot," Mr. Evangelista said.

Sister Patricia Woolheater, CSJ, agreed that the transition went very well, and there's a strong feeling of community in the parish.

"People feel very comfortable when they come to Ss. Anthony and Joseph," she said. "I think this is a positive experience."

Active life

"It makes for a pretty exciting community. I think everything's going along pretty well," she said.

Father Shinos recommends that parishes finding themselves faced with a merger should go about the process prayerfully and patiently -- and "realize this is an emotional thing; be very gentle in your approach."

(07-02-98) [[In-content Ad]]