Parishioners adapt to consolidations

Parishioners adapt to consolidations

A year after dozens of parish closings and mergers across the Albany Diocese sparked anger and grief, many Catholics say they've begun to adjust.

"It's got to be more than a building," said Mark Perrella, now a parishioner of St. Luke's Church in Schenectady. His family went to St. John the Baptist parish in Schenectady for 16 years until it closed last year.

Mr. Perrella and others were shocked and saddened when the closing was announced.

"Even though we had a lot of time to prepare for it, it just didn't seem real," he recalled. "No one was ready to deal with it yet."

Indeed, many across the Diocese criticized the "Called to be Church" pastoral planning process, which resulted in parish mergers and a plan to close 33 churches by the end of 2011.

Some say the process didn't consider sufficiently the feelings of the people in the pews or the importance of social service ministries, like that of St. John the Baptist parish.

But, by and large, people have healed - thanks to the passage of time, getting involved, blending parish traditions, talk and prayer.

With time
At Holy Trinity Church in Johnstown, which formed from the merger of three parishes eight years ago and consolidated to one building last year, the pastor wrote a letter urging the congregation to start looking to the future.

The mission prayer on the front page of the bulletin reads, "Guide us, that we may recognize and acknowledge those things which bind us together, rather than the differences which separate us."

"It's probably going to take a generation to heal," Rev. Ken Swain, the pastor, told The Evangelist. "The only thing that's going to work is patience and being sensitive to everyone, whether you agree with them or not."

Long-term anguish is understandable, Mr. Perrella said.

"This is not unusual. This is truly a loss," he said, echoing a comparison many have made to grieving over a person's death.

But he and others say there are ways to cope: Find a welcoming parish; introduce yourself; get involved and suggest the new community adopts traditions close to your heart.

Though Mr. Perrella says St. John the Baptist is irreplaceable - he fondly remembers the entire congregation holding hands during the Lord's Prayer - he is finding a home at St. Luke's. He likes that his new parish serves the poor with a food pantry and other ministries, and he says his pastor, Rev. Dominic Isopo, is genuine and pure.

"He has a genuine care and concern for people," Mr. Perrella said. "I think that's maybe what holds people together the most."

Gifts carried
Other former parishioners of St. John the Baptist have scattered - many attend St. Luke's; one, St. Joan of Arc in Menands - but say they take a part of their old parish with them wherever they go.

For instance, at Mater Christi parish in Albany, which formed from the merger of St. Teresa of Avila and St. Catherine of Siena parishes last year, parishioners from St. Teresa's have brought a few traditions with them.

For instance, MaryGrace Dansereau says Mater Christi adopted the Passover seder, a meal-and-prayer service on the eve of the first day of Passover, based on Jewish traditions. Cursillo, a Christian renewal movement for living discipleship, also "transferred" from St. Teresa's.

Rev. Vincent Ciotoli was pastor at St. Teresa's for four years. Today, he ministers at Our Lady Queen of Peace parish in Rotterdam, a brand-new merger of Our Lady of the Assumption in Rotterdam and Immaculate Conception in Schenectady.

Learning from the Albany merger, Father Ciotoli asked every registered parishioner at both parishes to register again as a parishioner of the newly-formed parish.

The communities have mingled at prayer services and will offer rides to those who have trouble getting to Rotterdam.

Hearing and heard
Elsewhere, displaced parishioners are beginning to feel at home, too.

Heather Jonker wasn't sure where to take her family of five when their parish, St. Anna's in Summit, closed. They were 10-year parishioners. But the open atmosphere at St. Joseph's parish in Worcester helped ease the transition.

"None of our feelings were dismissed," Mrs. Jonker said. "Personally, that's what helped a lot."

Dozens of other St. Anna's families have started anew at St. Joseph's, though some Summit residents are turning to Protestant churches to avoid driving 17 miles.

Ann Lape's family chose the closest parish to her, St. Vincent's in Cobleskill, but she said her elderly father still "bounces around," attending Mass at various parishes.

Mrs. Lape chose to "move on. Religion means too much to us not to make a choice," she said. "Everyone has their own process to go through."

The pastor at St. Joseph's, Rev. Ronald Green, MM, has written homilies about dealing with grief and encourages parishioners to voice their anger and talk about what they'll miss about St. Anna's.

Father Green advises Cath-olics to find someone to talk to - a spiritual director, a counselor or someone who's gone through the same experience.

Over in Schenectady, Mr. Perrella said to stay positive.

"There is hope. I can feel better," he said. "You just have to give it time. Be willing to open your mind up and say, 'Okay, let's try' [a new parish]. We're there to listen to God's word and we're still getting the same message."

(07/01/10)