Washington County cluster finds progress in changes

The Augustinian friars had just pulled out of St. Joseph's Church in Greenwich and St. Patrick's in Cambridge; a young diocesan priest was assigned to St. Joseph's; and a Sister of St. Joseph came to Cambridge as parish life director.

Even parishioners of Holy Cross Church in Salem were concerned about the possibility of sharing their pastor with another parish.

Coming together

Such cluster cooperation has been led by Rev. Thomas Konopka, pastor of St. Joseph's; Rev. Liam Condon, pastor of Holy Cross; and Sister Anne Sheridan, CSJ, parish life director of St. Patrick's. But the parishioners also have played an important role in making the cluster work.

"People have started taking over and doing more, and we have to start letting go and trusting that things will happen," Father Konopka said. "We're making a real conscious effort and sharing a common vision, and I think God is very active in all of this."

Planning for future

"We were the last people to think anything would happen because we had the Augustinians," said Father Condon. "But even before we heard of the Augustinians leaving, we had to jump start the clustering process."

When the Augustinians finally pulled out of the two parishes, parishioners of St. Joseph's soon had a new pastor in Father Konopka, but those at St. Patrick's feared the worst when no priest was assigned to their parish right away, according to St. Patrick's parishioner Bill Dailey.

"I thought it would be the end of our church," he said. "I was suspicious of the word 'cluster' the first day I read it in the paper."

Even Don Brooks, a St. Joseph's parishioner and cluster council member, was surprised that the clustering process was being put to the test so soon.

"At the beginning, it seemed like an academic experience: After the year 2000, consider the possibility of a reduced number of priests," he said. "But I didn't think we'd really be doing it at that point."

New leadership

Father Konopka got settled in his role as St. Joseph's pastor, a challenging situation for several reasons: He was a younger priest with new ideas who was replacing a beloved pastor from an order that parishioners had identified with for years.

Father Condon remained at Holy Cross, but even this sign of stability seemed in jeopardy amid concerns that he'd be the only priest serving the cluster or that he'd be moving to another parish.

Making changes

Fathers Konopka and Condon take turns celebrating weekend Masses at each of the three parishes, so they are at their own parish at least every other week.

This schedule make it easier for the priests to cover all the weekend Masses and gives parishioners a chance to attend Mass at another parish in the cluster, either by choice or because they're running late for Mass at their parish.

Getting around

"Some people drive farther than that to go shopping or go to work," he said.

Traveling among the three parishes doesn't seem to bother either priest or Sister Anne; in fact, Father Konopka, who also is a member of the diocesan Vocations Team, finds the trip helps him to pray and think.

"I listen to tapes on vocations and discernment. Driving on Route 29 on a winter morning is one of the best rides, and it gives me time for quiet prayer and meditation," he said.

Interaction

She was actively involved in the clustering process and has been pleased with how well the three parishes have come to operate as one cluster.

"It's very gratifying to be able to meet these people from other parishes and bounce ideas off each other, and it seems to work," she said.

More to do

Overall, parishioners seem to be satisfied with the cluster's progress, even those such as Mr. Dailey, who was apprehensive about the very mention of the word "cluster" at one point.

"I think we're an excellent example of what a cluster can become. We're better now than before, and there's more camaraderie," he said.

Standing for unity

Father Konopka even mentions the cluster parishes in the Eucharistic prayer, which some parishioners have mistaken for a personal devotion to St. Patrick and St. Joseph.

"We are making this public statement that we are working together," he said.

It's also important for parishioners to remain involved with their individual parishes while keeping an eye on the bigger picture, Father Konopka pointed out. "You need to have local people do things locally within a structure that comes from a cluster point of view," he said.

Father Condon added: "Nothing is perfect or set in stone, but there are a lot of opportunities and challenges, which is great."

(08-05-99) [[In-content Ad]]