MERGER UPDATE 8
Beloved Parishioners,
Welcome to the Holy season of Advent, the new year of the Church, as we begin our spiritual journey to Christmas.
In the second Reading, the word of God admonishes us: May you not be lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will keep you firm to the end. God is faithful.
In the gospel, Jesus instructs us: Watch! Be alert!,..May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping...stay awake!
Advent: waiting time, preparation time, hoping time.
We are waiting, preparing and hoping for many things:
- waiting, preparing and hoping to inaugurate a President after a crazy election
- waiting, preparing and hoping for a COVID-19 vaccine around the corner
- waiting, preparing and hoping for Christmas
- waiting for the return of Jesus
- waiting, preparing and hoping for the take-off of our new St. Isidore Parish (Lakeville-Middleboro-Rochester) to be born out of the CCC duo of Sacred Heart Parish and Sts. Martha & Mary Parish.
I know you and your beautiful families had a safe, fun-filled and memorable thanksgiving, a thanksgiving during a pandemic.
This first Sunday in Advent, I would like to address you again, beloved parishioners, on where we are in the merger process, as we wait, prepare and hope.
Many parishioners have read the most recent update 7 sent out last Tuesday on CCC bulletin, website, flocknote & facebook.
Our Merger process has run from May - Nov. At the beginning I thought it was going to be a simple process: it has not been as simple as we thought: 12 meetings, 91 Submissions from parishioners (via the 2 dedicated CCC links), 8 updates to parishioners (website, Flocknote, bulletin, facebook, Mass).
We sent our merger request to the Archbishop in September after the merger vote passed. In addition to the merger request we sent to the Archbishop, the Episcopal Vicar of the South Region (Very Rev. Bob Connors) and the Vicar Forane (Rev. Bob Deehan) each wrote a letter to the Archbishop in support of the merger of the CCC Parishes after they had each interviewed me.
After all these, I was again invited on October 10 to make another presentation before the Cardinal and his Presbyteral Council. After my presentation and questions asked, the Presbyteral Council members took up 2 different votes whether to support our merger proposition, and whether to proceed to recommend the merger to the Archbishop for his consideration. Both votes were overwhelmingly in the affirmative.
However, on Thursday, November 19, we were informed from the Archdiocese that St. Joseph the Worker, earlier proposed as the name for the consolidation of the CCC Parishes, has been rejected by the Archbishop, Seán Cardinal O’Malley. We were required to submit 2 possible replacements without delay.
Immediately, the CPC swung into action. At the Cranberry Catholic Collaborative Pastoral Council Meeting held on Thursday November 19, 2020, a discussion was held to find a suitable name replacement for the new Merger parish. After discussions and suggestions, a vote was taken on the suggested names. The following two emerged with the highest votes: Holy Trinity Parish and St. Isidore Parish.
On Monday, November 23, 2020 the Archbishop approved our second choice, Saint Isidore. Saint Isidore becomes the patron saint of our new parish that will be known as Saint Isidore Parish, Lakeville-Middleboro-Rochester.
At this point, I want to observe that some of the many RCAB parishes who have already merged only had 2 or 3 meetings & didn’t go beyond a month or two and moved on. Ours has run for 7 months with 12 meetings, 91 submissions, 8 updates. I want to state here without fear of contradiction that the Staff & Councils have done a good and thorough job in leading this discourse and deserve to be commended by all. Am saying this within the backdrop of a few persons who may consider the process as not 100% perfect).
The effective date for St. Isidore Parish which may happen
12.01am on January 1, 2021 will be only an action executed through a decree. But the actual transition into the new parish will be a process/a journey that may last through a good part of 2021.
If am appointed the Pastor of St. Isidore Parish, we will take up transition things step by step: a transition which will affect the Staff, Faith Formation, the Liturgy, our Facilities, the Councils, etc. If another priest is appointed the Pastor, I will most gladly hand over the transition process to him to continue from where we stopped.
Whoever is appointed the Pastor, the Take-off Mass for the new St. Isidore Parish, hopefully, will be
Sunday January 3 (The Epiphany of the Lord). The Mass will be
9.30am at Saints Martha & Mary church (only 1 Mass that Sunday in St. Isdore Parish).
But the Sunday before,
Dec. 27 (The Holy Family), there will be one Mass in each CCC Parish (
9.30am: M&M;
11am: SH) - At these 2 Masses, we will briefly go through memory lane to recap the rich history & rich heritage of our two Parishes that will in the next week consolidate into one new parish - St. Isidore Parish. After the kick-off Mass of St. Isdore Parish on Sunday January 3, the regular weekend Mass schedule will resume.
We prayerfully commend all these to the mercy of God, and to the intercession of the BIVM, St. Joseph and St. Isidore.
Amen! Happy Advent!!
Fr. JT
Administrator