Boston Archdiocese Announces 1st Phase Of Overhaul
BRAINTREE (AP) — The Boston Archdiocese has announced the first phase of a dramatic restructuring that combines parishes into clusters that share clergy and resources.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Mark Katic reports
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The Roman Catholic archdiocese on Thursday released the list of its first 12 "collaboratives," which include 28 parishes covering a geographic spread, from Weymouth to Billerica.
The collaboratives included in the first phase are:
- Saint Luke and Saint Joseph, Belmont
- Saint Mary, Saint Margaret, Saint John, Beverly
- Saint Mary, Saint Theresa, Saint Andrew, Billerica
- Saint Mary, Brookline (a one parish collaborative)
- Saint Mary of the Angels, Roxbury and Saint Thomas and Our Lady of Lourdes, Jamaica Plain
- Saint Mary and Sacred Heart, Lynn
- Our Lady of the Assumption and Saint Maria Goretti, Lynnfield
- Saint Lucy and Saint Monica, Methuen
- Sacred Heart, Middleboro and Saints Martha and Mary, Lakeville
- Sacred Heart and Our Lady Help of Christians, Newton
- Saint James, Saint John, Immaculate Conception, and Saint Anne, Salem
- Saint Jerome and Immaculate Conception, Weymouth
The archdiocese says that by 2019, all 288 parishes will be grouped in about 135 clusters run by a unified lay and clergy leadership, including a single pastor. Each parish keeps its name, property and legal identity.
Father Paul Soper, director of planning, says pastors will resign and re-apply for their jobs.
The overhaul is a response to weak attendance, failing parish finances and a priest shortage. It aims to build a stronger platform from which to evangelize and draw back Catholics.
Officials say the first phase includes evaluating how collaboratives deal with multiple parish budgets and language differences.
Detailed information about each collaborative are available at www.disciplesinmission.com.
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