Center Line, Warren

Archdiocese announces plans for local parishes

By Brian Louwers
C & G Staff Writer

Catholics in Warren and Center Line now know more about how their parishes will operate in the months and years ahead, based on plans outlined by the Archdiocese of Detroit Feb. 20.

The plans, announced as part of the “Together in Faith” process for parishes in the church’s Central Macomb Vicariate, include solutions for five churches in Warren and one in Center Line. The moves are part of a broader effort that included alignment plans for all of the Archdiocese of Detroit’s 267 parishes, assembled, according to Archbishop Allen Vigneron, through a collaborative effort among thousands of parish volunteers and input from a lay advisory board.

In a media release announcing the plan Feb. 20, the Archdiocese stated the goal of its “Together in Faith, Phase II” program was to “evaluate parish situations in an open and collaborative process to propose what should be done to be better stewards of local resources to fulfill the mission of ‘Sharing Christ in and through the Church.’”

Vigneron addressed the changes in a pastoral letter sent to parishes this month.

“The life of the Church here in the Archdiocese of Detroit cannot simply continue without significant changes. Faith and prudence demand that we act now,” Vigneron said.

The action involving the six local parishes includes:

•Beginning early this year, Warren’s St. Mark (Ryan and Stevens) and St. Louise (12 Mile and Dequindre) parishes were directed to move forward as “clustered partners” and to develop a cluster plan to be submitted no later than June 30. According to the Archdiocese, the plan would be implemented when a current pastor is no longer available, if a replacement is not available to be reassigned, or when either parish falls into an operational deficit.

“Clustered partners” are formed as needed when a pastor leaves or the parish falls into an operating deficit.

The plan for St. Mark and St. Louise would involve models for initial collaboration, but should include contingency plans for sharing programs, outreach and administrative resources, and for the closure or sale of buildings and property as needed as part of any short-term or permanent solutions.

• St. Edmund (12 Mile and Schoenherr) and St. Sylvester (12 Mile and Hoover) were directed to cluster this year and to develop plans to merge to one site.

A “cluster” is defined by the Archdiocese as two or more parishes that share a single pastor, and often administrative resources and personnel. Clustered parishes have independent finances.

The plan for St. Edmund and St. Sylvester is due no later than June 30, and should include models for initial collaboration, and contingency plans for sharing programs, outreach administrative resources and/or the closure of buildings and planning the sale of church property.

• Center Line’s St. Clement (10 Mile and Van Dyke) and Warren’s St. Teresa of Avila (Hoover and Frazho), currently clustered, were directed to develop merger plans early this year that should include consideration of one fewer site.

According to the Archdiocese, a merger is defined as two parishes coming together to form a single parish with a single pastor. The merger would also combine the finances and councils of both parishes. Merged parishes often take on a new name, and the merger could result in fewer worship sites.

The plan for St. Clement and St. Teresa of Avila is to be submitted on later than June 30, and will be implemented no later than Dec. 31, 2012. Debt repayment plans are also to be drafted for each parish, according to the Archdiocese, “addressing their outstanding payables to the Michigan Catholic Conference, the Archdiocese of Detroit, and the archdiocesan Loan Deposit Program.” The financial plans are also due June 30.

In his letter, Vigneron acknowledged that the changes are difficult but said they “become redemptive when viewed with eyes of faith.”

“The changes we need to make will surely involve moments of personal loss as some parishes are reconfigured into new worship communities, but we move forward always with the hope that God will raise us up and raise up for us new resources to do his work,” Vigneron said. “We need only to trust in the Lord and follow where he leads us.”

More details can be viewed online at www.aodonline.org
 

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Brian Louwers at brianlouwers@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1089.