This would be hilarious if it weren't so sad.

[hedgehog]

So the bishop decided that the two parishes in my city are to be merged. I suspect that we were going to be the example for the rest of the diocese since this is the first example of two viable parishes being merged sole as a result of the priest shortage. On the east side is the older parish (Church built c1880) which was dominated by an old style pastor for at least 30 years and isn't quite aware that Vatican II ever took place. On the west side is the younger parish (est. 1930, current church built c1960) The west side parish was noted until recently for vigorous lay participation.

Currently there are 2 priests, the pastor of the east side church and the priest-in-charge of the west side church. The former pastor of the west side parish has left the church in frustration, so the bishop didn't appoint an official new pastor in the hope that he would return. He sent out a priest who had grown up in this city , albeit in the east side parish. He's supposed to be semi-retired.

So, the two parish councils met, there was a separate unified planning committee, an architect was hired to evaluate the buildings. The newer parish had the better and larger campus. When put to a vote, the planning committee split 50/50 along parish lines as to which campus to keep. So all the info was sent off to the bishop.

Well, the old pastor of the west side parish is gone for good, and I think the pastor of the east side was quietly appointed pastor of both parishes. He dissolved the old parish councils and a new combined council was selected by drawing names out of a hat, 3 from one parish, 3 from the other and 1 extra. Apparently, the bishop tossed the question back to the parish council since the last I heard the pastor is arranging a retreat (with his selection of retreat master)to select a campus.

So at Mass today, instead of preaching on the meaning of Palm Sunday, the priest -in-charge of the west side parish chided people angrily for passing around excerpts from the architect's report and for contacting the members of the parish council. He's big with the pay, pray and obey school of parish life. Whatever the bishop says must be treated as GOD's WILL, you know.

Except apparently when the two priests disagree with what the bishops say, it's OK

The two priests are offering truncated Easter vigils at the two churches, stating at 4PM and 5PM next Saturday. By Church law, the Easter vigil is to begin after sunset and finish before sunrise. It is not supposed to be held at the same time as the usual Saturday Mass.

http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/eastervigil.shtml

This is what happened last year, and it was like sitting down and having a cold sandwich for Thanksgiving dinner. On paper plates.


I'll be headed to the next parish, 5 miles away for Holy Week and Easter. That's a solution for this year but I think that parish might be closed next year.

[Book Lover]

1. I remember you posting about the Vigil last year

Do you think complaining to the guy about the content of his Palm Sunday sermon would do much good in the long term, at least to keep the parish paperwork out of Mass?

[hedgehog]

2. I think both of these guys are pretty tone deaf. The pair of them preach about

God's will and our need to obey the bishop, then proceed to flout basic rules regarding the Holy Week Liturgy because it suits them. I'm willing to bet that they will both vigorously enforce the new translation of the Mass when the Vatican issues it in the next year or so.


Did I tell you what the pastor preached on for the Feast of the Epiphany? He stood up and passionately denounced internet porn.