Parish, school reorganization plans outlined in New York, Vermont

Published: 2006-03-23

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- One of the largest archdioceses in the United States and two smaller dioceses are immersed in planning new alignments of their parishes and schools to reflect shifting demographics and a declining pool of priests. Cardinal Edward M. Egan of New York said in the March 16 edition of his archdiocesan newspaper, Catholic New York, that the 52-member Archdiocesan Realignment Advisory Panel recently began considering a proposal that could lead to the closing of up to two dozen parishes, half a dozen missions and a dozen schools in Manhattan, the Bronx and other southern sections of the archdiocese. Many of the affected parishes would be replaced by new churches in the northern portion of the archdiocese, he said. Bishop Salvatore R. Matano of Burlington, Vt., outlined a parish reconfiguration plan March 10 that would be implemented "only when/if pastoral care cannot be provided by a priest." Under the plan, up to six parishes would close and many more would be joined together and/or share a pastor. In Buffalo, N.Y., Bishop Edward U. Kmiec has announced plans to close four schools in June and open a new one in September. The diocese's Strategic Planning Commission was to recommend possible parish closings or mergers by the end of 2007.

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