July 21, 2020 Dear Parishioners,
The Book of Ecclesiastes tells us, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” It is once again time for us to seriously engage the pastoral planning process in the Diocese of Sioux City and our parish grouping. As your pastor, and as the former Director of Pastoral Planning for the diocese, I understand that this is inevitable and difficult for all of us. The process of change and adjusting to new realities will be painful. Change is never easy, yet it is a necessary part of life. The heart of the Christian life is change, better known as conversion. In order for us to continue the mission of the Church we have to adjust the institutional realities according to the personnel resources that we have available. Since Ministry 2025 was launched, the diocese has lost seven priests and seminarians that were factored into our final numbers and plan. Six priests will retire in the summer of 2021. Due to this, we will lose Father Michael Cronin as our associate pastor next summer and will not be assigned another. Our parish group and many others in the diocese will once again have to make changes. I received a letter from the Diocese of Sioux City outlining these changes and have met with the finance councils and parish directors of both Saint Mary’s and Sacred Heart. I share these changes with you.
St. Joseph Parish in Schaller, Iowa which was merged with St. Mary’s Parish by extinctive union on 6-30-2017 is to be suppressed to a Church Building. A determination on the disposition and its maintenance as a Church Building is to be made by local leadership.
Sacred Heart Parish, Early is to be assumed by St. Mary’s Parish via extinctive union and designated as a Secondary Church and a consolidation of all administrative /governance functions and boards should be assumed and combined with St. Mary’s. Representatives of all of the churches should be, if possible, involved in the governance boards and committees at all levels.
Establish a modified parish grouping Mass schedule conducive to one priest for
St. Mary Parish with Sacred Heart as a Secondary Church. This new Mass schedule should go into effect on or about January 2021 or before if possible, in advance of the loss of your associate pastor in order for time to review and modify if needed.
Consult with any and all retired priests who may be currently serving the parish group with assurances that their assistance is welcomed and valued, if they are willing, but that in no way can the grouping allow their presence to be used in a planning formula.
Prepare a resolution for the merging of St. Mary’s and Sacred Heart and submit the same to the Bishop’s Office and Presbyteral Council for disposition.
• Prepare a final Mass and closing of St. Joseph’s Church, if they wish, at an appropriate time.
In light of the Covid-19 pandemic and the necessary challenges that it has presented, we are beginning to work on these changes now. On a practical level, this will require all of us to sacrifice. We will be limited to four weekend Masses (and that is due to special permission as the rule is three weekend Masses per active priest).
Saturday Evening
Mass in English (Early)
Mass in English (Storm Lake)
Sunday
Soon I will provide you with a survey about Mass times, keeping in mind that there are pre-determined factors that do not allow for a multitude of options. As the letter I received stated, the presence of Fr. Jim cannot be used in our planning formula. I appreciate his dedication and willingness to serve and he will continue to celebrate Masses and be active in our parish as long as he is willing and able but the parish structure and schedule has to be designed around the reality of one priest, namely, the pastor.
Pastoral planning cannot be reduced to a change in parish structures or a Mass schedule. This is the mistake of so many. We cannot stop here. I will be forming a pastoral planning committee to work on long range planning and evangelization efforts in our parish, including looking at parish ministries, education and evangelization, staff and other important topics. With fewer priests to serve our parishes we must form lay leaders and hire competent lay staff to assist our mission. All of this comes at a cost. Stewardship must be a key part of our parish life for without the appropriate resources, it is difficult to continue the mission. Our work is just beginning. I will share important information with you as we move forward, especially via our new digital bulletin, Gathered by Grace. Please contact the office at Saint Mary’s if you have not yet signed up. Change is difficult, but as the Letter to the Hebrews tells us, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Sincerely in Christ,
Father Brent C. Lingle Pastor