June 17, 2015 Submitted by: Dan Alexander of St. Elizabeth Church, Elizabethtown; James Forcier of St. Philip Neri, Westport; and Susan Fahey of St. Philip of Jesus/St. Joseph, Willsboro/Essex. Two heads are generally better than one when it comes to most things. When it came to linking parishes it definitely worked very well for Fathers Francis J. Flynn and Raymond J. Moreau. Father Flynn was assigned as pastor of the parishes of St Elizabeth’s in Elizabethtown, and St Philip Neri in Westport in September 2012. About a year later Father Moreau was assigned as temporary administrator of The Catholic Community of St. Philip of Jesus in Willsboro and St. Joseph in Essex. The two priests immediately began making plans for the transition, not knowing how long they would have to put things in order before Father Moreau would be reassigned. Parish finances The finance councils were organized to meet at the same time. However, all the parish financial matters would continue to be separate and fiscal decisions made solely from each individual parish. The pastoral council also was reorganized to create a joint council. The next step was to have one weekly bulletin serving all the parishes. This took place in July 2014. Father Moreau trained a parishioner to prepare and format the weekly bulletin, which is printed locally and features advertisers from all the communities served by the parishes. Pastoral leaders In addition, Deacon Paul White, who was ordained for the parishes of Elizabethtown and Westport, now serves all the parishes. Deacon White has assisted the transition in a number of ways. Initially he started by alternating weekends between the churches. One weekend he served in Elizabethtown and Westport and the other weekend he would serve at Willsboro and Essex. Catholic Daughters CDA Members were invited to make a presentation during the Masses one weekend in early July 2014 and invited the women of all the parishes to join the chapter and enhance the membership; several new members were recruited. Mass schedule Parish vendors Several area Protestant churches were interested in joining the bidding process, enhancing the buying power even further. Prior to that there were three different fuel oil distributors servicing the three parishes. That has now been reduced to one vendor with savings realized in making the move. Bids also were sent out for plowing and shoveling, with one vendor now plowing for two of the churches. Transition begins Since it appeared the transition was going smoothly and the parishioners were assimilating into the new structure permission was requested to begin the reduced weekend Mass schedule on Divine Mercy Sunday with the expectation that Father Moreau would be re-assigned this summer. By making the change a few weeks early it allowed for a systematic scheduling of Mass requests, all made and coordinated through one office. This meant that one priest could cover all the Masses from this point forward but at the same time allowed for both priests to still be available for the transition. It also allowed Father Flynn and Father Moreau the opportunity to provide coverage for priests in the deanery and beyond should other pastors need a weekend off. Several pastors were able to take advantage of this offer allowing Father Moreau to cover for them while Father Flynn tended to the new Mass schedule in Westport, Elizabethtown and Willsboro/Essex. Lay ministry Outside the church walls, parishioners have supported each other’s parish fund raisers within the new cluster of parishes Communication Father Moreau has been careful not to start any new program without first discussing it with Father Flynn, and deciding whether it is something Father Flynn could continue once he is alone. This cooperation has definitely been an advantage as parishioners share ideas and start doing things togetherwith the future in mind. The people of the parishes have been completely supportive and seem to appreciate seeing the two pastors working together for the well-being of the parishes and the parishioners. And now, this two headed story has a happy ending with the recent announcement of Father Moreau’s new assignment as pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Brushton and St. Augustine’s Church in North Bangor. Father Flynn, in addition to his current pastoral responsibilities, also being named pastor of The Catholic Community of St. Philip of Jesus in Willsboro and St. Joseph in Essex. Both appointments are effective July 1. When Father Raymond J. Moreau was named temporary administrator in Willsboro/Essex in 2013, parishioners understood that the time before their parish was linked with Elizabethtown and Westport, led by Father Francis J. Flynn, was limited. During the past t wo years changes have been made to insure that the transition to a single pastor was a smooth one. Among the changes was the publication of one weekly bulletin, shown above, for all the parishes in the cluster. Here, representatives from each of the parishes explain other efforts that have been made.
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