St. Paul Parish
Today, I am announcing a historic change in three of our Fort Wayne parishes. These changes have been made after extensive consultation and prayer. They are made with one thing foremost in mind; namely, the pastoral care of the Catholics of this city. They are made after consultation in all three parishes.
We are bringing together the two communities of St. Paul and St. Patrick, Fort Wayne. The effective date of this merger will be June 28, 2003. The first Mass for the combined communities will be on the feast of SS. Peter and Paul, June 29, 2003.
We are also closing out or, to use the canonical term, 'suppressing,' the parish of St. Andrew, Fort Wayne.
Reasons for the change
The proper distribution of priests, so that all parishes receive sound pastoral care, is one of my main responsibilities as bishop. In joining the two parishes of St. Patrick and St. Paul, we are bringing together two vibrant communities under one pastor. Father Angel Valdez Lopez will be the pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Fort Wayne.
In addition to the need to properly distribute and assign our priest personnel, another question was raised in the consultation at St. Paul Parish last summer. What would the cost be to put the St. Paul property right? Schenkel and Sons made a careful study and we received the following report. It is estimated that to bring the church up to standard would range from $3 million to $4 million. The school was described as not meeting code, and it was noted that tearing it down and replacing it would be more cost-effective. The approximate cost would be $3 million.
Father Robert Schulte, our vicar general, and I, along with other priests, led meetings in both parishes beginning last August. It is a change which is sound, but not without pain. The parish becomes one's spiritual home. Many of the people of St. Paul Parish are immigrants or, like myself, children of immigrants. They live close to St. Patrick Church. Rather than spend an enormous amount of money, which the parish cannot afford, to rehabilitate St. Paul, it seemed best for this reason, and also to properly distribute our priests, to join together these two historic faith communities.
So, on the Feast of SS. Peter and Paul, there will be a procession for the community of St. Paul Parish to St. Patrick Parish. I will be at St. Patrick's to greet them. It is also my hope to speak at the earlier English Mass that morning at St. Patrick's, and thus be attentive on this important and historic day to both communities, as they become one.
St. Patrick Parish
St. Patrick's is also a beloved old parish, spiritual home to generations in this city. Like St. Paul's, it once housed a school. It still is known for programs on behalf of those in need. We intend that all this will continue and grow. I have asked the people of St. Patrick's to welcome these new parishioners, and I am sure that they will.
St. Andrew Parish
St. Andrew Parish, on the easternmost part of the city, has had only one liturgy each week for many years. It has been cared for by the priest who is pastor of St. Peter Parish. The average attendance at Mass at St. Andrew Parish each weekend has been 65 to 70 people. We can no longer continue to provide pastoral care for such a small congregation. It is not sound from either a sociological or pastoral point of view.
I will also celebrate the final Mass at St. Andrew Parish on Saturday evening, June 28, 2003. Thus, I will be with each community on the weekend of this historic and difficult, but also necessary change.
An overall plan for those in need
This will be the culmination of a number of changes that have been made in recent years. I want to make clear all that the church is doing to continue to provide for those in need in this urban area.
- We closed St. Hyacinth Church in 1996. We turned the property over to the needs of the poor. Vincent House was established with a $35,000 grant from the diocese. More than 400 families have lived there. The day care center has been expanded to include the former St. Hyacinth School and St. Hyacinth Church. Other agencies that work for the poor are located there. Vincent House has established and renovated 23 homes in the area for transient housing after they leave Vincent House, so they can have a home of their own for which they pay modest rent.
- We have also rebuilt the soup kitchen and church at St. Mary Parish after the tragic fire. So, St. Mary's continues its historic work for those who are hungry and in need. That corner continues to be a place where the hungry are fed, where many are helped in receiving a Catholic education and where there is health care for those without insurance.
- During the consultation with the parishioners of St. Andrew Parish, they made one thing clear. While they were sorry about the closing, they hoped that the work done by St. Andrew's for the poor could be continued. So, the soup kitchen, which operated daily at St. Andrew's and is a satellite of St. Mary's, will continue.
- We have already had discussions with the Christ Child Society, which gives clothing to poor children, and with other groups to see if the property of St. Andrew's can somehow be given over entirely to the poor, as was the case with St. Hyacinth's.
- No plans have been finalized, but it is my hope that St. Andrew's, St. Hyacinth's and St. Mary's may be a center for those who need food, health care and housing.
Thus, with these changes, the diocese has, in the course of a decade, strengthened and expanded its service to the poor and those in need and has made the necessary steps for the proper distribution of priests for pastoral and sacramental care.
Recently, we concluded a similar merger in South Bend. No bishop makes these decisions lightly. They have been made only after prayer and reflection. They are steps which will ensure the improvement of pastoral care and service for those in need in the years ahead.
