Catholic churches prepare for the future Diocese looks at restructuring local parishes BY PATRICIA YOCZIS Correspondent Peter O'Such recently completed a survey that may impact the future of his parish church, Church of the Nativity in Fair Haven. He joins thousands of other Catholics in 15 parishes in Monmouth County as they begin a process to review options of restructuring and consolidation that include merging with other parishes or closing churches. "My concerns are that I'll end up in a new parish church or that Nativity may be closed," said O'Such, a resident of Fair Haven. "I'm not worried because I know that there will be a Catholic church somewhere where I can go." O'Such and his wife, Patricia, both retired, have been members of Nativity Church for five years. He said that he understands that the shortage of priests is one reason for the reorganization. "We like our pastor, Father Bob Schecker, very much," he said. "We're comfortable here. It's just that it would be hard to start all over again with a new church and new members. It was easier when our grown children, Peter and Patricia Diane, were young. We had common interests with other parents." Since June, the Rev. Sam A. Sirianni, along with a pastoral team, has been pastor of three parishes in Long Branch: Holy Trinity, Our Lady Star of the Sea and St. John the Baptist. These parishes that operate under an option that is termed "twinned," are again among the 15 parishes undergoing review for restructuring. "We have to keep in mind that restructuring of parishes is a common trend happening nationally and even world-wide," said Sirianni, who is also director of the Office of Worship for the Diocese of Trenton, which includes parishes in Monmouth County. "We have to look to our strengths and resources. We can't let fear cause anxiety and prevent us from seeing the possibilities available to us." Sirianni sees a positive trend of this diocesan wide parish-by-parish review. "There will be more cooperation and sharing among parishes," he said. "Perhaps, there will be a youth minister for several parishes. Lay persons will have a greater role in the life of the parish community. Technology will help parishes to stay in touch and speed information." He said realities, such as a shortage of priests and the aging of priests, financial stress and a fluid society, must be faced. In January, he said, the pastor and two representatives from each of 15 parishes will begin study sessions to assess the surveys, resources, strengths and options to the parishes with the ultimate aim to make recommendations to Bishop John M. Smith, the leader of the Trenton Diocese by October 2008. "There are no predetermined decisions to the options available to the parishes in the study process," said Rayanne Bennett, spokesperson for the Diocese of Trenton. "This is a proactive action to put the resources of the diocese to the best use so that future generations of Catholics will be well served." She said all the parishes in the diocese will undergo the self-study review process not as a one-shot situation, but as an ongoing process. "All parishes will have the expectation of change, even if there is no organization change," said Bennett. "It's not only what is best for the parish or the region, but what is best for the wider community of the diocese. New areas of cooperation and sharing will be a continual process." Bennett said the review process is about 10 months long and involves parishioners with open information meetings and updates. After the study sessions have made recommendations to the bishop, there will be an additional transitional phase. "We have to deal with the realities of the present to have vibrant parishes in the future," she said. According to diocesan statistics, the Diocese of Trenton has 157 priests in 118 parishes serving a Catholic population of over 800,000. The other churches undergoing review are: Holy Cross, Rumson; St. Anthony and St. James, both in Red Bank; St. Leo the Great, Lincroft; Precious Blood, Monmouth Beach, and Immaculate Conception and St. Dorothea, both in Eatontown. Also, St. Mary, Deal; St. Anselm, Wayside; St. Michael, West End; and St. Jerome, West Long Branch. All 15 churches are in a geographical region, named the Monmouth Central Deanery by the diocese that stretches from the Navesink River in the North to Deal Lake in the South. The area consists of 23,000 Catholic families that have 22 priests in the 15 parishes. It is the third of 10 regions to undergo review. The review of the first region, the Greater Trenton Area, took effect in July 2005 and resulted in a reduction of parishes from 21 to 11. The second region, Northern Burlington, will take effect in July 2008 and will result in merging eight parishes into four and twinning another with a newly merged parish. No timetable is set for any other region in the Diocese of Trenton that includes parishes in Monmouth, Ocean, Mercer and Burlington Counties. For more information call Bennett at (609) 406-7400 ext. 5569 or visit www.dioceseoftrenton.org, then search Monmouth Central Deanery.