A Statement from our Parish Council and the Central Steuben Catholic Parishes Implementation Committee As you are aware our five area parishes have been involved since 1997 in a pastoral planning process to help Bishop Clark deal with the challenges of diminishing numbers of priests and its impact on the sustainability of the churches throughout the diocese. This is not a challenge unique to our diocese.   What is unique is that our bishop has taken the approach of forming Planning Groups in each region of the diocese that have been charged with considering these challenges and possible solutions. Other dioceses have taken the approach of announcing church closure by edict.   Bishop Clark has faith in the ability of the people of his diocese to consider the situation, review options, weigh consequences and present him with thoughtfully deliberated recommendations.   Our Central Steuben Catholic Parishes Implementation Committee has done that.   A meeting of the Central Steuben Catholic Parishes Implementation Committee and the Parish Councils or Forums of our five Churches, consensus was reached today (yesterday) on the following plan to be submitted to our Bishop. Beginning in July 2009, St. Gabriel's and St. Mary's will begin working toward become a two parish cluster in July 2010 with the vision of becoming a single parish with two worship sites by July 2012. Beginning immediately, St. Catherine's, St. Joseph's and St. Stanislaus will commence a process leading them from a cluster to a single parish with three worship sites by July 2010. In the near future, our parish council and planning group will hold informational sessions to discuss this recommendation and, following the approval of   Bishop Clark, announce a timetable for its implementation. Beginning next week, our bulletin will address questions you may have concerning this announcement.     St. Catherine of Siena; St. Joseph the Carpenter; St. Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr are members of Central Steuben Catholic Parishes, Diocese of Rochester, NY copyright 2008 ABC Parishes, Addison NY, all rights reserved.

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