We are One In Christ

As we celebrate the feast of Saint Cloud, the patron of our Diocese, on September 7, it is a good time to reflect on our progress and future as the One in Christ Area

Catholic Community.

We all know that parishes, communities, and staff are in a time of transition and change in the entire Diocese. With mergers, appeals, and many parishes still waiting on their decrees, it is a time of high uncertainty and that’s always unsettling.

In our One in Christ ACC, the canonical merger of Sacred Heart and Annunciation is completed. The new joint Finance Council for the “new” Sacred Heart Parish met on July 28 and the new joint Pastoral Council met on August 4. There is strong representation for both churches on these leadership groups.

The merger of SFX and SS has been appealed, and Bishop Neary has responded to the appeal with assurances of preserving the historic church and community at SS and approving the proposal from St. Stephen to explore a new name for the merged parish with the leadership of St. Francis Xavier. Those who appealed are considering the amended decree as I write this; they may either accept the amended decree or make an appeal to Rome. This process has been respectful, realistic, and sincere.

The merger of the civil corporations still needs to be accomplished, and that may take 9-12 months after the canonical mergers are in place. This involves financial audits, inventories of significant property and goods at each site, a review of contracts or other agreements in place that may be affected by a civil merger, and the appropriate tracking of income and expenses so that each site is treated fairly and its income essentially supports its expenses as in the past. That said, our ACC still consists of four sites which will remain in use for Masses and other forms of ministry and community that are unique to each site. The church names remain. The participants in each church will experience the same engagement, support, and collaboration on joint ACC goals we have fostered over the past six years.

We are now three parishes, and perhaps eventually two if the SFX/SS merger is accepted. Unlike other ACCs who have merged into a single parish, or who have a CAP plan (the Committee on the Affirmation of Plans was a group of laity and clergy established by the Bishop to review the plans each ACC submitted by last December) to do so, our mandate from the CAP approved plan and Bishop’s direction is that Sacred Heart and St. Francis Xavier (and perhaps St. Stephen?) will remain distinct parishes, called to collaborate but not becoming a single corporation. The appointment of pastors in solidum reflects this dynamic – several communities served by a single dyad of shared leadership. Figuring out all the nuances of that will take some time.

At the same time, we are enhancing the function of the ACC Pastoral Council to engage in reviewing our original ACC goals, our current goals, and discerning if we want to focus on new goals and priorities for our common action. Staff will be engaged in that conversation as well. Collaboration has been a strength of our ACC and we want to continue to grow that witness to discipleship wherever it is feasible and effective for our communities.

Fr. Patrick and I are grateful that we are in such a position of strength and abundant blessings. All four communities are strong, faithful and are made up of good, generous people. All staff are engaged and contribute to the building up of our ACC and the people within it. All are interested in exploring better ways to organize our ministries as stewards of our resources to serve the people we are called to evangelize and support.

At this point, then, the ACC is looking at incremental growth, not radical changes. We will continue to work on collaboration and coordination of all the ministries we have to offer.

In the end, all of our efforts in whatever area of ministry aim to serve one purpose: that every person grows in their relationship with God through Jesus Christ. For this we have been chosen and sent to make disciples, and for this we pray each day.