Consolidation recommendation disappoints some

Some parishioners are disappointed with the idea of consolidating Catholic churches in Lycoming County, a possibility recommended in response to a shortage of priests

"People get used to something," explained Father Charles Cummings, the only priest for both Holy Rosary and Ascension churches. "This is the church that you were baptized in, the church where you married in, the church you've been to all your life ... People will be disappointed, but hopefully they'll understand it."

In all, four churches would be consolidated with two others, under the report issued over the weekend, "Called to Holiness and Mission: Pastoral Planning in the Diocese of Scranton."

The report calls for St. Lawrence Church in South Williamsport to consolidate with St. Boniface in the city. The parish site would be at St. Boniface, with St. Lawrence designated as an additional worship site. The newly formed parish is recommended to then partner with St. Ann.

The Rev. Michael Zipay at St. Lawrence said his church's building would remain open to be used for weekday services, funerals and weddings.

"It's not what we would want," he said of the recommendation. "But it's something that may have to be and may be unavoidable because of a shortage of priests."

Zipay is the only priest at his church, which has about 650 worshippers for weekend services, he said. Msgr. Stephen McGough is the only priest at St. Boniface.

Ascension, Holy Rosary and Mater Dolorosa churches would consolidate with Annunciation Catholic Church, which would be the main parish site.

Among the four parishes, there are 12 weekend services, Cummings said.

"The recommendation is, because there's so many (services) and so few of us, they would like to see two priests -a pastor and an assistant -and have six weekend liturgies. And in order to do that, we have to pick the biggest church."

Cummings said the diocese is "not just closing churches down for the sake of closing churches down."

Also in the recommendation is locating the rectory at Mater Dolorosa and using the St. Joseph Center for educational and informational programs for all ages.

"When you get people together in that way, you can strengthen the education ministry in all the children and adult programs. We're trying to do it with four different groups now. And if you have one central place to organize, you can strengthen the education and music," Cummings said.

The combined force will "hopefully do a better job at outreach programs," he added.

Cummings said he is not "for or against" the consolidation. "I think it's something that we have to do. We have to become, because of the shortage of priests, more organized ... Hopefully our four churches will become stronger and the different ministries will become stronger."

Zipay said that churches can respond affirmatively or negatively to the recommendation or "respond with adjustments."

Cluster teams and diocesan officials will continue meetings over the summer to review the ideas and formulate a response. Final recommendations will be presented to Bishop Joseph F. Martino in November, with the ultimate reconfiguration plan to be announced in January and implementation to begin next July.

"Nothing is formalized," Zipay said.