Proposed consolidation of Catholic churches in Wayne County could mean the closing of St. Joseph’s in White Mills, St. Rita’s in Gouldsboro, St. Cecilia, Hilltop, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Lake Como in another year. In addition, St. Mary’s in Waymart and St. Juliana’s in Rock Lake could shut down in two years, if the suggested recommendations are followed.
The Diocese of Scranton’s Planning Commission has recommended consolidation of several Catholic churches in their 11 county region, including a few in Wayne County. The report, issued July 18, 2008, advises:
• Consolidate the parish between St. Joseph, White Mills and St. John the Evangelist, Honesdale, with the parish site at St. John. There will be additional worship sites at St. Bernard Mission, Beach Lake; St. Mary’s, Honesdale; St. Joseph’s Mission church in Rileyville which will be reviewed after two years.
• A partnership would be created between BVM Queen of Peace, Hawley, and the newly consolidated parish at St. John the Evangelist.
• Consolidate the parish between St. Mary, Waymart and St. Thomas More, Lake Ariel, with the parish site to be at St. Thomas More.  There will be additional worship sites at St. Mary, Ledgedale and St. Mary, Waymart which will be reviewed after two years.
• Consolidate the parish between St. James, Pleasant Mount and St. Juliana, Rock Lake, with the parish site at St. James. There would be an additional worship site at St. Juliana, which will be reviewed after two years. The mission churches of St. Cecilia, Hilltop, and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Lake Como, will be closed.
• The parish at St. Joseph, Forest City, would be linked with the consolidated parishes of St. James and St. Juliana. Finding a new name for the parish is advised.
• Consolidate the parish between St. Rita Gouldsboro and St. Ann, Tobyhanna, with the parish site at St. Ann.
• The parish of St. Anthony, Newfoundland, would be designated a parish with St. Veronica’s Lake Wallenpaupack, currently a Mission church of BVM Queen of Peace, Hawley. St. Veronica’s would be linked with the parish at Newfoundland.
Fewer priests, less attending
The Diocesan Planning Commission completed its review of the suggestions submitted by the Cluster Core Teams on how the parishes in their clusters might be reconfigured. The 224 parishes in the Diocese are grouped into 50 Clusters; each cluster has a Cluster Core Team consisting of the Parish Core Team members from the parishes in the Cluster.  Each Team evaluated their own area’s ministries and resources, finances, demographics, liturgical and sacramental life, and evangelization activities.
These suggested consolidations are pending facility assessment results.
Also recommend is that a new Mass schedule be developed allowing larger assemblies.
According to the Diocese of Scranton’s web site, dioceses across the nation are examining their need for reconfiguration and closing of certain churches, based in part on declining attendance and a serious shortage of clergy. Other factors include financial viability, deterioration of a facility and proximity to other parishes.
This is part of Called to Holiness and Mission: Pastoral Planning in the Diocese of Scranton, the project that will result in parishes throughout the Diocese being reconfigured for the effective revitalization of those parishes. The process began in December 2007.
Planning retreat held
The Diocesan Planning Commission, comprised of priests, deacons, religious and laypersons from the various regions of the Diocese, came together June 30-July 2 for a planning retreat at Fatima Renewal Center in Dalton. This was the third step of an overall eight-step planning process.
Questions and input from parishioners will be invited through September. Bishop Joseph F.  Martino will study final recommendations, consult with Diocesan advisory bodies, and announce the final plan for parish reconfiguration, between November 2008 and January 2009. The new reconfiguration will be implemented in July 2009.
Further information is available on-line at www.dioceseofscranton.org. Click on “News & Information.”