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The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

&

St. John the Evangelist Church

The following letter from Bishop Robert Cunningham was distributed to the parishioners of Northside parishes:
December 7, 2009

Dear Friends in Christ,

 It has been a long journey. Since January 2006, members of the parishes of the Northside have examined ways to strengthen the presence of the Church in the area. Through the years, the Northside has experienced dramatic changes. The descendants of the dynamic Catholic ethnic communities that grew from the European immigration of the early twentieth century have moved from these neighborhoods and made rich contributions elsewhere in the area and the nation. These shifts in the nature of our neighborhoods have been difficult for many. Change is always difficult, and, even when we know that it is necessary, it is rarely welcome.
 Careful examination of our neighborhoods reveals a need for the presence of the Church and the ministries she offers. However, due to the changing population, the beautiful facilities are underutilized and their costs have limited the ability of parishes to respond to the new needs of the areas that they were established to serve. The on-going study by leadership of parishes has wrestled with the needs to be faithful to parishioners; to be present to the people of the neighborhoods; and, to be prudent stewards of the resources provided by people for the works of the Church.
 In October, you received, from your parishes, a draft of recommendations for the future of the parishes of the Northside.  You were invited to respond with other ideas. Honoring those recommendations and the history of the Northside dialogue, I was presented with the recommendations in November. In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I have heard the Council of Priests regarding these recommendations. Based on their counsel and after prayerful consideration, I accept the recommendations provided by the planning committee. However, I wish to accelerate the time-line for the request that the planning committee complete its long term work.  For the sake of parishioners and our neighborhoods, it is important that the parishes of the Northside regain their sense of stability.
 The recommendations that I have accepted are:
 1.      Holy Trinity Church will merge with and into St. John the Baptist Church at the site of St. John the Baptist on 14 February 2010.
 2.      St. John the Evangelist will merge with and into the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on 30 June 2010.
 3.      The Asian Community will be welcomed into their new home during the first week of July 2010. The location is to be determined in consultation with the leadership of the Asian community.
 The Planning Group also recommended that the leadership of the Church of the Assumption, Our Lady of Pompei/St. Peter, and St. John the Baptist – Holy Trinity provide an operational plan for their collaborative future by July 1, 2011. I believe that the degree of change on the Northside and the financial reality of these parishes require a more timely response. Therefore, I ask that the planning group work with a team of specialists provided by the diocese to develop a plan that can be shared with you in March 2010. I hope that their report will provide you with a sense of the future that will strengthen and sustain a Catholic presence on the Northside.
 I am grateful to you for your faith, patience, and involvement as we move toward the future. I know that these changes are difficult. They are also difficult for your Bishop who is concerned about the impact that these needed transformations will have on your lives. I ask for your prayers for myself and for the diocese. Be assured of my own prayer for you.
 Cordially yours in Christ,
                                                                                      Most Rev. Robert J. Cunningham
                                                                                       Bishop of Syracuse




The following letter from the Northside Reconfiguration Committee was distributed to the parishioners of Northside parishes:

October 5, 2009

Dear Parishioners,

On the Northside of Syracuse there has been a lot of change. I know that we all want to see a thriving Catholic presence sustaining Catholics and responding to the needs of all the people of our neighborhoods as we move into the future. A Pastoral Planning Group formed from members of Northside parishes [Assumption, Holy Trinity, Our Lady of Pompei/St. Peter, St. John the Baptist, and St. John the Evangelist] has been meeting to discuss and develop recommendations.  The group is studying ways to continue effective ministry in the new Northside.  This letter will share with you a draft of those recommendations before they are sent to Bishop Cunningham.

The Planning Group proposes a process by that will effectively use our resources- people and assets to position the Church on the Northside to minister to the parishioners and residents.

Currently the recommendations include:

·         Merging Holy Trinity into St John the Baptist by December 31, 2009

·         Merging Saint John the Evangelist into the Cathedral as early as June 30, 2010

·         Welcoming the Asian Apostolate to a new worship and study location on the Northside, to be determined in collaboration with the Asian community.

·         The leadership of Saint John the Baptist - Holy Trinity, Our Lady of Pompei/Saint Peter and the Franciscan Church of the Assumption present a long-range plan by July 2011 for the future of the Northside.

I am asking you to share with me and our parish’s lay trustees any insights, information or proposals that may have been missed by the Planning Group.  So that we may easily compile your ideas, please limit these remarks to a signed letter of one page.  We would like these returned no later than October 16th.  The Planning Group will discuss any new information gained.  After studying the responses a set of recommendations will be sent to the Bishop. Bishop Cunningham is aware of the planning group’s work and of your concerns. I anticipate that upon receipt of the recommendations that he will discuss them with the College of Consultors and Presbyteral Council, responding in a timely manner.

I am aware of the concerns that these pastoral realities bring to our lives.  Since you have deep connections to the Northside, you are very aware that it has changed. I know that you want to use our resources to respond to the challenges of the new Northside with its gracious tapestry of new residents and pastoral challenges. Transformations, while difficult, are necessary for continuing a thriving Catholic presence.

We are all praying that the Holy Spirit will guide us in enlivening that strong and vibrant witness.

Thank you for your support and prayers. Let us pray for one another and for our Church.

Sincerely,

The North Side Reconfiguration Committee

 

 
 
 

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