NORWICH – Although not official, Catholic priests in Chenango County say they are devising a plan to possibly re-distribute their duties across dioceses in order to keep all eight area churches open and head off a foreseeable priest shortage.
According to Father Douglas Cunningham of St. Paul’s and St. Bartholomew’s Church in Norwich, area pastors have been in discussions with local priests from the Diocese of Syracuse and Albany to try and figure out the best way to allocate their resources, without having to close any churches. Cunningham explained that in the unofficial plan, parishes in close proximity but separate dioceses, such as St. Theresa’s in New Berlin (Syracuse) and Holy Cross Church in Morris and Edmeston (Albany), would share one priest that could be from either jurisdiction. A similar plan would be in place for St. John’s in Bainbridge and St. Agnes’ in Afton, which would share one priest with Sacred Heart Church in Sidney.
“It’s a way to manage all churches with fewer priests in the county,” said Cunningham. “We will help each other across the board.”
Cunningham said it’s expected that the number of priests in the county will go from five to three in the next several years, and that Syracuse Bishop James Moynihan said this was a plan “worth looking into,” but no official actions or recommendations have been taken or given.
“It’s all preliminary right now,” said Father Gordon Polenz of Sacred Heart Church in Sidney. “I don’t know what will happen.”
“It’s going to be difficult with fewer priests,” said Father Lester Smith of St. Malachy’s in Sherburne. “There’s no way around it, but with God’s help we can do it.”
Smith said the overall plan would free-up two priests, scaling the number down from four to two that would be running a total of six parish buildings.
“We hope not to get discouraged,” Smith said. “The Lord is with us, and we’ll get though this tough period.”
Smith added that vocations in the diocese seem to be on the upturn, and will hopefully increase in time to meet future challenges.
Calls to St. Theresa’s Church in New Berlin, Holy Cross Church in Morris, St. John’s in Bainbridge and St. Agnes’ in Afton could not be returned by press time. Calls to St. Joseph’s Church were not returned.
The Diocese of Syracuse announced in March that parishes across the diocese would have to come up with plans by Thanksgiving that will guide the Diocese through the next several years. Economic downturns and a shortage of priestly vocations have forced the Diocese to consolidate parishes and close others, including St. Rita’s Church in Chenango Forks.
It was announced in March that one of two Catholic churches in Norwich may have to close. Since that time St. Paul’s and St. Bart’s have jointly proposed a plan to keep both churches open that they feel will be accepted.