PASTORAL PLANNING CLUSTER TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2012

Please attach additional pages if more space is needed.

 

Deanery:  Seacoast                                        Dean: Rev. Robert Cole

Cluster:  Sub-cluster of C21 (Somersworth and Rollinsford)

Facilitator(s):  Robert Duhaime

Recorder:  Laurie Lambert

Priest Allocation:  Rev. Aaron Pfaff serving three twinned parishes

 

Cluster Task Force Members (Name and Parish):

1.   Rev. Aaron Pfaff              Pastor

2.   William Brown                  Permanent Deacon/Pastoral Associate

3.   Lee Reublinger                Holy Trinity                Finance Chair

4.   Jeanne Lavoie                  Holy Trinity                Pastoral Pres.

5.   Thomas Brown                 St. Martin                   CTF

6.   Martin Dumont                St. Martin                   Finance Chair

7.   F. X. Bruton                      St. Martin                   Pastoral Pres.

8.   Paul Robidas                    St. Martin                   Alternate

9.   Michael Daigneault         St. Mary                     Finance Chair

10. Gail St. Hilaire                 St. Mary                     Pastoral Pres.

11. Laurie Lambert                St. Mary                     Alternate

 

Parishes represented in the Cluster Task Force (CTF):

 Parish:  Holy Trinity                                                       Location:  Somersworth

 Parish:  St. Martin                                                          Location:  Somersworth

 Parish:  St. Mary                                                             Location:  Rollinsford

 

Dates and locations of Listening Sessions:

Date:  March 28, 2004                                                    Location:  St. Martin

Date:  July 10, 2007                                                         Location:  local country club

Date:  November 29, 2007                                              Location:  local country club

 

Dates and locations of Working Sessions:

Date:   3/14/04 Tri-parish Pastoral Council meeting      Location:  Holy Trinity

Date:   12 mos. period; 10 tri-parish committees
meeting a min. of 30 times combined                  Location:  various

Date:   May-Jun/05 multiple full CTF 21 meetings        Location:  seven CTF 21 churches

Date:   10/28/07, working session                                    Location:  Holy Trinity

Date:   11/3/07, working session w/Rev. Gorski,
P. McGee and R. Duhaime                                 Location:  Holy Trinity

 


 

Description of the process used by the CTF in arriving at consensus:

As a result of CTF 21 deliberations, the three parishes in our sub-cluster were twinned under Fr. Pfaff in 2006. After the St. Martin rectory fire in February, 2007, parishioner concerns led us to host a large scale Listening Session in July, 2007. At this session, 99% of parishioners showed strong support to merge the Somersworth churches and close one campus. This approach was agreed to at a sub-cluster CTF meeting held on 10/28/07 and reaffirmed at the sub-cluster CTF meeting with Fr. Gorski, Pat McGee and Bob Duhaime on 11/3/07.

 

Recommendation to the Dean and LRPC for 2012 ministry coverage:

·    Merge Somersworth churches of St. Martin and Holy Trinity

·    Retain St. Mary in Rollinsford as twinned.

·    Direct the Pastor (with advice of the new Finance Council and new Pastoral Council) to decide within six (6) months of the merger which building to close and to take the necessary steps to effect the closure and disposition of such property in an expedient manner.

 

Rationale for the recommendation:

There are several factors for recommending a merger of Holy Trinity and St. Martin:

·    Ease workload of pastor

·    Further consolidate administrative functions to increase effectiveness (bulletin, cemetery management and many aspects of Religious Ed already consolidated)

·    Realize cost savings associated with further consolidation

·    Strong parishioner support for merger

·    Unanimous consensus against unification

 

Rationale for twinning St. Mary in Rollinsford includes:

·    Church is located in another community

·    Parish has been twinned for many years and has accepted its lot

·    Parish is solvent and self-sustaining

·    Parish and church have unique historical nature, different from Somersworth churches

·    Strong parishioner support for twinning

·    Pastor supports twinning as an acceptable alternative         

 

How many pastors are needed to facilitate this recommendation and why?

One pastor as presently served

 

How many parochial vicars are needed to facilitate this recommendation and why?

None

 

How many deacons are needed to facilitate this recommendation and why?

One as presently served. Required to lighten load, particularly in terms of weddings, graveside services, visitations and Religious Ed support. Current deacon has proven extremely valuable and productive.

 

 

What type of lay staff are recommended (i.e. administrators, DREs, youth ministers, lay pastoral associates, etc.)

To be determined by governance of  the new merged parish. Anticipate reduction of paid staff in some areas due to synergies gained. Conversely, gains in efficiency and associated cost savings in one area may allow us to expand in others, such as Youth Ministry, Adult Ed, etc…

 

 

Other comments to be brought to the attention of the LRPC and RCBM:

None

 

Please attach additional pages if more space is needed.

Report Submitted by: Thomas Brown

 

Facilitator Signature:_______________________________________________________________

 

Date: November 30, 2007

 

Cluster Task Force Names and Signatures

NAME (Print)                                                  SIGNATURE

Rev. Aaron Pfaff

 

 

Deacon William Brown

 

 

Lee Reublinger

 

 

Jeanne Lavoie

 

 

Thomas Brown

 

 

Martin Dumont

 

 

Francis Bruton

 

 

Paul Robidas

 

 

Michael Daigneault

 

 

Gail St. Hilaire

 

 

Laurie Lambert

 

 

 

Please feel free to contact Fr. Robert Gorski at RGorski@rcbm.org