News

July 22, 2008

Diocese chooses own plans

Panel disagrees with nearly half of church consolidation proposals submitted by parish clusters.

By Mark Guydish mguydish@timesleader.com
Education Reporter
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SCRANTON – The Diocese of Scranton Planning Commission “respectfully” disagreed with proposals on church consolidations submitted by 21 of the 50 parish clusters in the 11-county diocese.

The diocese released the recommendations issued by the planning commission Friday. Those recommendations were a response to recommendations submitted by cluster teams composed of representatives from parishes in those clusters.

While the diocese had issued guidelines and some restrictions on the configurations cluster teams could submit, the teams were free to give their own proposals. The planning commission either affirmed those proposals or disagreed, and offered its own plan.

The diocese divided the cluster teams into four regions, with the South region covering most of Luzerne County except for four Hazleton area clusters. In the South region, with 15 clusters, eight of the cluster team recommendations were accepted and seven rejected. Among the Hazleton area clusters, three were rejected and one was accepted.

The planning commission recommendations in Hazleton area would, if implemented, ultimately force some Catholics to drive much farther to attend Mass.

The plan calls for Sacred Heart, Harleigh, and St. Mary in Lattimer to merge with and hold services at Our Lady of Grace in Hazleton, requiring residents in those outlying sections of Hazle Township to drive into town. The recommendation report suggests the parish members “continue to promote a local and regional appreciation and use of the Shrine of the Sacred Heart” at the Harleigh site, billed as the largest outdoor shrine to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the country.

St. Nazarius, Pardeesville, would merge with and have services at Good Shepherd in the Drums section of Butler Township, requiring residents in Pardeesville to drive down the mountain and back for services.

Holy Trinity and St. Stanislaus in Hazleton would merge into and hold services at St. Joseph in Hazleton, while Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Hazleton would merge with and hold services at St. Gabriel’s across town.

SS. Peter and Paul, Hazleton, and St. Francis of Assisi, West Hazleton, would merge into and hold services at Transfiguration, West Hazleton, with St. Francis serving as a catechetical/retreat center. That merger could have the least impact on residents, distance wise, as the three churches are within a short distance of each other.

The recommendations are preliminary and the cluster core teams have until Oct. 1 to respond to the planning commission.

Mark Guydish, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7161

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