Task Force 09-28-2005 • Task Force 10-05-2005 • Task Force 11-18-05 • Task Force 12-07-2005 • Task Force 01-11-06 • Task Force 01-23-06 • 02-01-2006 • 02-13-2006 • 03-14-2006 • 05-01-2006 • 05-22-2006 • 06-19-2006 • Expectation Survey • Reflection Form • News Release • Unseen Friend

Meeting Notes: Monday, January 23, 2006

· Opening prayer – Father David

· Town Meeting – answers to all questions and comments at each of the masses will be put in the bulletin soon – flyer will come to the Task Force for additions

· Small group meetings – Dennis will be speaking at upcoming masses and asking people to complete survey for participation

· Post-It Notes – What are your questions, concerns, ideas about restructuring?

Questions

· Is one large parish possible?

- not possible for entire Vicariate

- may be possible for Dunkirk/Fredonia

- majority of Task Force for one Dunkirk/Fredonia church

- two churches would be nice - different parishes have different personalities, people can have the option for variety

- economics – will need to build a bigger church if we merge to one or two parishes, building one church would be easier

- one Fredonia church may include other parishes (Silver Creek, Brocton, etc.)

· What happens to the employees?

- merging parishes will need more people to work, more than one secretary, etc

- some people may be happy to not have to work anymore

- new positions may form

- what options will there be for employees that will not be employed anymore

- employees will be laid off and need to apply for the positions created

· What happens to assets of parishes that merge and its liabilities?

- some have turned into office buildings, arts, college

- all assets and liabilities will become the responsibility of the merged church, not the Diocese – the money would stay in the area

- If a parish closes, what will happen with the assets and liabilities? – they wouldn’t close, only merge (only Sinclairville is in danger of closing, but money would go to Vicariate)

· If we keep a school open, does that mean we should keep the school open?

- It looks like St. Hyacinth’s and NCCS will merge in the next two years.

- No – there is no church that can say we need to stay open because of our school.

· What is the total Catholic population in this area?

- 23,717 registered Catholics in Chautauqua county – maybe half in our Vicariate (Northern Chautauqua)

· How accurate are attendance numbers for churches?

- we’ve been averaging 350 – 450 each weekend

· Once a plan has been decided on, how long until we put it into action

- by the end of 2007, everything should be enacted

- the bishop will move as quickly as possible

· Can we set up a list of a few big questions

- what are the utility costs

- what is the size (land mass – area not population

· If two parishes merge, where is the priest sent?

- He will be sent where he is needed

- If we merge all 4 churches, it is likely to have 2 priests in that church

· When are we going to talk with the elders of the very small parishes about closing?

- when we know who’s closing

· Will there be a safeguard when parishes merge regarding people in power (council members)

- a council would be set up to represent the parish

· How to keep youth from leaving the church?

· Why can’t Holy Trinity be the central focus since we are centrally located?

Ideas

· Merge Dunkirk/Fredonia into one church

- if we have a new parish, people will start talking and be interested in seeing what’s so great about it

· We should use one priest for special ministries - hospitals, sick, terminally ill (3 hospitals & nursing homes) - and other 4 priests for parish work

- people in nursing home need more than just an hour, they need someone trained in that field, that pastor could help other parishes with their bereavement

· Building a new church centrally located in the D/F area that will accommodate our changing needs

· One parish for all of D/F

Concerns

· Transportation to/from masses and parish activities

- if local parishes close, 2 miles can be far for some people to drive

- committee to help people get to church

· St. Hyacinth’s and St. Hedwig’s could be a problem

- St. Anthony’s, St. Joseph’s, Holy Trinity, St. Elizabeth could come together

- at the Vicariate meetings, the representatives have not been too defensive

- there may be pockets within the communities that will be difficult to bring together

- good reason to have one large parish – everyone starts out the same, no where else to go

· Visitation with other parish groups

- we were approached by St. Elizabeth’s Task Force but were told to do our own work

- Can organizations come together within different parishes?

- Yes, people can always work socially together

· Concerned about the way other parishes will react with changes

· There isn’t a gathering area at one parish in the D/F area that is large enough to accommodate the combined parishes for social gatherings

· Parishes in the area don’t think that they will be affected by the changes

- pastor has not done his job of informing them about upcoming changes

- some churches don’t have any information about restructuring in bulletin or during mass

· Special Liturgies

· People leaving for Harvest Chapel

· Merger Ideas

- Westfield, Silver Creek, Dunkirk (3000 families, 2 priests), Fredonia,

- Westfield, Silver Creek, Dunkirk/Fredonia (2 priests, 4500 families), Hospital priest

- To build a new church you need half of the funds pledged (not raised).

· Approach to Present Our Plan

- possible use of Holy Trinity as central grounds

- buying land behind Holy Trinity from Pacos

- use old Holy Trinity as small church for daily masses, weddings, or small events

Closing Prayer – Father David

Next Meeting – Wednesday, February 1, 2006 7:00 p.m.