Mergers:

When population shifts, finances, or other factors indicate a need to reduce the number of parishes in a given area, two or more parishes may be merged into one new parish. When a merger occurs, the parish communities and staff are combined and a single pastor is appointed. The communities involved consider alternatives and together address questions about facilities, the name of the new parish, staffing, etc. For each of the mergers, a task force, including clergy, representatives from the parishes involved, and archdiocesan staff, will be created. This task force will develop an implementation plan and timeline for each merger. It is expected that all mergers will be completed within the five year time frame.

1) St. Anthony, St. Cecilia, and Our Lady: This merger was affirmed by many of the parishes in the region.

Mission: Portland is one of the poorest areas of Metro Louisville. This merger will allow the three parishes to combine their resources to stabilize the Catholic presence in Portland and more effectively reach out to the neighborhood.

Stewardship: The three parishes have major facility maintenance costs and financial limitations that can be addressed through a merger.

Demographics: The parishes are located in an area of declining Catholic population but great community need.

Priesthood: Over time, the number of priests needed will be reduced from 3 to 1.

2) St. Clement, Our Lady Help of Christians, Our Lady of Consolation, St. Polycarp, and St. Timothy: This merger was recommended by several of the parishes involved and was affirmed by most of the parishes in the region.

Mission: The parishes see that by coming together, they can more effectively serve the South Dixie corridor. In addition, several of the parishes worked together on forming a regional school and saw this as a life-giving process.

Stewardship: By joining together, the parishes can reduce duplication of resources and address the financial challenges of facility and staff costs.

Demographics: The parishes are in very close proximity, and there are more parishes than necessary for the population base.

Priesthood: Over time, the number of priests needed will be reduced from 4 to 2 or 1.

3) St. Denis, St. Helen, and St. Matthias: This merger was suggested by one of the parishes involved and was affirmed by the region.

Mission: The merger of these parishes will allow the opportunity to offer a stronger Catholic presence and outreach in the North Dixie corridor.

Stewardship: The three congregations will be able to address the financial challenges of managing 3 facilities.

Demographics: These parishes are in close proximity in an area of a declining and aging Catholic population. A vital Catholic presence can be strengthened if the three parishes come together to form one parish.

Priesthood: Over time, the number of priests needed will be reduced from 3 to 1.

4) St. Jerome and St. Mary: This merger was affirmed by many of the parishes in the region.

Mission: Combining the parishes will allow for more effective pastoral outreach in this area. In addition the parishes are clustered now and are working well together.

Stewardship: The parishes are neighbors, and one parish can serve the declining population base more effectively.

Demographics: There is a declining and aging Catholic population.

Priesthood: Only one priest is presently serving these 2 churches.

5) St. Luke and St. Rita: This merger was affirmed by many of the parishes in the region.

Mission: This merger will create the opportunity to address capacity limitations of the burgeoning ministries at St. Rita, especially in the area of worship, athletics, and Hispanic ministry.

Stewardship: The new physical plant at St. Luke is not well utilized, and the parish has no paid staff and limited programming because of financial constraints, while St. Rita is overtaxed. Combining the facilities and programming of the two parishes will strengthen outreach and allow for more effective stewardship of resources.

Demographics: This area has seen an increase in the number of Hispanics, and Hispanic ministry needs to be strengthened.

Priesthood: Over time, the number of priests needed will be reduced from 3 to 2 or 1.

6) Mother of Good Counsel and Transfiguration of Our Lord: This merger was suggested by one of the parishes involved and was affirmed by the region.

Mission: Northeastern Jefferson County and North Oldham County are growing very rapidly, and we need a greater Catholic presence in this area. Both a school and parish are needed to address this reality. Presently neither Mother of Good Counsel nor Transfiguration has the capacity or the best location to effectively respond to this need.

Stewardship: Both parishes are failing to grow. Neither has been able to expand sufficiently in its present location. A new location is needed, and the resources of both parishes will be necessary to address the growth challenges in the area.

Demographics: The area is experiencing rapid growth.

Priesthood: Over time, the number of priests needed will be reduced from 2 to1.

Clusters:

A cluster involves two or more parishes that remain separate entities, but share one leader. The leader can be a priest or a pastoral administrator. This model requires a limited amount of organizational change, but places greater demands on the pastor.

These cluster decisions were most often made because of the parishes’ proximity and ability to work together. Many, though not all, of these clusters were suggested by one or more of the parishes involved. A few of the clusters, such as the St. Joseph/Holy Name cluster, were driven by mission considerations involving common ministry to the growing Hispanic population. Other clusters, such as those in Hardin County, are being driven by demographic shifts involving rapid growth as well as Hispanic ministry needs. All of these clusters will allow opportunities for more effective stewardship of resources and will address the declining number of ordained priests.

Clustering offers many opportunities for interparish collaboration. Some pastors may encourage shared staff, resources, and governance. Other pastors may decide to keep the parishes involved totally independent of one another. Geographic proximity, the leadership style of the pastor, and the culture of the parishes involved influence these decisions.

It is likely that all of these clusters will be implemented within the next five years; however, the number of available priests is the critical factor in determining timelines. Usually clusters will be implemented as personnel vacancies occur. Archdiocesan staff will be available to work with parishes to prepare for and implement the clusters.

The following list of clusters have been recommended by the Planning Commission. Additional clusters may also be considered by the Archbishop should a particular need arise.

1. St. Augustine with St. Martin de Porres, staffed by a pastoral administrator
2. St. Bartholomew with St. Ignatius
3. St. Boniface with Cathedral of the Assumption
4. St. Elizabeth with Holy Family and St. Therese
5. St. Frances of Rome with St. Leonard
6. Holy Name with St. Joseph
7. Most Blessed Sacrament with SS. Simon & Jude
8. Our Lady of Mount Carmel with St. Thomas More
9. Our Mother of Sorrow with St. Stephen Martyr
10. St. Ann Howardstown with St. Francis Xavier, Raywick and St. Charles, St. Mary
11. St. Brigid, Vine Grove with St. John the Baptist, Rineyville
12. St. James, Elizabethtown with St. Ambrose, Cecilia and St. Ignatius, White Mills with the development of a plan to expand St. James’ facilities to create a large new worship space in central Hardin County.

Future Cluster in Region 12:

1. St. Augustine, Lebanon; Holy Name of Mary, Calvary; Our Lady of the Hills, Finley; and Our Lady of Fatima, Phillipsburg.
2. St. Bernard, Clementsville; Sacred Heart, Liberty; and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Campbellsville.

Additional Initiatives:

1. St. Barnabas, St. Pius, and St. Martha will prepare a plan to develop one worship space that can be used for weekend liturgies by all three parishes and that may allow for fewer priests to be assigned to the area. This can be accomplished either by enlarging one of the properties or acquiring property for a new worship space.
2. The reconfiguration of clusters in Hardin County will allow St. James in Elizabethtown to proceed with its plan to move the location of the parish and build a larger worship space that will serve the anticipated growth in central and southern Hardin County and for St. Christopher to expand and serve the anticipated growth in northern Hardin County.
3. The pastor of Our Lady of Mercy in Hodgenville will be appointed to serve the growing Hispanic ministry needs in Larue and Hardin counties.
4. The pastor of St. Dominic, Springfield will be appointed to serve as the Sacramental moderator at Holy Rosary, Springfield.
5. The Archdiocese has appointed a task force to gather data and costs for a centralized payroll system. Assuming costs are reasonable, the adoption of centralized payroll was strongly supported by parishes.
6. The Archdiocese will proceed with a study of a centralized school system. Parishes generally supported the study but had many questions about the details.
7. St. Patrick Mission in West Point will close. Attendance at the mission church dropped to less than 20 regular worshippers and Sunday liturgies ended this year.