Thursday, April 27, 2006
Three more to contemplate
Here are three more Churches that may be on the block. Can you name them? Can you guess what they might be after closure?
It's obvious that one of them--the one with the "shark gill" style windows--will become some sort of aquarium.
I think they call it "Adaptive Reuse"
OK, can you name each of these Wyandotte County Churches? Note that St. John the Evangelist and Sacred Heart aren't pictured. I don't have photos of those yet. I did picture two churches that have already been closed. Can you name those?
If you can, then what is your guess as to what the Archdiocese (or the entity that the Archdiocese sells them off to) would do with the building once it's been Oh what, what will become of the buildings when the Archbishop closes down Wyandotte County?
If you can, then what is your guess as to what the Archdiocese (or the entity that the Archdiocese sells them off to) would do with the building once it's been Oh what, what will become of the buildings when the Archbishop closes down Wyandotte County?
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
A partial tour of the candidates for closure
Below you'll find a list of links to posts on my main blog, Curmudgeon's Cave, in which I've toured some of the churches that are facing the wrecking ball in Wyandotte County, along with exterior photographs (and in a couple of cases, some interior shots as well):
Closing Letter Text
Rural Parishes, Too!
Axing Parishes! St. John the Baptist
St. Anthony
St. Rose of Lima
Blessed Sacrament
Holy Family
Foreboding in Topeka
Ss. Cyril & Methodius
St. Joseph
St. Benedict
St. Thomas
St. Mary's
Crossing State Lines
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Archbishop Naumann's Church Closing Letter
Here's the letter that was read to all Wyandotte County churches on March 26. I received and originally posted a copy of the letter on my main blog, Curmudgeon's Cave, on March 28. Prior to that, I posted my own thoughts on having heard the letter read from the pulpit at Blessed Sacrament. There are perhaps a few clarifications to that rant which would be in order now that I've seen the written text of the letter, and wasn't going from memory, but the substance of my comments remains the same.
Dear Fellow Catholics,
I am writing to inform you of a new initiative in the Wyandotte County Pastoral Region, the development of a regional pastoral plan to assist in the ensuring and promoting the on-going life of the Church within this portion of the Archdiocese. The Wyandotte County Pastoral Region has a wonderful tradition of Catholic life and ministry dating back to the 1850s. Many changes have occurred over the years in response to the pastoral needs of the Catholic community and the challenges and opportunities of proclaiming and living the Gospel of Jesus. As a Church, we have never been complacent with the status quo. We are challenged to continually improve our parish life and ministries to better carry on the life and the mission of Jesus in the light of today's realities.
The purpose of the pastoral planning is to assist in the furthering of the mission of Christ and the Church through a process of good planning in light of present conditions and future possibilities. Our goal, is not change for the sake of change, but rather change for the sake of better living and sharing our Catholic faith through strong and vital parish communities, quality Catholic education and the practice of good stewardship of our resources including our priests, parish, employees and volunteers, our parish material and financial blessings.
Good pastoral planning needs to involve the ideas and suggestions of us all so please become engaged in the process at the general parish meetings. Planning must be grounded in facts about demographics and trends in the parish life and rooted in a clear understanding of what constitutes a vital, alive parish today. It requires the collective wisdom of a community that honors the past, but looks to the future with awareness that we have the responsibility to respond to the pastoral needs today just as our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents did in years gone by.
How do we as a Catholic community build on our strengths and ensure that our ministries and programs most effectively carry out our Catholic mission in contemporary society? How do we respond to change? How should we use our financial and human resources to accomplish our God given mission?
I have asked your parish priests to form a group of lay representatives who, together with the priests, will study and discern the current life and ministry of the church within the Wyandotte County Region and make recommendations on how to affirm all that is of value, to strengthen the vitality of parish life and ministries and to exercise the best stewardship of our blessings and resources. With the assistance of Alan Meitler, a professional planning consultant, the process will include local listening sessions involving as many parishioners as possible to reflect on the facts and provide suggestions to the Planning Task Force. Ultimately, the recommendations of the Task Force will be presented to me for review and approval. My hope is that this will be completed during calendar 2006.
I ask that you prayerfully remember this effort in the upcoming months and that you participate in this important process of planning for a bright future for the life of the Church for years to come. May we all work together for the future of our Catholic life and our mission of living and spreading God's Kingdom in our world today and tomorrow.
Sincerely yours in Jesus, the Lord of Life,
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann
Dear Fellow Catholics,
I am writing to inform you of a new initiative in the Wyandotte County Pastoral Region, the development of a regional pastoral plan to assist in the ensuring and promoting the on-going life of the Church within this portion of the Archdiocese. The Wyandotte County Pastoral Region has a wonderful tradition of Catholic life and ministry dating back to the 1850s. Many changes have occurred over the years in response to the pastoral needs of the Catholic community and the challenges and opportunities of proclaiming and living the Gospel of Jesus. As a Church, we have never been complacent with the status quo. We are challenged to continually improve our parish life and ministries to better carry on the life and the mission of Jesus in the light of today's realities.
The purpose of the pastoral planning is to assist in the furthering of the mission of Christ and the Church through a process of good planning in light of present conditions and future possibilities. Our goal, is not change for the sake of change, but rather change for the sake of better living and sharing our Catholic faith through strong and vital parish communities, quality Catholic education and the practice of good stewardship of our resources including our priests, parish, employees and volunteers, our parish material and financial blessings.
Good pastoral planning needs to involve the ideas and suggestions of us all so please become engaged in the process at the general parish meetings. Planning must be grounded in facts about demographics and trends in the parish life and rooted in a clear understanding of what constitutes a vital, alive parish today. It requires the collective wisdom of a community that honors the past, but looks to the future with awareness that we have the responsibility to respond to the pastoral needs today just as our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents did in years gone by.
How do we as a Catholic community build on our strengths and ensure that our ministries and programs most effectively carry out our Catholic mission in contemporary society? How do we respond to change? How should we use our financial and human resources to accomplish our God given mission?
I have asked your parish priests to form a group of lay representatives who, together with the priests, will study and discern the current life and ministry of the church within the Wyandotte County Region and make recommendations on how to affirm all that is of value, to strengthen the vitality of parish life and ministries and to exercise the best stewardship of our blessings and resources. With the assistance of Alan Meitler, a professional planning consultant, the process will include local listening sessions involving as many parishioners as possible to reflect on the facts and provide suggestions to the Planning Task Force. Ultimately, the recommendations of the Task Force will be presented to me for review and approval. My hope is that this will be completed during calendar 2006.
I ask that you prayerfully remember this effort in the upcoming months and that you participate in this important process of planning for a bright future for the life of the Church for years to come. May we all work together for the future of our Catholic life and our mission of living and spreading God's Kingdom in our world today and tomorrow.
Sincerely yours in Jesus, the Lord of Life,
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann
Monday, April 24, 2006
Schedule of "listening sessions"
Get your box of tissues and watch for crocodile tears. I understand that the "listening sessions" are being scheduled for various parishes in the Dotte. My sources in rural parts advised me that these have taken place (to the extent that they will) already out there, and folks in Coffey and Anderson Counties know, or at least have a good idea, of who will get to feel the Archbishop's boot.
I understand the first session will be at St. John the Baptist on Monday, May 8, and they'll run through mid-June. I'm working on getting a complete list of sessions. If you have one, do forward it to me!
I understand the first session will be at St. John the Baptist on Monday, May 8, and they'll run through mid-June. I'm working on getting a complete list of sessions. If you have one, do forward it to me!
