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Monmouth Central Deanery Update

November, 2007

Parishes make ready for the Monmouth Central Deanery Study

The 15 parishes that compose the Monmouth Central Deanery are about to embark on a transformational experience aimed at redefining and enhancing the way they serve their members and the wider community.

The Monmouth Central Deanery Study, the parish strategic planning process that will officially begin in January, was first announced to parishioners in September by Bishop John M. Smith. The deanery, which stretches from the Navesink River in the North to Deal Lake in the South, encompasses 23,000 Catholic families and is the third region in the Diocese to undergo the study process.

In his announcement letter, Bishop Smith stated, "We know from the history of our Church that each generation has had to respond to unique realities in their time in order to effectively build the Kingdom and successfully bring the love of God to all peoples." The Bishop identified as the primary realities that must be addressed in the planning process "the shortage of
priests and religious, the shifting population within the Diocese, and the influx of new Catholics."

A Parish Self-Study Survey was conducted during Masses in the deanery parishes in early September, providing the feedback that will frame the study process. Respondents were asked to rate the importance and effectiveness of six areas of parish life - celebrating; teaching; caring; evangelizing; participating and facilities. Surveys were received from nearly 10,000 parishioners and the responses are being presented to the parish communities throughout October and November.

In two Information Nights made available to representatives from all 15 parish communities, Mike Fabian, associate director of the Office of Parish Restructuring and Expansion provided an overview of the study process that will be inaugurated in January and run until October, 2008. Fabian outlined the three goals of the study:

• Insure the support and the development of vibrant parishes.
• Address the needs of all our Catholics in this area of Monmouth County
• Restructure parishes and develop new plans for ministry in light of the current and future realities within the county and the Diocese of Trenton

The strategies that will lead to those goals include naming the mission of the Church; studying parish ministry, programs, buildings, organization and administrative structures to evaluate what is appropriate given the present and future needs of the area, and, finally, to present to the Bishop detailed recommendations for the deanery based on the completed study.

The deanery includes the following parishes which will be grouped into two clusters based on their locations (see box): Immaculate Conception and St. Dorothea, both in Eatontown; Nativity in Fair Haven; St. Leo the Great in Lincroft; Holy Trinity, Our Lady, Star of the Sea, and St. John the Baptist, all in Long Branch; Our Lady of the Most Precious Blood in Monmouth Beach; St. Anthony and St. James, both in Red Bank; Holy Cross in Rumson; St. Anselm in Wayside; St. Michael in West End; St. Jerome in West Long Branch, and St. Mary in Deal.

The pastor and two representatives from each of the 15 parishes will make up the study group. These individuals will take part in each of the study sessions and will ultimately be responsible for making recommendations to the Bishop. In addition, each community will have a parish leadership group that will be responsible for reviewing information coming out of the study group, sharing that information with members of the parish community and giving feedback on proposals made by the study group. The overall direction of the study will be guided by the Steering Committee, made up of representatives from each of the clusters.

The commitment to conduct strategic planning of the diocese's parishes in order to better serve the changing needs of the Catholic population first emerged in 2004 when the process to study and restructure the Catholic community in the Greater Trenton Area was announced by Bishop Smith. The changes adopted as a result of that study took effect in July, 2005, and reduced the number of parishes in the city and its environs from 21 to 11.

The second study involved the Northern Burlington Deanery, comprising the 14 northernmost parish communities in Burlington County. As a result of the study team's recommendations, Bishop Smith announced his decision in September to merge eight of the parishes into four, and twin another with a newly merged parish. The changes will take effect in July, 2008.

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Update will be issued monthly to all parishes involved in the Monmouth Central Deanery Study. Next month's UPDATE will focus on the Parish Self-Study Survey and include a report on the feedback from parishioners.

Director: Rev. Jeffrey Lee
609 406-7400 ext. 5635
Fax: 609-406-7444
E-mail: jlee@dioceseoftrenton.org

Associate Director: Michael Fabian
609 406-7400 ext. 5636
Fax: 609-406-7444
E-mail: mfabia@dioceseoftrenton.org