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Monmouth Central Deanery Update

August, 2008

Bishop Smith receives recommendations for parish restructuring in Monmouth Central Deanery

Recommendations for restructuring and collaboration involving 15 parishes in the Monmouth Central Deanery were presented to Bishop John M. Smith during a Mass Aug. 13 in Nativity Parish, Fair Haven.

The Mass marked the closing of the Monmouth Central Deanery Study, a nearly year-long process based on research, analysis and consultation by three delegates from each of the participating parishes, as well as input from the wider parish communities. Discussions were based on information drawn from parish-wide surveys taken last fall, seven study group meetings from January to July, feedback from parish leadership teams in the 15 communities and "town meetings" in each of the parishes held throughout June, July and August.

The Monmouth Central 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.

The study group recommended three configuration models for each of two geographic divisions referred to as the North and South Cluster. In some cases, the recommendations reflected full consensus of the study group members. When consensus could not be reached, the recommendations were based on the majority of the members' positions, according to Michael Fabian, associate director of the diocesan Office of Parish Expansion and Restructuring.

The North Cluster parishes are: Nativity, Fair Haven; Holy Cross, Rumson; St. Anthony, Red Bank; St. James, Red Bank; St. Leo the Great, Lincroft; Precious Blood, Monmouth Beach; Immaculate Conception, Eatontown, and St. Dorothea, Eatontown. The South Cluster includes the following parishes: St. Mary, Deal; St. Anselm, Wayside; St. Michael, West End; St. Jerome, West Long Branch; Holy Trinity, Long Branch; Our Lady, Star of the Sea, Long Branch, and St. John the Baptist, Long Branch.

In his homily at the Closing Mass, Bishop Smith thanked the study group members and all who contributed to the deanery study process, saying that they have helped in the effort to ensure that "the Church will not only survive, but thrive well into the future." He underscored the value of the study process, crediting the participants with bringing forth the information that will help him make the best possible decisions about the future of the parishes in central Monmouth County.

"What you have begun here in Monmouth is more a plan about tomorrow than a plan about today or yesterday," the bishop explained. "It's about making sure that the Church of tomorrow is as vibrant as it has always been."

Bishop Smith will consider the findings of the group and make his decisions regarding possible restructuring following a period of deliberation and consultation with key diocesan leaders. No timeline has yet been given for the bishop's conclusion, and he indicated that some changes may not have to take place for some time.

The recommendations employ four different canonical options for restructuring. They include 1) parish merger -- two or more parishes become one new entity; 2) twinning -- two or more parishes share a pastor; 3) clustering -- group of parishes administered by a team of priests, with one priest moderator, and 4) main and mission -- one parish becomes the principal parish to others that are missions. No parishes were earmarked in the recommendations for suppression or closure, a fifth canonical option available.

Specifically, the study group, which was made up of the pastor and two parish representatives from each of the deanery communities, was asked to focus on three strategies:

• Reducing the number of pastoral administrations in the deanery;
• Consolidate ministry services between parishes;
• Reduce the number of buildings being used by the parishes for Church ministry, functions and living quarters for priests.

The criteria analyzed included parish population, parish ministries, number of Baptisms and marriages, Mass attendance, status of and need for parish-owned properties, and residential development in the area.

Parishioners had an opportunity to review the recommendations and voice their opinions at "town meeting" style gatherings. As many as several hundred parishioners came out to each site, and their feedback was incorporated into a supplemental report presented to Bishop Smith.

It is expected that parishes selected for merger will be renamed to reflect the new entity that the community has become. Churches, as worship sites within the parishes, would not be renamed.

 Monmouth Central Deanery Study Team Recommendations
(as presented to Bishop John M. Smith, Aug. 13, 2008)

The North Cluster's recommendations include the following parish configurations:

1st Configuration Model

• Immaculate Conception, Eatontown, and St. Dorothea, Eatontown, merged.
• The other six parishes remain as they are.

2nd Configuration Model

• St. Dorothea, Eatontown, and Immaculate Conception, Eatontown, merged (and possibly St. Jerome, West Long Branch, from the SOUTH CLUSTER).
• St. James, Red Bank, twinned with Nativity, Fair Haven.
• Precious Blood, Monmouth Beach; Our Lady, Star of the Sea, Long Branch, and Holy Trinity, Long Branch, merged or twinned (Our Lady, Star of the Sea and Holy Trinity are in the SOUTH CLUSTER)
• St. Anthony, Red Bank, established as a territorial parish. 
• St. Leo the Great, Lincroft, and Holy Cross, Rumson, remain as separate parishes.

3rd Configuration Model

• St. Dorothea, Eatontown; Precious Blood, Monmouth Beach, and Immaculate Conception, Eatontown, merged.
• St. James, Red Bank, merged with Nativity, Fair Haven 
• Precious Blood, Monmouth Beach; Our Lady, Star of the Sea, Long Branch; Holy Trinity, Long Branch,  and St. John the Baptist, Long Branch, merged or clustered (Our Lady, Star of the Sea; Holy Trinity, and St. John the Baptist are in the SOUTH CLUSTER)
• St. Leo the Great, Lincroft, merged or twinned with another parish in an adjoining deanery (not part of this study).
• St. Anthony, Red Bank, established as a territorial parish. 
• Holy Cross, Rumson, remains a separate parish.

The South Cluster's recommendations include the following parish configurations:

1st Configuration Model

• St. Mary, Deal; St. Anselm, Wayside, and St. Jerome, West Long Branch, clustered and given responsibility for campus ministry at Monmouth University.
• Our Lady, Star of the Sea; Holy Trinity, and St. John the Baptist, all in Long Branch, merged.
• St. Michael, West End, remains a separate parish.

2nd Configuration Model

• Our Lady, Star of the Sea, Long Branch; Precious Blood, Monmouth Beach, (NORTH CLUSTER) and Holy Trinity, Long Branch, merged.
• St. Mary, Deal; St. Anselm, Wayside, and St. Jerome, West Long Branch, clustered and given responsibility for campus ministry at Monmouth University
• St. John the Baptist, Long Branch, and St. Michael, West End, remain separate parishes.

3rd Configuration Model

• St. Mary, Deal, becomes a mission of St. Jerome, West Long Branch, clustered with St. Anselm, Wayside, or St. Mary, Deal, becomes a mission of St. Anselm, Wayside.
• St. Jerome, West Long Branch, and St. Dorothea, Eatontown, (NORTH CLUSTER) clustered.
• Our Lady, Star of the Sea, Long Branch, Holy Trinity, Long Branch and St. John the Baptist, Long Branch, merged.
• St. Michael, West End, remains a separate parish.

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