The Vision Team is a committee of 9 people, four from SDS and five from STG, who were brought together by Fr. Rothschild to explore options for how to make Twinning better between the two parishes. The Vision Team members are, from SDS: Linda Bakersmith, Elliott Krejci, Bob Purcelli, and Jim Slama and from STG: Mark Barbeau, Steve Brady, Anamary Perks, Paul Schroeder, and Jeff Willey. Additionally Fr. Rothschild, Fr. Robertson, and Deacon John Beckmann have been key contributors to the process.
Fr. Rothschild was asked to serve as pastor for both St. Dominic and St. George parishes, due to Fr. Robertson’s impending retirement. The Vision Team reviewed data from both parishes, and became aware of the trends of declining parish registration, Mass attendance, and declining offertory. The Vision Team determined that a merger would provide the best option to move the parishes in a direction of growth.
No. The Archdiocese is not making us do anything. The Archdiocese prefers that parishes step forward with plans for themselves.
The merger plan was created by the Vision Team, which was presented at two parish-wide meetings in September, and various aspects of it were developed in more detail by the six volunteer committees. No other viable alternatives were presented that would address all of the areas of concern. Fr. Rothschild has stated that the goal is now to move forward as “to gather as one family around one Altar, to hear the Word from one pulpit, to worship the One God at the combined parish.”
The expectation of the proposed merger is to combine the two parishes and therefore enlarge the overall population which will hopefully result in less strain on events that require volunteers. We can share the burdens faced by each parish while building upon the strengths.
The goal is to have a “plan” in the hands of the Archbishop by February so that he and the Priests’ Council can discuss and approve the plan so that we can merge July 1, 2018, which is the beginning of the next fiscal year.
After hearing from parishioners, the Vision Team, and the Parish Councils, the pastor will make a recommendation to the Priest Council. This council will give feedback to the pastor. The pastor will work with an assigned Deacon to write a proposal for the overall plan and reasoning for the plan with the Archbishop. Ultimately the Archbishop will decide after reading the proposal and discussing it with the pastor and the priest council.
SDS’s Church is not large enough to hold the amount expected from both parishes.
The Vision Team feels that this would break up the community too much. There is more consistency if we keep all Masses at one location. The goal is now to gather as one family around one Altar, to hear the Word from one pulpit, to worship the One God at the combined parish.
HCA needs the church at SDS for their school masses. Also, converting it to a gymnasium may be cost prohibitive.
The facilities committee will look at the current state of all facilities at both parishes – including ADA access to St. George church. We are aware that this is a concern and because of our proactive planning – it is one that we should be able to address by working together. We will get input from both St. George and St. Dominic Parishioners about how to make entrance to the church as easy as possible for people of all abilities.
We do not have to merge. The Vision Team is proposing this merger because we believe it is in the best interest of these two parishes and all their parishioners. We have discussed inviting neighboring parishes to join our conversation – but because St. George and St. Dominic are in the unique situation of sharing a pastor – we felt it was important to keep moving forward and not get slowed down by trying to get too big, or do too much at once. If discussions with other parishes materialize in later years – our parishes will be in a better position of great stability, right size of parishioners for church and parish vitality, and thriving school.
Although there are expected to be minor financial savings, the biggest reason to do it this way is what both parishes bring to the table. St. Dominic Savio is on the cutting edge of parish education through its incorporation into Holy Cross Academy. There are a larger number of young families who participate in the life of the parish because the parish operates a collaborative school. St. George houses the Affton Christian Food Pantry and a Head Start program (which itself generates excess revenues). Both parishes have done an excellent job of maintaining their facility
The following committees will be looking at the Church space for different reasons – Liturgy Committee – what is needed for most impactful worship. Community Life/Welcoming/Hospitality – for what will be needed to make it feel like home for the parishioners coming from St. Dominic Savio, and Facilities – for what improvements need to be made to make it easily accessible and accommodating for the number of expecting parishioners.
These committees will make recommendations. We will try to balance the needs of people from both parishes. Although from a fiscal perspective it would be better to close one of the parishes, if that were done too many assets would be lost. St. Dominic Savio does not have the space to relocate the ACFP or the Head Start program. St. George doesn’t have the space to continue the good work it is doing AND house an elementary school without major renovations to its facility.