November 19, 2010

Putting Strategic Planning into context

The First Fifty Years: Part IX — New Regime

Editor’s note: This article is the twelfth and final in a series examining the Catholic Church in southwestern Indiana and its leadership and also the trends in the church and in the larger society.

Each article in the series included excerpts from documents related to the history of the diocese; each article noted some of the changes that had taken place over the years in the people, places and institutions mentioned in the historical document.

This final article is once again drawn from a booklet published in 1995, authored by Msgr. Clinton F. Hirsch, entitled, “The First Fifty Years.”

Msgr. Hirsch’s sketches take us into the first five years of the episcopacy of Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger. Other historians will analyze Bishop Gettelfinger’s final years as chief shepherd of the diocese. (Download this story as a PDF | See other articles in the series)

New Regime — 1990 through 1994 . . .

Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger had been ordained and installed [April 11, 1989] as the Fourth Bishop of Evansville, and [as the decade of the 1990s began, he] was now beginning his first complete year in Evansville.

At this time the Presbyteral Convocation for the Diocese of Evansville was held in October near Bloomington, Indiana.

In the summer of 1991, Villa Maria, a retirement home for diocesan priests, was opened for occupancy. This building, now renovated, was the former convent for sisters who taught at Memorial High School in Evansville. Villa Maria has been so planned to accommodate seven resident priests.

Also, at this time, Sister Louise Bond, S.N.J.M., was appointed Chancellor of the Diocese and the following year, Ron Baumgart was appointed the first lay Treasurer of the Diocese.

During this time period, St. Nicholas Church in Santa Claus was raised from mission to parochial status and the diocese also witnessed the dedication of three new church buildings — Holy Redeemer, Good Shepherd, both in Evansville, and St. John in Newburgh.

Plans were underway for the Fourth Synod of Evansville, scheduled for 1993. Committees were formed and plans were set in operation. The Formal Session of the Synod would be held at Holy Redeemer Church, November 6th and 7th.

Concluding Observations

. . . It would be unrealistic not to take note, and not be concerned, that during this period of 50 years there has been a leakage from the Church; and if the figures were available, they might show a considerable loss. The reasons? As varied as individuals: apathy, marital situations, confusion, misunderstandings dissatisfaction with the turn of events, disagreement with the Church’s teaching and discipline, or simply “not practicing any longer.” Whatever the reasons, these are realities to be reckoned with.

. . . In a sense, the diocese is a composit reflection of the life of us all, and as well, typifies the life of each individual -- successes but sprinkled with mistakes; and as so, describes a pilgrim people on the way to the Father.

. . . What will the next half-century bring? Will the years ahead rush upon us unexpectedly, or will we in the diocese be ready?

In the light of what has happened in these past 50 years, planning for the future is an endeavor that warrents our best efforts; and it seems, this should include an on-going concern for the religious educaton and training of our youth; a strengthening of Christian familly living; and a strong emphasis on genuine practice of the Faith. Let us go forwarad with prayerful courage!

- Msgr. Clinton F. Hirsch
May 10, 1995

Statistics in the mid-1990s*

32,387 families, or 87,707 Catholics in the diocese
Catholic High School enrollment: 1,497 with 130 students in Marian Heights Academy
24 elementary parochial schools
5,081 elementary enrollments
Diocesan priests, active: 80
Religious priests, active in the diocese: 8
Engaged in teaching are 44 women religious, two brothers, and 426 lay teachers.
24 permanent deacons
12 seminarians

* Statistics taken from the booklet, The First Fifty Years.

Statistics in 2010*

31,427 families, or 83,650 Catholics in the diocese
Catholic High School enrollment: 1,645. John Paul the Great High School, Jasper has 15 students.
24 elementary parochial schools
5,564, elementary and early childhood enrollment
Diocesan priests, active: 51
Religious priests, active in the diocese: 6
Engaged in teaching, counting full and part time, are 12 women religious and 552 lay teachers.
51 permanent deacons
7 seminarians

* Lists from Chancery and the Office of Schools

Beginnings and endings, trends in the Diocese of Evansville

Presbyteral Convocations

Since 1990, priests who serve the diocese have gathered on an annual basis with their bishop and various professional presenters for a convocation lasting several days, usually during September.

In the early years, great anxiety developed among parishioners as they faced the fact that almost all priests in the diocese were away, out of the diocese and unavailable to anoint the sick or celebrate any other sacrament.

Emergency arrangements were published, providing for at least one priest or contact person in each deanery.

In recent years, parishioners have become more accustomed to the absence of a priest and the unavailability of daily Mass, for convocations and other realities.

Villa Maria Retirement Home for Priests

Villa Maria, the former convent building adjacent to Memorial High School in Evansville, was opened in 1991 as a retirement home for priests, with seven available apartments, a chapel and a common area. Occupancy, never fully realized, dwindled in recent years. The retirement home is now closed and a search for an alternate use of the building is nearing completion.

Chancellor, Treasurer

Holy Names Sister Louise Bond was the first “non-priest” chancellor of the diocese, who was engaged in much of the planning for “Synod ’93.” She was succeeded by Judy Neff, a lay woman who continues in the post, responsible for diocesan archives. After the untimely death of Ron Baumgart, Bob Cox was named Treasurer and continues in that position.

Mass attendance

The annual “October Mass Count” is nearing completion in the Diocese of Evansville, with all but four of the 69 parishes reporting the numbers of individuals attending Mass on three designated weekends in October.

The number of people attending, compared with the total number of individuals registered, provides the parish percentage report.

For example, St. Benedict Cathedral reports an average of the three week attendance figures to be 1,298; with reported parish membership of 2,807, St. Ben’s has an average Mass attendance of 46 percent, slightly better than the diocesan average, almost on par with the rest of the deanery.

Although some parish reports are not yet included, here are the total deanery statistics to date:

Evansville East: 47 percent
Evansville West: 45 percent
Jasper Deanery: 38 percent
Newburgh Deanery: 38 percent
Princeton Deanery: 43 percent
Vincennes Deanery: 41 percent
Washington Deanery: 53 percent

The highest percentage is at St. Joan of Arc Church, Jasonville, where 61 persons are registered, but where an average of 99 persons attended Mass: 162 percent.

Every deanery had one or more parishes with an attendance percentage in the 30s.

Viability: Example from St. Louis Archdiocese

As two committees in the Diocese of Evansville labor on a draft description of what it takes to have a viable parish and a viable school, other dioceses in the United States are also following through on a similar path.

One example is the Archdiocese of St. Louis, where Archbishop Robert J. Carlson recently pointed to “seven characteristics of a vibrant parish” which were published Nov. 5 in the St. Louis Review.

Vibrant parishes

A strong sacramental life.
A serious commitment to prayer and Christian spirituality among parishioners.
Faith formation and catechesis as a priority for children, youth, young adults and adults.
Social Justice, outreach to the poor, assistance to other parishes or communities beyond parish boundaries.
A focus on being welcoming, hospitable and committed to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with others without imposing their Catholic belifes on anyone but also without ignoring or minimizing the moral values and doctrinal pirnciples that are at the heart of our Catholic faith and practice.
Strong, collaborative leaders.
The ability to transform the lives of parishioners and the people they serve.

In the Diocese of Evansville the parish and school committees have each met twice, and each has two more meetings this year. Their process is expected to produce a list of characteristics or qualities for parishes and schools.