Pastoral Letter
delivered on:
The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
January 11, 2004

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

“Praised be God, the Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ!” (2 Cor. 1:3)  This last year has been one of great joy and celebration in the Diocese of Burlington.  As a people of faith we have remembered the great events of our past; from the first Mass at Isle la Motte in the 17^th century, to the establishment of the diocese under Bishop Louis de Goesbriand and the growth of the diocese under succeeding bishops.  We have celebrated the ongoing commitment of the faith-filled people who work tirelessly to ensure our faith remains vibrant in the parishes of Vermont; and we have strengthened our belief that the Lord is with His people and will not abandon them.

However, as we look at the church in Vermont we realize that there are many challenges that we must face. The purpose for this pastoral letter is to address the challenge of maintaining and fostering pastoral life in our diocese as we face a decreasing number of priests to serve in ministry.  No longer do we have the luxury of having three priests (or even two priests) to minister to the needs of our larger parishes; nor do we have sufficient priests to assign a resident pastor to every small country parish. We have reached a critical point in the history of the diocese.  The question we must face is, “With fewer and fewer priests in the future, how can we effectively celebrate, live and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Vermont?”

This question will undoubtedly lead to many different answers.  My hope is that this letter will encourage a process in the diocese for all of us to pray and to consider this question and share our answers. As a way to begin the dialogue, this letter will reflect upon some past experiences of our diocese in order to explain our present parish structures.   Secondly, I will address some of the present challenges that we face as a people of faith in Vermont.  Finally, I will look toward the future and discuss how I hope we will work together to address this great challenge and effectively proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our diocese.

As we move forward I am calling for the Year of Our Lord 2004 to be a year of prayer, discernment, study and reflection for every Catholic of the Diocese of Burlington.  Let us turn to God who has provided so abundantly over the years in order to be open to divine guidance and inspiration as we move forward into the future.

THE PAST

The history of our diocese should lead us to praise the hard work and dedication of so many of our ancestors in faith.  Our early years include the missionary priests who traveled from Canada, Boston and other areas to provide sacramental life to the scattered Catholics of Vermont.  They endured the hardships of being circuit riders, constantly on the move to ensure that the Catholic faith was nurtured. We must praise the many fathers and mothers who handed down a strong faith to their children in spite of being isolated from parish churches and parish life because of distance from cities and towns.  We must remember the immigrant communities who came to our state seeking a better life and brought with them a strong faith in Jesus Christ.  We must thank the many religious women and men who taught our children and cared for the sick. These are the men and women who helped build up the Diocese of Burlington from its infancy to the present day. 

This past presented many challenges to the Church in Vermont.  Among these was the challenge of transportation. Vermont was a largely rural and agrarian state. People were not able to travel easily from place to place.  In response to this challenge parishes were established to make it more convenient for the faithful to attend church without having to travel great distances.  At one point in our diocesan history Bishop Edward Ryan hoped to have a Catholic Church in every Vermont town. 

The result of this and other challenges that faced the Catholic population of the state was the creation of an increasing number of parishes in every part of the state.  Fortunately, as the number of parishes grew, the number of priests to serve these parishes also increased.  The diocese was blessed with an increasing diocesan clergy as well as the assistance of priests from Religious Orders. Just fifty years ago the diocese was being served by more than 150 priests in active ministry. However, the abundance of priests has disappeared, we now have only 97 priests in full-time active ministry, and the nature of our state has changed.

THE PRESENT

No one can doubt that daily life in Vermont today is far different from the life experienced even thirty or forty years ago.  As we travel the beautiful countryside, we notice that the quaint village and city life of the past has been transformed in many areas to the busy and hectic life of the 21^st century.  The corner store and village markets are being supplanted by shopping centers and malls.  The one room school houses of the past are now the larger central town schools.  High school and middle school education has been transformed in many areas by regional school districts. In numerous parts of the state pasture land and dairy farms are being replaced by housing developments.  Transportation has become easier and more convenient. Today, many of us travel miles to shop and dine and the daily commute to work has become the norm. Yet in spite of these changes to our beloved state the expectation of the traditional parish church in the town or village has remained the same.

At present the people of the Diocese of Burlington worship in 130 church buildings throughout the state. Presently many of our priests care for more than one church and parish community as a regular part of their ministry.  Many regular Masses for Sunday obligation are at times celebrated in churches with very small congregations and the burden of annual upkeep of these buildings falls on only a few dedicated parishioners. It is not uncommon for people to drive past their own parish church in order to worship in another parish that better satisfies their spiritual needs or their work or social schedules.  

Presently there are ninety-seven (97) priests in active full-time ministry in our diocese. Of the active priests, thirty-two (32) are over the retirement age of 70.  Presently there are only six (6) priests under the age of forty (40).  In ten years there will be approximately thirty (30) priests under the age of sixty (60) serving in the diocese, and only fifty-five (55) total priests serving the diocese in active ministry.  Although the number of seminarians studying for the diocese has remained steady, approximately ten (10) for several years, and we will be blessed with some ordinations over the next few years, these ordinations cannot make up for the number of planned priestly retirements nor the unexpected retirements or deaths. Although we have been graced with the presence of religious order priests in our parishes this may not be able to continue as the orders struggle with their own vocation shortages. We must take the time now to consider how we can continue to proclaim effectively the Gospel of Jesus Christ as we move into the future.

Now that transportation is no longer such an obstacle to people attending church, now that we are used to traveling to work, shop, attend school and bring our children to athletic practices and games, can we maintain every church and parish as they now exist?  These questions must be answered.

THE FUTURE

As we move into the future, we must acknowledge the fact that we cannot continue to meet the pastoral needs of the diocese as we have in the past.  The declining number of priests available for pastoral ministry demands that we make changes in how we bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Vermont. These changes will demand sacrifice on the part of all of God’s people.

Undoubtedly, one part of the solution to the challenges that we face will be a better use of the gifts and talents of the laity.  Through baptism all members of the church are invited to participate in the proclamation of the gospel. This baptismal call is not something extra to our church but an essential part of its life.  We must be open to more extensive collaborative ministry between the laity and the clergy.  Another important piece of our pastoral plan will be an increased use of the permanent deacons presently serving in some of our parishes.

However, we must also recognize the essential role the priest plays in the life of a parish.  He is entrusted by the bishop to be the pastor of souls, leading teacher of the faith and the presider of worship.  Though many administrative duties can be delegated by a pastor, under Church Law it is necessary for every parish to have a proper pastor, even if he does not reside in the parish.  Any plan for the future must respect this church teaching.

Some communities of our diocese have already experienced new ways of doing things.  We have implemented the share-a-pastor model of ministry in some areas of the state.  Other parishes have been able to use pastoral associates and other lay ministers to assist the pastor in meeting the demands of parish life.  Still others have had Mass schedules adjusted in order to make sure a priest is available for the celebration of the Eucharist.  Some churches have been reduced to seasonal or occasional use. And finally, a few parishes have been closed in recent years.

Building upon the eight goals for pastoral planning adopted by the diocese in 2001 (February 24, 2001), criteria for evaluating parish life and future ministry in our diocese have been developed:

• Every parish and mission will be evaluated according to its sacramental, liturgical, educational and charitable life.
• The demographics and geography of each parish will be considered.
• A driving distance of fifteen miles is not an unreasonable expectation for our people to meet in order to attend Mass.
• Parishes under five miles apart in distance will undergo some changes; either through consolidation or establishment of a new church.
• Cities and towns with more than one parish will experience changes in Mass schedules or consolidations.
• The spiritual and health needs of our priests need to be considered, as well as the priestly call to service. Included in this is the goal that no priest regularly celebrates more than four Masses for the Sunday obligation.
• Designation of some parishes as centers for pastoral training for newly ordained priests.
• Insuring that special diocesan ministry and continuing education for priests is preserved and promoted.

During 2004 we will institute a series of meetings around the diocese to facilitate the process of prayer, consultation and dialogue.  The first of these meetings will involve representatives from every parish and mission in regional settings around the state and will be held during the early part of the Lenten season. At these regional gatherings we will reflect upon the challenges we face as a diocese and pray together that the Lord will guide us in our planning.  I therefore call upon every parish community and every Catholic in Vermont to dedicate the upcoming Lenten season as a time of intense prayer for our diocese and our state.  It is my hope that as we enter the desert experience of Lent together we will be completely open to doing the Lord’s will as we plan for the future.

The next step in our dialogue and reflection will be a series of meetings for the deaneries of the diocese during which we will continue our common prayer and begin the discussion about possible parish reconfigurations, consolidations and Mass schedule changes.  These meetings will occur during the Easter season. As we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior we will strive to bring new life and a new vision to our parishes as we discern how to best utilize our clergy and gifted lay leaders.

I know that some people will be upset with the discussion of parish reconfigurations, consolidations and changes in Mass schedules.  Some may be glad to talk about change so long as their parish is left alone; however, I believe it is essential that every parish realize that things cannot remain the same.  We must remember that our own diocesan history has seen the creation and closing of a number of parish communities.  We cannot run away from the challenge we face. We must be willing to make sacrifices for the good of the entire diocese.  Changes must be made in order to ensure vibrant parish life, effective proclamation of the gospel and ministerial service to as many people as possible.

The process we are beginning will not be easy, nor will it be quick.  It is going to require the dedication and involvement of many people.  I encourage all Catholics to contribute to the process and our dialogue.  Please watch your parish bulletins and The Vermont Catholic Tribune for news about the upcoming meetings and process.  Take an active interest and play your part in helping discern God’s will for the future of our beloved Catholic family here in Vermont.

CONCLUSION

Again, as we move forward with planning for the future I am asking all Catholics of the Diocese of Burlington to join me in  prayer as we consider how to best meet our pastoral needs.  Prayers for guidance in this process should be offered at weekend Masses throughout this year.  I ask that every parish select key members to attend the regional planning meetings that will be held during the Lenten season.  I ask that all pastors listen carefully to the insights and suggestions brought forth from their parish communities.  I ask that all parishes regularly pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life in our diocese.  Finally, as we move forward together, let us ask for the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church and patroness of our diocese, that we might be open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance in this process. 

With assurances of my prayers for you every day I am,

Devotedly yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Kenneth A. Angell
Bishop of Burlington