Cluster 24 Information

Cluster Bulletin Update

The new cluster bulletin publication will be Lent 2010.

STATUS OF CLUSTER 24 DEVELOPMENT
OCTOBER 5, 2009
Five years ago our diocese which includes the entire state of Maine began a process to consolidate parishes in order to develop more effective ministries and services and to reduce the workload of a diminishing number of priests. Much has been done. Many of the clusters have completed their planning and have formed new parishes. As of July 1 there were sixty-six parishes; three years ago there were one hundred thirty five. While there have been some inconvenience and disruption, many positive developments are taking place. People are realizing that uniting several churches into a single parish can enrich all.

In 2006 Bishop Malone accepted the recommendation of the planning committee that the four churches of Cluster 24 should form a single parish for the churches of Saint Gregory, Saint Jude, Sacred Heart and Holy Martyrs. Subsequently, we formed cluster pastoral and finance councils to undertake the planning for a new parish. They have been working since that time. A major endeavor was the survey conducted last year which is providing valuable information as ministries and programs are revised. The finance group has reviewed the condition of the three current parishes. The pastoral council has been reviewing ministries and services. By laws for both groups have been prepared and discussed. The four churches have already come together to celebrate Confirmation and First Communion. On May 2, 2009 126 youngsters received these sacraments at the Cathedral. Planning is underway for like celebrations on May 22, 2010. The Stewardship Committees have held several joint meetings. In September there was a joint kick off for the 2009 religious education season.

Last year we were advised that the four churches should be maintained and that they would be served by a pastor and perhaps a part time priest.

The formation of new parishes was to be completed by July 1, 2010. At the request of Fathers Picard and Ford on June 12, 2009 Bishop Malone granted permission for the formation of the new parish in Cluster 24 to take place on July 1, 2011. He directed that the cluster pastoral and finance councils continue to do the ground work necessary for the time when there will be a single priest administrator for the cluster in the Fall of 2010.

Given the endeavor to strengthen the heartbeat of the church in Maine, the councils did not meet over the summer. In September the cluster pastoral council resumed its work. They are to have a joint meeting on October 15.

We will need to face the challenge of revising the Mass schedule; on weekends the current nine Masses are to be reduced to eight. We may also have to implement Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest. Hopefully, this can be arranged with concern for as many of our individual people and churches as possible.

In order to demonstrate that we are on the path to unity we expect to have a single bulletin by the beginning of 2010.

This report was prepared by Father Joe Ford with the advice of the cluster pastoral council.

Bulletin Announcements

The bulletin will be prepared at Holy Martyrs.  The deadline for notes is Tuesday at noon. Notes can be emailed (rectory@holymartyrs.org), mailed to 266 Foreside Road, Falmouth, ME 04105-1792 or given by hand to Father Ford or Deacon Dennis.

Cluster Mass Schedule

Holy Martyrs - Falmouth

Monday and Wednesday

7:30 am

Thursday - Communion Service

7:30 am

Saturday

4:00 pm

Sunday

8:30 am

Sacred Heart - Yarmouth

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday

8:15 am*

Saturday

4:30 pm

Sunday

8:00 am & 11:00 am

*This will be a Communion Service if there is a Nursing Home Mass scheduled for that day
*No morning Mass if there is a funeral Mass scheduled

St. Jude - Freeport

Wednesday

6:30 pm

Sunday

9:30 am

Notice that the 2 priests involved have taken upon themselves a very heavy schedule.  One priest will have 4 Masses on the weekend and the other priest will have 5 Masses.  It is with this kind of dedication that St. Gregory will be able to keep its 2 weekend Masses.  The hours had to be adjusted so as to allow the priests time to travel to Gray after saying Mass in another church of the Cluster.  Falmouth is losing one Mass and Freeport also.