In early 2004, I appointed the Ad Hoc Committee on the Alignment of Parishes and Missions and charged it with the task of recommending to me how parishes should be aligned with mission churches; how parishes best determine the number of Sunday Masses needed; and how best to distribute clergy throughout our diocese. I am grateful to the members of the committee for their hard work, and to many of you who offered suggestions and comments.
I received the final report in late March, and since that time I have met with the committee, reflected on the recommendations and sought input from the Presbyteral Council. The final document, which I have now approved, appears in this issue of Arkansas Catholic. I would like to offer a few words of background and commentary.
A diocese is a growing and changing family. Since our establishment in 1843, the Diocese of Little Rock has undergone countless changes. More Catholics have moved into the state, and our population centers have shifted quite frequently.
To take recent history as an example, in 1990 there were 280 registered households (577 individual parishioners) at St. Barbara Parish, De Queen; today there are 1,000 registered households (3,000 individuals). In 1990 there were 445 registered households (1,046 individuals) at St. Raphael Parish, Springdale; today there are 3,393 registered households (10,974 individuals). In 1990 there were 1,055 registered households (2,625 individuals) at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Rogers; today there are 2,836 registered households (7,877 individuals). During that same period, some parishes experienced declining membership, and many remained about the same size.
Taken as a whole, the diocese continues to show dramatic growth. The total registered Catholic population in the Diocese of Little Rock today is approximately 107,000. We estimate that the total Catholic population, including Catholics who have not registered in parishes, approaches 200,000.
The number of Catholics in our diocese is growing rapidly, and more parishioners are now served by fewer priests. I am happy to report that the number of diocesan seminarians is steadily growing, and I am very hopeful about the future. Nonetheless, we are experiencing the “lean years:” often our priests (some of them well into their senior years) serve two or three parishes and missions. They do so willingly and generously, but you can understand why I am concerned for their workload and their health.
The genesis for the charge I gave the committee was in part the changing demographics of our state and concern for the health and well-being of our priests. However, there was another important factor: the quality of Sunday liturgies and the vitality of parish life.
Sunday Mass is the centerpiece and highpoint of worship in every Catholic parish, and we have a responsibility to ensure that it is celebrated in a fitting, beautiful way – first for God but also for ourselves. It is easy to give into the temptation to see “convenience” as the predominant factor in determining the number of weekend Masses, when the most important factor should be giving God praise and worshipping with our fellow parishioners. Some parishes have more Sunday Masses than they currently need; in other words, because of the capacity of the church building, the same number of people could easily be accommodated with fewer Masses.
We need to take into consideration the accessibility of Sunday Mass for all Catholics in the state; the quality of parish liturgy (each should be celebrated with the greatest dignity and beauty a parish can offer); the health and energy of our priests (celebrating Mass and preaching is a powerful and intense experience); and the value of parishioners worshipping together instead of being dispersed throughout more Sunday Masses than are actually needed. Thus, the Norms establish diocesan guidelines for determining the number of weekend Masses to be celebrated in a parish.
As I mentioned, there are now approximately 128 parishes and missions scattered across Arkansas. Since our establishment as a diocese in 1843, there have been approximately 315 parishes, missions and stations (places where Mass was regularly celebrated). There was no time in our history when Mass was celebrated at all 315 sites; rather, there has always been some shifting that took place as the population shifted. New parishes opened, some closed, some moved with their membership to a new site. I mention these numbers merely to indicate that parish changes have often occurred in response to population changes and the availability of priests. I’m sure that none of those changes was easy, but the Church took note of new realities and responded as best it could, moving priest personnel to serve the Catholic population as it shifted.
You will notice that the Norms do not recommend the closing of any particular parish or mission but offer guidelines for making those determinations, should they be in order. Certain areas of the state are unique and will be treated as such. I have asked our pastors to consult parish leaders, discuss if and how they might be affected by these Norms and report to me by May 1.
As a Catholic diocese, we always look toward the common good, not just the situation of our particular parish or mission. That is why the study challenges us to consider the spiritual vitality of all our fellow Catholics. In order to ensure that Mass is celebrated throughout the state where Catholics now reside, some of us might be called to sacrifice the convenience to which we have become accustomed. The holy Eucharist is our highest priority, and we want to make sure that such a gift is available to all.
As you can see, the Norms I have approved set in motion a new phase of the study. It is inevitable that rumors will arise and circulate – already I have heard several rumors that have no basis in fact – so please be slow to believe or spread rumors. I ask your prayers and support, and your generosity toward fellow Catholics, as we undertake this next phase. I am genuinely excited about the growth of our diocese, and I know God will bless our parishes, apostolates, laity, priests, deacons, religious, and seminarians with the wisdom to serve him and one another with grace and vigor.
Do you have an intention for Bishop Sartain’s prayer? If so, send it to him at Bishop Sartain’s Prayer List, Diocese of Little Rock, 2500 North Tyler St., P.O. Box 7239, Little Rock, AR 72217.